William Hastie — Bothwell History

Bothwell Families

These pages offer a glimpse into the lives of the Bothwell families. You’ll find family trees and historical events specific to the area. While not exhaustive, the information will continue to be updated as research progresses. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material presented.

William Hastie (1820-1870)
Janet McCrae (1819-1896)

William Hastie was born on 30 December 1820 at Torryburn, Fife, Scotland, the son of David Hastie and Catharine Philp, and was baptised there on 21 January 1821. He later migrated to Tasmania, where he entered the colonial police force. On 12 January 1855, at the Manse in Bothwell, he married Janet McCrae, a Scottish-born housemaid who had arrived in the colony as a convict aboard the Aurora in 1851. William served for many years as a constable and sergeant in the Bothwell district and surrounding areas, including Shannon, Black Marsh (Apsley), Great Lake, and Quorn Hill. His police career was marked by frequent transfers, resignations, and reappointments, and included involvement in significant events such as the capture of bushranger James Padfield in 1855. William and Janet had several children, including William (1855), James (1856), David (1858), John (1859), George (1861), and Alice (1863). Following William’s death, the family experienced considerable hardship, with several of the children being admitted to orphan institutions. On 18 December 1870, while stationed at Constitution Hill near Dysart, William Hastie died by suicide at the age of 49. An inquest found that he had taken his own life while suffering from temporary insanity. He was buried on 20 December 1870 at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kempton. His death was widely reported and deeply felt within the community, marking a tragic end to the career of a long-serving colonial constable. Janet died in Kempton aged 77 and was also buried at St Mary’s Cemetery.

William Hastie.

Born: 30 Dec 1820, Torryburn, Fife, Scotland (SSBB: William Hastie, 1820, Torryburn, Fife, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/8209684:60143)
Baptised: 21 Jan 1821, Torryburn, Fife, Scotland (SSBB: William Hastie, 1820, Torryburn, Fife, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/8209684:60143)
Permission to Marry: 5 Aug 1854, Janet McCrae, approved (CON52: Hasty-McCrae, p178/1854, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON52-1-7p049j2k)
Police: 14 Aug 1854, appointed constable (RPE: William Hastie, p216, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/ac486-1-1/AC486-1-1_094)
Married: 12 Jan 1855, Janet McCrae, Manse, Bothwell, TAS; William: 34, constable; married Janet: 36, housemaid; witnesses: William Benmore, Mary Ann Benmore (RGD37: Hastie-Macrae, no 7/1855, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-14p3j2k)
Article: 1 Dec 1855, named under "Capture of Another Bushranger" James Padfield (COUR: "Capture of Another Bushranger," 1 Dec 1855, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2494884)
Article: 29 Dec 1855, named under "Oatlands Criminal Court" James Padfield (CT: "Oatlands Criminal Court," 29 Dec 1855, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8787265)
Police: 12 Jul 1856, resigned as constable (RPE: William Hastie, p216, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/ac486-1-1/AC486-1-1_094)
Police: 23 Aug 1856, appointed constable (RPE: William Hastie, p217, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/ac486-1-1/AC486-1-1_095)
Police: 1 Nov 1858, transferred to Bothwell (RPE: William Hastie, p217, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/ac486-1-1/AC486-1-1_095)
Residence: 9 Jan 1860, Black Marsh, TAS; police sergeant (RGD33: John Hastie, no 507/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-38p660j2k)
Residence: 18 May 1861, Shannon, TAS; constable (RGD33: George Hastie, no 484/1861, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-39p117j2k)
Residence: 11 Jul 1863, Shannon, TAS; police sergeant (RGD33: Allison Hastie, no 25/1863, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-41p603j2k)
Juror: 30 Jul 1863, Hermitage, Shannon, TAS; inquest of James Faunch (INQ : James Faunch, no 5551/1863, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/SC195-1-48-5551)
Residence: 1867, Quorn Hill, Hollow Tree, TAS; constable (MCPD: 1867-68, p63, image 121, https:/nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3027675771/view)
Police: 13 Jun 1867, dismissed as constable (TATI: "Bothwell Municipality," 3 Jun 1867, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/232854315)
Died: 18 Dec 1870, Constitution Hill, Dysart, TAS; aged 49, strangling by suicide; informant: Thomas Stanwix, superintendent of police (RGD35: William Hastie, no 190/1870, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-39p89j2k)
Inquest: 19 Dec 1870, Swan Inn, Bagdad, TAS (INQ: William Hastie, no 6821/1870, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/SC195-1-54-6821)
Buried: 20 Dec 1870, St Mary's Cemetery, Kempton, TAS (NS356: William Hastie, no 210/1870)
Article: 2 Jan 1871, named under "Constitution Hill Inquest" (MERC: "Constitution Hill," Hastie, 2 Jan 1871, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8863351)

Spouse - Janet McCrae.

