William John Hart

England & Wales Birth registration index record for William Hart, Mother's Maiden Surname: Corrick, April-June quarter, 1848, Wellington registration district, Somerset, vol. 10, p. 513. (The Sub-district of Culmstock in Devon was part of the Wellington registration district, Somerset).

1851 England Census - William Hart, 3, (born about 1848), born Culmstock, Devon. Also in the house: father Richard Hart, 37 (born about 1814), born Culmstock, Devon, mason; mother Anna Hart, 36 (born about 1815), born Culmstock, Devon; brother Walter Hart, 16 (born about 1835), born Culmstock, Devon, mason; sister Eliza Hart, 13 (born about 1838), born Culmstock, Devon; brother Samuel Hart, 11(born about 1840), born Uffculme, Devon; brother Albert Hart, 8 (born about 1843), born Uffculme, Devon; sister Emily Hart, 6 (born about 1845), born Culmstock, Devon; and; brother Richard Hart, 5 (born about 1846), born Culmstock, Devon.

Address - Hunters Hill, Culmstock

1861 England Census - William Hart, 12 (born about 1849), born Culmstock, Devon, plasterer. Also in the house: father Richard Hart, 47 (born about 1814), born Culmstock, Devon, plasterer; mother Anna Hart, 49 (born about 1812), born Culmstock, Devon, dressmaker; sister Eliza Hart, 24 (born about 1837), born Culmstock, Devon, servant; brother Albert Hart, 19 (born about 1842), born Culmstock, Devon, plasterer; sister Emily Hart, 17 (born about 1844), born Culmstock, Devon; brother Richard Hart, 15 (born about 1846), born Culmstock, Devon, plasterer; brother Henry Hart, 10 (born about 1855), born Culmstock, Devon; brother Francis Hart, 2 (born about 1859), born Hammersmith, Middlesex. Also lodging at the house was brother Walter Hart, 26 (born about 1835), born Uffculme, Devon, England, Plasterer Workman; his wife Mary Hart, 27 (born about 1834), born Warwick; and their daughter Eliza Ann Hart, 1 (born about 1860), born Hammersmith, Middlesex.

Address - 20, Southbrook Street New Road, Hammersmith.

England & Wales Marriage registration index record for William Hart marrying Jane Neill, October-December quarter 1866, Kensington registration district, London, vol. 1A, p80.

Parish Marriage record for William Hart, bachelor, plasterer, of 1 South Brook Street, Hammersmith, father William Hart, plasterer [seen note below], marrying Jane Neill, spinster, of 1 South Brook Street, Hammersmith, father John Neill, dead, on 24 December 1866, at the Church of St Peter, Hammersmith. William's sister Emily Hart was a witness who signed with her mark; brother Henry Hart appears to be the other witness though the signature is unclear. Note, the parish marriage records for his siblings records the father as Richard Hart, plasterer, so it is assumed a mistake was made in William's record.

1871 England census - William Hart, 23, (born about 1848), born Culmstock, Devon, Plasterer. Also in the house: wife Jane Hart, 21, (born about 1850), born Brentford, Middlesex, laundress; son William J Hart, 3, (born about 1868), born Hammersmith, Middlesex; daughter Sarah Hart, 2, (born about 1869), born Battersea, Surrey; son Hugh Hart, aged 2 months (born about 1871), born Battersea, Surrey; wife's mother Sarah Thomas, 58, (born about 1813), born North Petherton, Somerset; and; servant Alice Braithwright, 14. Also listed at 2 Brougham Terrace is his brother in law (Jane's brother) John R Neill, 23 (born about 1848), born Brentford, Middlesex, plasterer and his wife Harriet Neill, 22 (born about 1849), born Bloomsbury, Middlesex, laundress.

Address: 2 Brougham Terrace, St Mary Battersea, London.

Wife Jane's brother Hugh Green Neill had already migrated to Victoria (marriage record for Hugh Green Neill marrying Sarah Ellen Barwell in Victoria, 1864 and children being born between 1865 and 1881 in Clunes, Victoria) so this may have been the reason for the family leaving England.

Left London, 4 April 1872 on the Queen of Nations; arrived Melbourne 29 June 1872, age 23. With him on the ship were his wife Jane Hart, 22; son William J Hart, 4; daughter Sarah H Hart, 2; son Hugh Hart, 1 and Jane's mother Sarah Thomas, 59.

