Ross Beattie's WILSON Lineage
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This Page was Last Updated on 14th February, 2003
Locality / Provenance
Early Generations

Locality / Provenance

Wilson was one of the many surnames made common in the northern Irish counties by emigrants from lowland Scotland, who settled around the fortified Plantation towns established by King James I of England and his successors. By the early nineteenth century, there were several Wilson families around Derryhillagh, about 6km northeast of Enniskillen, Fermanagh. .

Early Generations

1. James Wilson (c1769…1853) m. Ann Colter (or Calder) (c1780…1860)

Farmer James Wilson, born circa 1769, married Ann Colter (or Calder) (born c1780), and the couple had some ten children, three of whom died in infancy. James and Ann remained the rest of their lives in the vicinity of Derryhillagh, and are buried in the Church of Ireland Churchyard at Tempo FER, about 9km east of Derryhillagh.

Apart from the three deceased infants, James and Ann's children, who all emigrated to New South Wales during the 1830s and 1840s, included:

C F Brien located the grave of James and Ann Wilson during a visit to Ireland in 1985, and noted the following inscription :

SACRED
To the memory of
JAMES WILSON
of Derryhillagh in this
County who finished his
course Oct. 12th 1853 Aged 84
The righteous shall be in
everlasting Remembrance
Also his Wife
ANN WILSON
who slept in Jesus
Dec. 25th 1860.
There the weary be at rest.
Also three of their Children
who died in infancy.
Take away from the
evil to come.

1.1 Mary Ann Wilson (1804…1866) m. William Armstrong (c1791…1866)

William Armstrong (c1791-1866) and his wife Mary Ann Wilson, born 1804 and the eldest of James' and Ann's children surviving infancy, arrived in New South Wales aboard the Argyle on 31 March 1839. William and Mary Ann had married on 6 September 1827 at either Lisnaskea, Fermanagh or Gortgarron, Ireland . Among their issue (twelve children) were:

The younger William was accidentally killed in a riding accident at Fish River Creek on 7 January 1859, aged 24, when racing three of his brothers home. Much respected, he was buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery at Oberon, and his headstone bears the earliest date of death there visible.

William Armstrong (senior ) died on 16 August 1866, aged 75 years, and was buried in the same cemetery, the earliest born person buried there . Mary Ann Armstrong nee Wilson died on 4 November 1866, and was buried in the same grave.

1.1.1 Margaret Armstrong (1831…1918) m1. John Larnach (c1828…1861); m2. Noble Wilson (1841…1919)

Margaret Armstrong, born 1831 in Fermanagh, Ireland, was the eldest child of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and his wife MARY ANN WILSON, emigrating to New South Wales with them aboard the Argyle on 31 March 1839. Margaret married John Larnach (son of GEORGE and MARY LARNACH of Caithness, Scotland ) in a Wesleyan Methodist ceremony at Wiseman's Creek near Bathurst on 30 December 1852 .

Margaret bore John five children, four before John died aged 33 at Caloola near Bathurst on 14 February 1861, five months prior to the birth of his daughter Elizabeth. For further details refer to the Larnach file.

Margaret Larnach nee Armstrong married again on 10 March 1864 at Rockley, her second husband being her first cousin Noble Wilson by whom she bore at least a further five children. Margaret's death at Caloola on 29 November 1918 was registered at Blayney. For further details see Section 1.2.2.

1.1.2 Christopher Armstrong (1840…19) m. Elizabeth Hughes (…)

Christopher Armstrong, born June 1840 in New South Wales to WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and his wife MARY ANN WILSON, was baptised in the Bowenfels - Vale of Clwydd district in the Presbyterian tradition. Christopher married Elizabeth Hughes (from the Bathurst district) near Bathurst on 1 January 1863; their children included:

1.1.3 Wilson Armstrong (1843…1878) m. Mary Ettles McDiarmid (…)

Wilson Armstrong, baptised May 1843, son of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and his wife MARY ANN WILSON, supposedly married Mary Ettles McDiarmid on 7 September 1870; their children included:

A Mary E McDiarmid, daughter of Hugh and Margaret E McDiarmid, was baptised Presbyterian at Bathurst in 1852. Siblings included Neil K McDiarmid (1850), George L McDiarmid (1857) and Amelia M McDiarmid (1861). Neil Kerr McDiarmid married Mary Emily/Emilee Johnson, and their children born bear Dubbo included Campbell Larnach McDiarmid (1876), Archibald McDiarmid (1878), Alexander Morris McDiarmid (1880), Elsie Lucy McDiarmid (1881) and Donald N McDiarmid (1886).

A Margaret Ettles McDiarmid married William Fleming near Bathurst in 1870.

Wilson Armstrong died on 8 January 1878 .

1.2 William Wilson (1807…1890) m. Rebecca Liddell (c1812…1884)

William Wilson, farmer and grazier, was born c1808 at Derrehillaugh [Derryhillaugh] FER to farmer JAMES WILSON and his wife ANNIE. William married Rebecca Liddell, born c1811/13 at Gortgranagh, a ?farmland in FER, to WILLIAM and SARAH LIDDLE [on the birth certificate of his last and short-lived child Abraham, William Wilson stated that he and Rebecca had married at Newtown Butler FER in 1838].

William and Rebecca Wilson emigrated to Australia aboard the United Kingdom on its infamous voyage of 1843-44, arriving in Sydney NSW on 29 April with their three firstborn and other relatives. William's and Rebecca's Australian immigration listings state that they were natives of Enniskillen FER, that he was a farm labourer and she a house servant, and that both were literate, Episcopalian and of very good health.

Also aboard the United Kingdom were William's sisters Rebecca Wilson, 22, and Frances Wilson (Fanny), 24, literate Protestant farm servants born in Fermanagh, and Ellen McBern, 18, baptised in 1826 and daughter of deceased neighbours William and Cath McBern. Ellen was listed as a Protestant house servant from Fermanagh who could read.

[Also aboard the United Kingdom were passengers named Eliza Batty, Mary Jane Wilson and John Armstrong. Eliza was an illegitimate child from England and apparently unrelated. It is not known whether Mary Jane was in any way related. John Armstrong, 18, was from CastleBlayney near Enniskillen, son of the deceased Francis and Rebecca Armstrong.]

This particular voyage of the United Kingdom earned her the reputation of a "hell-ship". At 1267 tons, she was a sailing ship built on a keel originally laid for a steam ship, a construction which made her difficult to sail. She departed Liverpool ENG on 23 December 1843, reaching Sydney on 29 April 1844, after a difficult voyage of 128 days which saw 397 people embark, 28 deaths (24 under seven years of age) and 8 births on board. Passengers were not disembarked until ?4 May, and of several sent to hospital, two later died.

A Board of Inquiry investigated the voyage, and the transcript of the bulk of its report is reproduced in an attached Appendix. Briefly, the management was adjudged to have underrated the rigours of the voyage, as evidenced by the unwieldy construction of the ship and lack of stern ports which resulted in inadequate ventilation. Potatoes which had been loaded damp later spoiled. Salt between the timbers of the 'tween decks exacerbated damp, and there was insufficient oil for the swing stoves intended to control the damp. An American whaler had to be hailed mid-voyage to replenish the oil supply. There was also too little sand to make holystones for cleaning the timbers. Poorly stowed water casks worked bung-down and leaked, necessitating an unscheduled six day stopover at the Cape of Good Hope which was reached on 1 March. Some passengers sent directly to hospital on arrival in Sydney developed Typhus, and it was surmised by the Inquiry that a few more days at sea would have resulted in many more deaths.

