William Thomas John (1854 - 1908)

Born 2 Dec 1854 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Marian Caroline (Walker) John — married 12 Apr 1876 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 12 Apr 1908 at age 53 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

William Thomas John was born in Fremantle on 2 December 1854. ^[1] He was the son of Thomas John and Sarah Woodland. Thomas and Sarah arrived in the Colony on 3 September 1853 on board the ship Clara.

William John was born in the Colony of Western Australia (1832-1900)

At the age of 10 William attended Fremantle Boy's School. George Bland Humble was Headmaster of the school from 1864 -1889. George Humble was also Town Clerk for the Town of Fremantle and Secretary of the Fremantle Building Society. He was a founding member of the Fremantle Cemeteries Board and a Justice of the Peace. George Humble would become William’s mentor in adulthood.

The first telegraph line in WA - Fremantle to Perth was built by private enterprise. Mr Holman was the first Telegraph Operator in Fremantle and William, a boy of 15, was the first telegraph messenger.

William joined W D Moore & Co as a clerk at the age of 17, he worked for the company for 21 years.

In 1872 William was a pioneer member of the Fremantle Benefit, Building and Investment Society - Shareholder and Director.

William married Marian Caroline Walker in the old St John’s Church in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 12 April 1876 when he was 21 years old.

Marian and William would have eleven children in Fremantle, six boys and five girls.

William was the manager of W D Moore & Co’s pearling operation in Shark Bay until 1887. ^[2]

William purchases Lot 614 Arundel Street, Fremantle, No 21 and No 23, William and Caroline live in No 21 and rent out No 23. The street numbering has changed since the family moved out.

William was elected as a member of the Fremanlte Municipal Council from 1885 until 27 April 1900, he returned unopposed for 15 consecutive years.

William sailed aboard the Franklin to Victoria for a 2 month stay. He returned on the 17 December 1886.

W D Moore & Co take on the store formerly occupied by Douglas & Co on High Street, Fremantle in partnership with and to be managed by W T John aged 34 & Miss Cleary aged 49.

In 1892 William and Marian lose two of their babies, Ita at 10 months old and Ailleen at 7 months old.

It is advertised in February 1893 that William Dalgety Moore is no longer in partnership with W T John & M A Cleary. The Business now owned by W T John and M A Cleary and to be known as John and Cleary.

Fremantle Football Club Chairman 1893 - The club dominated the competition for the rest of the decade, winning five consecutive premierships from 1892–96 and another in 1898. The club was forced to disband after the 1899 season due to large debts. South Fremantle FC was formed, William…..

William was diagnosed with an abnormality of the bowel, a condition called ‘fistular’.

W T John was the moving spirit in the foundation of Fremantle's second stock exchange. Inaugural Committee Member.

William was appointed a board member of the newly opened Fremantle Public Hospital October 1897.

William was appointed Justice of the peace in 1897.

W T John elected President of the South Fremantle Football Club April 1898. Strip blue gurnsey and red stockings.

The Western Mail December 1898 photo of the members of the Fremantle Municipal Council.

