- William Bryant (1819-1896) - Life Events
William Bryant was the son of our first Bryant family member (also William) to migrate to Australia from Kent in England.
He was born on 16 March 1819 at Benenden the eldest child to parents William and Ann (Austin) Bryant(Briant) and was baptised on this day, 20 August 1820, in the St. George's Parish Church in the village.
He had received an education in England so that when he arrived in Sydney at the age of nineteen he could both read and write. He was engaged by a William Gurner for 25 per annum, with rations.
On 15 December 1840 at Christ Church, Parish of St. Lawrence, Sydney, William married Ann Gilbert, the daughter of William Gilbert and Priscilla (Hodge), who had also recently arrived from Kent. The young couple made their home variously in the Redfern and Waterloo areas where they raised their eleven children. William joined the railways where he worked until he retired.
He was very active in local politics as an Alderman, becoming Mayor of the Municipality of Waterloo in 1860 and later Mayor of a newly formed Alexandria Council in 1871. His wife Ann died in 1877 at their Redfern home and several years later at the age of 63 years he married a widow, Ann Jane Starr, in 1883.
He died on 29 August 1896 at 40 Marian Street, Redfern, NSW, Australia, aged 77. He was buried on 31 August 1896 at Rookwood Cemetery, Rookwood's Old Wesleyan (Methodist) Cemetery (Zone A, Section 2A, Row 11, 603).
Bryant Graves at Rookwood Cemetery
Foreground: William and Ann (Gilbert) Bryant
Background Ann (Austen) Bryant
William Bryants Civic Activities
William was heavily involved in civic affairs
On 27th June 1860, he was elected to the first Waterloo Council and proposed the first motion that Mr Edward John Hawkesley should be appointed Chairman of the Council - (extract from Waterloo Council Minute Book - WCMB).
At the second meeting of the Council, he was elected to the Improvement Committee which was to seek from Sir Daniel Cooper "...a map of the whole of Waterloo and Mount Lachlan Estates, showing the different holders of land on these Estates, the size of their allotments and the names, alignment and width of the streets laid out - (extract from WCMB). This deputation apparently also sought finance and was unable to obtain "...any advance of money either by way of gift or loan" - (extract from WCMB, page 1l). The problem of lack of finance was temporarily solved when a motion was put forth and carried that the Councillors pay half a year's rate in advance according to the assessment by the Redfern Council, in which Waterloo had formerly been a Ward - (information from WCMB, page 3). At that same meeting the retirement of the Councillors was determined and William was among those who would retire on 2 February 1862.
William was frequently appointed to the Finance Committee and just as frequently resigned. The main problem with obtaining finance was probably the fact that the Municipality was leasehold land rather than freehold (reference WCMB, page 54). The Bank of NSW was only willing to advance money to the Council on the condition that all nine councillors sign the Bond (reference WCMB, page 68).
William was re-elected to the Council in February 1862 and became Chairman in 1863. He was re-elected and was Chairman again in 1866. The Municipalities Act 1867, changed the titles of those elected to Mayor and Aldermen, where they had previously been designated as Chairman and Councillors. Since William was Chairman at the time he became the first "Mayor" of Waterloo. The following is an extract copied from the Minute Book of Waterloo Council -
"Monday 30th December 1867. A special meeting of the Council being the first under the Municipalities Act of 1867, was held this evening at 7 o'clock - present, the Mayor Mr Wiiliam Bryant, Aldermen Gibson, Mears, Goldfinch, Moon, Cook and Wilcox. The minutes..........etc".
William did not stand for re-election in 1868, and instead was Returning Officer for the elections. The following is an extract from the Minute Book of Waterloo Council - "On Tuesday 4th February 1868 at 12 o'clock noon the Returning Officer (Mr William Bryant) attended at the Council Chamber..."
A highlight of William's civic career was the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh:
His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit en route to Botany, yesterday to the suburban municipality of Waterloo, the council of which had for some days been on the alert to prepare a fitting and loyal reception for the Prince. The Mayor of Waterloo (William Bryant Esq.) was then introduced to his Royal Highness by Mr. Sutherland MP and had the honor of presenting the following address which was personally delivered to the Duke and taken as read..."
The Borough of Alexandria was proclaimed in 1868 when it separated from the Municipality of Waterloo and William later became Mayor from 10 February 1870 to 17 February 1872.
Much of the above information regarding William's civic affairs came from Marilyn Mills based on research by Gloria Wheatley.