WILLIAM DRUCE (BORN 1799)
William was born on 10th May 1799 in Frome, Somerset, the younger son of William (born 1775) and Ann. He was baptised at St John's Parish Church on 24 December 1806 together with elder brother James and sister Eliza. Below is a copy of entry in the Register of Baptisms and Burials reference number 2/1/4 in Munimenta Room Catalogue Page No. 275 Year 1806. Copyright vested in St John's Parochial Church Council.
THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM DRUCE
William married Mary Ann Hatch (born 1805 in Dublin, Ireland) in 1822. William and Mary had nine children, namely, Joseph (born 2nd April 1824 in Dublin), Theophilus (born 1827 in Port Louis, Mauritius), James (born 29th July 1828 in Port Louis, Mauritius), Mary (born 23rd July 1830 in Port Louis, Mauritius), Amelia (born 26th October 1832 in Port Louis, Mauritius), Elizabeth (born 25th July 1838 in Liverpool), William Theophilus (born 28th July 1841 in Port Louis, Mauritius), Emma (born 23rd September 1843 in Liverpool) and Alfred (born 7th May 1848 in Liverpool).
I had originally suspected that William was a trader overseas who operated out of Liverpool., since it is unusual that his wife and, presumably, family accompanied him abroad, although he may have set up business in Mauritius and so lived there for a few years. However, recent information kindly supplied by a descendent in Victoria, Australia reveals that William was a soldier in the British Army and joined the 9th or 29th Foot Regiment in 1815. I have recently discovered that William and family emigrated to Australia in 1853, arriving in Victoria on board the John Knox in April that year.
The John Knox was a square-sterned, wooden barque was built in 1852 at Aberdeen by Walter Hood for J Munro & Co of the same port, with dimensions of 128.2ft x 21.7ft x 14.0ft and tonnages of 358 old and 296 new. She was a vessel of long, low, sharp construction; little outreach forward. She was equipped with a longboat, a quarter-boat and a jolly-boat, and there was a raised quarterdeck level with the main rail.
In 1865 she was made a full-rigged ship and was managed by George Thompson in London. In 1876 she passed to owners in Sydney: first to J Merriman; then four years later to Jenkins; and four years after this to J Henderson, when she is again listed as a barque of 291 tons net. She was condemned in 1886. The picture below, which is in the National Maritime Museum, shows the John Knox hove-to, as the crew of a wrecked ship are taken aboard. Watercolour by an unknown artist.
The passenger list of the John Knox for the family gives their names and ages as follows:-
William (53), Mary Anne (48), Alfred (4), Elizabeth (11), Emma (9), Mary (21) and William (11).
William died on 24th January 1873 in Emerald Hill, Victoria, Australia and was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetary. Ann died in Emerald Hill on 23rd August 1878. Records indicate that they emigrated there in 1853. James died in Petersham, NSW on 14th May 1891 and Emma died in Newcastle, NSW on 16th February 1927.