Ann (Wheeler) Bilston (1819 - 1877)

Born 1819 in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Bilston — married 1835 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia

Descendants

Died 1877 at about age 58 in Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Ann Wheeler was born in 1819 in Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land, Australia. She is the daughter of William Wheeler and Elizabeth Guy. ^[1]

In 1835 Ann marries Thomas Bilston in New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia. ^[2]

Ann & Thomas came to Victoria in around 1837.

The Bilston family history states, that Ann (Wheeler) Bilston, gave birth to George Yarra Bilston, the first male white child born in Victoria. She gave birth near the banks of the Yarra on August 1 1837. (The year Melbourne was founded)

In 1837 Ann & Thomas Bilston, and baby set out from Melbourne in a bullock dray to explore and select land in the Western District. His choice fell upon a site where the township of Chetwynd now stands. Thomas at Chetwynd met the Henty Brothers, on their way from Portland to the district now known as Merino Downs. The Indigenous Australians were not impressed with Europeans tying to claim their land, they gave Thomas such a hostile reception, that after a great deal of fighting and hardship he was forced to abandon their holding.

Ann’s husband Thomas built the Heywood Hotel, which was soon afterwards destroyed by fire on Black Thursday. He rebuilt it, and continued in occupation a number of years. They then settled back in the Chetwynd district and followed agricultural pursuits for a considerable time.

Ann dies in 1877 in Victoria, Australia. She was 59 years old. ^[3]

She is buried at the Heywood Cemetery, Heywood, Victoria, Australia. ^[4]

Weekly Times Melbourne, Vic. : 31 July 1926.

HISTORIC REUNION. - BILSTON FAMILY'S RECORD.

Stirring incidents in Victoria's early history were recalled at the Bilston family reunion at Miidura on June 19. In 1837 Thomas Bilston, with his wife and baby set out from Melbourne in a bullock dray to explore and select land in the Western District. His choice fell upon a site where the township of Chetwynd now stands. But the blacks gave him such a hostile reception that after a great deal of fighting and hardship he was forced to abandon his holding. Thomas Bilston's grandson. George Stone Bilston and Mrs Bilston, were the guests of honor at the Mildura reunion. Their sons and daughters George (Red Cliffs). Colin J. (Ferntree Gully). Alexander (Geelong). Reginald (Red Cliffs). Jack, Katherine, Edna, Elsie (Mrs H H Jory), and Ellen (Mrs M. Widdicombe), of Mildura, gathered to do honor to their parents and to present them with an illuminated record of the descendants of Thomas Bilston. It was a family reunion probably unique in Victorian history. George Bilston. the eldest son who served in the war with the 38th Battalion, presided. In proposing the health of his parents, he recalled that his grandfather, George Yarra Bilston, was the first male white child born in Victoria. At least that is the family claim, for the baby was born near the banks of the Yarra on August 1 1837 (the year in which Melbourne was founded). In the same year Thomas at Chetwynd met the Henty Brothers, on their way from Portland to the district now known as Merino Downs. A set of dances, in which Mr and Mrs Bilston took part, was a feature of the evening's fun. The old couple showed that even if they did not know the Charleston, they could still hold their own with the young folk when it came to doing the old-fashioned dances. At the close of the evening. Sergeant Power, on behalf of the guests, congratulated the family on its fine record. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ [ Ann Wheeler birth 1819 https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fNAME_INDEXES$002f0$002fNAME_INDEXES:1078397/one?qu=NI_NAME%3D%22Wheeler%2C+William%22&qf=PUBDATE%09Year%091815-1842%091815-1842&rw=12&isd=true ]
2. ↑ [ Marriage permission https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fNAME_INDEXES$002f0$002fNAME_INDEXES:1243581/ada?qu=Thomas&qu=Biltson&d=ent%3A%2F%2FNAME_INDEXES%2F0%2FNAME_INDEXES%3A1243581%7ENAME_INDEXES%7E3&h=8 ]
3. ↑ [Birth Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Search DEATH Family name: BILSTON Given name(s): Ann Event: deaths Father's name: Wheeler Willia Place of birth: GEORGE TOWN TAS Spouse at Death: BILSTON, Thomas Age at Death: 59 Reg. year: 1877 Reg. number: 11261/1877 ]
4. ↑ [Anne Wheeler Bilston BIRTH 1818 George Town, George Town Council, Tasmania, Australia DEATH 11 Nov 1877 (aged 58–59) BURIAL Heywood Cemetery Heywood, Glenelg Shire, Victoria, Australia MEMORIAL ID 200702613 · View Source https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200702613/anne-bilston]
5. ↑ [ Bilston Family Reunion. TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223339455?searchTerm=Bilston%20reunion ]