Edward Eyre Williams

Profile & Legacies Summary

1813 - 1880

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Sir Edward Eyre Williams, later an Australian judge, awarded the compensation for 26 enslaved people in Trinidad as co-trustee with Robert Gwilt of Richard Burton Williams (presumably his brother), a lunatic.

Born in England, 6th son of Burton Williams, a planter of Trinidad, and his wife, Jane née Hartley. Educated in England, called to the bar of the Inner Temple November 1833. Married Jessie Gibbon, daughter of a Scottish clergyman, in 1841, and arrived in the Port Philip district in Australia in February 1842; appointed solicitor-general April 1852 but then appointed to Supreme Court 21/07/1852. Knighted 28/05/1878, died Bath 30/04/1880, survived by one daughter and two sons, one of whom Sir Hartley Williams also has an entry as a judge.

Sources

T71/894 Trinidad No. 1910.

Robert Miller, 'Williams, Sir Edward Eyre (1813-1880)', and 'Williams, Sir Hartley (1843-1929)' Australian Dictionary of Biography online .

Further Information

Absentee?

British/Irish

Spouse

Jessie Gibbon

Children

2 daughters; two sons, incluidng Sir Hartley Williams

Will

The figure for wealth at death is his personal estate according to the National Probate Calendar 1880. His 'Victorian estate' was valued for probate at £6650 (Australian Dictionary of National Biography).

Wealth at death

£6,000

Legal Education

Inner Temple [1833]

Occupation

Lawyer

Religion

Church of England