William and his family went ashore of their own accord to reside 'at Ralston's, Shoemaker, King Street West'. The bounty due to the contractors for landing William's family was £36/15/00, although a reduced bounty may have been paid due to ill health, a remark noted in the Agent's list stating "To be produced in health. £18/7/6 ordered to be paid. See Colonial Secretary's letter of 13th December No 44/152".

The latter part of the William's immigration listing was presumably a whitewash, as Frances and Rebecca also decided to leave the ship once in Sydney, following their sick brother William. Frances also suffered ill-health en route, and on arrival in Sydney was sent to hospital suffering from "Hysteria". She was discharged therefrom on 17 May 1844, entrusted to the care of her sister Rebecca and friend Ellen McBern. Rebecca was later to marry Robert Armstrong and settle in the Cowra district.

William and Rebecca Wilson moved inland to settle in the Fish River Creek area, west of Sydney across the Great Dividing Range. There they joined friends, neighbours and relatives from their home-region in Ireland. In March 1853 and in 1854 William applied for and was granted three land grants, for which he paid. These were towards the south-eastern corner of Charles Whalan's "Glywndr" estate. [Charles' brother James took up a land grant at Gingkin, John Whalan went to Hollander's River and Campbell Whalan settled near Edith. John later moved to Edith and is credited with pioneering the village, which was named after Edith Druscila Bailey, the oldest girl in the school .]

The three children of William and Rebecca Wilson emigrating to Australia aboard the United Kingdom were:

William and Rebecca's other children included:

Jeremiah and Frederick, and to a lesser extent Noble and James, were to be instrumental in the development of the Jenolan Caves area, making significant discoveries within the system. [Ralston (1990) - a commendable work - points out that there were three Wilson lineages connected with Jenolan Caves. One line was that of W Wilson , an English emigrant, who joined the Methodist community at Oberon and whose two daughters, Agatha and Amelia, married into the Whalan family. Another line was represented by Ralph T Wilson, born at Windsor in 1856, son of school-teacher William Wilson. Ralph, a blacksmith, worked for many years at Jenolan, often with Jeremiah. He married Emma Green at Willow Springs, Oberon, in 1883; their issue was seven daughters and one son. Ralph died at Tarana on 26 April 1916, "…through being run over by a train". His contributions at Jenolan included work on Cambridge's Zig-Zag and in the development of the Imperial Cave (1879) and the Jubilee Cave). The other Wilson line is the family treated in this work.]

Rebecca Wilson nee Liddell died at Curra Creek near Wellington, NSW on 23 September 1884, aged 72 years, and was buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery at Oberon (part of "Glyndwr") by undertaker Thomas Wilson as witnessed by John Fawcett and James Graham. Her death certificate was attested by her son Thomas, of Curra Creek. She was predeceased by one daughter and one son, and survived by six sons and one daughter.

William Wilson died on 30 July 1890 at Caloola NSW, aged 83. The death certificate was attested by his son Noble, of Caloola. [Caloola is on the Bathurst-Goulburn road, about 30km from Bathurst]. William, who received his last medical attention from ? Armstrong on 4 March 1885, was buried at Oberon on 2 August 1890, witnessed by Hugh Kelly and James Graham. He was survived by his children Jeremiah (50), Noble (48). James (45), William (43), Thomas (40), Eliza Jane (38) and Frederick (36).

1.2.1 Jeremiah Wilson (1839…1907) m. Lucinda Betty (1842…1920)

Jeremiah Wilson was born October 1839 near Enniskillen, eldest son of WILLIAM WILSON farmer and grazier, and REBECCA LIDDELL, natives of Enniskillen FER. William and Rebecca emigrated on the United Kingdom in 1844, arriving with their children Jeremiah Wilson aged 4½ years, Noble Wilson aged 2½ years (born September 1841) and James Teulon Wilson aged 4 months (born en route in December 1843). William's sisters Rebecca Wilson and Frances Wilson were also aboard the United Kingdom, together with their neighbour Ellen McBern (?or Ellen M ?Barnes). Jeremiah's other siblings were all born in NSW, and several of them played a part in various aspects of his work. By 1853 the Wilson family was settled on their land grant on Fish River Creek, and most were to acquire their own land holdings in the area.

Lucinda Betty (or Beattie) was born near Enniskillen on June 1842. She emigrated to Australia around 1868 according to her death certificate, but may have arrived as early as 1863. Lucinda's brother-in-law, Robert Coleman Eaton, paid a deposit of £3 for her immigration on 8 October 1862 . Robert had been resident in the colony with his wife Sarah Beatty and family since 1958. John Fleming, a neighbour of Robert both in Ireland and NSW, paid deposits the same day for the immigration of Mary, Anthony, John and Robert Edgar , who duly arrived aboard the John Temperley on 1 August 1863, though not with neighbour Lucinda. The deposit for Lucinda's passage was refunded on 15 October 1863 following an application by Robert .

Jeremiah Wilson and Lucinda Beatty, natives of Enniskillen, were married on 10 January 1868 at O'Connell in the NSW Central Tablelands by the Revd. John Vaughan; witnesses at the wedding were E. Graham, Wilson Armstrong and Lucinda's sister Eliza Jane.. They spent the bulk of their married lives in the Oberon-Jenolan Caves district, retreating to Sydney's eastern suburbs in the early 1900s.