Born: abt 1819, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland (CON41: Janet McCrae or Ferrie, no 1312, 'Aurora,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON41-1-31/CON41-1-31p163)
Convicted: 23 Dec 1850, Quarter Sessions, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland; theft, sentenced to seven years transportation (CON41: Janet McCrae or Ferrie, no 1312, 'Aurora,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON41-1-31/CON41-1-31p163)
Departed: 26 Apr 1851, London, England; on board the 'Aurora' (BATE: p370/1851, 'Aurora')
Arrived: 10 Aug 1851, Hobart, TAS (BATE: p370/1851, 'Aurora')
Permission to Marry: 5 Aug 1854, William Hastie, approved (CON52: Hasty-McCrae, p178/1854, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON52-1-7p049j2k)
Married: 12 Jan 1855, William Hastie, Manse, Bothwell, TAS; William: 34, constable; married Janet: 36, housemaid; witnesses: William Benmore, Mary Ann Benmore (RGD37: Hastie-Macrae, no 7/1855, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-14p3j2k)
Ticket of Leave: 26 Dec 1854, approved (CON41: Janet McCrae or Ferrie, no 1312, 'Aurora,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON41-1-31/CON41-1-31p163)
Charged: 23 Mar 1855, Lower Court, Bothwell, TAS; drunk & disorderly (PS: Janet McCree, LC49/1/3, image 80, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/LC49-1-3/LC49-1-3P082)
Muster: 28 Mar 1856, Bothwell, TAS; attended (CON41: Janet McCrae or Ferrie, no 1312, 'Aurora,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON41-1-31/CON41-1-31p163)
Article: 2 Jan 1871, named under "Constitution Hill Inquest" William Hastie, husband (MERC: "Constitution Hill," Hastie, 2 Jan 1871, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8863351)
Application: 3 Jan 1871, John Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 10 years, can read and write; George Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 9 years next April, can read and write. The mother of these boys, Janet Hastie, applies to surrender them to the Industrial School known as the Boy’s Home near Lansdowne Crescent on the grounds of her inability to support them. Ordered that they be sent to the said Industrial School there to be determined for the following periods, viz John for a period of four years and George for a period of five years (LC247: John Hastie, George Hastie, p736/1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/lc247-1-33/LC247-1-33-P0739)
Article: 4 Jan 1871, named under "Admission into the Boy's Home" John & George Hastie (MERC: "Admission into the Boy's Home," 4 Jan 1871, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8865421)
Reports of Crime: 31 Mar 1871, named under "Warrants Issued" Green Ponds (ROC: "Warrants Issued," 1871, p56, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-8/POL709-1-8P67)
Reports of Crime: 14 Apr 1871, named under "Miscellaneous Information" Arrested (ROC: "Miscellaneous Information," 1871, p64, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-8/POL709-1-8P75)
Convicted: 14 Apr 1871, Green Ponds, TAS; larceny, sentenced to six months at Cascades House of Correction, Hobart (ROC: "Return of Persons Convicted," 1871, p65, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-8/POL709-1-8P76)
Discharged: 20 Oct 1871, Cascades House of Correction, Hobart, TAS (ROC: "Prisoners Discharged," 1871, p169, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-8/POL709-1-8P180)
Article: 24 Jan 1873, named under "Police Court" Drunk & incapable (TATR: "Police Court," 24 Jan 1873, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200373019)
Reports of Crime: 10 Mar 1873, named under "Prisoner's Discharged" Convicted for a non-payment of fine and sentenced to five days imprisonment at the Bothwell Gaol (ROC: "Prisoners Discharged," 1873, p50, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-10/POL709-1-10P51)
Died: 9 Jul 1896, Kempton, TAS; aged 77, diarrhoea and senility; informant: William Hastie, son (RGD35: Janet Hastie, no 293/1896, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-65p112j2k)
Death Notice: HASTIE - On July 9, 1896, at "Hillside," Kempton, after a short illness, Janet Hastie, aged 77 years, relict of the late William Hastie, Sen, Police Constable, formerly of Bothwell. Melbourne and Sydney papers please copy (MERC: "Deaths," Hastie, 16 Jul 1896, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9377715)

Children of William Hastie and Janet McCrae:

