According to George Willis’ marriage record, he was born in 1852.
There is no birth record in Tasmania for George Willis. As a mariner, it is possible that he came to Van Dieman’s Land as a crewmember on a ship.
However there is a Willis family living in Tasmania at this time in which George might fit into. Other members of this family are mariners also. Other children in this family also had unregistered births. There are links with some members of this family to other ancestors. In light of this, I believe that this is George’s family.
The father of the family was Henry Willis. He arrived in Van Diemen’s Land as a convict aboard the ‘Lady Raffles’ on 17-3-1841. He was born in c1820 in Brighton, Sussex, England. He was a bricklayer’s labourer and was convicted of Housebreaking at Kent Assizes on 9-3-1840. He had previously spent five months in gaol for stealing a jacket.
Henry Willis married Eleanor (Ellen) Moore on 10-4-1848 at Bethesda Church in Hobart, Tasmania.
Ellen Moore was also a convict. She arrived on the ‘Lloyds’ on 7-11-1845 after being sentenced at Sussex on 28-11-1844 for stealing some boots.
She had previously been in prison 8 or 9 times. Her convict record states "3 years on the town".
Henry & Ellen had nine children in Hobart (including the unregistered George).
The Willis’ make regular appearances in the local papers for various offences.
George Willis married Jane Read on 28-10-1872 in Hobart.
George was 20 at the time and Jane 18.
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Jane Read/Reed/Reid was born on 16th December 1853 in Franklin, Tasmania. Her parents were George Reed & Anne Towns. George was a sawyer and most likely worked cutting timber around the Huon River for an employer.
There is no record of a marriage between George Reed and Anne Towns and no other children recorded as born to them.
Jane's father, George, died when she was 11 months old (30-11-1854).
It appears they were back in Hobart by this time.
Jane seems to have a tough time at life. Her mother was frequently in trouble with the law for drunkeness and disturbing the peace and went to prison many times. Even her pseudo step-father didn’t appear to be a stabling influence on family life.
She may have been working as a barmaid at the 'Rising Sun' in April 1867.
She appears as a witness to a burglary that took place on 24-4-1867, giving evidence in favour of her employer.
For more information on Jane Reed see REED
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There is record of two children born to George & Jane Willis:
1) Thomas WILLIS. *Born 16-6-1873 at the Old Wharf in Hobart.
*Died 13-10-1873 at the Old Wharf in Hobart. Death registered as George Thomas Willis.
Ann Patterson was the informant.
2)Annie Jane WILLIS. *Born 15-11-1874 at Collins Street, Hobart.
*Died 2-9-1945 in East Devonport.
*Married 1st on 12-8-1893 to Albert Edward James Gobbett in Hobart.
*Married 2nd on 4-6-1902 to Arthur Henry Hall in Launceston.
Issue:
a)Arthur Jeffery Hall. *Born 8-3-1895 at King St, Launceston.
*Died 12-10-1926 at Queenstown. Buried 14-10-1926.
*Married 13-6-1921 to Julia Lyell Kremmer in Queenstown.
Issue:
a)Edward (Teddy) Hall. b.c1921-Queenstown.
d.1997-Queenstown.
b)Joan Doreen Hall. b.26-1-1924-Lynchford.
m. 1st-c1946-Terrence Lynch. He died in 1970.
Issue:
i)Sandra Joan Lynch. b.c1946.
ii)Julia Anne Lynch. d.1-11-1954-Hobart, Tasmania.
iii)Michael Lynch. b.c1948.
iv)Peter Lynch. d.Coolgardie, WA.
v)Jeffery Lynch. b.c1956.
m. 2nd-Mr. Matthews.
c)Jean Elsie Hall. b.26-1-1924-Lynchford.
d.2-6-1989-Queenstown. Buried 8-6-1989.
m. William (Bill) Cooper
Issue:
i)Douglas Edward Cooper.
ii)Janis Cooper.
d)Lyell Arthur Jeffery Hall. b.1926-Queenstown. .
d.15-2-1997-Tasmania.
2)Mary Agnes Hall. *Born 29-4-1896 in Launceston.
*Died 8-2-1898 in Launceston.
3)Mabel Florence Hall. *Born 12-5-1898 at 65 Howick Street, Launceston.
4)Elsie May Hall. *Born 19-11-1899 at 50 Balfour St, Launceston.
*Died 31-8-1934 near Paeroa, Waikato, New Zealand.
*Married in 1916 to Cyril Alfred Dally in Tasmania.
Issue:
a)Annie K Dally. b.1918-Broken Hill.
What happened to George Willis after 1879 is a mystery. He seems to disappear from all records after this time.
We last hear of him when Jane claims that he left on the morning of Monday 15th December to go to sea fishing.
Coincidently, a fishing ketch by the name of ‘Rachael Thompson’ did leave Hobart on the 15th December 1879.
As a mariner, George may have taken off and gone back to sea, leaving his family behind. There are several George Willis’ who appear in mariner’s records after this time who could be him.
There is evidence to suggest that George had died by 1890.
