William Adair

William Adair was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire on the 11th November 1811.  He married Mary Anne Morrison Crawford on the 24^th July 1837 in the Gorbals district of Glasgow. Mary’s parents were David Crawford and Ann nee Jack.

William and his wife left London on board the Resource, a vessel of 417 tons, on the 7^th October 1838 arriving in Port Adelaide on the 23^rd January 1839.  Their baby daughter, Ann died at the age of nine months shortly after their arrival.   According to reports they made their temporary home in the reed beds of the river Torrens.  William was employed for a short time, by John Ridley, before taking up land at Rowland Flat in about 1844. 

Around 1853 William moved to Peachey Belt where he farmed on sections 3127, 3137, 3138, 3148 and 3240.   

During the years following their arrival in South Australia William and Mary had eleven more children.

John                    b. 1^st April 1840
Mary Anne         b. 8^th April 1842 
Jane                    b. 3^rd May 1844
Elizabeth            b. 10^th October 1847
Margaret            b. 8^th March 1849
Emily                   b. 23^rd August 1851
Janet                   b. 23^rd August 1851
Anne                   b. 14^th August 1853
William               b. 11^th October 1855|
David                  b. 11^th August 1857
Thomas              b. 11^th August 1857

Twins David and Thomas died in infancy.  Thomas in 1848 at the age of 8 months, David the following year at 19^th months.

In April 1866, William’s eldest son John married Deborah Atkinson at St. George’s church, Gawler.  Later that year on the 29^th August, John died accidently from a gunshot wound at Barobbie Scrub, Grace Plains. He was buried at Zoar cemetery, Penfield.  On December 27^th 1866, his widow gave birth to a daughter, whilst residing with her Mother, Mrs. F. Atkinson of Peachey Belt.

William and Mary attended Zoar chapel with their family, where William served as Superintendent of the Zoar Bible Christian Sunday school for many years. Teachers and scholars presented William with a bible in 1868.

William also served on Munno Para District Council, where he held the position of Chairman for several years.  He was a member of the Loyal Wellington Lodge No.18 Salisbury.

In 1860, William’s wife Mary died at the age of 41, she is buried with her husband in the Zoar cemetery.   On the 23^rd June 1871 William re-married, his bride, August Levinia Almers also a widow. 

William retired from farming around 1875. He died at his home in Norwood at the age of 93, on the 9^th of June 1905. His remains are interned in the Zoar cemetery.