Descendants of Rev Joseph Qualtrough and Agnes McCullock
- William Qualtrough 1818-1883
James Qualtrough's brother William also came to Victoria and it is believed he originally settled at Cowie near Geelong. The following are extracts into what we believe was his death at Wahring, near Nagambie, in 1883.
The Magisterial Enquiry into the cause of death of William Qualtrough held at Wahring by John Morrissy Esq. a Justice of the Peace in and for the Central Bailiwick of the Colony of Victoria on 20th December 1883.
Witnesses: Thomas Ready, Robert Bookes, Dr. W.J. Ray, Nagambie December 24th 1883.
William Joseph Richard Ray being duly sworn saith I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Seymour. I have this day made a Post Mortem Examination of the body of William Qualtrough. There were no external marks of violence upon the body. On opening the body I found that his heart was far advanced in fatty degeneration. The kidneys were much diseased being afflicted with Granular Hepatitis(?). The liver was also diseased and the right lung engorged. The stomach was of normal appearance but healthy. I am of the opinion that the cause of death was Syncope(?) the result of the diseased condition of the heart and that the deceased died from natural causes.
Thomas Ready duly sworn saith as follows.
I am a farmer residing at Wahring. I have known the deceased whose name is William Qualtrough for a number of years. He was working for Mr Jerrimiah Breen,(?) farmer, who resides at Tatura for about nine months as shepherd. The hut the deceased was living in is a little over half a mile from my residence. He came to my place every day for milk and water. I last saw him alive about 2pm on last Sunday at my place. When he left for his hut he was living. As the deceased did not come to my place as usual I thought that there was something the matter with him as he looked delicate. I went to his hut yesterday at 8 am, and went to the place that he slept in. I found the deceased lying across the bed on his side with his clothes on. I called him but got no answer. I moved him and found that he was dead. 1 then reported the matter to the police at Nagambie. The deceased informed me prior to his death that he had a brother residing at Diamond Creek.
Robert Bookes, on his oath saith as follows,
I am a licensed publican residing at Wahring. I have seen the dead body of a man whose name I do not know which I recognised as the man that was at my hotel about a week ago. I last saw him at my hotel on Sunday. He asked for drink and said that he felt very bad. I would not give him any spirits but gave him two glasses of soda water and milk which he drank. He then got a box of sardines and a small loaf of bread, and then left. This was about 10 am on Sunday morning the 16th Instant.
© Copyright by Malcolm Qualtrough, Elizabeth Feisst and the late John Karran Qualtrough.