Jeremiah and Lucinda's progeny were:
Obvious namesakes for these children include the Revd. John Vaughan, CoE minister at O'Connell, and Lucinda's brother Andrew McGregor Beattie, who arrived in the colony aboard the Peterborough in 1880 and settled at nearby "Bloomfield", George Bailey's property on the Fish River .
The Wilsons and Jenolan Caves
General credit for the public's knowledge of the cave system known today as Jenolan Caves is given to James Whalan, pastoralist of Tarana, who in 1838-41 with two mounted police noticed and entered the Devil's Coachhouse while searching for local bushranger James McKeown. Aborigines, McKeown and possibly other escaped convicts had this knowledge prior to this event. The caves became known as McKeown's Caves (McKeown's Hole and Bushranger's Cave are north along McKeown's Creek from the cave system).
The next day James returned with his brother Charles (farmer from "Glyndwr" on the Fish River Creek at Bullock Flat (now Oberon)) and the troopers to capture McKeown. Charles Whalan and his sons immediately commenced exploration of the caves, and for many years performed the duties of honorary guides. Some verbal sources have related that after capturing McKeown the Whalans saw smoke from a camp-fire upstream of the caves and investigating found a terrified escaped convict, conversant in the local tribal dialect. This fellow they left free, and occasionally supplied him with news, food and other supplies.
The first dark cave discovered was the Arch Cave (1846), still beautiful despite easy and extensive despoiling by early visitors. The Elder Cave was next discovered (1848, and re-discovered by Jeremiah Wilson in 1856); it takes its name from an elder tree which grew at its entrance. Both these caves are near the Carlotta Arch.
Jeremiah and Noble Wilson are mentioned in an article in the Bathurst Free Press (11 January 1860) as members of a party of fourteen led by George Whiting (tutor to Charles Whalan's children, and who wrote the article) and Nicolas Irwin. This party on Wednesday 4 January 1860 discovered the third dark cave in the McKeon's Caves, the New Cave (now the Lucas Cave). Ralston (1990) mentions that while Noble was active in the early explorations of the Lucas, he was not the discoverer of the Lucas and that Alf Whalan's article was erroneous, as is an inscription on brass plate in the Grand Arch at Jenolan.
In 1866 the Caves reserve was created by the government. The Government Gazette of 8 March 1867 announced the appointment of Jeremiah Wilson as first Keeper at the Binda Caves (then popularly known and subsequently officially referred to as the Fish River Caves until 1884 when they were renamed Jenolan Caves) following a recommendation to John Bowie Wilson, Minister of Lands, from John Lucas, MLA. This was in response to concerns, voiced since 1856, about the damage caused to the caves by souveniring visitors (amongst whom John Lucas was notable). The Keeper however was not empowered to remove such people until 1872, by which time the practice was well entrenched. Jeremiah resided on his farm on the Fish River Creek, travelling some 30km to the caves until 1880.
On 18 March 1879, Jeremiah wrote from his home, "Lucindale" on Fish River Creek, to the Minister of Lands, concerning the discovery of the Imperial Cave. One small cave within the Chifley Cave system is called the Lucinda Cave, named after his wife.
The history of Jenolan Caves gives many details of Jeremiah's life from the 1860s until his retirement in 1896. He was a red-haired and bearded tall man, who wore an ear-trumpet around his neck, being almost deaf as a result of childhood measles . His deafness gave rise to his shouting while talking, and was apparently made virtually complete after his residence was destroyed by fire in March 1895.
Jeremiah worked tirelessly to open the Caves to the public, encouraging investigations into the construction of roads or railways and the provision of facilities for guests. He was given a lease of two acres in 1878 (gazetted 24 December), and on these he built the first guest-house at the caves near the junction of the creeks. It had been proposed by John Lucas on 11 September 1879, in a letter to the Under Secretary of Mines that
...There being no place of shelter... Wilson, the keeper, ... will erect a place 40 feet long by 14 feet wide if the Govt. will supply him with the iron necessary to cover it and enclose the front and one end.
Lamont Young wrote in 1880
Mr J. Wilson ... had at the time of my last visit erected a small slab kitchen just above the junction of the Surveyor's & Wallaby Creeks ... Adjoining this kitchen on the Wallaby Creek side he was clearing a piece of ground for the erection of a larger hut, to afford sleeping accommodation to visitors; the floor of this second hut will be some 18 inches higher than that of the first, but even then it appeared to me liable to be flooded.
And flooded it was.
He later fought also for the protection of the caves from the public who generally lacked conservation insights.
The NSW "Blue Book"s recorded in 1891 that Jeremiah was Caretaker of Caves under the Secretary of Mines and Agriculture, having been first employed on 1 January 1867, and appointed to his current position on 1 January 1881 with a salary of £175.0.0. The 1885 edition shows a concurrent appointment from 27 August 1877 as Caretaker of Forest Reserves Oberon, under the Secretary of Mines, Conservation of Forests. By 1887 the Secretary for Lands ran this service. Payment for this duty was "10s. per diem when employed in ranging forests".
In the early hours of 14 March 1895, the whole of the old accommodation at Jenolan Caves was destroyed by fire; none of the household effects were saved. On the 25th instant, Jeremiah wrote to the Premier:
... as I am not in a position to rebuild, I have made application to the Department of Mines asking them to resume and compensate me for all buildings on and adjoining my special lease ... to rebuild, and I will furnish the buildings ... I may say that I have been keeper of these caves for 28 (twenty-eight) years, and I have erected all the buildings ... at my own expense.
In January 1896 the government started to resume the accommodations, and began plans for the construction of new facilities. On 4 May 1896, Jeremiah consented and agreed to the termination of his tenancy effective 1 June, and requested the cancellation of his two acre lease, which was approved and gazetted on 1 July.
Although he relinquished his position as Caretaker of Jenolan Caves in 1896, the 1899 edition shows him still in the employ of the Government's Department of Mines and Agriculture, Geological Survey Branch, General Duties Section as Explorer of Caves with a salary of £130.0.0, having been appointed to this position on 18 August 1896 (temporarily appointed on 1 August). Although his name does not occur in later editions, his services were only dispensed with on 11 October 1900.
In July and August 1897 Jeremiah relieved the Caretaker at Abercrombie Caves (which has a Grand Arch larger than that at Jenolan) during which he found the time and energy to discover the Grove Cave, a cavern with formation.
The summary of Old Jerry's considerable exploration and development at Jenolan includes:
Jeremiah's position as Caretaker at Jenolan caves was filled in 1896 by his brother Fredrick, who had for many years been Assistant Caretaker. Zealous and capable, Fredrick remained as Caretaker until March 1903, when he resigned to go to Western Australia.
Jeremiah's Trouble with Horses in the Evening of his Life
Sylvia Evans in 1988 recounted that Jeremiah "always had an eye for a good horse". Whatever the actual circumstances, Jeremiah ran foul of the Law in 1900, when on 21 August he was arrested at his Jenolan Caves residence. On 7 September, at Oberon, he was committed for trial on three counts of horse stealing.
Jeremiah is reputed to have occasionally trotted off with horses belonging to others such as his brother Fred or brother-in-law Andrew, each of whom had had differences with Jeremiah, and it was variously supposed that one of these had brought the charges. Rather, they often railed and threatened to do so, but withheld, allowing the borrower to return when convenient. [Basil Ralston (pers comm, 2000) recalled a conversation circa 1980 with a lady then about 90 who had known Jeremiah when she was a girl: she had recounted that when a neighbour had lost his horse, her father said to Jerry "That man has lost his horse. He has had a lot of trouble lately with a sick wife. He cannot afford to lose his horse."; the horse came back.]
In fact, the charges in 1900 were brought by Robert Vincent (miner and labourer, of Jenolan Caves), William Reeves (farmer, of Duckmaloi) and Ernest Thomas Whalan (butcher, of Oberon). The latter was the son of John McLean Whalan of Edith, who rented his home from Jeremiah. It was alleged that on 3 August 1900 the accused stole one 16-hand bright bay saddle gelding from Vincent, one black draught gelding from Reeves and one dark draught mare from Whalan.
Though it was recommended that Jerry be remanded to face trial, he was granted bail set at £160 - £80 from his own purse and £40 sureties each from Thomas Wilson and Andrew McGregor Beattie, both from the Fish River district near Oberon.
It was alleged that the horses were among those trucked across flooded rivers to Mount Victoria, by Jeremiah alone, on the evening of the 3 August, where they were consigned aboard No 32 Up via Penrith to Flemington, to be auctioned there by J Inglis & Sons.
The charges were augmented by a deposition made on 30 September by Edward Cooke (?of Cooke's Point near the top of the Five Mile Track) that
On the night of 23rd of August... Mr Jeremiah Wilson came to my house at Jenolan and asked me to do him a favour, saying I could get him out of trouble: in asking what the favour was he said that he stole my mare and that if I would sign a receipt as having sold the mare he would give me the value of her, and then when I went to Sydney to identify her I could tell the police she was not my property and that I had sold her to him.
Cooke declined to give favour, and on the 24th travelled to Newtown to claim his horse; contracting influenza, he recovered his horse on 22 September and returned to Oberon to make his deposition. Further, a black unclaimed stolen horse which had been hurt was stated by Constable Haine of Oberon to have been destroyed.
Jeremiah Wilson was brought to trial before Justice G B Simpson in the Bathurst Circuit Court on 11 October 1900 (cases 2, 3 and 4 - in turn plaintiffs Reeves, Vincent and Whalan) . The charges by Reeves were for cattle stealing, receiving, and horse stealing, and in the other cases simply horse stealing. Jeremiah pleaded guilty on the second count (receiving). An order was made for the delivery of the three horses to their respective owners. Mr Crick of Sydney, counsel for the defence, applied for Jeremiah to be dealt with under the First Offenders Act, adducing evidence of the prisoner's good character. Jeremiah was remanded for sentence, and on the 12th instant the aforementioned application was refused and he was sentenced to 15 months hard labour in Bathurst Gaol. Cases 3 and 4 were included in the indictment in case 2.
Among the several prominent people from near and far who wrote giving testimony in favour of Jeremiah's good character were the following. Henry Butler of The Lagoon, in October 1900, deposed that he throughout an "... intimate association ... of 25 years ... found Mr Wilson thoroughly honest and trustworthy". John Vaughan, Rector of S Andrew's Summer Hill, wrote on 1 October that having known
