2nd Great Grandparents; William Hamlet and Elizabeth Field

William Henry Hamlet (1850-1900)

When William Henry Hamlet was born in June 1850 in Bath, Somerset, England, his father, Charles, was 32. According to "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", he was baptized on 12 April 1850 in Walcot, Somerset, England, so his birth date cannot be in June. At that time, he lived at 1 Williams Place, he was an Anglican and his father was a servant. Although I cannot locate any picture of him, it is likely that he had a dark complexion, as his father seems to have been 1/4 African descent. In fact, his uncle George, seems to have been arrested in Norfolk, Virginia USA for not having his freedom papers. (1)

It is said that he had not seen his family for many years. According to the Queensland government state archives he arrived, age 24, on 3 May 1873 in Queensland aboard the "Storm King" as an assisted migrant.  (page number 349, QSA 18476, microfilm Z1958, M1697). In another account, family oral history has it that he was a remittance man. He married Elizabeth Field on October 7, 1873, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They had ten children in 17 years. According to his death certificate, he was a Pawn Broker and was Roman Catholic.  On his application for a victualer's license in Spring Hill, he stated that he had previously had a license in Worthing, Essex, England, for two years. 

It is possible that he purchased land in 1874, the year after he arrived (and met Elisabeth). There is a reference in the QLD state archives of a William Hamlet purchasing land (GRAHAM, John (Vendor) and HAMLET, William (Purchaser) Subdivision 12, Section 1, Allotment 140, Parish of South Brisbane, County of Stanley, Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM3827472). Furthermore, it appears that had a lease of a hotel named "Avoca", when he became insolvent in 1894. (Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM1060886). It was valued at 284 pounds and 12 pence. It is possible that he also owned land at Stores Corner (Stones corner?) at Woolloongabba because this is listed as foreclosed too. This is valued at 60 pounds. He attributed his reasons for insolvency as depression in business generally, pressure of creditors, inability to realise assets, and losses in floods. The circumstances must have been devastating.

Henry died on July 18, 1900, at Woogaroo Asylum in Queensland, Australia, at the age of 50. The Woogaroo Asylum was founded by the Queensland government as the first publicly-funded mental health institution in the colony. As well as people with a mental illness, the asylum also housed those who were destitute, ill, or old and without family or other means of support. On his admission papers, shown below, William was brought to the asylum by the police, from the gaol. On the arrest warrant (shown below) William was arrested for being inebriated and remanded for observation. He was declared indigent, only in possession of a knife, a silver sixpence, a key and insurance papers. According to the coroner's reports (shown below), he was admitted with dementia and heart malady. He stayed at the asylum for around four months and was confined to bed for the entire stay. He died in the presence of a gaol attendant. An inquest was held into his death and it was held that he died of heart degeneration (fatty degeneration of the heart).  One can only wonder what the poor man suffered.

His grandfather, also named William Hamlet, had died suddenly at age 37. William Henry died aged 50. 

His children were living with his wife in Leichardt Street Valley, and his eldest son, Roland Charles, was employed in Maryborough in the railways. His mother, Susan, had a change of surname to Sainsbury, and was living in England.  His mother's brother (Uncle James Bull) was living in Queen Street, Maryborough, so he too had emigrated. Although the record is unclear, it seems he was living with Roland. 

His son, Charles, must have maintained affection for him because he named his son William Henry Hamlet.

(1)Profiles of the Past. (n.d.). Hamlet, William, the Younger. Retrieved May 18, 2025, from https://profilesofthepast.org.uk/artist/hamlet-william-younger

(2) "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-Y5SN : 25 February 2022), Charles Hamlet in entry for William Henry Hamlet, 1850.

Elizabeth Field (Hamlet, Quin 1853-1908)

When Elizabeth Field was born on July 20, 1853, in Brighton, Sussex, England, her father, Morris, was 47 and her mother, Mary, was 28. She married William Henry Hamlet and they had ten children together. She then married William Quinn in Herberton, Queensland, Australia. She died on May 15, 1908, in Herberton, Queensland, Australia, at the age of 54. Her epitaph on her grave reads: Elizabeth Field Quinn.Aged 50 Years, Late of Herberton, Housewife.

Daughter of Mary Burke and Maurice Field. (Perhaps she minimised her age as her birthdate is also written as 1858.)

Later, John Quinn was also buried nearby, but next to his sister, but with no reference to Elizabeth on his headstone, only "Late of Wild River".

According to ship records (https://sites.google.com/site/cqfamilyhistory/articles-indexes/indexes/shipping/1873-alexandrina) an Elizabeth Field of the right age arrived in Rockhampton, QLD, from London on 7 December 1873. She had come aboard the ship "Alexandrina" and she was aged 20. According to Queensland state immigration records an Elizabeth Field arrived on board the "Storm King" as an assisted migrant 3 May 1873 to QLD.  It is possible that she had travelled on the Storm King and  she met William on the Storm King, although we cannot tell which Elizabeth Field travelled on which ship. It is also possible that they met before and travelled together to the colony.

