Our Origins - the Family Histories of Craig Fullerton and Celine Amoyal
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John Fullerton
(1821-After 1880)
Elisabeth Newell
(ca. 1827-Bef 1880)
Unknown Unknown
Mary Jane Fullerton
(1853-1908)

William John Fullerton
(1879-1947)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Margaret Napier Gardiner

William John Fullerton

  • Born: 27 Feb 1879, Barnhill Poorhouse, Glasgow, , Lanark, Scotland
  • Marriage (1): Margaret Napier Gardiner on 27 Mar 1903 in National Halls, 127 Main St, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Died: 21 Oct 1947, Ryde District Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia at age 68
  • Buried: 22 Oct 1947, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, North Ryde, New South Wales., Australia

bullet   Cause of his death was Cerebral Haemmorhage.

bullet   Another name for William was William John Fullarton.

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bullet  General Notes:

William was recorded as "Illegitimate" on his birth Certificate. He has two records, one at Dennistoun, Glasgow (where the Barnhill Poorhouse was where he was born) and a duplicate in Anderston, Glasgow. His mother was living at an address in Anderston when he was born. He was born on 27th February but not registered until the 2nd April in Dennistoun and on 16th April in Anderston. His middle name is clearly in honour of his mother's father, it is possible that "William" was the name of his (unknown) father.

On his marriage record his mother is listed as "Mary Jane Fullerton, Domestic Servant, subsequently married to Thomas McColl Horse Feeder". This record does demonstrate that he knew that Mary Jane was his mother and that she subsequently married Thomas McCALL (aka McColl). The fact that he never assumed the name McCall, even though his mother married him just over a year after William's birth, probably indicates that Thomas McCall was not his father.

William was not recorded as living with his mother and her new husband at the time of the 1881 Census. However, at this time his mother's sister, Ellen Hill, and her family were living at the exact same address, 18 North St, Barony, Glasgow. Included in their household was a "son" William J Hill, aged 2 (ie born 1879). There are no records of a William Hill born to this couple in 1879 and it seems clear that this was actually William John Fullerton, being raised by his aunt and uncle. William's son, Robert, was the recipient of a bible presented to him by his uncle, George Hill son of George & Ellen. George Hill Snr was also a witness at the wedding of Thomas McCall and William's mother Mary Jane Fullerton, as was his wife, Ellen. At some stage before 1903 William's true parentage was obviously revealed to him, given the contents of his marriage record.

William's half-brother, Peter Thomas McCall (son of Thomas McCall and his first wife Isabella McCall) was a Portmanteau Maker, the same profession as William who was a Leather Bag Maker. Peter & William were just 2 years apart in age and would have been well known to each other, possibly working together.

I have been unable to find a record of him in the 1891 or 1901 Scotland Censuses, under the names Hill, McCall or Fullerton/Fullarton. He was not living with the Hill family or his mother at the time of the 1891 Census. It is possible he may have spent this time with family back in Ireland, but I can find no record of him in Ireland in the 1901 Census records. In the 1905 Valuation Rolls there is a record of a William J Fullarton living at 68 Thornwood Avenue in Partick, Glasgow. No occupation is recorded and he was an "Occupier" paying rent of 11 pounds, 10 sh. p.a. This is quite likely he.

At the time of the 1911 Census William and his family were living at 87 Hozier St, in the Parish of St Brides, Partick, Glasgow. Many families were living at this address suggesting it was probably a block of flats. Their residence had 2 rooms with windows. William was aged 32, a Leatherbag Maker by profession and employed as a Saddler, born Glasgow. His wife Margaret, aged 29, was also recorded as being born in Glasgow and they had been married 8 years. Son Robert was aged 7, at school and born in Partick, whilst daughter Margaret was aged 2, also born in Partick. Also living with the family was a Boarder, James Smith aged 25 and Single, born in England, who was a suitcase maker working as a Saddler also, probably with William.