William Hastie.
Born: 6 Oct 1855, Bothwell, TAS
James Hastie.
Born: 16 Nov 1856, Oatlands, TAS; informant: Janet Hastie, mother (RGD33: James Hasty, no 1305/1856, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-34p660j2k)
Died: 5 Nov 1864, Quoin, Hollow Tree, TAS; aged 7, inflammation of the bowels; informant: Archibald McDowall, coroner (RGD35: James Hastie, no 11/1864, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-33p4j2k)
Buried: aft 5 Nov 1864, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: James Hastie, 1864, site unknown)
Inquest: 8 Nov 1864, [8] Crown Inn, Alexander St, Bothwell, TAS (INQ: James Hastie, no 5792/1864, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/SC195-1-49-5792)
David Hastie.
Born: 23 May 1858, Oatlands, TAS; informant: Janet Hastie, mother (RGD33: David Hastie, no 1652/1858, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-36p315j2k)
Died: 13 Jun 1858, Oatlands, TAS; aged 21 days, marasmus; informant: Janet Hastie, mother (RGD35: David Hastie, no 709/1858, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-27p104j2k)
John Hastie.
Born: 19 Dec 1859, Bothwell, TAS; informant: William Hastie, father, police sergeant (RGD33: John Hastie, no 507/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-38p660j2k)
Baptised: 20 May 1861, Bothwell, TAS (PRES: John Hastie, baptism, NS592/1/1, no 283/1861)
Application: 3 Jan 1871, John Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 10 years, can read and write; George Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 9 years next April, can read and write. The mother of these boys, Janet Hastie, applies to surrender them to the Industrial School known as the Boy’s Home near Lansdowne Crescent on the grounds of her inability to support them. Ordered that they be sent to the said Industrial School there to be determined for the following periods, viz John for a period of four years and George for a period of five years (LC247: John Hastie, George Hastie, p736/1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/lc247-1-33/LC247-1-33-P0739)
Article: 4 Jan 1871, named under "Admission into the Boy's Home" (MERC: "Admission into the Boy's Home," 4 Jan 1871, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8865421)
Orphanage: 4 Jan 1871, Boys Home, Lansdowne Crescent, West Hobart, TAS; admitted (SWD37: John & George Hastie, Boys 1870-71, 3 Jan 1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/swd37-1-1/SWD37-1-1-P07)
Orphanage: Nov 1874, Boys Home, Lansdowne Crescent, West Hobart, TAS; licensed out on probation from (SWD37: John & George Hastie, Boys 1870-71, 3 Jan 1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/swd37-1-1/SWD37-1-1-P07)
No further research has been carried out at this time
George Hastie.
Born: 21 Apr 1861, Bothwell, TAS; informant: William Hastie, police constable (RGD33: George Hastie, no 484/1861, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-39p117j2k)
Baptised: 20 May 1861, Bothwell, TAS (PRES: George Hastie, baptism, NS592/1/1, no 284/1861)
Application: 3 Jan 1871, John Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 10 years, can read and write; George Hastie, native of Tasmania, aged 9 years next April, can read and write. The mother of these boys, Janet Hastie, applies to surrender them to the Industrial School known as the Boy's Home near Lansdowne Crescent on the grounds of her inability to support them. Ordered that they be sent to the said Industrial School there to be determined for the following periods, viz John for a period of four years and George for a period of five years (LC247: John Hastie, George Hastie, p736/1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/lc247-1-33/LC247-1-33-P0739)
Orphanage: 4 Jan 1871, Boys Home, Lansdowne Crescent, West Hobart, TAS; admitted (SWD37: John & George Hastie, Boys 1870-71, 3 Jan 1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/swd37-1-1/SWD37-1-1-P07)
Article: 4 Jan 1871, named under "Admission into the Boy's Home" (MERC: "Admission into the Boy's Home," 4 Jan 1871, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8865421)
Orphanage: 2 Jul 1875, Boys Home, Lansdowne Crescent, West Hobart, TAS; licensed out on probation (SWD37: John & George Hastie, Boys 1870-71, 3 Jan 1871, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/swd37-1-1/SWD37-1-1-P07)
Died: 16 Mar 1888, Hobart, TAS; aged 26, enteric fever; informant: hospital secretary (RGD35: George Hastie, no 1370/1888, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-11p172j2k)
Buried: aft 16 Mar 1888, St Paul's Church Cemetery, Glenorchy, TAS (FAG: George Hastie, 1888, Memorial ID 225177911, citing St Paul's Anglican Church Cemetery, Glenorchy, Tasmania; maintained by Minnie, contributor 50551153, https:/www.findagrave.com/memorial/225177911/george-hastie)
Alice Hastie.
Born: 12 Jun 1863, Bothwell, TAS; informant: William Hastie, father, police sergeant (RGD33: Allison Hastie, no 25/1863, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-41p603j2k)
Baptised: 23 May 1864, Bothwell, TAS (PRES: Allison Hastie, baptism, NS592/1/1, no 329/1864)
Orphanage: 6 May 1871, Queen's Orphanage, New Town, TAS; admitted; father, 99th Regiment, dead (hung himself) was in Police Force in Green Ponds; mother under sentence of six months from April 8, 1871; Won dictation and good conduct prizes in 1873 (TFOS: Alice Hastie, no 2436; https:/www.orphanschool.org.au/showorphan.php?orphan_ID=2436)
Orphanage: 22 May 1874, Queen's Orphanage, New Town, TAS; discharged to John Bleach, who intended to adopt her (TFOS: Alice Hastie, no 2436; https:/www.orphanschool.org.au/showorphan.php?orphan_ID=2436)
No further research has been carried out at this time

Bibliography of Sources

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