William King (abt. 1793 - 1880)

Born about 1793 in Fintona, Tyrone, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 29 Sep 1880 at about age 87 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

William King came free to the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

1793 - It is estimated that William was born in Castletown, Donacavey Tyrone, Ireland or in the Fintona, Tyrone area at this time. William King and his wife Jane Burns are likely to be from Castletown, Donacavey, Tyrone, Ireland. This map shows the proximity to the town of Fintona. Some records indicate their origins as Fintona. His daughters' parish records were located and show Castletown, Donacavey, Tyrone, Ireland as the location of their birth.

1841 - William's wife Jane Burns and two of his daughters Anne and Mary Jane King arrived in Australia aboard "The Brothers". It is not clear how or when William or his daughter Ellen arrived in Australia. ^[1]

1841- It seems quite probable that this is the same William King who appears in the Census. ^[2] The census information states he was in Church Street, in Wollongong inhabiting a completed brick dwelling , two free persons.

1842 - 3rd March, 1842. William King was a witness at the marriage of George Small and Elizabeth KIng. It would seem most probable that this was his daughter. The marriage record for George Small and Anne King states that the marriage was held in the School House in Wollongong in the County of Camden by Banns. George is described as a Bachelor of Wollongong and he signed with an X. Anne is described as a Spinster of Wollongong and she signed with an X. The witnesses were William King of Wollongong who signed with an X and Edward Corrigan of Wollongong. ^[3]

1849 - Was William a miner in Ireland? It seems there was some coal mining in East Tyrone. Did he bring his skills to Wollongong with the commencement of mining in this area. Mining commenced in the Wollongong area in 1849.^[4] Perhaps this is how William gained his skills as a miner.

1855-56 - This is likely to be this William King residing at Crown Street, Wollongong^[5] 1855 - 1856 - It would seem probable that this was the same William King voting in the district of Wollongong. ^[6] William appears in Crown Street at this time. It is known that George Small his son in law owned a property on the corner of Crown Street and Corrimal Street^[7] which may have been around this time.

1880 - The original District Registrar's Certificate for Undertakers has remained in the Cunningham family which suggests that William died on the 29 Sep 1880 at the age of 87 at Parramatta, NSW. Australia. He died in the Macquarie Street, Parramatta asylum and was buried in Newtown.^[8] The only reservation with this piece of evidence is that a Matron Cunningham signed this certificate which creates a question mark regarding her connection to this William King. Was he family or was he a patient?

History of the King family

It seems most probable that William was a descendant of Rev John King who was hanged in Glasgow on 14 August 1679 and was from Galloway, Scotland.^{[9] [10]} Family information states that his sons, seven brothers took an open boat and came to Ireland, following the hanging of their father, and also the slaughter of their six sisters. Two settled in Derry, two settled in Strabane, County Tyrone, one settled near Letterkenny, County Donegal and two came to Donacavey, Fintona, County Tyrone. The latter two pitched their tents on the top of Cranny Hill and that is where they settled. Their names were John King aged 35 and Samuel King aged 32. It is unknown whether William was a descendant of John or Samuel King.

John King (d. Donacavey in 1701) married Miss Jane Rodgers (d. 1703) 1675, and moved to a neighbouring townland called Cumber. He purchased old lease given by the O'Neill's to a family called McCowel (said townload contained 160 acres) his family was Andrew King, b 1676, Nancy King b 1678, Wiliam King b. 1679, Joseph King b. 1681. Andrew, Nancy and William died in their youth. John King planted a Mountain Ash in each corner of Donacavey Church yard, which the peasantry call the tree of bad luck. One of the said trees still remains. The Kings were the first protestants that were buried in Donacavey Church Yard. This information comes from a descendant of the King clan a Robert King of Bushmills in New Zealand who wrote this information in 1945 and he stated the information was from Captain Houston of Feenan, Fintona. It seems there were several marriages between the Houston and King families. ^[11] It would also be useful to find descendants of this Robert King to compare DNA.

It also seems likely this William King is related to Rev George King. ^[12] The actual relationship is not clear. It would be most helpful if a descendant of this lineage had a DNA test for comparison.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
2. ↑ 1841 New South Wales, Australia, Census, Name William King Town or Parish Wollongong District Illawarra State New South Wales Country Australia
3. ↑ Births, Deaths and Marriages, No.665/1842 V1842665 26C
4. ↑ Mining in Wollongong, Heritage report, http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/development/planningforthefuture/Documents/Coal%20Mines%20Heritage%20Study.pdf
5. ↑ New South Wales, Australia Historical Electoral Rolls, 1842-1864, name: William King Year Range: 1855-1856 District: Wollongong
6. ↑ New South Wales, Australia Historical Electoral Rolls, 1842-1864, Pg 5
7. ↑ Michael Organ (1987) "Reminiscences of Illawarra by Alexander Stewart", Pg iv
8. ↑ District Registrar's Certificate for Undertakers, original in family possession
9. ↑ Rev John King information, https://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/category/by-name/john-king-d-1679/
10. ↑ Further Rev John King information, http://www.executedtoday.com/2015/08/14/1679-john-king-and-john-kid-covenanters/
11. ↑ A family document found in the papers of the late Captain Houston, Feenan, Fintona, and information from this from Robert King of Bushmills, New Zealand in 1945
12. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/king-george-3952