Who Were They

The following obituary was forwarded to me, on request, by Di Gillman, a descendant of William Giddings.  William was my great-great-grandfather through his daughter, Rhoda, who married Jesse Mewett. One of their sons, Edward John (Ted) was my grandfather. I have previously written about Ted on this blog. My thanks to Di Gillman.

The late Mr. W.Giddings – By the death of Mr. William Giddings of Gumeracha, which occurred on Monday, July 28, another old colonist has passed away, at the age of eighty-five years. Mr. Giddings was, on February 10, 1812, born at Sawtry, Peterborough, where he resided until 1855, when he, with his wife and nine children, came to South Australia, landing on Whit Sunday.

They immediately proceeded to Kersbrook, where for a time Mr. Giddings worked as a farm labourer at two guineas a week, flour being £7 10s. per bag and potatoes 42s. per bag. As soon as he was able he began farming at Kenton Valley on his own account, and subsequently removed to North Gumeracha, where he lived until eleven years ago, when he went to reside in Gumeracha, retiring from active work to enjoy a well-earned competency.

 The late Mr. Giddings was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church for sixty years, his connection with the Gumeracha Circuit extending over forty-two years. The funeral took place on Wednesday last. A short service was conducted in the Gumeracha Wesleyan Church, and afterwards the cortege proceeded to the Wesleyan Cemetery, where the body was interred by the side of the graves of his father and mother, three children, and two grandchildren in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. A memorial service was conducted by the Rev. A.D. Bennett in the Gumeracha Church on the following Sunday evening on “Redeemed Humanity in Heaven”

 A widow, three sons, three daughters, forty-one grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren survive.