Cornish Connections
William Hicks was born in Redruth, Cornwall in about 1848, the youngest son of Richard and Jane Hicks. On 2 April 1873, William married Elizabeth Jane Johns daughter of Zacharias Johns and Jane Williams, in the Parish Church, Redruth, Cornwall. William gave his age as twenty-two, Elizabeth said she was twenty-four years old. Their son, William, was born on 20 February 1874 in Redruth, Cornwall and three years later they had a daughter, Elizabeth Jane, born on 8 May 1877 in Redruth, Cornwall.
In late 1884, William and Elizabeth Jane decided to emigrate to Australia and together with 10-year-old William and 8-year-old Elizabeth Jane, they boarded the steamer Cuzco which left Plymouth on 28 November 1884. The family arrived in South Australia on 7 January 1885.
For most of his working life, William Hicks was an engine driver. Engine drivers were responsible for the operation of the large steam-powered engines that drove the water pumps at the mines. Skill was required to get the best performance out of the pumps, the engine drivers were constantly alert to changes in the rhythm of the engine, they would manipulate the valves and regulators until the engine was stroking correctly. William was able to secure employment at the Wallaroo mines as an engine driver soon after their arrival in South Australia. Later, he was employed in the Wallaroo smelting works. The smelting works were constructed in 1861 by the owners of the Wallaroo Mine to process the ore from both the Wallaroo mine (near Kadina) and the Moonta Mines.
In late 1884, William and Elizabeth Jane decided to emigrate to Australia and together with 10-year-old William and 8-year-old Elizabeth Jane, they boarded the steamer Cuzco which left Plymouth on 28 November 1884. The family arrived in South Australia on 7 January 1885.
For most of his working life, William Hicks was an engine driver. Engine drivers were responsible for the operation of the large steam-powered engines that drove the water pumps at the mines. Skill was required to get the best performance out of the pumps, the engine drivers were constantly alert to changes in the rhythm of the engine, they would manipulate the valves and regulators until the engine was stroking correctly. William was able to secure employment at the Wallaroo mines as an engine driver soon after their arrival in South Australia. Later, he was employed in the Wallaroo smelting works. The smelting works were constructed in 1861 by the owners of the Wallaroo Mine to process the ore from both the Wallaroo mine (near Kadina) and the Moonta Mines.
With the discovery of copper on the Wallaroo station in 1859, a race for leases at the site began. In 1861, the township of Kadina was laid out about two miles from the mines, and a building boom in the area began. In 1862, a copper mining company was formed by a group of businessmen who were hoping to capitalise on what was thought to be an extension of the main lode. The Matta Mine had a short, but successful life, and by 1866 was bringing fifty tones of ore to the surface each week. However, the surrounding flat ground led to drainage problems, causing operations to be suspended. The mine eventually became part of the Wallaroo Mining Company.
The area around the Matta mine shaft was known as Matta Flat and this is where William and Elizabeth Hicks were living in 1885 when their daughter Edith Roseline was born on 25 March. Three years later when Effie Evelyn Hicks was born on 27 December 1889, the family had moved to nearby Wallaroo.
The Hicks family were living in Clara St in 1909. Two years later they had moved to South Terrace, where they remained until William’s death on 25 November 1924, from heart disease. Elizabeth Jane Hicks died from a stroke on 20 June 1931. Both were buried in the Wallaroo Cemetery.
The Hicks family were living in Clara St in 1909. Two years later they had moved to South Terrace, where they remained until William’s death on 25 November 1924, from heart disease. Elizabeth Jane Hicks died from a stroke on 20 June 1931. Both were buried in the Wallaroo Cemetery.
Descendants of William Hicks
William Hicks was born in December quarter 1849 in Redruth, Cornwall, England, died on 25 November 1924 in Wallaroo, South Australia at age 75 years and was buried on 27 November 1924 at Wallaroo Cemetery, Wallaroo, South Australia. William married Elizabeth Jane Johns on 2 April 1873 in Redruth, Cornwall, England. Elizabeth was born in about 1845 in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, died on 20 June 1931 in Wallaroo, South Australia and was buried on 22 June 1931 at Wallaroo Cemetery, Wallaroo, South Australia. They had four children: William, Elizabeth Jane, Edith Roslean and Effie Evelyn.
- William Hicks was born on 20 February 1874 in Redruth, Cornwall, England and died before 1944 in South Australia. William married Mary Ellenor Thomas on 19 January 1899 in Wallaroo, South Australia. Mary was born on 18 October 1875 in Wallaroo, South Australia and died on 23 April 1944 in Port Adelaide, South Australia at age 68 years. They had three children: Thomas William, Charles, Lyall Clifford & Frank Lloyd.
- Elizabeth Jane Hicks was born on 8 May 1877 in Redruth, Cornwall, England, died on 19 August 1958 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 81 years and was buried on 20 August 1958 at Cheltenham Cemetery, Cheltenham, South Australia. Elizabeth married Charles William Winkler on 9 March 1895 at Port Wallaroo, South Australia. Charles was born on 20 April 1874 in Wallaroo and died on 5 July 1967 at age 93 years and was buried on 7 July 1967 in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, South Australia. They had eight children: Richard Albert, Benjamin, Ettie Augusta Roseline, Charles William, Frederick, George Henry, Sydney Percival and Elizabeth Jane.
- Edith Roslean Hicks was born on 25 March 1885 at Matta Flat, South Australia, died on 29 August 1976 at Wallaroo, South Australia at age 91 years and was buried on 31 August 1976 at Wallaroo Cemetery, Wallaroo, South Australia. Edith married Harold Maurice Sutton on 7 November 1903 at Wallaroo, South Australia. Harold was born on 30 June 1884 in Wallaroo, South Australia, died on 25 November 1954 in South Australia at age 66 years and was buried on 26 November 1954 at Wallaroo Cemetery, Wallaroo, South Australia. They had six children: Harold William, Edith Pearl, Alma Evelyn, George Clyde, William Colin and Reginald Clifford.
- Effie Evelyn Hicks was born on 27 December 1889 at Wallaroo, South Australia and died before 1924.