William was a son to Harriet nee Dickenson and William Akhurst. He was an actor, composer, journalist and playwright. His wife was an actor too.
He married Ellen Tully in England in 1845 and they were both aged around 23 at that time. After starting a family in London, they and their surviving children all moved to Adelaide in 1849 on board a ship called 'Posthumous'. One of the children, Adrian, was a newborn. Ellen and William would have been around 27 years of age when they moved. They had children in Australia too, with some born first in Adelaide, then Melbourne and then Sydney. Some of their children are yet to be located:
1. Ellen Florence Sep Q 1846 Holborn Union, England-Holborn Union 1847 Sep Q BDM UK says aged zero
2. Francis William Dec Q 1847 Holborn Union-Holborn Union Dec Q 1848 aged one
3. Arthur William 1851 Adelaide-1907 Wycombe, England aged 56
4. Ellen Florence 1856 East Melbourne-
5. Victor Hugo 1863 Fitzroy-
Two of their children who were born and died young in Melbourne, Sophia Maria and William James, are buried in the same common public ground area in Melbourne cemetery. Including William and Sophia, a total of five of their children that we are aware of died in childhood, so this excludes children #4 and #5 in the list above.
William died at sea on board a ship called 'Patriarch' on a return trip from England to Sydney.
Sources:
https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A41794
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Akhurst#cite_note-2
-----
DEATH OF WILLIAM MOWER AKHURST.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir—The death of this gentleman once well known in the literary circles of Adelaide and Melbourne deserves a passing notice. Mr. Akhurst was a pioneer of this colony, and in the older times was reporter and sub editor of the Adelaide Times when James Allen, better known as "Dismal Jimmy" on account of his doleful aspect and lugubrious articles, was the proprietor of that journal, and whose dullness was only relieved by Akhurst's racy leaders.
Mr. Akhurst was subsequently editor of the Free Press, which existed only about six months. Shortly after the decease of that journal Mr. Akhurst repaired with his family to Melbourne during the feverish height of the gold digging times, where his gifted powers soon obtained him employment on the staff of the Argus, where as journalist and burlesque writer for the stage he remained a popular man for some years.
Latterly in England his witty and ludicrous pantomimes delighted crowded audiences at several of the leading theatres in London.
He was again on his return to these colonies, but died on board the Patriarch, sailing vessel, on June 6th last, during her voyage from London to Sydney, somewhere about the age of 55 or 56.
Old colonists will well remember his genial social qualities, amiable disposition, and kindly nature, that never made an enemy; his infinite jest and ready humor,that used to "set the table in a roar;"and they will give a sigh to the memory of "Poor Akhurst," to whom glad life seemed so sweet and joyous a boon.
J. BOND PHIPSON.
August 19th, 1878.
From The Express and Telegraph 21/8/1878 page 2
He married Ellen Tully in England in 1845 and they were both aged around 23 at that time. After starting a family in London, they and their surviving children all moved to Adelaide in 1849 on board a ship called 'Posthumous'. One of the children, Adrian, was a newborn. Ellen and William would have been around 27 years of age when they moved. They had children in Australia too, with some born first in Adelaide, then Melbourne and then Sydney. Some of their children are yet to be located:
1. Ellen Florence Sep Q 1846 Holborn Union, England-Holborn Union 1847 Sep Q BDM UK says aged zero
2. Francis William Dec Q 1847 Holborn Union-Holborn Union Dec Q 1848 aged one
3. Arthur William 1851 Adelaide-1907 Wycombe, England aged 56
4. Ellen Florence 1856 East Melbourne-
5. Victor Hugo 1863 Fitzroy-
Two of their children who were born and died young in Melbourne, Sophia Maria and William James, are buried in the same common public ground area in Melbourne cemetery. Including William and Sophia, a total of five of their children that we are aware of died in childhood, so this excludes children #4 and #5 in the list above.
William died at sea on board a ship called 'Patriarch' on a return trip from England to Sydney.
Sources:
https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A41794
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Akhurst#cite_note-2
-----
DEATH OF WILLIAM MOWER AKHURST.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir—The death of this gentleman once well known in the literary circles of Adelaide and Melbourne deserves a passing notice. Mr. Akhurst was a pioneer of this colony, and in the older times was reporter and sub editor of the Adelaide Times when James Allen, better known as "Dismal Jimmy" on account of his doleful aspect and lugubrious articles, was the proprietor of that journal, and whose dullness was only relieved by Akhurst's racy leaders.
Mr. Akhurst was subsequently editor of the Free Press, which existed only about six months. Shortly after the decease of that journal Mr. Akhurst repaired with his family to Melbourne during the feverish height of the gold digging times, where his gifted powers soon obtained him employment on the staff of the Argus, where as journalist and burlesque writer for the stage he remained a popular man for some years.
Latterly in England his witty and ludicrous pantomimes delighted crowded audiences at several of the leading theatres in London.
He was again on his return to these colonies, but died on board the Patriarch, sailing vessel, on June 6th last, during her voyage from London to Sydney, somewhere about the age of 55 or 56.
Old colonists will well remember his genial social qualities, amiable disposition, and kindly nature, that never made an enemy; his infinite jest and ready humor,that used to "set the table in a roar;"and they will give a sigh to the memory of "Poor Akhurst," to whom glad life seemed so sweet and joyous a boon.
J. BOND PHIPSON.
August 19th, 1878.