The Queen of Nations had been chartered by the Victorian Government to bring migrants to the country.

eg Bendigo Advertiser, 8 May 1872, p3.

The AGENT-GENERAL.-The despatches received by the incoming mail from the Hon. H. C. E. Childers, Agent-General, contain but little of public interest. Mr. Childers officially intimates that he has taken over the business of the agency from Sir G. F. Verdon from 6th March, 1872. He announces that the ship Queen of Nations had been chartered for immigrants at £12 9s. 6d. per head, and that she was to sail between the 8th and 15th of March.

The Argus, Monday 1 July 1872, p5.

An accession to the population of the colony to the extent of 360 souls has just been made by the arrival of the immigrant ship Queen of Nations, from Plymouth. The vessel has made a quick and pleasant voyage, and the passengers speak most favourably of the accommodation and treatment on board. The cleanliness and orderly appearance of the ship and passengers were unexceptionable, and credit is due to Captain Donald and his officers, and to Dr. Carroll, the surgeon in charge, and Mrs. Reid, the matron, for the assiduity and ability which have marked the discharge of their several duties. The passengers are classified as follows :-Married people, 64 ; single men, 85 ; single women, 134 ; boys, 1 year to 12, 38 ; under 1 year, 33 ; girls, 1 year to 12, 3 ; under 1 year, 4. In consequence of the immigration agent, Mr, L. A. Moody, being in the country, and Dr. M Crea and Mr. T. Mason, members of the board, having other business engaging their attention, the clearing of the ship devolved upon Mr. A. R. Rose, acting senior immigration officer, who examined and passed the passengers expeditiously. Mr. D. P. Maclean, Surgeon, joined Mr. Rose, and a thorough inspection of the vessel and fittings was made, and everything was pronounced highly satisfactory. The ship, owing to the diligence displayed in clearing the passengers, was alongside the railway pier, Williamstown, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the single women were forwarded to Melbourne to the depot by the 4 p.m. train.

From the information below, William and the family stayed in Melbourne, though with frequent changes of address as the family moved between various rented accommodation.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book 17 December 1872.

William Hart, plasterer, 66 Westgarth street, brick house, 4 rooms, property owner: Mrs Clemens.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book, 7 November 1881.

William Hart, plasterer, Brunswick street, wood house, 4 rooms, owner Jane Hart.

City of Collingwood Rates Book, 18 November 1884.

William Hart, plasterer, John street (west side of Heidelberg road), wood house, owner William Hall.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book, 27 November 1886.

William Hart, plasterer, Michael street, brick house, 3 rooms, owner George Smith.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book, 1 December 1887.

William Hart, nightman, 70 Reid street, brick house, 6 rooms, owner George A Jeffries.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book, 14 December 1888.

William Hart, plasterer, 70 Watkins street, owner George Jeffries.

City of Fitzroy Rates Book, 20 November (?) 1889.

William Hart, plasterer, 70 Watkins street, owner George Jeffries.

Borough of St Kilda Rates Book, 6 January 1890.

William Hart, plasterer, Vale street, wood house, 4 rooms, owner Eliza Mulan.

William Hart, plasterer, appears in the City of Melbourne Citizens Roll:

• 1 November 1878 to 31 October 1879, Victoria Ward, Canning Street;
• 1 November 1879 to 31 October 1880, Victoria Ward, Station Street;
• 1 November 1880 to 31 October 1881, Victoria Ward, Rathdown Street; and
• 1 November 1883 to 31 October 1884, Victoria Ward, Station Street.

Sands & McDougall's Melbourne Directory (the following are the best match, based on the place where the children were born and the entries in the City of Melbourne Citizens Roll and the Rates Books).

