Born in Sanquhar in 1844, William was the eldest son of William Symington and Jane Dalziel. He emigrated to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1862. His uncle James Symington, a surveyor, had already arrived at the Beechworth gold fields in about 1854. His father likewise mined for gold at Beechworth and purchased land on the road to Stanley in 1867. 

William Symington and Anna Rigg were married at Violet Town on 22nd May 1872. [1] He was then living at Urana, working as a cattle drover; she was aged sixteen and living in Violet Town. Being under age, she was married with the written consent of her mother Isabella Campbell McTaggart Rigg. About 100 guests celebrated the wedding at a ball and supper at Mr Kean's Hotel.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser Thursday 30 May 1872 page 2

MARRIAGE. Symington— Riggs (sic)— On the 22nd May, at the residence of the bride’s mother, High-street, Violet Town, by the Rev. Mr Murdoch. William Symington, of Urana, New South Wales, to Anna Riggs, youngest daughter of Mrs Isabella Riggs.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser Thursday 30 May 1872 page 2

VIOLET TOWN. (From our own correspondent.)

On the evening of the 22nd instant, Mr Symington, of Urana, invited a large number of personal friends to a ball and supper, to celebrate his wedding, at Mr Kean’s Hotel, at Violet Town. About 100 persons sat down and enjoyed a first-class supper, got up in first-class style. The principal toast of the evening was, as a matter of course, “The Bride and Bridegroom,” and was drunk very enthusiastically. The health of “The Host” was also proposed in a bumper. Everything passed off satisfactorily.

Note that in 1876 there was a William Symington, licensee of the Coreen Hotel (Corowa district) 

(NSW Police Gazette No 322 13 September 1876 page 3646 Return of Publicans' Licences)

WARREN

Ultimately, he established a butcher's shop in Dubbo Street, Warren, outback New South Wales.

The present street address is 94 Dubbo Street, immediately adjacent to a supermarket car park.

The property extends back to Cobb Street. The Symington residence was most likely situated behind the shop, facing Cobb Street.

[1] BDM Victoria Reg. No. 1960

William died in the Warren Hospital on 20th September 1898, leaving his pregnant wife to bring up a young family. He was buried the following day in an unmarked grave in the Warren Cemetery. Cemetery records were allegedly destroyed in a flood. Cerebral haemorrhage was certified as the cause of death. The terminal event may have been stroke but family legend [1] held that he died as a consequence of a fall from a horse and this is supported by newspaper accounts:

The Warren Herald, Saturday October 1, 1898 Volume 9 No. 939 page 4 column C

DEATH of Mr. W. SYMINGTON- On Monday last, an old resident of Warren, Mr. W. Symington, died at the Warren Hospital, after a somewhat lengthy illness. Some twelve months ago he received a kick in the face from a horse, the wound of which turned into a cancerous growth, and to this he eventually succumbed.

Evening News (Sydney) Monday 29 June 1898 page 3

DEATH FROM CANCER. WARREN, Monday. — The death occurred yesterday of Mr. William Symington, formerly a butcher at Warren, who for the past twelve months, has been in bad health. He died at the Warren Hospital, the result of a cancer on the face.

Albury Banner and Wodonga Express Friday 30 September 1898 page 17

Messrs. J. and P. Symington, of Huon Lane have received intelligence of the sudden death on Monday, at Warren, Port Macquarie, (sic) N.S.W., of their elder brother William, who has been residing for nearly twenty years in that district. The cause is stated to be a paralytic stroke. Mr. James Symington left on Tuesday to attend the funeral. The deceased was well known in the Wodonga and Yackandandah districts.

In his will, he left all his assets, valued at £269/4/3 to his wife Anna. [2]

The Inventory of his Estate recorded no real estate; he had £235/8/3 in the Bank of New South Wales Warren Branch; his brother James valued his livestock (5 horses) on 29th September 1898 at £20. [3]

Anna Rigg died at her residence, 52 Francis Street, Marrickville on 19th November 1942 aged 89.

[1] Personal communication Jean McCabe; he had a reputation as a skilled horseman; allegedly he rode his horse into a bar.

[2] NSW Will Books, Will Number 16677; will dated 25 May 1897

[3] NSW Government Records Deceased Estates Item 19/10207 Reel 3028

William Symington's butcher's shop in Dubbo Street Warren

THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON AND ANNA RIGG

1.  MARY JANE SYMINGTON born 7th March 1874 at Albury; died 24 November 1949

Married Edward Jacob Dein 25 December 1895 at All Saints’ Cathedral Bathurst, New South Wales. Jacob Dein died at Orange in 1910.

