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{{KellyGang Side}}
== William (Bricky) Williamson ==
== Importance of Bricky Williamson ==
Mrs [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Kelly]]'s next door neighbour at [[Eleven Mile Creek|Eleven]] Mile Creek. Arrested as a result of the Fitzpatrick incident and sentenced to 6 years. '''Links to the KellyGang'''.,[[#ey|Early Years]] , [[#ty|Teenage years]] , [[#fr|First run in with the law]], [[#f|Fitzpatrick Incident]] , [[#PG|Statement in Pentridge Gaol]] , [[#lig|Life in Gaol]] , [[#rc|Royal Commission]] , [[#lar|Later]] , [[#family|Family]].,
== Family ==
'''parents''' Alexander ? '''brothers''' ? '''sis''' '''ters''' ? '''wife''' Ellen Buckley ''''''
children William (b13.6.1880), Mary Jane (b25.10.1883), Charles Alexandra (b22.2.1885), James (b10.5.1886), Margaret Anne (b28.10.1887), Catherine Ellen (b2.4.1889), Albert (b15.11.1890), Louisa (b5.6.1892), Alice Maude (b14.10.1895) and Ida May (b23.2.1897). [[#photo|Photograph]]
== Links to the KellyGang ==
'''Early years''' I was born in 1847 near Newcastle in England and came to Victoria with my family (or did I just run away) when I was about 14 in around 1861. '''Teenage years''' I made several attempts to stow away on ships and was always caught and returned to shore. I was finally successful and not found until the ship was 3 months into its journey to Australia.
I was given the job of cabin boy and was to handed over to the authorities on arrival in Australia but jumped ship before the authorities could board the ship.
My name "Brickey" comes from the fact that when when I set foot on dry land, I sought jobs in brick yards around the outskirts of Melbourne for a few years before heading to the Benalla region of Victoria.
'''First run ins with the law''' I had been a boarder with Mrs [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Kelly]] working and buying a selection next to the Kelly property
I thought it was very bad for [[Ned Kelly|Ned]] to be mixing with the hard drinking older men at the timber mill when he was only 16.
I was involved in the incident with [[Wild Wright|Wild Wright]] and Ned Kelly and a horse in 1871 and gave evidence against Wild Wright. I was sent to gaol for illegal use of a horse.
I was arrested on January [[1864-1873 Events|1872]] by Const [[SConst Flood|Flood]] aiding and abetting [[Jimmy Quinn|James Quinn]] in an assault on a man called James Page. I got 18 months for it ([[The Argus at KellyGang 11/11/1878 (2)|Argus11/11/78]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 34 page 6|RC12588]])
In [[1874-1877 Events|1874]] I was released from goal and went to live on Eleven Mile Creek on the selection between Mrs Kelly and the [[Margaret Skillion|Skillions]]
Soon after that I was arrested by Const [[SConst Flood|Flood]] with [[James Kelly|James Kelly]] for cattle stealing. We were convicted and got four years each. ([[Royal Commission report day 34 page 6|RC12589]])
. '''Fitzpatrick Incident [[15-04-78 Fitzgerald incident|15/04/1878]]''' I was copping wood and splitting fence rails at Mrs [[Kelly Home|Kelly's]] home when [[Fitzpatrick|Fitzpatrick]] arrived to arrest [[Dan Kelly|Dan Kelly]]
Later I was inside the Kelly home prior to the time when Fitzpatrick was injured and took 2 of the Kelly children outside when they started to scream. Fitzpatrick alleged that I had a revolver but there is no evidence to support this. Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] and Const [[Brown the detective|Brown]] did not find anything when they arrested me. see ([[The Argus at KellyGang 22/4/1878|Argus22/4/78]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 23 page 2|RC8821]] [[Royal Commission report day 36 page 4|RC12822]])
Basically because I was there at the time I was arrested along with Mrs Kelly and Skillion and charged with attempted murder of Fitzpatrick. The '''KellyGang''' set out Ned [[Ned Kelly|Kelly]]'s side of these events in the Cameron [[Cameron Letter|letter]]. Of course [[Dan Kelly|Dan]] and [[Ned Kelly|Ned]] Kelly had decided to go bush.