William and Marian celebrate their Silver Wedding Anniversary April 1901. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 27 April 1901, page 76 SILVER WEDDING. On Friday, April 18, Mr. W..T. John, J.P., and Mrs. John entertained a large party of relations and friends at their residence in South Fremantle to celebrate their silver wedding. A pleasant evening was spent with cards and music, and later on, all adjourned to the dining room where an excellent supper was most tastefully arranged, a large wedding cake occupying the place of honour in the centre of the table. The health of the host and hostess was proposed by Mr. J. J. Hohnes, who spoke of the high esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. John and family were held as citizens, and of the valuable services Mr. John had rendered to Fremantle as a councillor. The toast was responded to by Mr. W. T. John, Other toasts honoured were Mr. E. W. Davies, as Mayor-elect of Fremantle proposed by Mr. J. J. Hohnes and responded to by Mr. E. W. Davies; Mr. T. John, senior proposed by Mr. McDonaid, of Sydney. Mr. E. W. Davies then proposed the healths of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. John, and added to the toast the name of the best man, Mr. W. Brown, who was there that evening, to take part in the celebrations. The toast was responded to by Mr. W. Brown. The pleasant gathering dispersed about 1 o'clock, after the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." Mr. and Mrs. John were married by Archdeacon Watkins, in the old St. John's Church, Fremantle, on April 12, 1876. Mrs. John is a daughter of the late Mr. Philip Walker, who arrived in the colony 43 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. John received a number of valuable presents, and many congratulatory messages. Amongst those present were : Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Gallop, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Davies, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hollies, Mr. and Mrs. G. Davies, Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Metle, Mr. and Mrs. T. O'Beirne, Mr. and Mrs. Mauger, Mr. and Mrs. G. John, Mr. and Mrs. Hay-ward, Mr. and Mrs. Boddie, Mr. John, sen.; Mesdames Rogers, Le Sage, Owston ; Misses John, Cleary, Stone, Mellen, Kennedy, Johnson, Brounirch; : Messrs. R. Holmes Donald McDonald, Desmond Cannon, Jas. Storey, F. Turner, G. Cannon, and Captain Rickers. The following is a list of the presents received:-Mr. John to Mrs. John, handsome silver serviette ring; Mrs. John to Mr. John, silver egg cup and spoon ; Mr. W. John, jun., case carvers; Mrs. LsErge, silver butter dish; Aliîs Johnson, silver carving rests; Miss Cissy John, butter dish; Mr. R. Holmes, silver butter cooler; Mr. T. Warnw, cat and silver salad bowl ; Mr. and Mrs. J. Gallop, handsome silver and crystal centre piece ; Mr. D. Gannon, silver claret jug; Miss Cleary, silver breakfast and egg cruet; Miss Stone, silver egg cruet ; Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Holmes, silver fruit knives and forks; Mr. T. John, 6en., fish knives and forks; Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Davies, fish carvers; Mr. and Mrs. Metle, silver pickle forks ; Mrs. OwBtón, crystal salt cellars in silver stands; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Holmes, silver and glass butter dish; Miss Brounirch, silver card tray; Mr and Mrs. Haywood, serviette rings ; ,Mr. and MK. Boddie; silver tray ; Mr. and Mrs. George Davies, serviette rings; Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Holmes, silver mounted spirit decanter. ^[3]

In 1901 William retired from Council and Justice of the Peace duties.

William and Miss Clear file for bankruptcy in 1903. Unable to compete with the larger stores that had opened in Fremantle.

In 1904 William and his family moved to Woodlupine. He was Chairman of the Woodlupine Progress Association for 6 months.

William purchased to Coronation Hotel in Woodlupine which he ran from in 1904 to 1906. William sold the hotel to Mr Flood of Bunbury in July 1906.

William writes a letter to the editor of the West - regarding trams and electric light in Fremantle1905.

Express (Perth, WA : 1905 - 1907), Saturday 25 November 1905, page 3 FREMANTLE TRAMWAYS. A LETTER REFUSED BY THE " WEST AUSTRALIAN." EX-CR. JOHN’S CORRECTIONS.

Ex-Cr. W. T. John, who sat for 15 years as a member of the Fremantle Municipal Council recently took occasion to repudiate cerium statements put forward by the West Australian, by which that journal sought to credit Mr. Alexander, a former Mayor, with hating oiigiuated the scheme of municipal tramways for the Port. Mr. John, having left Fremantle to reside at Woodlupine, was evidently looked upon as a forgotten page. He, however came to light, much to the discomfort of the West. So much so, that the ll'e^ consigned Mr. John's missive of correction to the " deferred" file. However, to-day, we publish Mr. John's letter as it was sent to the West Australian :— Woodlupine, 31st Oct. 1905. The Editor west Australian. Sir,—Re history of the movement of the tramway scheme in Fremantle, as it appears in your valuable paper of this date, you are wrong in saying it was Mr. Alexander, the then Mayor of the town (1900), who was one of the first to advocate the municipalisation scheme. As a matter of fact, I was the one, long before Mr. Alexander held office in the council, who fought for the scheme. If the records of the discussion are turned up you will find this true. First with the Williamson Coy., who forfeited their deposit of £500, and a further £250 for not complying willi the terms. (I know this, for I was treasurer of the town at the time). And, again, with the Electric Supply Company, represented by Mr. Deakin, I was not satisfied by the majority of my brother councillors' action in the matter, and I called a poll of the ratepayers and was promised assistance in my endeavors for the town to build the trams and the electric light, but I had very little assistance, nothing monetary, I even had to pay the bellmauaudadvertisiug, and stand at the Town Hall door tryto get the ratepayers to vote for the municipalisation acheme, but the ratepayers were too apathetic to go to the poll and vote, so I lost. These are facts which the late town clerk, Mr. Humble, and the present chairman of the Tramways' Board, Mr. Solomon, and others can verify. Hoping you will kindly insert this in the West as early t as possible, for I do not think that because I am absent from my native town, I should be altogether forgotten on such a festive occasion as the opening of trams and lights and the Fremantle week. Yours faithfully, Councillor for 15 years. W. T. JOHN, ^[4]

William was involved with the Cannington Road Board in 1906.

