Wilson family papers, 1856-2000

MLMSS 7117/Boxes 1, 7-13, 15-16
MLMSS 7117/Boxes 2X-6X, 17X
MLMSS 7117/Folder 14X

fonds

1856-2000

Textual Records, Clippings, Photographs

404143

3.69 metres of textual material (10 boxes, 6 outsize boxes, 1 outsize folder) includes photographs
Textual Records
Clippings
Textual Records - (typescript)
Textual Records - (typescript, photocopy)

Henry John Wilson (1827-1904) was born at Sledagh Hall, Wexford, Ireland. He was educated at the Diocesan School at Wexford and Trinity College Dublin. In 1850 he emigrated to Canada. In 1852 he travelled to Australia where he spent nine months on the Victorian goldfields before taking up land in Tasmania. Wilson married Louisa Sophia Thomas in 1857. They lived for some years at 'Larooma', Port Sorrell, before moving to 'Woodcote', North Down in 1895. Wilson died in December 1904 survived by four sons.

Henry Christian (Chris) Wilson (1862-1960), second son of Henry John Wilson and Louisa Sophia, nee Thomas, was born at North Down, Tasmania. Educated at Launceston Church of England Grammar School, he left 'Larooma', the family property at Port Sorrell, in the early 1880s making his way to New South Wales where he worked for various cousins as a jackeroo and station manager. During the economic downturn of the 1890s he worked as a contract drover. In 1895 Wilson became the manager of 'Pine Ridge', a property near Dunedoo owned by George Henry Cox of Mudgee. On February 7 1896 he married Mary Henrietta Hales, daughter of Archdeacon Frances Hales of Launceston, Tasmania. In 1900 the Wilsons moved to their own property 'Wyaldra Park', Mudgee, where they engaged in farming activities, particularly the breeding of Corriedale sheep and the production of wheat and honey. Wilson was active in community affairs including the Pastures Protection Board and was a lay reader at the Anglican Church in Mudgee. In 1924 'Wyaldra Park' was sold and the Wilson family moved several times until they settled at 'Mt. Desmond', Blayney where they remained until Mary Wilson's death in 1945. Chris Wilson retired to Sydney where he lived until his death in 1960.

Robert Christian Wilson (1896-1973), eldest son of Henry Christian and Mary Wilson, was born at Mudgee on 11 November 1896. He was sent to Sydney at the age of nine where he lived at Mosman with his aunt, Catherine Frances (Kate) Hales, while attending Mosman Preparatory School and later Fort Street High School before being recalled to help run the family property while his younger brothers Hal and Fred were educated in Sydney. In 1916 Wilson enlisted with the First Light Horse Regiment, AIF, and saw active service in Egypt and Palestine. After returning to Australia in 1919 Wilson spent time at Merriwa, New South Wales, and later went droving while studying woolclassing by correspondence. Wilson joined Grazcos Co-operative Ltd. in 1921 becoming General Manager in 1924, a position he held until 1961. He married Gertrude Brooks in 1932. He was created CMG in 1952 and Kt. in 1966. Wilson was active in public life and was appointed to the boards of various government bodies and a number of public companies. From 1949 to 1961 he was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Wilson died in 1973.

Francis Henry Hales (Hal) Wilson (1900-1989), second son of Henry Christian and Mary Wilson, was born at Mudgee. He was educated initially by governesses, and later at North Sydney Boys High School and the University of Sydney where he studied medicine. He married Helen Panoff who was born at Yekaterinberg, Russia in 1905 and arrived at Sydney in 1929. Wilson practiced medicine in Sydney before enlisting during World War II. He attained the rank of Major and served as a Doctor in New Guinea and Borneo. After World War II Wilson again practised medicine in Sydney.

Michael Hales Wilson (1936- ), son of Francis Henry Hales (Hal) and Helen Wilson was born on 31 July 1936. For some years he has been researching the Wilson and Hales family histories.

