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Hello,

I'm trying to find out more about a young boy named William Nish born approx 1841 in Wigtownshire, Scotland. At this stage I do not know who his parents are. Just in case Wigtownshire is a small place this may be easy to find. His birth and maybe Census information.

William came to Australia by 1899 where he married Isabella Hall. As yet I'm still searching for his travel to Australia more than likely landing in Sydney or Melbourne. I have alot of information after his arrival in Australia but not alot of information of his life with his family in Wigstownshire.

Hope someone can help.

Thanking you Kaye.
Updated - I will be back on line again tomorrow morning (Aust time) will look and my thread then. Big thank you to helpers.

Many thanks to you all
Kind regards Kaye

There are a few options on Ancestry but without knowing parentage, it is difficult to proceed.

His marriage cert. should give the name of his father and his profession which may help find him in the census records! Do you not have this info?

Wigtownshire is what it says a Shire, or County, not a town. Do you not know what town he was born this would narrow the search?

hello kaye

william nish was the son of william nish and grace sproat. he was born in wigtown 26th june 1837 and was baptised in sorbie village 30/07/1837

if you e me directly at [email protected] i will try to send you the copie of the entry. it is a little faint though.


no joy on his journey to au though

hope that helps

carole

This is the William given by Carole:-
Name: William Nish
Age: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838
Gender: Male
Where born: Wigtownshire, Scotland

Civil Parish: Sorbie
County: Wigtownshire
Address: Sorbie Village
Parish Number: 897
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Nish 55 - born: Wigtownshire (Tailor)
Grace Nish 30 - born: Wigtownshire, Scotland
Alexander Nish 7
James Nish 5
William Nish 3
Thomas Nish 1

the marriage cert. should confirm the above info on his father!

Same family in 1851:-
Name: William Nish
Age: 13
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: William
Mother's Name: Grace
Gender: Male
Where born: Sorbie, Wigtonshire
Parish Number: 897
Civil Parish: Sorbie
Town: Sorbie
County: Wigtownshire
ED: 2
Page: 4 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 16
Line: 3
Roll: CSSCT1851_217
Household Members:
Name Age
William Nish 68 - born: Sorbie, Wigtonshire
Grace Nish 47 - born: Girthon, Kirkcudbright
William Nish 13
Grace Nish 9
Elizabeth Nish 5
Thomas Nish 10
Mary Nish 48 - Half Sister - born: Sorbie, Wigtonshire
(Formerly House Servant )

and in 1861:-
Name: Grace Nish
Age: 58
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Relationship: Wife
Gender: Female
Where born: Girthon, Kirkcudbright
Registration Number: 897
Registration district: Sorbie
Civil Parish: Sorbie
County: Wigtownshire
Address: Sorbie Village
Occupation: Pauper
ED: 6
Household schedule number: 13
Line: 13
Roll: CSSCT1861_149
Household Members:
Name Age
Grace Nish 58
Thomas Nish 20
Elizabeht Nish 16
George Wilson 38 - Brother born: Penninghame, Wigtown
(Shepherd)

That's a bit of luck! If this is the correct family then you now have mothers maiden name, but it is not Sprout?

Two William Nish's are shown in the 1841 Scotland Census born Wigtownshire - one c1837 parents John and Mary Nish , Civil Parish of Mochrum and the other c1838 father William Nish and Grace Sproat, Civil Parish of Sorbie - christening found on Latter Day Saints as follows:- 30th July 1837, Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland.

Tried to follow both of these Williams through the census, the first to reappear is William Nish born c1837 (Mochrum) with his children John, Mary, William, Elizabeth and Hugh and mother-in-law Annie Goodwin - 1881 Scotland Census. Marriage of this William Nish found on Latter Day Saints as follows: 28th July 1864, Mochrum, Wigtown, Scotland to Susan Goodwin.

This William Nish (Mariner) appears in the 1891 Scotland Census with children David, Elizabeth and Hugh also Annie Goodwin mother-in-law. And then he appears in the 1901 Scotland Census with his daughter Mary Nish.

Chances are that this is not the William Nish (Retired Mariner)you are looking for, therefore its possible that the other William c1838 is the man you need to follow.

