William Stephens
- Born
- 1829-01-01 12:00:00
- Died
- 1913-12-28 12:00:00
- Gender
- Male
- Place of migration
- Migrated to/Born in Australia
William Stephens was born in Killinkere, Cavan Ireland. He migrated to Australia at age 19 years onboard the Canton arriving in Sydney New South Wales on the 12th June 1848 with his parents James & Jane Stephens & his 6 siblings. Reference- The New South Wales, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 / Immigrant Ship Canton, 12th June 1848. This document states that his mother Jane (maiden name Smith) & the children were all born in Killinkere Cavan & father James was born in Dinn Cavan. Father James was listed as a Land Steward & William as a Farm Servant.
After arrival in 1848 some members of the family spent unsuccessful time in the Goldfields (NSW Parliamentary Records). His attached photo is also from these Records.
William married Mary Ann Montgomery of Cavan Ireland on the 14th April 1857 at the Presbyterian Church, Pitt St, Sydney New South Wales. Mary had arrived in the Colony from Cavan Ireland about 1857 as a 20 year old. William & Mary had 6 children .
William was a Market Gardener also Wool Scourer & Fellmonger in Sydney before becoming elected as a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1887 - 1891, & then 1894 - 1895. In 1887 he received a NSW Commission Appointment for the Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne Australia. He was still active politically in 1901 as he became Alderman & Mayor of Botany Municipal Council, Sydney. His other attributes were 1867 Member of the Public School Board Botany NSW,
1869 Church Warden St Matthews Church of England, Botany, Sydney NSW. 1878 Member of the Church of England Synod, Sydney NSW.
About 1868 he changed his & the families surname to Stephen dropping the 'S'. Reason unknown.
Wiiliam died on 29th December 1913 & is buried in the Church of England Section, Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Botany, Sydney Australia. An Obituary in the Watchman Newspaper Sydney, Thursday 22 january 1914 by the Loyal Orange Institute said "He was a warmhearted, genial man, with a sunny smile and cheery voice , but with a retiring disposition".