Another record for an Eliza Hamlet arriving in the colony was an arrival in 1877, at age 23, for an Eliza born around 1854. "Australia, Queensland, Immigration indexes, 1864-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6YXS-MF12 : Thu Aug 29 10:21:49 UTC 2024), Entry for Elizh Hamlet, 1877.

After her husband's untimely death, Eliza lived with a Mr. Quinn and had more children. Family stories are told that "Old Mrs Quin" lived in the same street as her daughter, Edith Rabjohns, and her numerous grandchildren, but they were never told that they were related. Perhaps she was trying to put the trauma of her old life behind her or perhaps she didn't want to reveal that she wasn't actually married to Mr. Quinn. Nanna Cairney recalled that she was very nice. 

References

Elizabeth's burial "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6BM7-DY52 : 16 October 2024), Elizabeth Field Quinn, ; Burial, Herberton, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia, Herberton General Cemetery; Section RC row 16. Plot peg 336.citing record ID 271631961, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.Section RC, Row 16, Plot (Peg 336)Section RC, Row 16, Plot (Peg 336)

Memorial ID

271631961 · View SourceAn Account of the voyage of the "Storm King" 1873

(https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27275889)

THE STORM KING.

The Storm King, barque, 1148 tons, Captain G.Holden, arrived on May 4 from London, with Go-vernment immigrants. Surgeon-Superintendent, Charles B. Woodward. Saloon Passengers: Mrs. Holden, Rev. Andrew Horan (R.C.), Rev. Patrick O'Keefe (R.C.), Sisters Ellen Whitly (Whitty), Mary Rooney, Veronica Kenyon, Georgina Mullany, Winefred Scally, Mary Kear-ney, Margaret Shine, Mary Ryan, M. O'Connor, Mary A. Whelan, Mary Delany, ElizaMcDonnell, Mary Dalton, Maggie O'Brian, Mary O'Shanahan, Julia McKnight, a Lay Sister, Mr.Sidney J. Tooth, 23 in the second cabin, 23 in the steerage, and 325½ adults, Government immi-grants. Captain Holden reports that the barque Storm King embarked her passengers at the East India Docks on Wednesday, January 29th, 1873, and proceeded to Gravesend on Thursday, 30th. On Saturday was passed (survey) by Emigration Commissioners, and at once dropped down to the Nore, where she anchored at 6 p.m., owing to the severity of the weather. Heavy falls of snow and sleet compelled us to remain until Monday, 3rd; got underweigh and proceeded down the river, with heavy winds from N.E. ; passed through the Downs on Tuesday, and the pilot left us on Thursday, 6th, strong N.E. winds blowing, which we carried across the Bay of Biscay. Passed Madeira to the westward February 11th, Cape de Verde Isles, 15th; from thence to the Equator had very light winds, and crossed the Equator on March 2nd, longitude 24 degs. W. ; from thence through the S.E. trades to the meridian of Tristan d'Acunha, which was passed March 26th, had very light variable easterly winds. There met the S.W. and N.W. winds, which were carried to Tasmania, passing the south end on April 26th. Had two days baffling winds abreast the Straits.A southerly gale sprang up on Tuesday night,29th, which we carried right up the coast. Sighted Cape Byron at 6 p.m. Thursday, 1st,and Cape Moreton at noon Friday, May 2nd. Received Mr. Woods, pilot, on board at 4 p.m., and came to an anchor at 4.30 p.m., Yellow Patch bearing S.E., distant 1½ mile. The greatest day's run during the passage was 312 miles, and the average run for 30 days was 241 miles. The following vessels were spoken during the passage :—February 14th: Lat. 25 degs. 2 mins. N., long. 24 degs. 5 mins. W., British ship Agra, London to Auckland - 19 days out. March 1st: Lat. 1 deg. 9 mins. N.,long. 22 degs. 12 mins. W., British ship Con- test, Cardiff to Rio Janeiro—3o days out. March 14th : Lat. 27 degs. 42 mins. S., long. 2degs. 29 mins. W., British ship Taitsing. March 18th : Lat. 33 degs. 35 mins. S., long. 2 degs. 16 mins. W., British ship Ralston, Glasgow to Mauritius—52 days out. There were six births; also eleven deaths during the voyage—all children under two years of age. The passengers speak in the highest possible terms of the vessel, her captain, and the medical superintendent. They appear all to be in excellent health and spirits, and determined to make the best of everything. As usual a large number of persons assembled to see them land, and a few having relations on board took them away with them. Those re- ceived into the Immigration Depot were aboutas follows—57 married couples with 100 children, 67 single women, and 130 single men.

The Storm King (https://stormkingclipper.com/storm-king-voyage-london-moreton-bay-1869-1870/)

Police Report on Admission to Asylum of William Hamlet

From the Queensland State Archives, Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM1354173.

Death Certificate of William Hamlet

Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM2735568

Excerpts from insolvency determination Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM1060886

A list of his furniture which was held and sold off to pay his debts. Much of the furniture was still on time payment and he still owed 4 pounds on it.

Arrest of William Henry Hamlet

City Police Court.