From The Express and Telegraph 21/8/1878 page 2
William was a son to Harriet nee Dickenson and William Akhurst. He was an actor, composer, journalist and playwright. His wife was an actor too.
He married Ellen Tully in England in 1845 and they were both aged around 23 at that time. After starting a family in London, they and their surviving children all moved to Adelaide in 1849 on board a ship called 'Posthumous'. One of the children, Adrian, was a newborn. Ellen and William would have been around 27 years of age when they moved. They had children in Australia too, with some born first in Adelaide, then Melbourne and then Sydney. Some of their children are yet to be located:
1. Ellen Florence Sep Q 1846 Holborn Union, England-Holborn Union 1847 Sep Q BDM UK says aged zero
2. Francis William Dec Q 1847 Holborn Union-Holborn Union Dec Q 1848 aged one
3. Arthur William 1851 Adelaide-1907 Wycombe, England aged 56
4. Ellen Florence 1856 East Melbourne-
5. Victor Hugo 1863 Fitzroy-
Two of their children who were born and died young in Melbourne, Sophia Maria and William James, are buried in the same common public ground area in Melbourne cemetery. Including William and Sophia, a total of five of their children that we are aware of died in childhood, so this excludes children #4 and #5 in the list above.
William died at sea on board a ship called 'Patriarch' on a return trip from England to Sydney.
Sources:
https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A41794
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Akhurst#cite_note-2
-----
DEATH OF WILLIAM MOWER AKHURST.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir—The death of this gentleman once well known in the literary circles of Adelaide and Melbourne deserves a passing notice. Mr. Akhurst was a pioneer of this colony, and in the older times was reporter and sub editor of the Adelaide Times when James Allen, better known as "Dismal Jimmy" on account of his doleful aspect and lugubrious articles, was the proprietor of that journal, and whose dullness was only relieved by Akhurst's racy leaders.
Mr. Akhurst was subsequently editor of the Free Press, which existed only about six months. Shortly after the decease of that journal Mr. Akhurst repaired with his family to Melbourne during the feverish height of the gold digging times, where his gifted powers soon obtained him employment on the staff of the Argus, where as journalist and burlesque writer for the stage he remained a popular man for some years.
Latterly in England his witty and ludicrous pantomimes delighted crowded audiences at several of the leading theatres in London.
He was again on his return to these colonies, but died on board the Patriarch, sailing vessel, on June 6th last, during her voyage from London to Sydney, somewhere about the age of 55 or 56.
Old colonists will well remember his genial social qualities, amiable disposition, and kindly nature, that never made an enemy; his infinite jest and ready humor,that used to "set the table in a roar;"and they will give a sigh to the memory of "Poor Akhurst," to whom glad life seemed so sweet and joyous a boon.
J. BOND PHIPSON.
August 19th, 1878.
From The Express and Telegraph 21/8/1878 page 2
He married Ellen Tully in England in 1845 and they were both aged around 23 at that time. After starting a family in London, they and their surviving children all moved to Adelaide in 1849 on board a ship called 'Posthumous'. One of the children, Adrian, was a newborn. Ellen and William would have been around 27 years of age when they moved. They had children in Australia too, with some born first in Adelaide, then Melbourne and then Sydney. Some of their children are yet to be located:
1. Ellen Florence Sep Q 1846 Holborn Union, England-Holborn Union 1847 Sep Q BDM UK says aged zero
2. Francis William Dec Q 1847 Holborn Union-Holborn Union Dec Q 1848 aged one
3. Arthur William 1851 Adelaide-1907 Wycombe, England aged 56
4. Ellen Florence 1856 East Melbourne-
5. Victor Hugo 1863 Fitzroy-
Two of their children who were born and died young in Melbourne, Sophia Maria and William James, are buried in the same common public ground area in Melbourne cemetery. Including William and Sophia, a total of five of their children that we are aware of died in childhood, so this excludes children #4 and #5 in the list above.
William died at sea on board a ship called 'Patriarch' on a return trip from England to Sydney.
Sources:
https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A41794
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Akhurst#cite_note-2
-----
DEATH OF WILLIAM MOWER AKHURST.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir—The death of this gentleman once well known in the literary circles of Adelaide and Melbourne deserves a passing notice. Mr. Akhurst was a pioneer of this colony, and in the older times was reporter and sub editor of the Adelaide Times when James Allen, better known as "Dismal Jimmy" on account of his doleful aspect and lugubrious articles, was the proprietor of that journal, and whose dullness was only relieved by Akhurst's racy leaders.
Mr. Akhurst was subsequently editor of the Free Press, which existed only about six months. Shortly after the decease of that journal Mr. Akhurst repaired with his family to Melbourne during the feverish height of the gold digging times, where his gifted powers soon obtained him employment on the staff of the Argus, where as journalist and burlesque writer for the stage he remained a popular man for some years.
Latterly in England his witty and ludicrous pantomimes delighted crowded audiences at several of the leading theatres in London.
He was again on his return to these colonies, but died on board the Patriarch, sailing vessel, on June 6th last, during her voyage from London to Sydney, somewhere about the age of 55 or 56.
Old colonists will well remember his genial social qualities, amiable disposition, and kindly nature, that never made an enemy; his infinite jest and ready humor,that used to "set the table in a roar;"and they will give a sigh to the memory of "Poor Akhurst," to whom glad life seemed so sweet and joyous a boon.
J. BOND PHIPSON.
August 19th, 1878.
From The Express and Telegraph 21/8/1878 page 2
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