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David MORGAN
(1800-1895)
Catherine JONES
(1806-1841)
John EVANS
(1798-1869)
Ann LEWIS
(Abt 1800-Abt 1879)
William MORGAN
(1830-1901)
Margaret Louisa EVANS
(1831-1889)

William David MORGAN
(1870-1947)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Lizzie Wright SMITH

William David MORGAN

  • Born: 21 Apr 1870, Ross Creek, Ballarat, Vic
  • Marriage: Lizzie Wright SMITH in 1892 in Vic
  • Died: 26 Nov 1947, Williamstown, Vic at age 77
  • Buried: 27 Nov 1947, Williamstown Cemetery, Vic
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bullet  General Notes:

#I, William David Morgan, have for a long time had in mind writing briefly of happenings regarding my family and myself and hope to be modest remembering that it is of my self to a great extent that I am doing this. I was born on 21 April 1870 at Cherry Tree Flat (Ross Creek) near Ballarat, Victoria and now it is 22 April 1937, not a great knowledge of arithmetic is required to gather that I was 67 years old yesterday. To say 67 years old does not express my feeling for really I can hardly realise my age, for in my health I have so much to be thankful for, still
the total is correct. My Father and Mother were William and Margaret Morgan, perhaps I should not have said 'were' for I do believe that although not now in this life, they are alive with God, for they lived honest, honourable Christian lives, were highly respected, and delighted in doing all they could for the Cause of the Master they loved. My reader can gather from the above that my brother and sisters together with the writer were brought: up from infancy in a Christian home. We, the children of those noble parents owe much indeed for their example and training.

Now for my early education, being only 5 years old when brought to Williamstown what I know of Cherry Tree Flat (my birth place) is what I was told. I did visit that district in 1910 but 35 years had wrought changes to such an extent that there was no trace of the happy but humble home in which I was born. On arrival in Williamstown I was sent to North Williamstown State School No.1409, there in 1882 I obtained my certificate showing that I was a child sufficiently educated to the Standard required by the Education Act 1872. I left that school in 1885 but not before I had been for several quarters in a Special Class conducted by the then Head Teacher (Mr. N.C.F. Ulbrick), this class was the Matriculation Standard and I hope that the fees my parents paid for me were not altogether wasted.

On leaving school I went to private tuition in the evening, my tutor being my cousin Cecelia Hopkins, who had been a School Teacher and was then and still is Mrs. John Downing, she is a daughter of my Aunt Mary, Father's only sister.

Times were different in 1885 in many respects to what they are in 1937, all boys leaving school in those days could get work in almost any grade they chose and I went without loss of time into the cash desk of Stephens and Watts, Drapers of Bourke Street , Melbourne, next to the Post Office at the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets where Myer's Men's Store now is. My hours were 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 10 p.m. Saturdays, no half holidays in those days, my pay was 5 shillings a week. I was alone in the Cash desk and daily would hand in more than 100 pounds. Picture the working hours, the pay and the cash to be handled and recorded and you will agree that a change for the people generally from such conditions was very necessary. After I had been there 6 months I asked for a rise and was given two shillings and six pence making my pay then seven shillings and six pence, 16 years of age and train fare two shillings and six pence weekly. After being with the Firm for about 10 months I had the opportunity of Office work in the Stores Branch of the Victorian Railways, notice the altered hours, 7.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday, and the pay 15 shillings a week with no train fare as I would be working at Newport, naturally I under the direction of Father and Mother was glad to make the change.


On 4th January 1887, after passing the necessary educational and physical examinations I was appointed a permanent Junior Clerk and sent to the then Telegraph Branch for duty, I was delighted with the change from the Stores Branch for I had a fear of the then Head , of the Branch, but imagine my dismay when after being in the Telegraph Branch for only about 2 hours the Heads of that Branch and the Stores Branch came and told me to take the next train and report for duty in my old position, I suppose that I showed disappointment but whether I did or not the Head of the Telegraph Branch told me I had better go as I would never be Head of the Stores Branch if I stayed where I was, remember that that was in 1887, in 1915 I was the Sub-Head of the Stores Branch and Head of that Branch in 1933. There were times when my promotion was slow but I have no cause for complaint at least in so far as the last 30 years of my service were concerned for during that time I was Secretary to the Commissioners, Stores Board ,and personal Clerk to a Commissioner, Special Officer in the Stores Branch, Stores Purchasing Agent, Sub-Head of the Branch and then its Head with the title of Comptroller of Stores, rising from fifteen shillings per week to 1000 pounds per annum on my appointment as Head of the Branch with subsequent Increments.

I retired from the Railway Department on 21st April 1935, being then 65 years of age, and can always look back with much pleasure on the many good friends I left there as well as in the commercial world with which I had close association. And now for a most important happening in the lives of two young people. Lizzie Wright SMITH and I married, together we faced life with little of this world's goods, gathered our home effects from time to time, the gatherings adding -to our happiness, and we are still jogging along together happy in our choice of partner, looking back over many happy years and looking forward with pleasure.

My Father and Mother took a deep interest in the Welsh Church and Sunday School in Electra Street Williamstown, later the property was sold, a new site purchased in Ferguson Street Williamstown, and a new Church erected there, it was there that I grew up in Church life. Much of the service was in Welsh and as I chose for my wife a lady with no knowledge of Welsh I went with her to the Wesleyan Church, Electra Street, Williamstown, and have been in close association with that Church ever since.

In 1896 I was appointed a teacher in the Electra Street Sunday School, and was associated with various classes from the infants to the young men's. In Church Life I have held most of the Offices given to laymen both in the local church and the Circuit. I have on different occasions been a representative to the Methodist Conference, was Circuit Steward on several occasions and on one of these occupied the position for 6 consecutive years and am at present in that position.

So now we are 12 in all, well and happy with much to be thankful for. God has been good to us and we are blessed with the love of our children and grandchildren. #

Born at Ross Creek, Registration No 11678, 1870.

Lived at Pen Y Bont 45 Victoria St Williamstown. When Mary Williams nee morgan was in Geelong, he would often be in Geelong travelling by train and they would meet.

David Morgan Death is recorded Reg No 12673 as 1947 at age 77 in Williamstown with Father William and Mother Margaret Evans

# From a Brief Record of Family History And Some Facts Regarding Myself by William David Morgan
22-4-1937

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William married Lizzie Wright SMITH, daughter of William SMITH and Ann WRIGHT, in 1892 in Vic. (Lizzie Wright SMITH was born on 1 Mar 1872 in Werribee, Vic, died on 3 Nov 1942 in Williamstown, Vic and was buried on 4 Nov 1942 in Williamstown Cemetery, Vic.). The cause of her death was Myocarditis.



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