William John Shortt (1864 - 1928)

Born 18 Feb 1864 in Cappagowlan, Offaly, Ireland

Ancestors

Son of John Shortt and Charlotte (Owen) Shortt

Husband of Violet (Edols) Shortt — married 21 Apr 1897 in Lowesdale, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 30 Jan 1928 at age 63 in Epping, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

1864 - Dr William John Shortt was the fourth son of John Shortt a Barrister and his wife Charlotte Owen. He was born in 1864 in Cappagowlan, Offaly, Ireland and also resided at 17 Belgrave Square in Rathmines, Dublin. Cappagowlan was their country house. In 2017 both of these homes remain.

1889 - William did his medical training in Scotland in Edinburgh and Glasgow universities. He qualified in 1889.^[1] The following year he arrived in Sydney, Australia.^[2]

1889 - Dr William Shortt arrives in Australia.^[3]

1891 - William was representing Corowa Club at cricket and is featured in the results.^[4]

1892- William had a keen interest in Cricket and represented the Corowa Club. ^[5]

1893- William took a small part as Major McGillicuddy in a play "Engaged" by W.S. Gilbert. ^[6]

1894 - Tomorrow Dr. Shortt will present a bat to the top scorer and a ball to the best averager bowler In the teams selected from the Corowa-Wahgunyah Club to play against a team from Rutherglen, and the Wahgunyah CIub to play against Lilllput. ^[7]

1897 - Weddings. — On Wednesday last there were united in matrimony in Corowa and Wahgunyah— Dr. Shortt and Miss Violet Edols, of Burryjaa.^{[8] [9]} Arthur Greenwood and Violet's mother Agnes Dunlop Edols were witnesses of the marriage of Dr William Shortt and Violet Edols at the All Saints Church in Lowesdale, NSW, Australia on 21 April, 1897. Their marriage certificate shows that William was aged 33 and Violet 31. William's father is described as John Shortt a Barrister, and his mother Charlotte Owen. Violet's father is described as Richard Edols (deceased) a squatter and her mother as Agnes Dunlop Ross.

1898 - Dr, W. Shortt is having erected for his occupation a large and substantially built villa, having a frontage to the main Albury and Deniliquin Roads. It consists of eight rooms, four of which are 19 x 19 feet, wide verandah in front and on both sides, a noble porch with a broad flight of steps, and a spacious Hall. Mr. D R. Fowler is the contractor. The villa, when completed, will be an ornament to the broad thoroughfare which it breasts, and will no doubt be the forerunner of many handsome dwellings in the same locality. ^[10] This home is known as Clendon House. Clendon House, Corowa

1898 - a discussion in a newspaper "Corowa is rich in its store of connections with the best-known literary and historical men of the old country" mentions that Dr W. Shortt is a cousin of Grant Allen. This has been confirmed, the relationship is with the connection to his grandmother Anna Maria Antisell. Grant Allen is a grandson of her sister Eliza Josephine Antisell.^[11]

1902 - SHORTT.-On the 28th December, at Beulah, Corowa, the wife of William Shortt of a daughter. ^[12]

1903 - Dr. William Shortt was elected mayor of the Municipality of Corowa. He was the only alderman nominated for the position.^[13]

1903 -"William Shortt is the 4th son of the late John Shortt, Barrister of Belgrave Square, Dublin. He was born at the family county estate of Cappagowlan House, Frankford, Kings County on 18 February, 1864. He received his primary education at Foyle College, Londonderry and graduated at the Dublin University. Dr Shortt comes of a family which has served it's country well. One of his Uncles Charles Shortt served in the Peninsular War; another John Shortt was surgeon-general at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. His first cousin Frank Shortt,was a Brigade-Surgeon in the Indian Army. After leaving University he held several resident surgeonships and made several voyages by sea. He arrived in Australia in 1891 and almost immediately settled in Corowa and commenced to practice. He was returned at the head of the poll as a result of the recent Municipal contest, and has had thrust upon him the distinction of being Corowa's first mayor. Beyond according a generous support to local institutions he has not heretofore exhibited great interest in public matters, and his candiature and topmost position on the poll came in the nature of surprise to the community, but there can be no doubt that he is made of sterling stuff and will be able to render a satisfactory account of faithful stewardship, on completion of his term of office. He has already given assurance that he is not a talker, but a worker and has entered upon the administration of the duties of his office, with commendable zeal. He is coroner for the district of Corowa and a member of the licencing branch." ^[14] Note: It seems that perhaps he had some of his ancestors relationships confused. It would seem he is referring to Thomas Spunner Shortt rather than a Charles Shortt.