I get so angery when I tell this story. Perhaps it is best if you hear it from Ida, one of my daughters. I told a journalist about these matters at about the time of the First World War and she was there. She took notes at the time, and I feel we can rely on her excellent memory. She died aged 96 in October 1994.
"Father was cutting timber on the high ground above the Kelly house when he heard screaming coming from the house. He ran down to see a drunken constable Fitzpatrick being threatened by Dan Kelly. Mrs. Kelly had picked up a shovel and was also threatening the constable. Father took the screaming children outside and calmed them down.
"The incident started when Fitzpatrick made drunken advances towards Kate. Dan tried to throw the constable out the door and failed. Fitzpatrick discovered his wrist was bleeding (father does`t know how it happened). After Mrs. Kelly and [[Kate Kelly|Kate]] bandaged the wrist Fitzpatrick shook hands with everyone and declared that the whole thing would be forgotten."
I was described by the police as, " nationality, lrish, age, 25 years, thinn build, fair complexion, beard cut short." ([[Sydney Morning Herald (17)|SMH18/4/78]])
I told my daughter that Ned was not there during the incident. A gun was not produced, had such a thing happened the children would have been hysterical. [[James Kelly|Jim Kelly]] said that I was not even there ([[Sydney Sun, Cookson, 30_08_1911_2|BWC]])
Hear Ned Kellys version of what happened ([[The Age (36)|Age9/8/1880]])
Dan was not very bright unlike Ned whom I judged to be very intelligent.
Sgt [[Steele|Steele]] and Consts [[Brown the detective|Brown]] [[Strahan|Strahan]] arrested me at 9pm on 16/4/1878 next door to the Kelly home. Steele went to Skillian's place, but could not find him then, so he took into Greta. He returned again to get the others. ([[Royal Commission report day 23 page 2|RC8821]])
Later they arrested [[William Skillion|William Skillion]] and Mrs Kelly. They were taken to Benalla on the 17th. From there they were taken to Beechworth Goal then back to Benalla for their committal on 17 May. On [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|9 October 1878]], with Sir Redmond Barry as the judge. Skillion, Mrs [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Kelly]] and I were found guilty and on 12/10/1878, Mrs Kelly was sentenced to 3 years and [[William Skillion|Skillion]] and I recieved 6 years hard labour. Even Com [[Standish|Standish]] thought my sentence was a very severe punishment. ([[Royal Commission report day 1 page 2|RC6]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 14/10/1878|Argus14/10/78]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 30/10/1878 (5)|Argus30/10/78]])
See also the [[Jerilderie Letter (2)|Jerilderie Letter]]
Soon after the trial I was moved to [[Pentridge|Pentridge]] with Skillion
Later I wrote to Mr JJ Kenneally with a true version of my story [[[The Complete Inner History of the KellyGang and their Pursuers (12)|JJK]])
'''15/11/78 I made a statement in [[Pentridge|Pentridge]] against the KellyGang''' I was very upset when I heard of the '''KellyGang''' and the Mansfield Murders that took place on 26/10/[[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|1878]]. Horse stealing is one thing, but murder, that is another thing. I do not hold with murder. On 15/11/[[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|1878]] I made a statement to Inspector Green while I was in the [[Pentridge|Pentridge]] prison:-See my statement to the Royal Commission report [[Royal Commission App 13-1|Appendix 13]] (see also [[Royal Commission report day 10 page 13|RC1917]])
My report was passed on by [[Standish|Standish]] to Ass Com [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] and Sup [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] on 28/11/1878 ([[Royal Commission report day 42 page 23|RC15812]])
SConst [[SConst Flood|Flood]], [[SConst P Mullane|Mullane]] and [[Strahan|Strahan]] checked up on the report from me that food was being left in a hollow tree by Maggie [[Margaret Skillion|Skillian]] ([[Royal Commission report day 11 page 1|RC1981]]) ([[Royal Commission report 29/6/1881|12629]])
I am not proud of telling on the '''KellyGang''' but please understand my position. I was sentenced to 6 years for trying to help my neighbour, Mrs [[Mrs Ellen Kelly|Kelly]], chop some wood. At my trial the only defence Ned [[Ned Kelly|Kelly]] could offer was that Bill [[William Skillion|Skillion]] was not there. What about me, I did not shoot at the policeman.