Children: Edward Henry F. born 1897, married 1920 May Johnson; Arthur James born 1898, died in France 12 March 1917; Frederick William born1900; Evelyn M. born 1904; Essie Stella Doris born Orange 24 May 1910, died 5 December 2009, married 1935 Herbert Francis Binstead; Herbert Arthur, born 1907 in Warren, died 1935.

2.  CHARLES "Charlie" SYMINGTON born 4th July 1876; died Auburn district, N.S.W. 1962   

Married Florence "Florrie" Mary Francis 1903 at Warren. Florence died at Dee Why on 19 June 1962.

Children: William born 1903 at Warren, died 26 September 1987, married Dorothy May "Dot" Brien 1942, no issue; Dot died 11 July 1989; Charles Henry "Harry" born Warren 1905, died 3 December 1981, married Belinda Eileen Linda Suel "Linda" (1905-1988) 1928, son William "Bill" Henry (10 May 1945-17 March 2010); James Peter "Jim" born Warren 1908, died at Dee Why 1 April 1974, married Zena "Madge" Victoria Cook at Parramatta 1935; she died 19 October 1991; son John, dau. Delma. 

1903 Living at Warren with his mother Anna and working as a butcher (AER)

1910, 1913 living at Cobar and working as a slaughterman (AER)

1935, 1946 125 Alfred Street, Rosehill; butcher (AER)

3.  AGNES SYMINGTON  born 18 June 1878; died 1960

Married Arthur “Art” V. Jones 1902 at Warren. He died in 1941

            Children: Daisy, Amy, Jack, all born at Coonamble: Agnes Daisy born 1908, died 4 October 1989, married Leslie Watsford 1933 (he died 20 November 1967); John E. born 1910; Amy I. born 1912 

1909 at Coonamble

4.  WILLIAM SYMINGTON  born 19 July 1880 at Kiewa; died aged 79 on 18 March 1960 at 26 Roper Street, Dubbo.  

Married Emily Elizabeth "Amy" Wheatley in 1941 at Marrickville

No issue

5.  PETER JAMES SYMINGTON born 18 October 1882 at Albury; died 30 June 1974

Married his first cousin Nellie Sarah Symington (1894-1975) in 1913 at Cobar

1937 35 Hampstead Road, Flemington; slaughterman

Children: Donald born 1923, died 12 December 1978 aged 55, married Amy Eckersley; Ellen Jean (McCabe)  born 2 November 1913 at Cobar,                  died 18 December 2003, married Edward McCabe 1936 at Burwood NSW.

6.  HENRY ALFRED "Harry" SYMINGTON  born at Warren 18 May 1886; [1] died 5 October 1950 at Heidelberg

Married 27 May 1918 Irene Lilian Tait at Princes Hill

Children: Robert Henry born in St. Kilda 12 January 1919, died at Templestowe 26 July 1990. William James born St. Kilda 18 June1920, died at St. Ives 13 March 1989. Noel born  26 December 1924, died 25 July 2018 at Port Macquarie. Betty Anne born 20 July 1929.

7.  ISABELLA "Bella" or "Belle" SYMINGTON  born 11 December 1889; died 26 May 1977

Married Sidney J. Westbrook 1924 at Newtown

Children: William, Faye born 16 March 1925 (married Watson; son Graham)

8.  MARGARET "Maggie" ANNA SYMINGTON  born 15 February 1892 [2] at Warren; died 12 February 1978 at Parkville

Married Donald E. McLeod 18 March 1913 at Orange

Children: Donald Ian (Snow) married Colina; Margaret Evelyn born 1916, died 1916; Albert Eric born 1918; Jack born 1919, married Jean; Geoffrey, married Marjorie

9.  ERNEST SYMINGTON  born 1895 at Warren; died 1896; buried in an unmarked grave at Warren Cemetery.

10.  VERA MAY SYMINGTON born 1899 at Warren; died at Melbourne in 1995

Married 1939 James Benedict Baker 1899-1963. No issue. 

1910 living at Cobar and attending the Cobar District School

AER

Vera Symington

1924 625 St. Kilda Road Windsor West Waitress

1936, 1939 136 Clarendon Street East Melbourne Hairdresser

[1] Registered at Dubbo

[2] Registered 1892