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The First Generation

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John Williams & Sarah Nash

On the 15th January 1814 at St John's, Parramatta, John Williams married Sarah Nash the daughter of the First Fleeters, William & Maria Nash. Sarah is the first generation Australian in this family.

Sarah Williams (nee Nash) - Click photo for full view.

Children of the Marriage

John & Sarah had thirteen children, six boys and seven girls. Their first child, Robert, was born at Seven Hills, "near Windsor." He is our ancestor. It is interesting to note that the first four children born to this marriage were named after his closest relatives. Those family members back in Wales he knew he would never to see again and he never did.

His first child was named Robert after his grandfather. His second child Mary was named after his grandmother. Then came Ann whom he named after his mother followed by Sarah who was named after his wife.

This is a clear reflection of a longing for his family and his homeland.

Then, not until his thirteenth child did he use his father's name William. Or was this child named after Sarah's father, William Nash. I think it was the latter,

The children and their dates of birth are as follows.

Robert - 19/8/1815 - (our ancestor)

Mary - 27/8/1817

Ann -11/2/1820

Sarah - 22/7/1822

Elizabeth - 29/7/1824

Maria - 15/1/1827

Eliza - 18/10/1829

John - 9/9/1831

Susanah - 10/9/1833

David - 22/8/1836

George - 21/12/1838

Edward - 3/6/1842

William - 29/12/1844

Where they Lived

They are known to have lived at Bargo for a time, from 1828 - 1831 approximately. They then moved to Burra, south of Queanbeyan. About 1831, or a little later, they obtained a" run of 10,000". It is assumed this was a Land Grant of 10,000 acres. Their home was a property named "The Gullies" which is about 20 kms from Dalgety. Cross over the bridge across the Snowy River at "Buckley's Crossing" taking the road to Jindabyne. After about 15kms you will see a sign on your left which reads Gullies Rd. Take it for about 5kms and you come to "The Gullies."

"On Monaro"

John & Sarah must have been the very early settlers if not the first settlers on the Monaro. They did spend time in and around Grosse's Plain (south of Jindabyne, near the village of Ingebyra) Nimmitabel, Numerella and Cooma. John perished in a snow storm at Grosse's Plain on 21/9/1854 having died of "exposure to snow, cold and wet." He was buried in the old Cooma cemetery nine days later on 30/9/1854. Sarah stayed on in the area. She died from measles on 12th May 1875 at age 76 at "The Gullies"and is buried next to her husband John.

Grave Inscriptions.

The old Cooma cemetery is found by taking the Nimmitabel road to the edge of the town of Cooma. Keep your eye out for Church Road on your right. Turn into this road and travel a short distance, not much more than a Km, and you will see the "Christ Church" on your left. On the high side of the church graveyard are the two graves. The inscriptions read :-

(Click for full view)

Sacred to the Memory of John Williams who departed this life Sept.21, 1854 Aged 67.

"A loving husband, a father dear,
A faithful friend lieth here,
In love he lived, in peace he died,
His life was craved, but God denied"

(Click for full view)

In Memory of Sarah Williams beloved wife of John Williams who died May 12th. 1875, aged 76

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