"... for more than 30 years Jeremiah Wilson and his family - having been the CE Clergyman in the Fish River district and that for 15 years saw a great deal of him - [he found Jeremiah] a man of unblemished reputation; indeed I doubt if there was a man in the vicinity of Oberon and its surroundings who was more highly and generally respected than he was. Further I may add, it has never been my lot to this day to hear even a whisper against his uprighteousness, honesty and integrity."
James Doust, JP (before whom Jeremiah was arraigned), deposed on 1 October to have: "... not known anything wrong in his conduct or dealings and I thoroughly believe that his position under the Crown at Jenolan Caves has been carried out faithfully and conscientiously". Another deposed that Jeremiah was "a most reputable character ... sober, stead, well conducted in every way ...". Others testifying were Ward Harrison (Wesleyan minister at Molong, who had conducted Divine Service at the Caves for three years), Jac Barnes (JP of Triangle Flat, who had known Jeremiah "... all my days"), the Rector at O'Connell, Albert Fox JP, and businessmen W H Paul and J B Dalhunty who had found Jeremiah scrupulous and honest over 40 years and 16 years respectively.
The Bathurst Daily Times of Thursday 11 October reported on the case:
BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11.
CHARGE OF HORSE STEALING.
Jeremiah Wilson was arraigned for that he did, on August 3rd, at Mount Victoria, steal one gelding, the property of Robert Vincent, one gelding, the property of William Reeves, and one mare, the property of Ernest Thomas Whalan. A second count charged accused with stealing.
Accused was defended by Mr. W. P. Crick, who explained that his client had suffered deafness for eight or nine years, and would therefore be attended by his son, who could write down the questions.
Accused pleaded guilty to the second count.
The Crown Prosecutor said the Crown did not intend to proceed with the first counts.
Mr. Crick said he had some evidence to produce at a later hour if his Honor would appoint a time.
His Honor said he would take the evidence at 2 o'clock.
Subsequently, Mr. Crick called evidence as to the high character borne by the accused.
The Bathurst Daily Times of Friday 12 October continued from the penultimate paragraph:
Mr. Crick said accused had been known in this district for the last 35 or 40 years, and for about 20 years had been in charge of the Jenolan Caves, and the evidence he would produce would show that during that time accused had always been a good character. In this case he had been the dupe of someone else who had taken advantage of his infirmities, and he had been more sinned against than sinning. For a number of years he had been very deaf, and about five years ago there had been a fire at the house where accused lived, and since that time he had been absolutely unable to hear. He (Mr. Crick) had a number of testimonials of character from leading citizens, who had known accused for a great number of years. He should also call witnesses as to character. The testimonials were accepted by the Crown.
Gloster Searle White deposed that he had resided in Bathurst for over 40 years and had pursued the occupation of journalist in the town for 26 years, he had known the accused for between 20 and 30 years and had never heard anything detrimental to his character, had known him to be in charge of the Jenolan Caves for the last 20 years.
George Halkerston MacDougal deposed that he was one of the proprietors of the BATHURST TIMES and had resided in Bathurst about 40 years; he had been connected with the TIMES since 1864 and had known accused for about 20 years; so far as his knowledge enabled him to form an opinion, the accused had been a man of excellent character; had never heard anything against him or his family; accused had been afflicted with deafness for many years past.
Constable Taplin, stationed at Oberon, deposed that accused had borne a good character up to the time of this case.
Mr. Crick asked his Honor to deal leniently with the accused not only for his own sake but also for that of his family. He thought the depositions showed that the prisoner had been made the dupe of some man who had taken advantage of his age and infirmities to make a tool of him. It was hardly likely that a man who had lived to the age of 60 years with an unblemished character, should, in the evening of his life, commit a felony, and that in open daylight, and in a most public manner. He thought in such a case as this his Honor should allow the accused the benefit of the First Offenders Act.
His Honor said the First Offenders Act had been much abused.
Mr. Crick said that might be, but it was one of the most humane acts that had ever been framed in connection with the criminal law of New South Wales, giving as it did a chance to men who had committed an offence to regain their position instead of having to endure a lifelong punishment of shame and exile from society.
His Honor: I think, Mr. Crick, you had a good deal to do with the introduction of that bill into the Assembly.
Mr. Crick: And if I remember rightly your Honor piloted it through the Council. (Laughter.)
Referring to the case Mr. Crick added that the depositions showed that these horses had been either given or sold to accused by a man named McKenzie, and accused had then trucked them from Mount Victoria to Sydney, and they had been sold at auction by Mr. Inglis, accused standing in the box beside Mr. Inglis while the sale was in course of proceeding. Surely a man who knew he had committed a felony would not stand thus before the people and connect himself publicly with his crime. Then, again, he had not he appearance of a sharp horse-dealer. A horse-dealer was a very clever man. By clever he meant a man whose business principles were very elastic. He knew when he was a boy and lived in the bush that a horse-dealer would not scruple to take down his own father.
His Honor: Things have altered very much since you left the bush, Mr. Crick.
Mr. Crick: Perhaps the reason is because I left it.
Again reverting to his argument Mr. Crick said the facts of the case clearly pointed in the direction that accused was not morally guilty of committing the felony imputed against him.
His Honor: Such being the case, why did the accused plead guilty?
Mr. Crick replied that if he had taken that course he would have been obliged to go into the witness box, and his evidence would have shown that at a certain period of the transaction he ought to have known that he was doing an improper action, and such evidence could be made to prove that he was technically if not morally guilty. He could not have been found guilty on the charge of stealing because no one saw him with the horses until he engaged the truck to convey them to Sydney.
His Honor said that when a man pleaded guilty he always thought it showed a certain amount of regret for what he had done. The First Offenders Act had been very much abused, and he did not see his way clear to apply it in this case. It was not correct, as Mr. Crick had said, that he (His Honor), piloted the Act through the Council, but he had taken a very active part in getting the Act passed. It was much more extensive than the English Act, and it was a question whether it was not too extensive and left too much discretionary power to the court. The provisions of the act were not limited to offenders of a certain age, but it was only to apply in minor offences. The question was what constituted a minor offence? He did not think the charge accused stood indicted on could be so classed. However he promised to go through the depositions and give Mr. Crick's application consideration.
Accused was remanded for sentence.
The Bathurst Daily Times of Saturday 13 October summed up:
SENTENCES
Jeremiah Wilson, who pleaded guilty to receiving, was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labour in Bathurst gaol. His Honor in passing this sentence said he could not entertain the application for prisoner to be dealt with under the First Offenders Act, as the Act was only intended to be applied to minor offences and this was the very serious crime of receiving stolen property. One horse was stolen on 30th July and others on the 3rd of August and the Crown could, had it wished, [xxx] charged him on three separate counts of stealing. This would have rendered him liable to a much heavier penalty. He thought the Crown had taken a very lenient view of the case.
Edward Cooke's allegation certainly would not have helped Jeremiah's cause. Neither perhaps would the written deposition of Constable Haine of Oberon:
"... that Jeremiah Wilson is a well-known resident of the district and also is the Explorer of Jenolan Caves ... was charged at Oberon Police Court on 13th September 1882 with stealing 240 sheep the property of Thomas Slattery. The case was dismissed. Nothing has been known against the character of the accused since that time."
Jeremiah actually went to Goulburn Gaol, arriving on 22 October 1900. On 25th instant he was photographed. He was then 5'9" (without shoes), weighed 161lbs, had sandy to grey hair and blue eyes, and had a very deep scar on the crown of his head . The prisoner was discharged from Goulburn Gaol by remission on 25 October 1901 .
According to Sylvia Evans, Jeremiah had (in 1900) gone into the Gaol (a cold, hard place) "a fine strong man and came out as broken physically and mentally, ready to die". He never regained his self-esteem, usually sitting silently in a "pola" with head bowed withdrawn from company.
In 1901, whilst Jeremiah was incarcerated at Bathurst, the family's property east of Oberon near the confluence of Fish River Creek and Deep Creek was sold in bankruptcy by the official assignee, Mr N F Giblin, to William Bucknell . The compulsory sequestration took place on 1 April 1901, and the first meeting and public examination was conducted at Goulburn on 27 June that year . About the same period, Jeremiah's brother Noble selling his Newbridge properties, although this was likely to have been co-incidental.
Many details of Jeremiah's last years were later burnt by his daughter Sarah. Lucinda was "protected" by her children - "Mother must not be told anything to worry her". Perhaps they thought she had suffered enough.
Jeremiah died on 3 November 1907 at 15 Jersey Road, Woollahra , the home of his son Harold who was the informant on his death certificate. Jeremiah was buried at the Waverley Cemetery 5 November 1907 .
Lucinda, said to be a protective, gentile but strong old lady, lived with her daughter Maggie Cummings at 119 Cook Road, Centennial Park, Sydney until she died on 5 March 1920 aged 77 at "??Ozone Flats" Bondi Road, Bondi. She was interred in the same grave as her husband on 6 March 1920. By this date, Harold was resident at "Mizpah", Koorinda Ave, Kensington - a move of only about 2km.
Jeremiah, or Jerry, has been affectionately remembered and admired by his contemporaries and those who have researched the history of the Caves. Basil Ralston wrote in 1989 "... he will always be a hero. I have investigated sections of Jenolan known to very few people, which he discovered and explored. Only a brave and dedicated man could have found Elysium and many sections off Jubilee, where he went. He was a great man."
W L Harvard termed him "quaint but worthy ..."the Crown Prince of Guides'". With a fine eye for ladies as well as horses, Jeremiah Wilson earned his place in history by courage and high reputation.