• 1873 - Hart, William, plasterer, 66 Westgarth Street, Fitzroy (this matches the City of Fitzroy Rates Book).
• 1875 - Hart, William, Freeman St, North Carlton.
• 1875 - Hart, William, 3 Bazaar Place, Rathdown St, Carlton.
• 1877 - Hart, William, 4 Henry St, North Carlton.
• 1878 - Hart, William, 4 Henry St, North Carlton.
• 1879 - Hart, William, 5 Neil St, Carlton.
• 1880 - Hart, William, 8 Station St, Carlton (this matches the City of Melbourne Citizens Roll).
• 1881 - Hart, William, Rathdown St, North Carlton (this matches the City of Melbourne Citizens Roll).
• 1882 - Hart, William, Brunswick St, North Fitzroy (this matches the City of Fitzroy Rates Book).
• 1884 - Hart, William, Station St, North Carlton (this matches the City of Melbourne Citizens Roll).
• 1887 - Hart, William, Michael St, North Fitzroy (this matches the City of Fitzroy Rates Book).
• 1888 - Hart, William, 70 Reid St, North Fitzroy (this matches the City of Fitzroy Rates Book).
• 1889 - Hart, William, 70 Reid St, North Fitzroy.
• 1890 - Hart, William, 70 Reid St, North Fitzroy.

1872 son Richard born in Fitzroy. 1874 son Albert born in North Melbourne. 1876 son Sydney born in Carlton and died in Carlton in 1877. 1877 son Joseph born in Carlton. 1880 son Arthur was born in Carlton. 1883 daughter Jane was born in Fitzroy. 1884 daughter Ada was born in Collingwood. 1887 son Ernest was born in Fitzroy. 1889 son Sydney was born in Fitzroy and died in Collingwood in 1890. 1891 son Ackland was born in Northcote and died in Fitzroy North in 1891.

Victorian Police Gazette, 3 September 1890, p. 280.

WILLIAM HART is charged, on warrant, with deserting his children at Arthurton-road, Northcote, on the 11th ult. [ie 11 August 1890] Description :--Plasterer, 42 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches high, fair complexion and hair, bald on top of head, clean shaved except moustache, stout build, about 15 stone weight ; wore light tweed sac suit and black boxer hat. Supposed to be working at Benalla.-O.7577. 2nd September, 1890.

Victorian Police Gazette, 8 October 1890, p. 317.

WILLIAM HART has been arrested by the Essendon police for deserting his children.-0.7577. 7th October, 1890.

Register of convictions in the Court of Petty Sessions at Essendon, 6 October 1890. Applicant : Jane Hart; Accused : William Hart; warrant for unlawfully leaving his children Arthur, Jane, Ada and Ernest Hart without adequate means of support at Northcote on 11 August 1890. Remanded to appear at the court of Petty Sessions at Northcote tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. Fees were 5/-.

Register of convictions in the Court of Petty Sessions at Northcote, 20 October 1890. Applicant : Jane Hart; Accused : William Hart; arrested for unlawfully leaving his children without means of support. Charge withdrawn. Fees were 5/-.

It is difficult from the bare court records to know exactly what had happened. In the City of Northcote Rates Book, 11 December 1890, living in Arthurton Road (the address in the warrant), is Acland [ie Ackland] J Foley, labourer, living in a weatherboard house, owner Lagridge Permanent Building Society. Ackland is not a common name, but William and Jane's last child, born in 1891, was named Ackland Hart and widow Jane married Ackland Foley in 1898. In the same Rates Book Acland J Foley, mason, is also listed living in Beaver's road, owner Melbourne Permanent Building Society.

As at October 2016 a death record has not been identified. No record for William has been found after 1890, and he is not mentioned in any of the death notices published when wife Jane died in 1915. Wife Jane remarried in 1898 and the marriage record lists her as a widow, widowed since 1892, so it could be reasonably assumed William died in 1892, though another possibility is that he left the family and left the state or even Australia. If he died after leaving the family, whoever registered the death may not have known any information about him. An extensive search of the death registers has not found a suitable record. He is not listed in the Melbourne General Cemetery index or in other Melbourne cemetery indexes checked. Did he die somewhere else in Victoria? In the 1890 warrant for arrest, it was suggested he was working in Benalla in country Victoria.

Victoria outgoing passenger list for J.W. Hart, 45, male,travelling on the Woolloomooloo, departing Melbourne 9 September 1893 for Natal, South Africa.

Sources checked (checking under Hart, William & John, between 1891 & 1898): Victorian BDM ; Index of Wills & Probates; Victorian Inquest Index; Melbourne General Cemetery; Necropolis; Rates books, Victorian Police Gazette.