On 7/2/[[events79-2_4Jerilderie Robbery|1879]] the authorities got me to make a [[Royal Commission App 13-2|statement]] as to where the '''KellyGang''' might go to in New South Wales. this was just a few days before the [[Jerilderie|Jerilderie]] robbery
'''Life in Gaol''' Ned sent a message to me in Gaol "Just give the word and I`ll blow the Gaol up and get you out"
I sent word to him "For God`s sake don`t, I`ll be declared an outlaw if you do"
'''Royal Commision''' The Royal Commission acknowledged my assistance in identifying how the '''KellyGang''' was being supplied. ([[Royal Commission second Report Part VIII ( page 11)|RC2nd reportVIII]])
There was evidence at the [[Royal Commission|Royal Commission]] that Brickey had supported Fitzpatricks evidence in statements that he made while in Pentridge Prison. The Greta community were not happy.
I was threatened by the sympathizers for supplying information to the police ([[Royal Commission report day 49 page 9|RC16716]])
'''Life after I was released''' In [[ev81-00---Royal Commission|1881]] I was pardoned. Even the authorities accepted my story. For a while he travelled around this region of NSW shearing sheep. I got married and went to live at Coolamon in New South Wales.
I married Ellen Buckley at [[Mullengandra|Mullengandra]], near [[Albury|Albury]] in New South Wales.
I came to live at Coolamon in 1884 and settled on a selection on the outskirts of the town. Later I bought a further two properties in the area.
In 1901 I wrote a letter to JJ Keneally giving my account of what happened when Constable Fitzpatrick came to arrest Ned Kelly and the letter along with a photograph was published in the book "The Inner History of Kelly Gang".
I returned to England around 1912 to visit my brother and and then returned to my farm and my family.
I saw out the last of my days on the Millwood Road farm. I was known as a great horseman well into my sixties. I had become a respected of the community but I always held a healthy distrust of the police..
I died in Coolamon on the 3rd of October 1932.
My daughter was very proud of the fact that I did not like drink and did`nt swear. I did however keep a Demi-John of sherry at the farm for visitors.
My daughter remembered when [[Wild Wright|Wild Wright]] came to visit us at the farm when she was about 3 or 4.( about 1901) She played under the table while Wright and I talked, bumped her head and cried. Wild Wright tried to sooth her and pretended to cry too.
And she also remembers Bill [[William Skillion|Skillion]] visiting the farm. She said, "He strode down the road towards the house, wearing a large brimmed hat, he was tall with reddish hair."
'''The photograph of William was taken when he returned from his first trip home to Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1912''' '''What happened to Brickey Williamson's family'''
'''Of our children'''
William (b13.6.1880)
Mary Jane (b25.10.1883 at Wagga), married Oscar St Clair Woodforth in Coolamon on 27.6.1910, 3 children
Charles Alecandra (b22.2.1885),
James (b10.5.1886),
Margaret Anne (b28.10.1887),
Catherine Ellen (b2.4.1889),
Albert (b15.11.1890), married Susan Longmore
Louisa (b5.6.1892),
Alice Maude (b14.10.1895)
Ida May (b23.2.1897), married William McKenzie who worked on William Williamson's farm, children - Alex, Noel, Elizabeth (betty), Ena (married Ronald Murphy, 3 children-Rhonda, Steve and Llyod.), Beryl, Shirley and Claire.
[[Category:People]] [[Category:People starting with U-Z]] [[Category:William Brickey Williamson]] [[Category:sympathizer]] [[Category:arrest]] [[Category:Bushrangers]]
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