Yabsley, William (Senior) (1812 - 1880)

In 1833 William enlisted as a shipwright at the Royal Dockyard, Devonport and married Magdalen Ryder. In 1837 he joined the navy as a carpenter's mate on the Beagle. On 31 August 1838, he jumped ship in Sydney.

William set sail for the Clarence River to look for work as a cedar getter or shipwright. In 1840 his wife joined him and he moved to the Richmond River in 1843. At Ballina he built the Pelican which was launched in 1848. In 1850 he built a dealer's store and timber yard at Coraki and built several ships. In the 1860s William took up farming, bought cattle and built a slaughterhouse and store.

His largest ship, the 265 ton Examiner was launched at Coraki in July 1870 and by then he was well-known to shipping interests in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. William went on to build other ships but was drowned on a river trip from Casino. He left a wife, three sons and four daughters.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]

• Daley, Louise T., 'Yabsley, William (1812 - 1880)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060479b.htm. [ Details... ]