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William Adair
William Adair was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire on the 11th November 1811. He married Mary Anne Morrison Crawford on the 24th July 1837 in the Gorbals district of Glasgow. Mary’s parents were David Crawford and Ann nee Jack.
William and his wife left London on board the Resource, a vessel of 417 tons, on the 7th October 1838 arriving in Port Adelaide on the 23rd January 1839. Their baby daughter, Ann died at the age of nine months shortly after their arrival. According to reports they made their temporary home in the reed beds of the river Torrens. William was employed for a short time, by John Ridley, before taking up land at Rowland Flat in about 1844.
Around 1853 William moved to Peachey Belt where he farmed on sections 3127, 3137, 3138, 3148 and 3240.
During the years following their arrival in South Australia William and Mary had eleven more children.
John b. 1st April 1840
Mary Anne b. 8th April 1842
Jane b. 3rd May 1844
Elizabeth b. 10th October 1847
Margaret b. 8th March 1849
Emily b. 23rd August 1851
Janet b. 23rd August 1851
Anne b. 14th August 1853
William b. 11th October 1855|
David b. 11th August 1857
Thomas b. 11th August 1857
Twins David and Thomas died in infancy. Thomas in 1848 at the age of 8 months, David the following year at 19th months.
In April 1866, William’s eldest son John married Deborah Atkinson at St. George’s church, Gawler. Later that year on the 29th August, John died accidently from a gunshot wound at Barobbie Scrub, Grace Plains. He was buried at Zoar cemetery, Penfield. On December 27th 1866, his widow gave birth to a daughter, whilst residing with her Mother, Mrs. F. Atkinson of Peachey Belt.
William and Mary attended Zoar chapel with their family, where William served as Superintendent of the Zoar Bible Christian Sunday school for many years. Teachers and scholars presented William with a bible in 1868.
William also served on Munno Para District Council, where he held the position of Chairman for several years. He was a member of the Loyal Wellington Lodge No.18 Salisbury.
In 1860, William’s wife Mary died at the age of 41, she is buried with her husband in the Zoar cemetery. On the 23rd June 1871 William re-married, his bride, August Levinia Almers also a widow.
William retired from farming around 1875. He died at his home in Norwood at the age of 93, on the 9th of June 1905. His remains are interned in the Zoar cemetery.
Place of ResidencePeachey Belt