William Pyrenees GLANVILLE [11010]

  General Notes:

William was said to have been born on board the Ship Pyrenees on the journey to Australia. He drowned at the age of 9.

The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864) Fri 2 Dec 1859 Page 3 Coroner's Inquest.
Coroner's Inquest.
(Before T. N. Yule Esq., J.P., Coroner.)
An inquest was hold at the old Steam Mill, Perth, on Wednesday last, on the body of a child named William Glanville, who was drowned in a pond adjoining the Government School. The Jury having been sworn, the first witness called was De Courcy Hillman - a student at the Government School, about 10 o'clock on that morning he asked permission from his master to go out, when he got in sight of the pond at the back of the school house, he saw the heels of a person above the surface of the water. He did not see the body, he took no particular notice of it. About a minute afterwards a black boy who lives at the Bishop's, cried out, Willy Glanville is drowning" He ran down and took off his trousers and waistcoat and jumped in and swam about. After a little time he touched the body with his feet. Mr Farmer at that moment came and by diving found the body. About 4 minutes had elapsed from the time that be first noticed the heels on the surface till the body was recovered by Mr Farmer. There were other boys bathing with deceased, he had no reason to believe that the other boys pushed him into the pond.

Thomas Farmer- Said he jumped into the pool and on diving the second time he succeeded in finding thee body and brought on shore ; to all appearances the child was dead. About 20 minutes after the body had been brought on shore Dr Arden, of the 12th Regiment, arrived and for 2 1/4 hours endeavoured to resuscitate the body, but previously to his arrival Mr G. Shenton was present, under whose direction the child was placed in a warm bath. The general depth of the pond is from 4 to 5 feet, but in some places it is 6 feet; there is no boy in the school who is able to walk across the pond.

Johnny, a Native boy-Deposed that he lives at the Bishop's ; he was at the pond on Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock, he heard Willy Glanville say that he would swim across the pond, he told him not to do so as he did not think that he could; when he got about half way across he cried out for help, he saw him come up and go down several times, he swam in to his assistance, but he sank before he reached him and never rose again. The Jury returned a Verdict of "Accidentally Drowned," and recorded their wish that the Government should take immediate steps to have the pond either filled up or drained, as it was highly dangerous not only to the school boys but to the children of the town generally.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Wed 30 Nov 1904 Page 1 Family Notices

GLANVILLE. - In sacred and loving memory of William Pyrenees Glanville, who was drowned in the school pond, St. George's-terrace, Perth, W.A., November 30, 1859.

We loved him, how we loved him.
But our Savior loved him best;
And because he was so weary.
Bore him home to Heaven to rest.
There his mother dear was waiting,
On that happy peaceful shore;
Far away from earth's temptations,
There to dwell for evermore.
-Inserted by his loving sisters, Ann Gribble, Margaretta Dore, Amelia V. Payne. November 30, 1904.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Fri 12 Mar 1937 Page 18 OLD PERTH BOYS' SCHOOL

OLD PERTH BOYS' SCHOOL
To the Editor.

Sir,-In "The West Australian" of March 9 a letter appears from Mr. A. Douglas protesting against the pulling down of the old boys' school in St. George's-terrace. I, as an old scholar of the school, also ask it be allowed to stand, as a landmark of the past. Mr. Douglas, who has a very good knowledge of past events, is very much astray this time when he stated that the boy who was drowned in the school pond was named Weir. This is not correct, as the name was William Glanville, an only brother of my mother, the late Mrs. Margaretta Dore, of Cottesloe.-Yours, etc.. Mandurah. W. W. EDWARDS.