Piggins, William ( - 1849)

Born:

Oversser to William O'Dell Raymond, Wellington Valley

Career Highlights

William Piggins arrived in NSW as a convict per John 1827. He received his ticket-of-leave in 1836 and was mustered in 1837 at Windsor. He married Mary Ann Davis, at Pittown, Wilberforce. In 1839 he was the superintenent of Raymond's stations at "Readyfall", "Warre" and "Murrumbidgerie". Their children, William W. and Mary Elizabeth Piggins were born at Wellignton in 1838 and 1840. In 1844 he donated his unoccupied house at Montefiores for the use as a temporary church at which Reverend Watson was to officiate. Piggins died in 1849 at Burrendong, near Wellington, where he was employed as a wool-sorter. Mary Ann remarried the following year to William Thomas, at Montefiores.

The local landmark, Bushrangers Creek (running into the junction of the Bell and Macquarie Rivers) is thought to have derived its name from its association with two “notorious outlaws”, Jackey-Jackey and Redcap, who were supposed to have gone to Murrumbidgerie station to shoot Piggins. He eluded the bushrangers by hiding among the cattle. His wife, in confinement after delivering a baby girl, was unharmed. The attackers were caught at Burshranger's Creek. Their daughter was said to be still living in Maryvale at the turn of the century (possibly Mary Elizabeth Piggins, who married Robert Fisher at Wellington, 1858). See R. Porter, 17-19.