Have checked findmypast for emmigration of William Nish, nothing showing, although these records only start from 1890.

Lynne

As William was found on census records in 1841 and 1851 but not 1861 I searched from 1851 to 1861 and found the following...

New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 about William Nish
Name: William Nish
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Age: 23
Port of Departure: Melbourne
Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales
Voyage Arrival Date: 22 Nov 1859
Vessel Name: Burnett
Origin Location: Wigton <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

He is listed as part of the crew.
So possible the other William that Lynne tolds us about.

Christening for Alexander:-
ALEXANDER NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 20 MAY 1833 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland
Father: WILLIAM NISH
Mother: ELISABETH ROB

so maybe William was married twice?

All parents William Nish and Grace Sproat:-

JAMES THOMSON NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 14 JUN 1835 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland

WILLIAM NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 30 JUL 1837 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland

THOMAS NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 29 SEP 1839 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland

GRACE NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 30 OCT 1842 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland

ELIZABETH STEWART NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 04 MAY 1845 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland

Alexander was christened in 1833 but William didn't marry Grace until 1834:-

WILLIAM NISH - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 17 JUN 1834 Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland
Spouse: GRACE SPROT

Maybe Elizabeth died in child birth, or Alexander was just his illegitimate child?

Alan, Catherine, Carole, Rootgatherer, Lynne from up North, and Julie,

Thank you all so very much for your fantastic research.

I will order William's marriage certificate to Isabella Hall in Australia go from there, hopefully it will have all the details I need to confirm who his parent/s were.

Appreciate the sites and other advice you have provided, will be following up. Thank you Carole, I will email you.

UPDATED POST - I just downloaded the 1889 Marriage Certificate for William Nish (son) and Isabella Hall, didn't know it was so easy online from the Victorian BDM (Aust). His age at marriage was 49yrs making his birth age 1840. Isabella's was 26yrs.

It states William's father was William Nish and mother was Grace Sproat. William (father) occupation was Butcher (deceased).

William (son) occupation listed on marriage certificate is hard to read ... looks like Mauer or Mauen but google doesn't bring up an occupation of these likely spellings, any ideas.

It states William (son) was born Scotland, doesnt say which town.

Isabella's parents were William Hall (occupation Gentleman, deceased) and mother was Catherine Hall nee Black on the marriage certificate. Although doing the Vic BDM search there are two Isabella Hall's born 1863 and 1864 and the mother's maiden names are Catherine Webster and Catherine Bowman. Unsure which is correct at this time.

If anyone can help me with further family history details that would be great.


With thanks
Kaye

Do you have William's death certificate ?
It may also help with extra info..

Name .. Wm Nish
Year .. 1916
Age 76yrs ......(b. abt 1840)
District .. R'glen
Reg. no. .. 3574

Found him on Australian Electoral Rolls,(AER) of 1901-1936, but he had retired by then, so no help with his occupation.

Do you have, or do you want the AER info. for this family ?
It gives their address and occupation.
Let me know if you want it.

Was surprised to see that Nicholas Mc Culloch Nish was female !

Hi Julie,

Thanks would love to have the AER info for this family.

I did a search of the Vic BDM and sure enough Nicholas McCulloch Nish is a female and she married Frederick Benbow. Family history goss tells the story that William wanted a son, maybe he did the birth registration (smile). She was apparently nicknamed Nickles.

I also did a Vic BDM search on William's death for 1916 but the search tells me that details are quite limited on the certificate, so I decided not to get it - showed both father and mother unknown. (1916 reg No. 3574)

Thanks again.
Kind regards Kaye

So the info found would seem to be all correct, however, if William's father is noted as being Butcher why in 1841 is he noted as Tailor? Could be a transcription error of course.

Checked 1851 census to see William's occupation and it is noted as:-
Occupation: Tailor (master)

Kaye,
Just thought.
If the marriage cert. says that mother of Isabella, was Catherine Hall nee "Black", then surely neither births you have found for Isabella will be the correct one.

Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936 about William Nish
Name: William Nish
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1914 <<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Indi
Subdistrict: Rutherglen
OCCUPATION .. -- no occupation
ADDRESS .. Chiltern West
With Isabella, home duties (h/d)

This is the only entry for William (snr) although Isabella was on the 1909 registra at the same address.

Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936 about Isabella Nish
Name: Isabella Nish
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1919 <<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Maribyrnong
Subdistrict: Moonee Ponds
OCCUPATION .. Nurse
ADDRESS .. 93 Hall St.

Name: Isabella Nish
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1931 <<<<<<< & 1936 <<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Bourke
Subdistrict: Coburg
OCCUPATION .. h/d
ADDRESS .. Greenwood St. W7


I am assuming that this is for William junior as senior would have been 69, and hopefully retired, and the address is different than that of Isabella

Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936 about William Nish
Name: William Nish
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1909 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Indi
Subdistrict: Rutherglen
OCCUPATION .. Labourer
ADDRESS .. Great Northern.

Name: William Nish
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1936 <<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Indi
Subdistrict: Rutherglen
OCCUPATION .. Farmer
ADDRESS .. Peechelba
with Helen Gladys

Don't have any credits left for Scotlands People web site but did manage to narrow a death search down to find William Nish, (William's father)

Surname: Nish
Forename: William
County: Wigtown
District: Sorbie
Year: 1858
Age: 75
which makes date of birth: 1783

If you have an account with this site it would probably help to view a copy of the record.

Eliza Winifred Nish b. 1889 ; d. 1965 ; m. 1910 Ernest Arthur PIRANI
--> Raymond Edward b. 1911
--> Frederick Ernest b. 1913

Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936 about Ernest Arthur Pirani
Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1914 <<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: Prahran
OCCUPATION .. Railway Employee
ADDRESS .. 22 Grattan St.
with Eliza Winifred, h/d

Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1919 <<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: Prahran
OCCUPATION .. Railway Employee
ADDRESS .. 21 Grattan St.
with Eliza Winifred, h/d

Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1924 <<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: Malvern
OCCUPATION .. Engine Driver
ADDRESS .. 9 Soudan St., Malvern
with Eliza Winifred, h/d

Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1931 <<<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: Prahran
OCCUPATION .. Engine Driver
ADDRESS .. 13 Porter St.
with Eliza Winifred, h/d

there was a second entry for 1931...

Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1931 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: South Yarra
OCCUPATION .. Engine Driver
ADDRESS .. 37 Airlie St.
with Eliza Winifred, h/d

Name: Ernest Arthur Pirani
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1936 <<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Fawkner
Subdistrict: Prahran
OCCUPATION .. Engine Driver
ADDRESS .. 47 Porter St.
with Eliza Winifred, --
& Raymond Edward, Mechanic.

Nicholas McCulloch b. 1890 ; d. 1945 ; m. 1910 Frederick William BENBOW
--> Henry William b. 1910
-->Leslie Richard b. 1911 ; d. 1913
--> Iris b. abt 1924 ; d. 1973 as MITCHELL

This first entry is before their marriage..
Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936 about Frederick William Benbow
Name: Frederick William Benbow
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1909 <<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Indi
Subdistrict: Rutherglen
OCCUPATION .. Miner
ADDRESS .. Great Southern

Name: Frederick William Benbow
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1914 <<<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Flinders
Subdistrict: Wonthaggi
OCCUPATION .. Miner
ADDRESS .. (Reid Cres), Wonthaggi
with Nicholas McCulloch, h/d

Name: Frederick William Benbow
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1919 <<<<<<< & 1924 <<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Flinders
Subdistrict: Wonthaggi
OCCUPATION .. Miner
ADDRESS .. North Wonthaggi
with Nicholas McCulloch, h/d

Name: Frederick William Benbow
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1931 <<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Wannon
Subdistrict: Heywood
OCCUPATION .. Labourer
ADDRESS .. Heywood
with Nicholas McCulloch, h/d

Name: Frederick William Benbow
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1936 <<<<<<<<<<<
State: Victoria
District: Wannon
Subdistrict: Portland
OCCUPATION .. Farmer
ADDRESS .. Heathmere
with Nicholas McCulloch, h/d