1.2.1.1 John Vaughan Wilson (1868…1923) m. Mary Thomasine Liddle (1870…19..)

John Vaughan Wilson, born December 1868, first issue of JEREMIAH WILSON and LUCINDA BEATTY, married Mary Thomasine Liddle on 5 July 1893 in Sydney. Mary's birth to THOMAS and MARY LIDDLE had been registered at Hartley in 1870. There was at least one issue:
· the discovery of a new approach to the Lucas Cave via the Balcony on the southern wall of the Grand Arch (reported on 6 April 1892, this passage was opened to the public in 1897 and is the present access),

A Mary T Wilson, aged 53 years, died in Sydney in 1921. John died on 25 May 1923 near Hurstville NSW.

1.2.1.2 Margaret(ta) Dorothy Wilson (1872…1941) m. James Cummings (1868…1926)

James Cumming (born April 1868, ?Melbourne) met Margaret Dorothy Wilson (Maggie) while he was working installing the early electric lighting system at Jenolan Caves. James is said to have hailed from Worcester in England [this author had previously thought James probably born at L'field, the son of JAMES CUMMING and MARY THOMSON ]. James Cummings, a bachelor plumber, and Margaretta, a spinster living at home, were married on 26 September 1893 at the Jenolan Caves residence of Mr J Wilson; the marriage was witnessed by E J Wilson and M M Wilson and registered at Oberon and Grafton NSW. James and Margaretta had five children:
The death of James Cummings, son of ROBERT B and ELIZABETH R CUMMINGS, was registered at Petersham in Sydney in 1926. Margaretta Dorothy Cummings nee Wilson died on 27 September 1941 at Gloucester House, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney . She had died of a coronary occlusion, and was buried in the CoE section of Randwick cemetery; the informant to the death certificate was her son Leslie, then living at 27 Portland Street, Dover Heights NSW.

1.2.1.2.1 William Cummings (1893…1894)

William Cummings, born November 1893 at Redfern NSW , was the first child of labourer JAMES CUMMINGS and his wife MARGARET WILSON. William died on 5 April 1894 at Abercrombie Street, Darlington NSW, aged 5 months. The death was registered under the Child Protection Act, the informant being Sarah Williams, custodian. The coroner deemed no inquest necessary, and the infant was intered at Rookwood Necropolis (Presbyterian section), witnessed by Richard Crofte Williams and James Vaughan [?Wilson, uncle].

1.2.1.2.2 Walton Cummings (1911…?) m. Jessie Muriel Ogden (1911…)

Walton Cummings (born 1911 near Paddington NSW) married Jessie Muriel Ogden c1938. Jessie had been born in 1911 near Rockdale NSW, only four days after Walton. The couple were parents of two children:

At one stage Walton worked as projectionist for the Chief Film Censor. In 1993 Jessie was living at the McFarlane's Wahroonga home.

1.2.1.3 Edmund Jeremiah Wilson (1875…1925) m. Elsie Lilian Viwa Stuart (c1875…19..)

Edmund Jeremiah Wilson (Ted), born 8 July 1875 at Oberon, married Elsie Lilian Viwa Stuart on 26 December 1903 at North Sydney NSW. Elsie had been born in Fiji c1875, the daughter of Methodist missionaries. Their children included

In his younger years Edmund was known to have helped his father and his uncle Fred explore the caves at Jenolan. Edmund once squeezed down a narrow perpendicular hole in the Jubilee Cave but was unable to return: Jeremiah and Fred eventually were able to cut away enough limestone to free him.
Ted was known to George Nixon as an ironmonger working in Stoddarts general store in Manilla. Edmund J Wilson died on 8 August 1925 at Arthur Street, Manilla, northern New South Wales .