1916 - Dr. Wm. Shortt, who is at the Liverpool military camp, paid a visit to Corowa on Monday. He expects to leave for the front' shortly. ^[15]

1927 - Dr William Shortt returned to Dublin to visit his surviving sisters so that they could meet his granddaughter Pat who was born in 1923. His only son William had died in 1921 and his wife Violet had died in 1922. His daughter Alice also accompanied him.^[16]

1928 - He described himself as a surgeon and was in this position in Corowa NSW for about 30 years. He worked at the hospital and attended many medical emergencies. Some of them that were reported included snake bite and drowning. He shared the position of Medical officer at Corowa Hospital for many years with Dr Lang , each working and rotating for six months per year. ^[17]

1928 - William passed away three months after he returned from Ireland in 192^[18]

1928 - COROWA IDENTITY PASSES The death occurred yesterday at, the residence of his daughter Mrs. Edols at Ray-street, Epplng, of Dr. W. Shortt, formerly a well known medical practitioner at Drummoyne and Corowa. A native of Dublin, the late.. Dr. Shortt graduated at Dublin University and came to Australia In 1889, commencing practice at Corowa, where he remained for many years. He took a keen interest in public life, and was Mayor of Corowa, and an alderman for a long period. He was also associated with the Corowa Agricultural Society and other local organisations. The funeral will take place at the northern Suburbs cemetery tomorrow.^[19]

"LEFT £23,907 .The LATE DR. W. SHORTT Dr. William Shortt, of Drummoyne, a widower aged 68, who died on January 30 last, left an estate, which has now probate purposes been sworn at £23,907. He appointed the Permanent Trustee Co, of New South Wales. Ltd executor and trustee. The estate was left for the benefit of his family and near relatives." His grave is at Macquarie Park Cemetery Sydney.

Dr William Shortt also seemed to enlist and an article in the Newspaper following his death states he was in Egypt (supervising a hospital?) No evidence seemed to support this. Perhaps he was heading over, and attended those injured soldiers on the ship on his return. Further investigation needed to clarify this.

Although an article at the end of this piece infers Dr William knew his wife Violet before his arrival in Corowa this is most likely inaccurate. He lived in Corowa for several years before marriage and it would seem if he was coming to marry her he would have done so following his arrival in Corowa rather than a few years later. A great mystery that has not been resolved is why did he end up in Corowa! It would seem he initially arrived in Sydney but even today it is a long distance from Sydney to Corowa!. It seems most likely from the timeframe he would have arrived in Corowa by train at this time. It would seem most probable that he had this position lined up before he arrived. Perhaps an area to investigate is more of the Irish newspaper advertisements. Perhaps they were advertising for Doctors in Australia in an Ireland newspaper? When visiting Corowa you can see Dr William's name on the Mayoral list in the Council Chambers. There is also a photograph displayed showing him amongst the council at the time on the wall in the Historical Society. There is a "Short Street" no doubt named after him too. Visit the local Hospital, the foundation stone remains out the front and the original buildings remain. I'm sure as the local Doctor he would have been there the day that stone was laid. Dr Shortt was a keen cricketer, some were playing cricket on a pitch down near the park near the Council chambers. Surely he was there in his cricket whites at some point!

Sources

1. ↑ UK Medical Registers, 1859-1959
2. ↑ Liverpool, England, Crew Lists 1861-1919
3. ↑ The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) Tue 31 Jan 1928 Page 10 LATE DR. W. SHORTT
4. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 2 Oct 1891 Page 3
5. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 23 Sep 1892 Page 3
6. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 24 Mar 1893 Page 3
7. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 2 Mar 1894 Page 2
8. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 23 Apr 1897 Pg 2
9. ↑ Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950
10. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 15 Apr 1898 Page 2
11. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Tue 29 Mar 1898 Page 3
12. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 2 Jan 1902 Page 1 Family Notices
13. ↑ Wagga Wagga Express, 8 Sep 1903, pg 1
14. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) 15 Sep 1903 Page 3
15. ↑ Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1881 - 1938) Fri 11 Feb 1916 Page 3
16. ↑ The Sun, 1 May, 1928, pg 2
17. ↑ The Corowa Free Press (NSW : 1875 - 1954) Fri 3 Feb 1928 Page 5
18. ↑ Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
19. ↑ The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) Tue 31 Jan 1928 Page 10 LATE DR. W. SHORTT

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 12 February 2017, 02:31), entry for Dr William John Shortt(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L8PB-YSC); contributed by various users.

• 1901 New South Wales, Australia Census
• New South Wales, Australia, Government Gazettes, 1853-1899

• A relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group consisting of P Farrar GEDmatch A745679 H Benzies GEDmatch T887928 and E. Goodbody GEDmatch T320821 and S McCall T142702 sharing approx 13.3 segments on chromosome 1.