Bothwell Families
These pages offer a glimpse into the lives of the Bothwell families. You’ll find family trees and historical events specific to the area. While not exhaustive, the information will continue to be updated as research progresses. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material presented.
William Hastie (1820-1870)
Janet McCrae (1819-1896)
William Hastie was born on 30 December 1820 at Torryburn, Fife, Scotland, the son of David Hastie and Catharine Philp, and was baptised there on 21 January 1821. He later migrated to Tasmania, where he entered the colonial police force. On 12 January 1855, at the Manse in Bothwell, he married Janet McCrae, a Scottish-born housemaid who had arrived in the colony as a convict aboard the Aurora in 1851. William served for many years as a constable and sergeant in the Bothwell district and surrounding areas, including Shannon, Black Marsh (Apsley), Great Lake, and Quorn Hill. His police career was marked by frequent transfers, resignations, and reappointments, and included involvement in significant events such as the capture of bushranger James Padfield in 1855. William and Janet had several children, including William (1855), James (1856), David (1858), John (1859), George (1861), and Alice (1863). Following William’s death, the family experienced considerable hardship, with several of the children being admitted to orphan institutions. On 18 December 1870, while stationed at Constitution Hill near Dysart, William Hastie died by suicide at the age of 49. An inquest found that he had taken his own life while suffering from temporary insanity. He was buried on 20 December 1870 at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kempton. His death was widely reported and deeply felt within the community, marking a tragic end to the career of a long-serving colonial constable. Janet died in Kempton aged 77 and was also buried at St Mary’s Cemetery.
William Hastie.
b: 30 Dec 1820, Torryburn, Fife, Scotland; d: 18 Dec 1870, Constitution Hill, Tasmania; bur: 20 Dec 1870, St Mary's Cemetery, Kempton, Tasmania.
Spouse - Janet McCrae.
b: abt 1819, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland; m: 12 Jan 1855, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 9 Jul 1896, Kempton, Tasmania.
Children of William Hastie and Janet McCrae:
William Hastie - b: 6 Oct 1855, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: date and place unknown (went missing in June 1929 and never found).
James Hastie - b: 16 Nov 1856, Oatlands, Tasmania; d: 5 Nov 1864, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: aft 5 Nov 1864, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.
David Hastie - b: 23 May 1858, Oatlands, Tasmania; d: 13 Jun 1858, Oatlands, Tasmania.
John Hastie - b: 19 Dec 1859, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 20 May 1861, Bothwell, Tasmania.
George Hastie - b: 21 Apr 1861, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 20 May 1861, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 16 Mar 1888, Hobart, Tasmania.
Alice Hastie - b: 12 Jun 1863, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 23 May 1864, Bothwell, Tasmania.