1.2.1.4 Maud May Wilson (1877…1901)

Maud May Wilson, born 28 May 1877, died unmarried 23 February 1901 aged 23 years. She was interred at Waverley Cemetery on 25 February 1901 (her grave later shared by her niece Phyllis; Maud's parents Jeremiah and Lucinda lie adjacent).

1.2.1.5 Herbert Fredrick Beattie Wilson (1879…1944) m. Mary Emma Brown (c1887…19..)

Herbert F B Wilson (Herby) was born on 4 December 1879, the son of JEREMIAH WILSON and LUCINDA BEATTIE. With others, Herby set up a camera repair shop in Sydney. Asked to repair an American's projector, Herby was able to make several improvements to the design and with his brother-in-law James Cummings began the production of the innovative C&W Projectors. These, for the first time, allowed movies to be screened without the "flicks".
He married Mary Emma Brown at St Matthias' CoE Paddington in Sydney on 22 March 1910 . Herby was noted as a bachelor clerk of 15 Jersey Road, Woollahra; Mary, born in Wingham NSW circa 1887 to farmer EDWIN BROWN and SARAH SUSANAH PARSONS, was noted as a spinster of Cook Road, Paddington, engaged in domestic duties. The wedding was witnessed by Ethel Lucinda Wilson and Harold Andrew McGregor Wilson.

It appears the couple had two children:
There was possibly also:

The death of Phyllis in 1911, when Herby was a clerk with the Harbour Trust, was a severe blow to Herby. Phyllis was interred on 12 January 1912 at Waverley Cemetery in the same grave as Maud May Wilson. Herby subsequently had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to a Sydney asylum where he worked in an office. He was engaged in a wide variety of trusted jobs at the asylum, and appeared normal much of the time. Although he occasionally went and stayed at home for brief periods, Mary apparently did not want him back and he remained most of his days at the asylum. [One source named Herbert's brother Harold as the sufferer].
[A BRUCE WILSON, reputedly a son of Herby, became a policeman].
Herbert Frederick Beattie Wilson, a clerk late of Bondi and Waverley, died aged 64 years on 20 June 1944 of senility at Gladesville Mental Hospital near Hunters Hill in Sydney ; he was intered next day at Rookwood Necropolis, CoE section.

1.2.1.6 Harold Andrew McGregor Wilson (1882…19..) m. Myra Beatrice Kendall (c1888…)

Bachelor electrical engineer Harold Andrew McGregor Wilson, a resident of Paddington NSW and born at Oberon to Jenolan Caves caretaker JEREMIAH WILSON and his wife LUCINDA BEATTIE in July 1882, married Myra Beatrice Kendall on 5 February 1908 at the residence of Mr Cummings, Cook Road, Sydney , to the rites of the Church of England. Myra, spinster engaged in home duties residing at Redfern NSW, was the daughter born circa 1888 at Tamworth NSW to police inspector THOMAS KENDALL and ANNIE TAYLOR. The wedding, officiated by S G Fielding, was witnessed by Thomas Kendall, who gave his consent to his daughter's marriage, and Herbert F B Wilson.

Harold retained the family's Oberon property. There was one known child to this union:
Harold must have been fairly successful in business, and was known as Flush Harold. He may have been the financially involved in the "Cummings & Wilson" cineamoscopic firm.

1.2.1.7 Lucinda Ethel Wilson (1885…1919)

Lucinda Ethel Wilson, born 3 December 1885, was a very beautiful natural golden blond, and very fond of her "Aunt Maggie" - Margaret Dorothy Forster - and always tried to help her.

In 1919 a very severe influenza epidemic struck Sydney - in Sylvia Evans' words "... a real killer. People dying like flies and turning black. All the public when away from their homes had to wear masks. In the matter of hours a well person could be dead and black. Pneumonic Flu [was] said to be Europe's Black Death of the 14th century". During the epidemic which kept all the women at home, Ethel nursed the others but eventually contracted the virus herself and subsequently died on 4 July 1919 at 178 Rainbow Street, Randwick . Ethel had been engaged to and hoped to marry a Dr Doyle, who attended to her during her illness and after her death took a voyage abroad. While in Italy he saw and purchased a statue which he brought back to Australia and placed on her headstone at Waverley Cemetery. He never afterwards tried to establish a relationship with another woman. A Dr. W. O. [??A.] Doyle of Glebe attended Ethel's mother Lucinda prior to her death in 1920. Doyle may have been previously married (per verbal advice her ??sister Sarah?? [pers comm Eileen Franey, 15 July 2000]).

Sylvia Evans remembered that the Wilson house in Lang (?or Cook?) Road at Centennial Park faced the showground, and that someone in the family had become members of the Royal Agricultural Society, with two free passes to the Show. All members of the household, dressed primly and properly, would go to the Show in pairs, the passes being passed as arranged by Ethel through a hole in the fence to those waiting outside. Sylvia thought this was typical action of the kind, thoughtful, caring and mischievously fun-loving nature of Ethel.

1.2.2 Noble Wilson (1841…1919) m. Margaret Larnach nee Armstrong (1831…1918)

Noble Wilson was born September 1841 in Fermanagh IRL, the son of WILLIAM WILSON and his wife REBECCA LIDDLE, who emigrated to New South Wales when Noble was an infant. Noble reputedly ran a coach from Tarana to Jenolan Caves via Oberon during the early days of the Caves. According to Basil Ralston (1990), Noble was active in the early exploration of the Lucas Cave in the early 1860, but was not the 1858 discoverer of the Lucas as named by Alf Whalan and claimed on the brass plate in the Grand Arch. At one time Noble resided at "Newbridge", a house in Oberon. He was a resident of Caloola in July 1890 when he attested his father's death certificate (resided "Ferndale" Caloola from at least 1864 to 1919): William died at Caloola.

Nobel Wilson married Margaret Larnach nee Armstrong at Rockley on 10 March 1864 . Margaret was the Irish-born daughter of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and his wife MARY ANN WILSON and had emigrated to New South Wales with them aboard the Argyle arriving on 31 March 1839. On 31 December 1852 Margaret had married John Larnach, by whom she bore five children, three of whom died young. For further details refer to Section 16.1.1, beginning on page 144.

Nobel and Margaret had five children, all born at Caloola:
Noble Wilson died at Caloola on 3 April 1919 .

1.2.2.1 Albert Noble Wilson (1866…1914) m. Sara(h) Ann Wilson (1870…1942)

Albert Noble Wilson ("Ted"), born 5 July 1866 at Caloola NSW, son of NOBLE WILSON and his wife and first cousin MARGARET WILSON (formerly LARNACH, nee ARMSTRONG), married his first cousin Sara(h) Ann Wilson, daughter of JEREMIAH WILSON and LUCINDA BEATTY, on 18 April 1892 Ted and Sarah had perhaps five (at least four) children:
Albert Noble Wilson died on 23 December 1914 at Newbridge . Sara(h) Ann Wilson nee Wilson died at Parramatta [?registered at Maclean NSW] on 20 January 1942; her ashes were scattered at Cowra.

