William Foster Sergeant 1800

William Foster Sergeant was born in 1801 at Brigg in Lincolnshire, the eldest son of John Sergeant and Jane Foster. He married Catherine Gilderdale in 1824 at Wrawby, near Brigg. Pigots Directory for Brigg in 1828-9 shows him as a Maltster at Scawby Brook. He is also listed as a tanner and fellmonger at that address.

Maltkiln House - photos taken in 1995

They had 7 children when they applied for a free passage to South Australia as an emigrant labourer in November 1837. The following month, they embarked on Canton, from Gravesend, arriving in Adelaide in May 1838. Their youngest son died after they had been at sea for 3 months and a second daughter was born 9 days after they arrived. Six weeks later, Henry, aged 4 died.
In 1840 William was listed as a cultivator in a log house on the Sturt River. He had a well and 12 acres, which had increased to 30 by 1843.
In 1851, their eldest son, Joseph died. The next son, William, went to Victoria and married there in 1858.
William died in October 1858 when he fell from his horse in South Terrace. He was buried at West Terrace cemetery in Adelaide. The farm gradually reduced in size and was sold in 1902.