Gillis

DESCRIPTION

NameGillisDescriptionEdward Gillis is thought to have been born in Yorkshire, England 1814. He was a widower with one female child, and 25 years old when sentenced to transportation for seven years at the West Riding Quarter Sessions for the theft of a bible.

Edward was described as 5’3’1/4, sallow complexion eyes blue to grey, scar of left side of forehead, ‘H’ on back of lower left arm, and he could read and write.

Edward arrived in NSW on board the 'Barossa' 8 December 1839 and received his Certificate of Freedom 4 February 1846. In 1844 he
applied for an application for Banns of Marriage to Margaret Noud, a free settler aged 23 years. They were married in a licensed house in the Parish of Butterwick, County of Durham, NSW 9 September 1844 by Chaplain George Augustus Middleton.

Edward and Margaret's first child John, was born in 1844 at the Hunter district. Thomas was born at Sydney in 1846, Mary Ann at Newtown in 1848, Margaret at Newtown 1850, and the following children William 1851, Edward Joseph 1853, Richard Stephen 1856 and James Henry 1860 were born at Wollongong.
It appears Edward was a farmer in the Fairy Meadow / Balgownie area.

Insolvency records (NSW State Records) reveal Edward owed money to his landlord James Brooker. Edward was a shingler and revealed his reasons for insolvency -

'I attribute my insolvency to the following causes, that I am a married man with eight children and during my last twenty five months I have accidentally met with three several severe accidents, the first was a broken leg and sixteen weeks afterwards I dislocated my collar bone and nine weeks after that I was thrown out of a cart and my side was torn open - from these causes I was not able to attend to my business and had to pay Doctors Bills my stock was sold off and I am rendered quite unable to pay the debts I owe'. 'I have tried my utmost to meet my engagements and I have no doubt should eventually have done so, but my creditors are harassing me in the small debts Court and I am thus compelled to sequestrate my Estate for the benefit of my Creditors--'

Edwards first accident occurred at Minnamurra. He was at that time (1861) a tenant of Mrs. Hollings and splitting timber for shingles when a wedge struck him under the knee and broke his leg. A door was procured from Captain Grainger’s upon which he was transported home until Doctor Charles from Kiama came to attend him.

By 1872 Edward had moved on to 40 acres locally known as ‘Gillis Hill’ in the area we now associate with Balgownie. He leased a further adjoining 40 acres until 1882. In 1883 his son Thomas took over the property and presumably Edward lived with him for a time. Margaret had passed away in 1877.

Edward died 3 December 1899 aged 85 years.

Descendant of Edward, Kevin Gillis and his wife Dorothy, dedicated countless hours researching and recording Shellharbour's history as volunteers of Shellharbour City Museum and active members of the Tongarra Heritage Society.

In 2010 Kevin and Dot were named Shellharbour City Australia Day Citizens of the Year.

External LinkSingular Accident 1861Elizabeth and Louisa Jane Moon vs GK Waldron 1866New Insolvent Edward Gillis 1863Stealing 1887Committals for the Quarter Sessions Mr. Edward Gillis Jnr 1879Mr T Gillis 1902Assault in a Mine - Edward Gillis Jnr 1911Death Mr Edward J Gillis 1926

Person

Ross, Joseph

Bradney, John Snr

Gillis, Edward

Object

Miniature School Desk

Invoice Numbering Stamp

Family

Bradney

Edward Gillis.

Photo courtesy of Kevin and Dorothy Gillis.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesLocalityWollongongPersonGillis, Edward

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Gillis