I. Papers concerning Henry John Wilson, 1856-1980
Papers concerning Henry John Wilson were compiled by Brooks Wilson, son of Robert Christian Wilson, and include papers concerning Henry John Wilson and the Wilson family; papers of Henry John Wilson; papers of Louisa Sophia Wilson, nee Thomas, along with papers concerning the Thomas family
ca.1960-1980; Papers concerning Henry John Wilson, including ts. and ms. historical and genealogical research notes; photocopies of early family documents; printed map of Wexford; printed brochure; ms. and ts. correspondence concerning family history. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/1)
1856-1897; 1980; Papers of Henry John Wilson, being mainly ms. letters received; along with Henry John Wilson's ms. recollections of his family background with ts. transcription, 1980 (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/1)
ca.1900-ca.1946; Papers of Louisa Sophia Wilson along with papers concerning the Thomas family, being ms. and ts. papers and letters (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/1)
1904-1907; Papers concerning the estate of Henry John Wilson, including ts. copy of last will of Henry John Wilson; ts. and carbon ts. copies of correspondence and accounts concerning the estate of Henry John Wilson; ts. copy of law reports; printed leaflet 'Devon Hospital Compromise Enabling Bill', 1905 (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/1)

II. Papers of Henry Christian Wilson, 1895-1927; 1945-1959
1895-1927; Journals of Henry Christian (Chris) Wilson, being farm journals kept by Chris Wilson with daily ms. entries recording work and social activities. Entries begin at 'Pine Ridge' and continue at 'Wyaldra Park' and later properties owned by Wilson. Includes details of sheep breeding, bee keeping, farm management, crops, rainfall, weather and annual returns of stock. Family and social activities are recorded as well as Wilson's involvement in local organisations. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/2X-6X and Call No.: MLMSS 7117/7-9)
1945-1959; Diaries of Henry Christian Wilson, being small diaries kept by Wilson in his retirement. Daily ms. entries record his activities, health family matters and include addresses and monthly accounts. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/10)

III. Papers of Robert Christian Wilson, 1896-1966
1896-1930; Birth certificates of Robert Christian Wilson, being ms. extract birth certificate and ts. birth certificate, along with photographic portrait of young child taken by Louis Konrad at Launceston (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/11)
1905-1915; Letters sent, being mainly ms. letters (95) sent by Robert Wilson to his family and including a small number of letters sent by other family members; a school report from the Church of England Preparatory School, Mosman (1907); postcards (4) sent by Robert Wilson; black and white photograph of group including Robert Wilson. Some of Robert Wilson's letters to his mother Mary (Mollie) Wilson include a letter written on the reverse by her sister Catherine (Kate) Hales. Robert Wilson's letters, sent mainly to family at Mudgee, describe his activities while living with his Aunt Kate Hales; his school activities, teachers and friends at the Church of England Preparatory School, Mosman; his activities, teachers and friends during his year at Fort Street High School; the activities of the newly formed Mosman Scout Troop of which he was an enthusiastic member; his involvement with family members in Sydney; and his interest in agricultural matters. Wilson's letters reflect his great love of rural life and agricultural matters and his constant interest in activities at 'Wyaldra Park'. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/11)
1916-1917; Diary of Robert Christian Wilson, being small diary with ms. daily entries contained in original envelope in which it was posted back to Australia in 1917. Diary entries begin 1 Jan 1916 and cover Wilson's departure from 'Wyaldra Park' at Mudgee; his entry to military training camp at Liverpool, Sydney; his departure for the Middle East on a troop ship on 26 Apr 1916; life on board a troop ship; activities in a military c military action in Egypt and Palestine; lists letters sent and received. Entries end 2 Jan 1917. Diary is referred to in letters sent by R.C. Wilson to his family in Australia. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/11)
1916-1919; Letters sent by Robert Christian Wilson, being ms. letters and cards sent (196) to family members during World War I while Robert Wilson was on active service in Egypt and Palestine. Letters begin when Wilson first enlisted in the A.I.F. and before he departed Sydney on a troopship, and includes a letter written to Wilson by his mother on his departure. Letters describe all aspects of daily life of a soldier in the Middle East including the journey to Egypt; the camps and surrounding areas; duties and activities; other Australian soldiers; impressions of the native inhabitants and the local countryside: places such as Cairo and Alexandria visited on leave; local agricultural and farming activities; his own photography. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/11-13)
1917; 'Between the Nile and the Dead Sea' being coloured printed map, 34.5cm x 52cm, revised 3rd edition, with stamp on reverse from the Anglo-French Library, Cairo. In his letters from Egypt and Palestine Wilson refers his family to a map, possibly this map, when he describes areas and towns where he has seen action or visited on leave. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/14X)
1929-1938; Miscellaneous correspondence of Robert Christian Wilson, being ms. letters sent (2) and ms. and ts. letters received (2) (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/15)
1958-1966; Miscellaneous papers concerning Robert Christian Wilson, being newscuttings (2). (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/15)