William's son, Robert had talked about coming to Australia on the ship Rangatira. According to the Passenger List for a journey by the Rangatira departing London on 11th January 1912 bound for New Zealand via Sydney, where she docked on 23rd February 1912, a William Fullerton, Mrs Fullerton, and children Robert and Margaret were on board as 3rd Class passengers. Curiously they are recorded as English, not Scottish, and William's occupation is recorded as "Farmer". This is the only record of Fullertons arriving in Sydney at the time, so I believe it is them, especially given Robert's recollections of the ship's name. Maybe the "English" and "Farmer" were to satisfy some conditions of the passage fare.

There is a record of the family returning to the UK as Third Class passengers on the Ormonde arriving in London on 9 Jul 1920. The family surname is recorded as FULLARTON. William is recorded as a Leather Worker. Margaret's occupation is recorded as Housewife. Robert, aged 15, has an occupation that looks like "Boat Winder". Under the column headed "Country of Intended Future Residence" the family is marked under the "Scotland" heading but, like some others on the list, are bracketed and marked "Aust" indicating that they were intending to return to Australia.

The family did leave Scotland again for Australia later that year. Robert Fullarton had a bible which was inscribed "With best wishes. A present from George Hill to his nephew Robert Fullerton on the occasion of his going to Australia 18-12-1920". The family sailed as Third Class passengers again on the Ormonde which sailed from the Port of London and arrived in Sydney on 31st January 1921. The Ormonde had a crew of 400 and 970 passengers. Of the passengers 566 were Third Class, 139 were Second Class and 265 were First Class.

According to the 1930 Electoral Roll, William (surname recorded as FULLARTON) was living in Parramatta Road, Ermington, Occupation leatherworker. His wife Margaret Napier (also FULLARTON) was recorded as living at Kelvingrove, Parramatta Rd, West Ryde, Occupation Home Duties.

In 1933 he was still a Leatherworker but living at 1080 Victoria Rd, West Ryde with his wife and son Robert and daughter in law Winifred. Robert and Winifred's surname was spelled as FULLERTON, but William and Margaret as FULLARTON.

In 1936 William was still a Leather Worker, and still living at the family home at 1080 Victoria Rd, West Ryde with his wife and son Robert and daughter in law Winifred. William is believed to have worked for the Oroton company making leather handbags.

In 1943 William was still a Leather Worker, and still living at the family home at 1080 Victoria Rd, West Ryde with his wife Margaret.

Towards the end of his life William worked as a gardener. He had a group of customers and he would go to them on a fixed roster. They could be once a week, once a fortnight or even every three weeks. This kept him working full time. All the customers had their own tools, which was just as well as William walked to work and his customers lived up two suburbs away! His grandson, Don, cannot recall ever having seen William drive a vehicle.

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bullet  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided at the time of the Census in 1881 in 18 North St, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of his marriage on 27 Mar 1903 in 50 Norfolk St, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.

• He had a residence in 1930 in Parramatta Rd, Ermington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

• He had a residence in 1936 in 1080 Victoria Road, West Ryde, , New South Wales, Australia.

• He resided at the time of his death on 21 Oct 1947 in 1080 Victoria Road, West Ryde, , New South Wales, Australia.

• He worked as a Journeyman Leatherbag Maker at the time of his marriage on 27 Mar 1903.

• He worked as a Journeyman Leatherbag Maker at the time of son Robert's birth on 25 Dec 1903.

• He worked as a Leather Bag Maker at the time of Margaret's Birth on 30 Apr 1908 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Leatherworker in 1930 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

• He worked as a Leather Worker in 1936 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

• He worked as a Gardener at the time of his death on 21 Oct 1947.


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William married Margaret Napier Gardiner, daughter of Robert Gardiner ** and Elizabeth McLuskie **, on 27 Mar 1903 in National Halls, 127 Main St, Glasgow, Scotland. (Margaret Napier Gardiner was born on 20 Apr 1881 in 100 Grove St, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, died on 13 Jun 1965 in Ryde District Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia and was buried on 16 Jun 1965 in Northern Suburbs Crematorium, North Ryde, New South Wales., Australia.). The cause of her death was Pulmonary Oedema 1 hr/Left Ventricular failure 1 hr/Carcinoma of Sigmoid 8 mths/Ischameic Heart Disease 5 yrs/ Large Bo.


bullet  Marriage Notes:

It was a Church of Scotland Ceremony. Witnesses were Robert Gardiner and Agnes Clark.

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