1.2.2.1.1 Keith Wilson (1900…1963) m. Annetta Josephine Dures (1903…1994)

Keith Wilson, son of ALBERT N WILSON and his wife and first cousin SARA(H) ANN WILSON, married Annetta Josephine Dures on 4 January 1935. Anetta, born July 1903 at Waterloo NSW to THOMAS A DURES and JANE A FEARISH (whose marriage was registered at Waterloo in 1898). Keith and Anetta had two children:

Anetta died on 26 August 1994.

1.2.3 James Teulon Wilson (1843…1916) m1. Mary Louisa Knowles (1853…1888), m2. Mary Josephine O'Sullivan (1863…)

James Teulon* Wilson (Jim) [*variously written as Toulon, Tooling and Fenton] was born December 1843 en route to Australia aboard the United Kingdom, and baptised in a Wesleyan-Methodist ceremony on the Bathurst - Hill End circuit in shortly thereafter . He later ran a coach service from Mt Victoria to the Caves. Jim's name is among those accredited with the discovery of the Jubilee Cave in 1893. He was at Jenolan with his brother Jeremiah, H Legge and cave's labourer Robert Bailey on 21 February 1893 to investigate Jeremiah's find of the previous day, a cavern accessed through a crack from the Fairies' Retreat in the Right Imperial Cave. This became known as the Slattery Cave, renamed the Jubilee in 1897.

James, a farmer, married Mary Louisa Knowles in 1878 in Sydney; she was the daughter baptised in the Presbyterian tradition during 1853 at Moreton Bay in Brisbane QLD to banker ALEXANDER KNOWLES and LOUISA JANE FRENCH. Mary, apparently also known as Louisa, was living at Manly beach in NSW at the time of her wedding. She died near Parramatta NSW on 19 May 1888, aged 35 years . James and Louisa had five children:

James later married Mary Josephine O'Sullivan at Newtown on 26 November 1890 , with issue:

James T Wilson, son of William and Rebecca, died at Lewisham Private Hospital on 5 August 1916 .

1.2.4 William L Wilson (1845…1923) m. Annie Dutton (1862…1935)

William L Wilson, son of WILLIAM and REBECCA WILSON, born February 1846, was baptised in a Wesleyan-Methodist ceremony on the Bathurst - Hill End circuit . William married Annie Dutton at Wellington on 8 March 1882; there was no issue of the marriage. Annie, born at Wellington in 1862, was the eldest of nine children of JAMES DUTTON and MARY ANN CULLEN, whose marriage was registered at Wellington in 1861.

William L Wilson, son of William and Rebecca, died at Oberon on 28 August 1923 . Annie died on 21 March 1935. Both werre buried at "Glyndwr" east of Oberon. [The death of another, English-born, William Wilson, son of William and Rebecca, was registered at Mudgee NSW in 1902 ]. No other details are known.

1.2.5 Sarah Ann Wilson (1847…1868)

Sarah Ann Wilson, daughter of WILLIAM and REBECCA WILSON, was baptised in a Wesleyan-Methodist ceremony on the Bathurst - Hill End circuit in 1848 . Sarah never married. Sarah predeceased her mother, dying at Fish River Creek near Oberon on 10 April 1868 aged 20 years; her death was registered at Bathurst .

1.2.6 Thomas Wilson (1850…1938) m. Louisa Emily Lawrence (c1857…1931)

Thomas Wilson, son of WILLIAM and REBECCA WILSON, born April 1850, was baptised in a Wesleyan-Methodist ceremony on the Bathurst - Hill End circuit . Thomas married Louisa Emily Lawrence on 9 April 1880; they raised two children:

Thomas was known to be a farmer resident in the Fish River Creek area in September 1900, a neighbour of Andrew McGregor Beattie and in contact with Jeremiah Wilson. Louisa Wilson nee Lawrence died 8 April 1931. Thomas Wilson, son of William and Rebecca, died 29 October 1938 (the death registered in Sydney ). They were both buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery at Oberon, ?together with Emily and Rupert?.

1.2.7 Eliza Jane Wilson (1852…1939) m. Philip Rich (1848…)

Eliza Jane Wilson, daughter of WILLIAM and REBECCA WILSON, born February 1852, was baptised in a Wesleyan-Methodist ceremony on the Bathurst - Hill End circuit . On 25 March 1880 at Wellington Eliza married Philip Rich; They reared three children:
Eliza Rich nee Wilson died on 23 October 1939.

1.2.8 Frederick John Wilson (1853…1925) m. Margaret Eliza Lobban (c1864…)

Frederick John Wilson, born 1853 in NSW, the eighth of ten (or nine) children of WILLIAM WILSON and his wife REBECCA LIDDELL, married Margaret Eliza Lobban (sometimes appears as Cobban) at St Barnabas' CoE, Oberon, on 3 February 1885 ; witnesses were Jeremiah Wilson and his wife and Sarah (nee Beattie). At the time Frederick, a bachelor resident of Oberon, was Assistant Keeper (at Jenolan Caves, where his brother Jeremiah was Keeper), and Margaret a spinster of South Bowenfels working as a teacher. The couple raised six children:

Margaret was the daughter of THOMAS and JANE LOBBAN; her birth was registered in the Manning River district in the NSW mid-north coast in 1864, where the birth of her elder sister Mary Isabella Lobban had been registered in 1862. A spinster living with her guardian at Bowenfels NSW, Mary married bachelor timber merchant John Wood Eaton of St Leonards NSW on 11 March 1885 at "Fetonville", Bowenfels, Hartley. [The death of Mary Isabella Eaton nee Lobban was registered at North Sydney in 1938; likewise the death of John Wood Eaton, son of ANDREW and MARY EATON.] Mary and John's Presbyterian wedding before Andrew MacKenzie was witnessed by Andrew Eaton and Janet Sarah Lobban, third child of Thomas and Jane (her birth registered at Port Macquarie in 1866). Other births registered to Thomas and Jane were of Alexander T D Lobban (Port Macquarie, 1869), Eliza J R Lobban (Paddington, 1871; baptised in 1871at S Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney) and Thomas Samuel Lobban (Sydney, 1874).
Frederick at one stage resided at "Melrose" and later at "Lammer Muir", houses apparently in Oberon. Frederick, who had been appointed Assistant Caretaker at Jenolan Caves in 1880, replaced Jeremiah as Caretaker in 1896 when the latter's lease was terminated. Zealous and capable, Fredrick remained as Caretaker until March 1903, when he resigned to supposedly to undertake the development of caves in Western Australia, arriving in Perth in May. In 1989 Basil Ralston's researches yielded no trace of F J Wilson's stay in Western Australia, although he turned up again from 1907 until 1920 as a guide at Buchan Caves in Victoria.
Fred's contribution to the exploration and development of Jenolan Caves included:
· the discovery of the magnificent Aladdin Cave, reported on 10 November 1897 and
· the discovery in May 1900 of the Mafeking Cave, a beautiful chamber off the Lucas Cave (opened to the pubic in 1902).
This latter he achieved by scaling a wall of loose rock in the Exhibition Cavern of the Lucas and negotiating a passage to an isolated cavern in range of colour and formation better than the rest of the Lucas. In so doing he made the first discovery of the southern system of caves since the Lucas was found in 1860. Fred installed the lighting in the Mafeking, which was opened for inspection in 1902. Perhaps his most important find was his brother Jeremiah, who had become lost exploring the Mammoth Cave in 1882. Some details of Frederick's contributions to the development of Jenolan Caves are included in the earlier section on Jeremiah Wilson.
Regarding Fred's differences with his brother Jeremiah, Basil Ralston (pers comm, 2000) noted
In 1897 Fred wrote to the Department of Mines that one "J. Wilson" had not made known any discoveries made by him [Fred]. Again in 13th. Feb. 1897 he asked that "J. Wilson be instructed to point out new discoveries made by him". I know that Fred made an early survey of Jubilee Cave. No doubt Fred lived in the shadow of his brother.

