William Willis Sexton at St James’

Though there are a number of references to William Willis being an early sexton at St. James’ Church in Melbourne he was not the first person to occupy this position. There was at least one other person there before him. Thomas Croft was the officiating sexton from about September 1839 until 1846. A series of articles appeared in the “Port Phillip Patriot” in February and March 1841 about the fees he had been charging for burials, particularly from the families of newly arrived immigrants whose relatives had died from shipboard fever after landing from the “Salsette“. In his defence information was presented about his duties and costs.

Thomas Croft lived at premises in Queen Street, Melbourne and received a salary of £10 per year, plus a gratuity of three shillings and sixpence for superintending each funeral. On top of that he made a charge of from eleven shillings and sixpence to one pound for the digging of each grave, out of which amount he employed a labourer to dig the graves at a wage of one pound per week plus board and lodging. He was also obliged to bury numerous people without fee such as convicts, and unidentified bodies found drowned, etc.

These newspaper articles also indicate he was performing the burials for the Presbyterians and Independents. This is confirmed by an advertisement placed by the Trustees of the Presbyterian Burial Ground in May 1841 directing people to apply to Thomas Croft to arrange burials.
“Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser“
( 27 May 1841 )

By October 1843 the financial downturn saw Croft trying to sell dug graves for later use with the following article appearing in the “Melbourne Times” –

“DULNESS OF TRADE – We observe with much regret, that in consequence of the deadness of trade, Mr. Croft, the sexton and undertaker, has been compelled to file his schedule. We had hoped that the enterprising speculation which he has of late entered into of always keeping prepared homes of all sizes for the last remains of poor mortality would have produced an influx of business which would have rendered it a lucrative undertaking, but he found it impossible to get a living by the dead. He has, we understand, made a most liberal offer to his creditors to reduce his liabilities, by burying them all for nothing, and as the Chief Commissioner and Trustee must be paid their fees, we presume a similar offer will be made to them.”

When William Willis, his wife Emma, and young daughter also named Emma arrived in Melbourne in February 1842 as assisted immigrants he was described as a labourer. Though many assisted immigrants of other occupations would describe themselves as labourers to qualify for the government bounty, records before and after the voyage also describe him as having been a labourer. No record was made of who employed him on arrival but in June 1846 an advertisement appeared in the “Port Phillip Patriot” announcing his appointment as “Grave Digger, in the Church of England Burial Ground” suggesting that he had been working at the burial ground for some time. Then on 26 October 1846 when his son James William Willis was baptised at St. James Church his occupation, which had been ‘Labourer’ when his earlier children were baptised, was now listed as ‘Sexton.’
“Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser“
( 19 June 1846 )

Mouritz’s “Port Phillip Almanac and Directory for 1847” gives Willis’ occupation as ‘Sexton’ and his residence as being in the Jews’ Graveyard. This same directory also lists Thomas Croft as still being an ‘Undertaker’ residing in Queen Street. The next sexton appears to have been John F. Gillman who was in the position by May 1855, though it is possible that Willis and Gillman worked together for some time prior to this. In 1881, when Willis was living at 68 Stanley Street, Collingwood with his son and one of his two grandchildren, he was interviewed by John Joseph Shillinglaw who was trying to ascertain the exact location of John Batman’s grave. At the time Willis was said to have been comparatively well off, having bought three blocks of land in the early days, placing him above want for the remainder of his life. Willis later moved to Fitzroy where he died in 1891.

William Willis was born c1809 in Mitcham, London, England, the son of James Willis, labourer. On 31 March 1839 he married Emma (Catherine) Spong in the Merton Parish Church, Surrey, England. Emma was the daughter of James Spong, labourer. William and Emma’s first child, Emma, was born on 17 February 1840 in Mitcham and baptised on 12 March 1840 in the Mitcham Parish Church, Surrey, England. The 1841 English census shows the family living in Field Gate Road, leading from Mitcham to Merton, Surrey. William is described as a 29 years old agricultural labourer, his wife Emma as being 25 years of age, and their daughter Emma being 1 year old. They departed from London towards the end on 1841 on the 460 ton barque “Thetis” and arrived at Port Phillip on 18 February 1842.

Their further children were: Jane Maria Willis, born 29 May 1843 and baptised 16 July 1843 at St. James’ Church, Melbourne. She died on 1 May 1844 and was buried on 2 May 1844 in the Old Melbourne Cemetery following a funeral service at St. James’ Church, Melbourne. Their third child was Sarah Willis who was born on 12 November 1844 in Melbourne and baptised on 8 December 1844 at St. James’ Church, Melbourne. Their fourth child was James William Willis, born 30 September 1846 and baptised 26 October 1846 at St. James’ Church, Melbourne. Their fifth child was Lorina Willis, born 8 November 1848 and baptised 3 December 1848 at St. James Church, Melbourne. Their sixth child was Thomas Henry Willis, born 29 January 1851 and baptised 30 January 1851. He is thought to have died at Collingwood in 1853 aged 1 year and 4 months and would have been buried in the Old Melbourne Cemetery.

Their eldest daughter, Emma, was married on 8 January 1856 in Collingwood to George Brimblecombe, son of William Brimblecombe, carpenter, and his wife Ann, nee Pardon, originally of Devon, England. George’s usual and present residence at the time was Ballarat. Emma’s usual residence at the time was given as Cemetery and her present residence was Stanley Street. They had a number of children.

Their daughter Lorina Willis was married in 1874 to George Laity, originally from Cornwall, England. Little is known of what became of the other children and no record can be found of the death of William’s wife, Emma, in Victoria.

William Willis died on 11 March 1891 at 126 Westgarth Street, Fitzroy aged 81 years. He was buried on 12 March 1891 in the Melbourne General Cemetery. His death certificate shows ‘parents unknown’ with the informant being his grandson, Alf Brimblecombe, of 126 Westgarth Street, Fitzroy

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“The Argus“
( 12 March 1891 )( Source of Images: National Library of Australia )

( Contributed by Alexander Romanov-Hughes – PPPG Member No. 52 )