William Grisdale arrived in Sydney via the ship "Agnes" on 15 February 1942¹ accompanied by his parents, John and Ann Grisdale (nee Rostron) and a younger brother Levy. The Grisdale family were all natives of Bolton, Lancashire, William having been born there on 18 May 1834.²

 The first two years of his life in Australia were probably spent at Patterson, NSW as his parents were brought out by Mr. G. Townshend, Farmer of Patterson, although this has not been confirmed at this stage.³ In 1849 the family were residing in Sussex Street, Sydney. John Grisdale, father of William spent the next 10 years or so in businesses in Sydney as Pawn Broker, Dealer and Bootmaker. William Grisdale started his working life as a Clerk and later a Bootmaker, a Cask Dealer and later a Pawnbroker and Auctioneer.⁴

 On 26 February, 1856 William married Catherine Craig at Scots Church, Sydney.⁵ Three girls were born of this marriage - Anne Jane B. 1857⁶ D. 1915⁷, Agnes B. 1859⁸ D. 1862⁹ and Louisa B. 18 July 1861¹⁰ D. 1 August, 1954¹¹. William and his family were living at 57 Gloucester Street, Sydney during these years and were residing there when his wife Catherine died on 26 May, 1864.¹²

 By 1968 William had re-married to Georgina Bartley (nee Ternouth), a widow with two sons and one daughter at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Sydney.¹³ At this time he was in business as an Auctioneer in Pitt Street, Sydney. He was for a time just before he moved to Newcastle in partnership with Thomas Lester.¹⁴

 It was while in partnership with Lester that an incident occurred on their premises that was deserving of an interesting anecdote being recorded in "Old Chum" by Forde. Grisdale was credited with being influential in the capture of two men who had murdered two other men on the Parramatta River. The murder was particularly gruesome in that the murdered men had been scalped. One of the suspects entered Grisdale's establishment for the purpose of selling the murdered men's clothing. Because of the suspicious nature of the "gentleman", Grisdale contacted the local constablry. Consequently when the suspect returned for the proceeds of his sale, he was arrested by the waiting policeman. His partner in crime was arrested the same day and the pair were eventually hung at Darlinghurst Gaol in front of a very large audience. ¹⁵

 In 1873 William Grisdale made the decision to move family and business to Newcastle where his Auctioneer business flourished. By this time he had fathered three more girls - Emily B. 1869¹⁶ D. 1926¹⁷ Alice Maude B. 1871 ¹⁸ and Georgina B. 1873¹⁹ D. 1925.²⁰

 William was becoming very well known around Newcastle and was obviously persuaded to stand for City Council. On three occasions he was elected as an Alderman of Newcastle City Council, representing Honeysuckle Ward.²¹ One of his concerns for the Newcastle area was the inadequate sanitary conditions, so it is not surprising to find that he served on many Water Supply Committees of the Council.²²

  By 1881 four more children were born to William and Georgina Grisdale, Alice Maud B. 1875²³ D.1946 ²⁴, William B. 1877²⁵ D.1924 ²⁶, George Arthur B. 1879²⁷ D. 1965 ²⁸ and Henry James B. 1881²⁹ D. 1959.³⁰ After having fathered all girls previously, one can imagine the joy at the birth of the first boy, William, so much so that he promptly changed the title of his business to William Grisdale and Son.³¹

 Early in 1882 William Grisdale stood for the Legislative Assembly in NSW.³³ After a bitterly fought campaign on the part of his opponent Mr. Hungerford a squatter, he was defeated. The newspaper reports of the day tell us that he was most brave and gallant in defeat. He was what today we would call "a good sport".³⁴

 Unfortunately not many days after this defeat, William became ill while on business in the "Metropolis" (Sydney). After resting in Sydney for a few days he returned to Newcastle only to have to take to his bed from which he never rose again.³⁵ He died on 13 February 1882, two days short of being in the colony for 40 years.³⁶

 Obituaries and testimonials of the day give a glowing report of a man who was not only a great loss to his beloved wife and twelve children, but also to his many friends and acquaintances in Newcastle and Sydney.³⁷

 Sandgate Cemetery (Methodist Section) in Newcastle is his final resting place.³⁸ Buried with him are his wife Georgina and his step-daughter, Mary Bartlett who was blind.

 William's father John Grisdale outlived his son, dying in Sydney on 1 August, 1897 aged 89 years.³⁹ It is not known when his mother Ann Grisdale died, but work is continuing along this line.

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