William Colston, muderer hanged in 1891.

[Mamac]

I am looking for any military records which might prove that William Colston b abt 1852 in Bristol, England, served in the Royal Engineers for 6 years around 1870s and was discharged in China. He next went to NSW where he joined the Artillery and rose to the rank of Sergeant. Is it possible that some records have survived?

I have been unable to find him in the Gloucestershire births/baptisms, or the 1861 England census.

As background, he was convicted of the murder of William Davis and his wife of Narbethong, Victoria and hanged in 1891. He was a carpenter by trade. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 4 April 1891, page 25 https://trove.nla.gov.au Any help would be appreciated.

[majm]

National Library of Australia's online catalogue includes:

J K HAKEN's book : Lineage and officers of New South Wales Military Forces 1854-1903 https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1890903

James Hugh DONOHOE's book (and CD) The British Army in Australia : index of personnel
https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2925708

And the Australian War Memorial, and the NSW state Library, and the National Archives of Australia should be able to help with tips on where to seek records...

NLA : https://www.nla.gov.au/
AWM : https://www.awm.gov.au/
NSW state Library : https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/
NAA: https://www.naa.gov.au/

Also, very well researched and referenced article here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_forces_of_Australia#New_South_Wales

Re Sgt Wm COLSTON - do you have localities for him in the 1870s, 1880s ... when did he move to Victoria etc ...

JM

[Jamjar]

I don’t understand what it is you are wishing to ‘prove’.

The search for him, 3rd column: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12714195

Here is a link for the execution, 2nd last column: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65304831

Jamjar

[Mamac]

Hi majm,
thank you for pointing me in the right direction regarding reference material. I will certainly follow up.

Regarding localities for Sgt Wm Colston, I have no other information as to when he moved to Victoria. I understand from the newspaper articles that he may have been employed as a ship's carpenter, but my understanding is that he he worked as a carpenter building bridges.

He was ironically noticed as a suspect to the murders when he couldn't be found after an inquiry to build the coffins of the couple he had murdered.

[Mamac]

Hi Jamjar,

I'm trying to establish exactly when he joined the Royal Engineers and when he arrived (possibly working his passage from China after discharge) in NSW and joined the NSW Artillery.

Yes, I have much information about his murder, trial and subsequent hanging.

[majm]

Which Battery in the NSW Artillery did he join? 

Different Batteries at different locations...  No. 11 was at Balmain (in Sydney),  No. 6 was at Wollongong,  No. 8 at Bega, and No. 3 at Fort Scratchley, just up from Nobbys Beach...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Scratchley

JM

[wivenhoe]

At this site -

http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/component/daPublicBaseContainer?component=daSearchWithinSeries&componentLabel=Search%20Within%20Series&breadcrumbPath=Home/Access%20the%20Collection/Search%20Within%20Series

search....VPRS....... 515.......COLSTON to see gaol record for William
...arrived "Tyverhouse" 1880

[Mamac]

I'm afraid I don't have that information. I have attached a snippet from the police gazette of 1891 offering a reward for his capture, mentioning his military involvement.

[Jamjar]

I’m sure you do have articles about him. I post them for others who may be interested in the events.

A most interesting confession, 3rd column: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235880686

Jamjar