On the 6th November 1906 William and Marian lost their daughter Nora Bertha John, she was 17 years old. Nora was interred in Karrakatta Cemetery Anglican plot DA 0141.

The family lived at 58 Ord Street, Perth in 1907. ^[5]

In 1907 William’s health deteriorated. He had surgery in Fremantle Hospital, he had an intestinal blockage probably due to his condition, he convalesced in hospital for 6 months and was later under the care of Dr Newton of St Omer’s Hospital, Perth.

The family moved to Bruce Street, North Fremantle in 1908.

William Thomas John died in St Omer’s Hospital, Perth on 12 April 1908, he was 53 years old.

William’s funeral was held on Monday afternoon at Fremantle Cemetery. William was buried in the Anglican Section he was later exhumed and moved to Karrakatta Cemetery - Anglican plot DA 0141. ^[6] ___________________________________________

Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 18 April 1908, page 18

MR. W. T JOHN. One of the oldest and best-known citizens of Fremantle in the person of William Thomas John passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 53 years. The deceased, who was a Western Australian by birth, spent the whole of his life in the State. He was educated at the school of which Mr. G. Bland Humble, of Fremantle, was master, and at the age of 17 years entered the service of W. D. Moore and Co., of Fremantle. He remained with this firm for 21 years, and at the expiration of this period purchased the retail grocery and drapery establishment of Moore and Co., and traded for some years as John and Cleary. The deceased then retired from this line of business, taking over the Coronation Hotel, Woodlupine. Two years ago he disposed of this hotel, and came to live with his family at Fremantle. The deceased suffered from fistula, for which complaint he underwent an operation some six months ago in the Fremantle Hospital, subsequently being under the treatment of Dr. Newton, of St. Omer s Hospital, Perth. He was a member of the Fremantle Municipal Council for the South Ward from November 16 1885, up to April 27, 1900, being also one of the earliest members of the Fremantle Hospital Board and Literary Institute. For many years the deceased, amongst other duties, held the position of treasurer to the Fremantle Council, only resigning that office when it became a stipendiary one. The deceased leaves a widow and six sons aud five daughters (Mesdames Ball, Hicks, and Forrest, and. Misses T. and E. J John. The funeral took place on the next (Monday afternoon in the Anglican portion of the Fremantle Cemetery, and was very largely attended. The chief mourners were-Messrs. William P., G. G.. T. W., and W. D. John, sons; Messrs. B.. T. M.. and Daniel John, brothers ; Messrs. B. Hicks and W. J. Hale, brothers-in-law ; W., V., G..and G. Hale, W. and C. Hicks, T. and S. Adams, nephews. The pall bearers were Mr. G. B. Humble, J. B. Byng, P. J. Herron, J. Cowan, William Kennedy, and Cr. Fred. Jones. Amongst those present were Mr. W. A. Murphy (Mayor of Fremantle) Cr. J. Dale, Captain Foxworthy, E. Duffield, J. Higham Jas. Pearse, Geo. Holmes, J. Naylor. W. Letchford, T. Mulcahy, S. Fay, M. Daly, and many others. ^[7]

Letters of Administration - William left Marian £127 12s. ^[8]

Marian lived in Bruce Street, North Fremantle, close to her family until she passed away in 1922. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ WA BDM Birth Registration 2665/1854 https://www.bdm.justice.wa.gov.au/_apps/pioneersindex/default.aspx
2. ↑ TROVE Port of Geraldton Arrivals https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214095572?searchTerm=W%20t%20john
3. ↑ TROVE Silver Wedding Anniversary https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33203895?searchTerm=Silver%20wedding#
4. ↑ TROVE Letter to the Editor https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/256626669?searchTerm=Fremantle%20tramways%20w%20t%20john
5. ↑ Post Office Directories
6. ↑ Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206582414/william-thomas-john
7. ↑ TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37573324?searchTerm=W%20t%20john#
8. ↑ TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204570477?searchTerm=William%20Thomas%20john
9. ↑ TROVE John and Cleary https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3045239?searchTerm=William%20Thomas%20john