Samuel Williams, 1819-29/6/1883.

R M Court (excerpt)

Samuel Williams received a transfer of his license from the site of the "Timaru Hotel," (burnt down about 12 months ago), to his new hotel, situated on the Great South Road in Rhodes' Township.  -Lyttelton Times, 15/4/1863.

R M Court  (excerpt)

Samuel Williams, Timaru Hotel, was cautioned and warned that next year his license would be refused if complaints of his insobriety and gambling were again brought against him.  -Lyttelton Times, 16/5/1863.

NOTICE. — I, SAMUEL WILLIAMS, of the Timaru Hotel, Timaru, will not be responsible for any DEBTS contracted by my wife MARY ANN WILLIAMS.   -Lyttelton Times, 23/7/1864.

"THE OLDEST INHABITANT."

This afternoon the remains of Samuel Williams, the oldest inhabitant of Timaru, were consigned to the grave. He was an American by birth, and came to the colony a great many years ago, and was for some time in the employ of Messrs Rhodes in North Canterbury. Coming down to this district he established a whaling station in the vicinity of Dashing Rocks, afterwards shifting his quarters to Patiti Point. Returning to his former employers he described the district as so excellent a field for settlement, that the Messrs Rhodes immediately came down and secured depasturing licenses for large tracts of country. Other stockowners followed, and the country was very soon numerously occupied. The Messrs Rhodes did not fail to assist their old servant who assisted so largely in founding their fortunes. They gave him more than one good start in the world, building for him the Timaru Hotel, and afterwards the Club, and placing him on the high road to prosperity. He married a second time, and his domestic relations not turning out happy, he became somewhat reckless in his mode of life, and of late years lived on the verge of destitution. He died on Friday last of general break-up of the constitution. Mr Renshaw, a well-known resident, immediately collected among such of the old identities as were inclined to assist a sum of money sufficient to defray the expense of burial, and everything was done that the long services of the settler seemed to demand. Deceased resided of late in a hut in William street.  -South Canterbury Times, 2/7/1883.

Timaru Cemetery.