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| Name | McDONALD – William |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 50th Regiment |
| Regiment Number (s) | 1441 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 31st March 1840 / 19 years / London England Labourer |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 4¾ in Fresh / Blue / Brown / None |
| Overseas Service/Duration | Sydney NSW time not recorded India – 6 years 11 months Ceylon – 3 years 7 months Crimea – 1 year 2 months |
| Length of Service | 21 years 59 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Private / 25th June 1861 / Parkhurst Isle of Wight England |
| Campaign Medals | Star of India Sutlej Medal with 2 clasps Crimean War Medal with Alma Sebastopol and Inkerman Clasps Crimea-Turkish Medal |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | 89 High Street Preston Lancashire England (address of father-in-law PEDDER James Greave) |
| Pension Districts | 1861 Preston 1862 Bermuda (in transit) 1863 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 11d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 30th October 1862 Gravesend England (via Bermuda) |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | MERCHANTMAN 15th February 1863 |
| Date/Place of Birth | c1821 St. Marylebone London Middlesex England |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | Not yet known |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Siblings | Not yet known |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | PEDDER Elizabeth Greaves B c1832 Preston Lancashire England |
| Date/Place of Marriage | 1854 Preston Lancashire England |
| Children by 1st Wife | Elizabeth B c1854 Preston Lancashire England M WHITFIELD Francis William4th April 1874 Western Australia D 24th February 1920 West Perth Western Australia bur Anglican Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia Mary Ann B 1860 Not yet known D 30th May 1863 Fremantle Western Australia bur Anglican Section Skinner Street Fremantle Western Australia Margaret B c 1862 Preston Lancashire England (McDonnell) GREAY Michael Stephen 1881 Western Australia D 26th January 1906 Leederville Western Australia bur Anglican Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia |
| Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth | PEDDER James Greaves 1798 Garstang Lancashire England |
| Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Unknown Elizabeth 1797 Pilling Lancashire |
| 2nd Husband of Wife | FOSTER John |
| Date/Place of Marriage | Western Australia |
| Children by 2nd Husband | Ellen Mary B 1870 Western Australia M TONDUT Ferdinand Western Australia D 29th June 1956 South Perth Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia |
| Land Grants Western Australia | None |
| Occupation after Arrival | Not yet known |
| Newspaper Articles | Not yet known |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not applicable |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | 11th June 1863 Fremantle Western Australia Anglican Section Skinner Street Cemetery Fremantle Western Australia |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | Not yet known |
| Will or Probate | None known |
| Further Information | British Army Worldwide Index 1841 William McDonald 1441 Private 50th Foot location On route from Sydney NSW to India 1851 William McDonald 1441 Private 50th Foot location Ashton under Lyne Discharge was at his own request having served upward of 21 years. The Surgeon Superintendent on the Merchantman rated the conduct of both Pensioner and Mrs McDonald as Very Good even though William had had his liquor stopped for 7 days for drunkenness. William received medical treatment while on board the ship. Children Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret accompanied the family on the ship. Shortly after the death of his daughter Mary William McDonald took his own life leaving his wife Elizabeth and the 2 other daughters destitute.SROWA Cons 36 CSR Vol 524 Folios 24-26 Resident Magistrate Charles Symmons wrote to the Colonial Secretary 17th June 1863 regarding the plight of William McDonald’s wife and two children after he shot himself. Colonel Bruce said she had no claim of the Pensioners Benevolent fund and suggested that she be admitted to the Poor House or supported her family by taking in washing. She was admitted to Poor House 23rd June 1863 Elizabeth McDonald appears to have married a man called Foster as Elizabeth Foster nee Pether (sic) was the mother of Ellen (Mary) Foster born 1870 who married Ferdinand Tondut. Mrs F Tondut is mentioned as the sister of both Elizabeth & Margaret in their death notices. Ellen Mary Tondut died 29 June 1956 aged 86 and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery |