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| Name | PURTILL / PURTELL – William |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 78th 21st and 32nd Regiment Also served as a non-combatant in Crimean Ambulance Corps |
| Regiment Number (s) | 32nd Regiment- 3181 21st Regiment – 2272 Ambulance Corps – 338 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 31st March 1845 / 18 years 6 months / Limerick Ireland Labourer |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 8 in Pale / Grey / Light Brown / Gunshot wound right arm |
| Overseas Service/Duration | East Indies – 3 years 10 months Crimea (post discharge in Ambulance Corps) 18 months |
| Length of Service | 6 years 114 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Private / 22nd July 1851 / Chatham Kent England |
| Campaign Medals | Punjab Medal with Mooltan clasp Crimea War Medal with Inkermann clasp Turkish Crimea Medal |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Limerick Ireland |
| Pension Districts | 1851-1854 Limerick 1854-1855 Turkey 1855-1859 Limerick 1859-1874 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 10d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 26th May 1859 Plymouth Devon England |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | SULTANA 19th August 1859 |
| Date/Place of Birth | B 1826 Trough near Limerick Clare Ireland |
| 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 | CARROLL Mary 1836 (deduced) Ireland |
| Date/Place of Marriage | 30th October 1855 St. John’s Limerick City Limerick Ireland |
| Children by 1st Wife | Catherine B 1856 Limerick Clare Ireland M FELTHAM James 1875 Fremantle Western Australia D 28th February 1902 Fremantle Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Fremantle Cemetery Western Australia Mary Sultana B 9th August 1859 at sea on board Sultana en route from England to Western Australia M McGANN Michael 1884 Fremantle Western Australia D 1884 York Western Australia Ellen B 1861 Guildford Western Australia M SLEE Charles Edward 3rd February 1892 Fremantle Western Australia D 11th July 1948 Bunbury Western Australia Bridget B 18th June 1862 Guildford Western Australia D 1863 Western Australia Bridget B 9th March 1864 York Western Australia D 9th March 1864 York Western Australia Margaret or Helen B 9th March 1864 York Western Australia D 13th March 1864 York Western Australia Sarah Ann B 1865 York Western Australia M CONWAY Jeremiah 1894 Fremantle Western Australia D 3rd December 1902 Western Australia William Patrick B 1867 Fremantle Western Australia D 6th December 1907 Yalgoo Western Australia bur Yalgoo Cemetery Charlotte B 1868 Busselton Western Australia M WILLIS James William 29th January 1893 Fremantle Western Australia D 6th June 1897 Fremantle Western Australia Frederick Aloysius B 1871 Vasse Western Australia D 23rd March 1917 Wooroloo Sanatorium Western Australia bur Northam Cemetery Western Australia |
| Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth | Not yet known |
| Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Land Grants Western Australia | None |
| Occupation after Arrival | Appointed Convict Establishment 25th October 1858 Served for 15 years at Freshwater Bay, Guildford, York, Vasse, Bunbury, Perth |
| Newspaper Articles | Daily News 22 & 24th November 1884 Page 3 Inquest into death of Mary McGann Daily News 8 January 1885 – page 3 Trial of John Duffey The West Australian 29th January 1885 – page 3 Execution of John Duffey The Daily News 4th February 1892 page Marriage Ellen Purtill The Daily News Monday 7th June 1897 page 2 death of Charlotte Willis The West Australian Monday 7th June 1897 page 4 Charlotte Willis Friday 28th February 1902 page 4 Death of Catherine FelthamThe West Australian 9th December 1902 page 6 Death Notice Sarah Conway The West Australian 30th March 1917 page 1 Death of Frederick Purtill The South Western Times Thursday 15th July 1948 page 19 Death of Ellen Slee |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not applicable |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | D 26th March 1874 Western Australia bur East Perth Cemeteries Western Australia |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | D 26th January 1885 Western Australia |
| Will or Probate | None known |
| Further Information | 1851 British Army Worldwide Index William Purtill 3181/21st 2272 Private 32nd Foot location Jalanahar (Punjab) Unfit for further service due to wound received in action 27 December 1848 wounded by a ball entering the centre of the deltoid muscle of right arm and exiting half way down the outside of the arm. Severe inflammation and abscesses, rheumatic pain in arm and shoulder. On 11th May 1874 William Dale, Officer in Charge of the Poor house wrote to the Colonial Secretary regarding the death of Warder William Purtill 26 March 1874 after 15 years in Convict service leaving a widow with 7 children aged from 17 years to 2 years, names and ages detailed, to support. Granted 1/- per day for 3 months also details of possible employment for daughter Catherine. Mary Purtill was finding it nearly impossible after the death of her husband to support her family by sewing although she had bought a sewing machine with the money raised (£7/10/0) by fellow warders from the Convict Establishment after her husband’s death. The Imperial Government allowed her 5/- per week in view of her husband’s service. Accordingly On 11th August 1875 Mary Purtill petitioned the Governor regarding her impoverished circumstances requesting the aid previously awarded be continued – refused. Alternatively she asked that the younger children be admitted to the orphanage but that was also refused. Petition refused 16 August 1875. CSR Cons 36 Vol 777 Folio 155 Letter regarding the death of Warder William Purtill 26 March 1874 after 15 years in Convict service with 7 children from 17 to 2 years, ages detailed. Granted 1/- per day for 3 months also details of employment for daughter Catherine |