Hartley, NSW
William Wilson and his wife, Winifred, passed through Hartley with their family in November 1861. We know this because we have a record of their daughter, Bridget, being baptised on 5 November 1861 in St John's Anglican Church in Hartley. The baptismal record notes that she was born on 27 May at the Meroo River.
On the other side of my family, John Merrin, worked as a police officer in Hartley around 1860-1862.
This is what Hartley was like in the early 1860s.
In 1863, the population of Hartley was 118.
On the other side of my family, John Merrin, worked as a police officer in Hartley around 1860-1862.
This is what Hartley was like in the early 1860s.
In 1863, the population of Hartley was 118.
William Wilson and his Family
This 2019 map shows that Hartley is approximately half-way between Windeyer (where the Wilson family lived between 1856 and 1861) and the area of Tarlo, Woodhouselee and Cotta Walla, where they were living in 1866 when their youngest child, Mary, was born.
I think it's likely that the Wilsons found a bit of gold in Windeyer and, having between three and five children with them, decided to leave the goldfields and buy land in the area where Winifred had grown up.
The journey would have taken some time so they would have stopped in various towns along the way, including Hartley which was a thriving community at the time.
I can't be sure but it's possible the family stayed in Hartley for a week or so in November 1861, breaking their journey and taking the opportunity to have five-month-old Bridget baptised.
I think it's likely that the Wilsons found a bit of gold in Windeyer and, having between three and five children with them, decided to leave the goldfields and buy land in the area where Winifred had grown up.
The journey would have taken some time so they would have stopped in various towns along the way, including Hartley which was a thriving community at the time.
I can't be sure but it's possible the family stayed in Hartley for a week or so in November 1861, breaking their journey and taking the opportunity to have five-month-old Bridget baptised.
John Merrin
The entries below for Hartley in The Australian Almanac are for the 1863 edition. I have been unable to locate an earlier edition of The Australian Almanac.
John Merrin is not mentioned which suggests he was no longer stationed in Hartley in 1863. Nevertheless, the entries give an idea of what Hartley was like in the early 1860s.
John Merrin is not mentioned which suggests he was no longer stationed in Hartley in 1863. Nevertheless, the entries give an idea of what Hartley was like in the early 1860s.