Notable South Australians/William Edwin Black
William Edwin Black
ARRIVED in South Australia by the ship Coromandel, January, 1837. Took part in the survey of Adelaide under Colonel Light, and assisted in defining the chief roads of a settlement which he lived to see become a large and important city. He always maintained a deep interest in the politics of his adopted country, and was intimately associated with many benefit societies in their infancy. For years he was the Tyler of a number of Freemason's Lodges, and was Grand Tyler for the District to which they belonged. He was Treasurer of the Hope Lodge, M.U. of Oddfellows, for twenty-seven years; for two years Treasurer of the Perseverance Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was the founder of the Allied Lodge U.O.A.D. To him belongs the distinction of being the father of the first white boy born in South Australia. This first of native-born South Australians came into the world on Feb. 22, 1837, and was named "William Josiah." This fact is borne out by an entry in the diary of Sir. J. H. Fisher, as follows—"The first white boy born in this colony was born of black parents." William Josiah Black was killed at Currency Creek in Nov. 1846. Mr. Black died on Feb. 17, 1884. Apropos of this subject it may be mentioned that Mrs. Morgan, the eldest daughter of the Hon. B. T. Finniss, was the first female child of European descent born in South Australia. She died at Norwood, May 30, 1865, aged twenty-eight years.[1]
- ↑ Mr. Hiram Mildred informs me that the first white boy born in South Australia was the son of a Mr. Hoare, and that he is still living. What construction then can be placed on Sir J. H. Fisher's statement on the same matter?—Author.