WHITE William

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In 1755 the 51st Regiment of Foot was renumbered (from the 53rd). It received a county designation in 1782, as the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Foot. In 1821 the regiment received royal status, becoming the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding, The King’s Own Light Infantry) Regiment. During the early 19th century the regiment served in the Napoleonic and Peninsular campaigns and served at Waterloo in 1815.

Between August and December 1837, six convict ships left Britain with 51st Regiment guards on board bound for New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. The regiment continued to arrive in Australia as convict guards, and in larger numbers on troopships, during the decade that followed. Some of these ships are profiled on the Ships page. Arguably the most famous of the journeys made by 30 officers and men was on the ship Buffalo. That story can be read on the Anecdotes page.

In June 1840, a detachment of 145 officers and men arrived in Western Australia on Runnymede from Hobart; a further 46 men arrived on Eudora and Champion between 1841 and 1844. Thirty three 51st men took their discharge and settled in Western Australia; one of them was this man featured on the right.

The 51st in Australia left Hobart for India on Java in 1847. Its last port of call was on 15th March 1847 when the balance of the detachment in WA boarded Java on her way to Calcutta.

51st Regiment at Waterloo
NAME: William WHITEName variations: None encountered.
Birth Date and Placec. 1817 Knocklude, Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland – not verified.
Baptism Date and Place
Marriage Date and Place09 May 1848 Fremantle, Western Australia [WABDM Reg. #230].
SpouseEllen LONGRAGHAN (widow of Thomas Prenderville).
ChildrenEllen b. 1851 Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#1767].
Maria Helena baptised 27 Jun 1865 aged 14, Perth Western Australia – probably the same child as above [LDS].
Margaret b. 1854 South Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#2250].
OccupationsTemporary Night Warder July 1851 – not verified [BARK p.215].
Land Acquisition in WA
Death Date and Place07 May 1864 Colonial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia [EPCem].
Burial Date and Place09 May 1864 East Perth Cemetery, Western Australia [EPCem].
Death, Funeral, Obituary NoticesNone.
Will and ProbateNone.
BRITISH ARMY
Regiment51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding, The Kings Own Light Infantry) Regiment.
Soldier No. and Rank#1032 Private.
Enlistment Date and Place27 Dec 1836 – not verified.
Medals, Clasps and BadgesGood Conduct Badge and Pay 1d. per diem from 27 Dec 1843 [WO12-6205-245].
Arrival Australia: Ship and DateEmma Eugenia. Embarked 17 Oct 1837, Deptford, London [WO25-3503; WO12-6200-153].
Arr. 9 Feb 1838  Port Jackson, NSW. Dep. Portsmouth, England 8 Nov 1837 [DPS].
Marian Watson.
Arr. 21 Feb 1838 Hobart, VDL. Dep. 15 Feb 1838 Sydney, NSW [Hobart Courier].
Arrival Western Australia: Ship and DateEudora 27 Nov 1841 from Hobart [TROVE].
Military Postings within Western AustraliaPerth HQ 27 Nov 1841 to 31 Mar 1847, including
six days in hospital Oct to Dec Quarter 1845 and 8 days in hospital Jan to Mar Quarter 1847.
[All sourcing from WO12-6202 TO 6208].
Courts Martial in Western AustraliaNone.
Discharge Date and Place31 Mar 1847 Perth, Western Australia [WO12-6208-191,199].
Age at Dischargec. 30 years [deduced].
Length of Servicec. 11 years [deduced].

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Hobart Courier 23 Feb 1838

William White was serving in Ireland before he left Britain for Australia. Some time between 1st April and the end of May 1837, he spent 18 days in hospital in Belfast and then sailed with others in his regiment to Bristol. From there they marched to Hungerford and on to Chatham where he spent another 13 days in hospital in June. After another march to Gravesend, he took a boat trip to Deptford where, on 17th October 1837, he boarded the convict ship Emma Eugenia which sailed to Portsmouth and finally New South Wales. White had been paid 130 days in advance to 23rd February 1838, by which time he had arrived in Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land.