Fred died at Bondi on 20 August 1925 and was buried at Waverley.

1.2.9 Abraham (William) Wilson (1856…1860)

Abraham Wilson (William) was born August 1856, son of WILLIAM and REBECCA WILSON; he died of laryngitis at Fish River Creek near Oberon on 12 June 1860; his birth and death was registered at Hartley . On William's 1856 birth certificate, his father is noted as a farmer 48 years old, born at Derrehillaugh FER, and his mother as Rebecca Liddell, 44, born at Gortgranagh FER; William's siblings were listed as Jeremiah 17, Noble 15, James 13, William 11, Sarah 9, Thomas 7, Jane 5 and Frederick 3.

1.3 Lucinda Wilson (1813…1869) m. William Fleming (1807…1892)

Lucinda Wilson was the first of the children of JAMES WILSON and ANN COULTER to emigrate, arriving with her husband William Fleming (born July 1807) and their first-born aboard the Clyde in February 1836. Their children were:

Lucinda Fleming nee Wilson died at Oberon on 18 February 1869. William Fleming died 29 June 1892.

1.4 Alicia Wilson (1816…1902) m. Alexander Graham (c1861…1881)

Alicia Wilson (perhaps also written as Alice) and her husband Alexander Graham emigrated with Alice's sister, Mary Ann Wilson, aboard the Argyle, arriving in Sydney on 31 March 1839. Alicia and Alexander had nine children:

Alexander Graham died 10 August 1881; his wife Alicia Graham nee Wilson died 20 July 1902.

1.5 Alexander Wilson (1817…1878) m. Mary Armstrong

Alexander Wilson was the last of the children of JAMES WILSON and ANN COULTER to emigrate, arriving in NSW in 1849. As a widower, Alexander married Mary Armstrong at Surry Hills NSW on 14 March 1856. Their issue was:

There were reportedly also:

Other births were registered to an Alexander and Mary A Wilson in the Wollongong district, including:

Alexander died at Oberon on 20 September 1878.

1.6 Frances (Fanny) Wilson (1819…1907) m. Henry Brien (1809…1875)

Frances Wilson (Fanny) emigrated to Sydney with her brother William Wilson and his family, her younger sister Rebecca Wilson, 22, and neighbour Ellen McBern, aged 18 years.

Arriving after 128 difficult days en route from Liverpool, U.K., Frances and Rebecca decided to leave the ship once berthed in Sydney, following their sick brother William who had gone ashore of his own accord to reside 'at Ralston's, Shoemaker, King Street West'. Frances was directed to hospital suffering from "Hysteria", from whence she was discharged on 17 May 1844 and entrusted to the care of her sister Rebecca and friend Ellen McBern.
Fanny joined her family at Fish River Creek, where other early settlers included many families from the same region of Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone. These included the Briens, Flemings, Armstrongs and Eatons, and the Baileys from further east in Co Tyrone.

Fanny married Henry Brien in a house at Macquarie Plains near Bathurst on 3 May 1853 to Wesleyan rites; she was 32 years of age. Henry was the Kilcurdie-born son of ROBERT BRIEN and his wife MARY JOHNSTONE, and had emigrated from Ireland aboard the Garland, arriving in Sydney on 15 March 1851
.
Henry and Fanny quickly moved to a selection about 300m south of the present "Ferndale" property, between the Fish River Creek and the Fish River, and some 7km east of Oberon on the main road to Sydney. (In 1987 the property was sold out of the Brien family). Henry was granted title to his selection for 80 pounds, and in the slab house with bark roof there erected were born their five children:

Henry sold his property to William Brien in 1874, and the family moved to 200 virgin acres at Back Creek near Cowra, which he named "Wellwood Farm". Henry died soon after, on 1 December 1875, and was buried in the CoE section of Cowra Cemetery. Fanny raised her family at the farm, much later moving to Sydney where she died on 27 February 1907, aged 87 years.
Ten years after the death of her husband, Fanny wrote of her voyage aboard the United Kingdom in a letter to the Cowra Free Press, published on Friday 18 December 1885, viz:
"To the Editor, Cowra Free Press.
Sir,
I, Fanny Wilson form Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland left my home in the latter part of the year 1844 and was in Liverpool, England, the last Sabbath of that year. I was appointed Matron over about 72 young women on board the immigrant ship United Kingdom commanded by Captain Tooland. We left England on the 1st day of the New Year 1845.
Finding ourselves getting short of water the Captain put in at Table Bay, Kaffirland. After leaving Table Bay, sickness broke out, scarlet, brain and typhus fever raging from saloon to forecastle. Dr. Hare [English], Dr. Harper [England] and Dr. Cous [Ireland] used their united skill to stay the havoc amongst those on board. 27 were buried in the deep. At this time I was one of the typhus patients. I gradually recovered, but with the loss of my hearing in the left year.
Being very unwell lately, I placed myself under Dr. Smith's care and with God's blessing and the doctor's treatment, wonderful to say I have regained my hearing.
Dr. Bartlett has also been very kind to me. In conclusion, I must say we have two as skilled doctors, as there are in the colony. My dear husband died 1st December, 1875 and has gone to a better land.
Yours etc.
Fanny Brien
Wellwood Farm, Cowra.
December 11, 1885."
(In this letter, Fanny erred one year in her recall of her immigration dates). Further excellent detail of this family can be found in "The Brien Family Irish Origins", by C F Brien and N W Brien, which traces the Briens and other related families from their days in Ireland through the early development of the Oberon-Bathurst-Cowra area and into this century.

1.7 Rebecca Wilson (1821..…1863) m. Robert Armstrong (c1823…1881)

Rebecca Wilson, after emigrating aboard the United Kingdom, married Robert Armstrong (born October 1823 - a nephew of William Armstrong, the husband of her sister Mary Ann). Rebecca and Robert settled in the Oberon/Cowra district. Their issue included:

Rebecca Armstrong nee Wilson died 16 September 1863. After Rebecca's death, Robert re-married circa 1869 to Mary Jane Deane; they parented two boys and two girls. Robert died 26 January 1881; Mary Jane died 22 March 1905 at Oberon.
@@@For futher details regarding Rebecca refer to Section 1.2, William Wilson (1807…1890) m. Rebecca Liddell (c1812…1884), beginning on page 122.

1.7.1 George Alexander Armstrong (1861…19..) m. ?Emma E Campbell

George Alexander Armstrong, born January 1861 at Oberon, was a son of ROBERT ARMSTRONG and his wife REBECCA WILSON. George Armstrong and Emma Campbell were married near Bathurst in 1880. Their issue seem to have included:

 
Anything to add?
If you have any queries about this family, or information to add, please eMail
Ross Beattie ( ross.beattie@environment.nsw.gov.au)
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