Jane appears frequently in the newspapers.
In the City Police Court on Thursday, 11th December 1873:
Jane Willis was charged with using obscene language in Morling's yard, off the Old Wharf and was fined 10s, 6d. or 14 days.
And then just a fortnight later on the 19th December:
'Jane Reid or Willis, for disturbing the peace on the 19th inst. was ordered to pay a penalty of 5s, in default, to be imprisoned for seven days.'
And then on 16th October 1879:
'FOUL-MOUTHED.-Ada and Clara Matthews,
two young and respectably-dressed girls, were charged with using obscene language, and pleaded guilty. The arresting constable said he found the defendants at midnight in company with a young man, whom they were abusing in disgusting terms. Mr.Tarleton said young girls like them should be ashamed to pollute their mouths with such filthy expressions. It passed his comprehension what pleasure they could find in doing so. As it was their first offence, they were fined 10s. 6d., or 14 days, with an intimation that they would be sent to gaol the next time they were brought up.
Jane Reid, similarly charged, pleaded guilty, and was fined in the same amount.'
On 16th December 1879, under the name Jane Reed alias Willis, she is arrested late at night for making a disturbance at the back of the Theatre. The constable, Delaney, had known her to frequent low places, and had once found her fighting. The Constable claimed she was using very bad and indecent language, both in the street and at the Watchhouse. He claimed she was a Common Prositiute and gained her living by prostitution. He claimed “she wanders the streets at all hours of the night and frequents brothels in company with men”. He knew nothing about the house she lived in. Jane claimed, though once ‘erring’, was now a respectable and lawfully married woman. She’d had a ‘few words’ with her husband and did not live with him, but lived with a widow who was ‘on the Government’. She claimed her husband was a seafaring man and had left town that morning. Jane called her mother, Ann Patterson, to give evidence in her favour.
This is the account from the court record of what Jane’s mother said:
“Defence – Ann Patterson – Sworn Saith. I live in Sackville Street. The defendant is my daughter. She lives in the house of Ellen Araby who is an old widow. Defendant has not lived with me. Defendant has lived there about 2 months. Only her child has been living with defendant. Defendant is married, her husband is away fishing. They have not been living in the same house for 2 months but have been holding correspondence together. Defendant has been supporting herself by doing needlework. Ellen Araby gains her living from the Government. Her husband has not been supporting her because they have had a disagreement. A deposition was taken last Saturday night.”
She was discharged.
On 4th March 1882 we find her in the newspapers again (as Jane Reed). She is charged with disturbing the peace and sentenced to 14 days. The offence took place in Sackville Street, Hobart. She is with Ann Patterson. They are described as "old women" and "old offenders".
And on 25th January 1883 she was fined 20s for using abusive language. With her again was her mother, Ann Patterson.
On 13th November 1884 she is named as Jane Reid alias Willis and charged with being an idle and disorderly person, being found sleeping in an outhouse in Liverpool Street. She was sent to gaol for 3 months.
Jane Willis remarried in 1890. She married Thomas Harris on 30-9-1890 at St John’s Church in Newtown. Thomas was a 38 year old labourer from Newtown. On this marriage record she claims to be a widow. Her mother, Ann Patterson, and William Boyd were the witnesses to the marriage..
Jane was admitted several times to the New Town Charitable Institution:
Admitted 12-9-1893, discharged on the 28-12-1893.
Admitted 3-1-1894, discharged 20-2-1894.
Admitted again (date unknown) and stayed until her death.
Jane Harris died of Ptitis (TB) on the 16th March 1895 at age 41. Her last address was in New Town. She was buried on 18-3-1895 in Cornelian Bay cemetery in a pauper’s grave.
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Annie Jane Willis was born on 15-11-1874 in Collins Street, Hobart. Her parents were George & Jane Willis (nee Read) who were married on 28-10-1872 in Hobart.
Annie had a brother named Thomas born 16-6-1873 at the Old Wharf, Hobart. He died at the age of about 4 months.
Annie Jane Willis married first at age 19 to Albert Edward James Gobbett on 12-8-1893 at the residence of Mr. Hyatt in Hobart according to the rites of the Primitive Methodist Church. Albert was a farm labourer.
Clearly though Annie wasn’t happy being married to Albert as by 1895 we find her moved to Launceston and bearing children to Arthur Henry Hall. My assumption is that they ran away to Launceston together, as husband & wife (she bears his name by then, though not yet married). It is quite possible Annie was escaping her marriage to Albert Gobbett, and using Arthur as the means.
Albert, it seems, stayed on in Hobart. There is no evidence that he ever re-married or had children. He died in Hobart and was buried on 22-5-1944 in Cornelian Bay cemetery, aged 80. In his will he bequeathed all his estate to his grand-niece, Wanda May Vicary.
Arthur Henry Hall married Annie Jane Willis on 4-6-1902 at the York Street Baptist Church in Launceston.
It is obvious however that their relationship began well before that. Arthur worked as a wood carter.
Arthur & Annie had 4 children, all born in Launceston.
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