At the City Police Court on Monday

afternoon, bofore Mr. G. P. M. Murray,

P.M., Kato M'Garry was fined 10s.,. or 12

hours' imprisonment. for drunkenness.

William Henry Hamlet was charged with

drunkenness. He pleaded not guilty. Constable

Sloan gave evidence of arresting

tho defendant in Queen street early on Sun

day morning. Defendant asked a lot of

rambling questions and was remanded for a

week to undergo medical supervision.

Sargent Shannahan said the defendant was

one of the oldest pawnbrokers in Brisbane,

but at the present time was not doing any work.

The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) 

 Tue 13 Mar 1900 

 Page 3  City Police Court.

An Interesting Account of a Theft witnessed by William Hamlet

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

William Coop was charged, on remand, at the

South Brisbane Police Court yesterday with

having property in his possession for which he

could not satisfactorily account. Constable

Myles O'Brien stated that on the l6th instant

William Hamlet called him into his shop, and

he saw the prisoner there ; Hamlet said, "This

man wants to pawn a watch ; I have the num-

ber in my book ; I got it from tho detectives as

a stolen watch ;" witness took the watch; de-

fendant said he bought it at Tenterfield for 10s.

from a man whom he would not know again.

Thomas Jordan, a labourer living at Kedron

Brook, stated that on the 10th January last he

went to sleep near the Exhibition grounds ; he

had a watch in his possession ; when he woke

up he found the watch gone ; made a report to

the police about a week after ; did not see the

watch till a day or two ago. William Henry

Hamlet, pawnbroker, stated that defendant

came into his shop on the 10th instant, put

a watch on the counter, and asked for 12s.

Cd. on it for a day or two ; looked at the num-

ber of it, and found it was the one reported by

the police as having been stolen. The defen-

dant, not being able to give the bench a satis-

factory account, was fined £2 ; in default one

month's imprisonment. Senior-Sergeant Burke

prosecuted on behalf of the Police.

The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) 

Sat 23 Feb 1889  Page 6 

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

William Hamlet as witness in a larceny case.

City Police Court.

THURSDAY, 23RD JUNE.

BEFORE the police-magistrate, Colonel Ross,

and Mr. A.R. Jones, JJ.P.

LARCENY AS BAILEE.—Beatrice Clark surrendered

to her bail, being charged with the larceny

as bailee of a sewing machine, the property of

Lutt and MitehelL Mr. A. J. Thynne conducted

the prosecution. Detective Hannigan gave evi

dence to the effect that about noon on Wednes

day he saw the accused on board the steamer

Governor Blackall, whioh was then about to

leave for Sydney; witness asked her if she

were going to Sydney by that steamer, and

she replied she was; witness then informed

her that he belonged to the detective police, and

that he had a warrant for her arrest; he

then took her to the watch-house, and there read

the warrant to her ; she replied, " I did not

steal the machine; I gave it to Mr. Crowther, as

I owed him some rent—there is no instalment

due on it yet" James Mitchell, a partner in the

firm of Izatt and Mitchell, sewing machine im

porters, deposed that on the 28th May last the

accused came to his shop in Queen-street, and

told witness she wanted to see about a sewing

machine ; witness asked her if she wanted it on

the time-payment system, and she replied in the

affirmative ; she then signed the agreement pro

duced, and paid the premium of 10s. mentioned

therein; afterwards sent the machine to the

residence of the accused in Downing-street, and

received a receipt for its delivery, signed by the

accused ; accused did not pay the purchase

money for the machine, and he did not authorise

her to dispose of it to anyone. John Crowther,

a house agent, stated that the accused had been

renting a house from him in Downing,

street, but had left it about a week ago ;

he had sent to her for rent on several

occasions; she came to his office in the

Town Hall about the 6th or 7th instant;

she then owed him between £6 and £7 for rent;

witness asked her why she did not give the man the

machine when he (witness) sent for it; she replied

that she waited to see him first, and afterwards

said she would bring the machine to bis house

that night; witness asked her if the machine

was hers, and she replied a friend had got it for

her ; he afterwards received the machine. Wil

liam Henry Hamlet stated that he was clerk and

collector for Messrs. Izatt and Mitchell ; he saw

the accused on the 20th instant, and asked her

for some money on the sewing machine, but she

replied that it was not due until the following

Saturday ; he asked to see the machine, and she

replied that he could not see it, as it was away ;

he saw the machine described in the agreement

on Wednesday morning at Mr. Crowther's resi

dence. At this stage of the proceedings the

accused was remanded till Tuesday.

Friday, 24th June.

William Henry Hamlet Victualler's License Transfer

William bought Avoca pub in Brisbane from James Kenny. In support of his application for a victualler's license, he stated that he had previously held a victualler's license in Worthing, Essex England and that he was married with a family. Then he sold Avoca to Francis Schurmann (see newspaper articles below).

The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) 

Wed 16 Mar 1892  Page 7  Classified Advertising

The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) 

 Sat 9 May 1891 Page 1  Classified Advertising

Spring Hill, site of the Avoca Hotel, late 19th century