IV. Letters sent by Francis Henry Hales (Hal) Wilson, 1943-1946
1943-1946; Letters sent by Francis Henry Hales (Hal) Wilson, being ms. letters (189) sent mainly to his wife Helen during his period of active service during World War II. Major Hales Wilson was a Medical Officer who served in New Guinea and Borneo. Letters accompanied by an ms. index compiled by Michael Hales Wilson including dates of letter and names of people mentioned by Major Wilson in the letters. Letters are generally numbered and begin when Wilson was in training camp at Bathurst, NSW. From Bathurst, Wilson travelled to northern Queensland where he was in camp until his transfer to New Guinea. After a period in New Guinea Wilson spent some time in Queensland before being sent to Borneo in July 1945. In September 1945 Wilson was sent to Macassar for a brief time, during which he attended prisoners of war who had been incarcerated at Macassar by the Japanese.
Letters generally include personal, family and financial matters concerning Wilson's wife Helen and sons Peter and Michael who relocated from Sydney to Orange for the duration of the war. Due to censorship restrictions Wilson was not generally able to describe his location or daily military activities in detail. As an officer in the Medical Corps Wilson was not on the front line of fighting and his descriptions include an insight into periods of boredom of every day life in a military camp. He describes the flora and fauna of the surrounding areas, the conditions of the camp and the social activities of the camp. His later letters reflect the concern felt by soldiers for their employment and housing prospects following demobilisation. Later letters include those written from Macassar after the end of war when censorship restrictions were lifted and Wilson was able to describe in some detail the conditions of prisoners of war who were mainly of Dutch and Indonesian origin, and the deprivations they suffered at the hands of Japanese soldiers. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/15-16)

V. Papers of Michael Hales Wilson, 1980-2000
1980-2000; Booklets and papers on Wilson and Hales family history by Michael Hales Wilson, being ts. booklets (5) and articles (5) with ms. annotations. Booklets include: "Inventory of Events related to the Hales Family's coming to Tasmania", 1980; "The Family of Francis & Catherine Hales", 1987; "Francis Hales", 1988; "Hales Family Letters. Parts I & II", 1989; "Journal of the Revd. Fras. Hales", edited by Michael Wilson, 1990. Articles include: "Visit to the Historic Archives on Kythera", in The South Australian Genealogist, 1989; "Panoff family - their Australian Story", 1998; "H.C. Wilson and his bees", 1998; "Louisa's East Anglian Cousins", 2000; "Cousin Annie - Her Story", 2000. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/17X)
1994; "The Wilson Family Bulletin", nos. 1-12, being ts. with ms. annotations. Twelve bulletins compiled by Michael Wilson for distribution amongst the Wilson family and including Wilson and related family news and genealogical research and information. (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/17X)

VI. Pictorial material, ca.1876-1982
ca.1876-1982; Black & white photographs and portraits include: 'Wyaldra Park', two photographs of house, date unknown; portrait of Louisa Sophia Wilson, nee Thomas, date unknown; portrait of Bartholomew Thomas of Appledore, Tasmania, date unknown; group portrait of Henry Christian Wilson, Mary Henrietta Wilson and Robert Christian Wilson, 1898; portrait of Henry Christian Wilson and Robert Christian Wilson, date unknown; photograph of Robert Christian Wilson in dugout in Palestine, ca.1917; portrait of Harry Wilson son of Stanhope and Eliza Wilson, 1918; copy of group portrait of F.C. Wilson, R.C. Wilson and F.H.H. Wilson, ca.1980; copy of 1896 wedding photograph of Henry Christian Wilson and Mary Henrietta Hales, ca.1982; black and white photograph of H.C. Wilson and his dog 'Dodger', ca.1888; black and white photograph of Mary Henrietta Hales, ca.1876-1880 (Call No.: MLMSS 7117/17X)

State Library of New South Wales collection of World War I diaries