William Hastie was born on 6 October 1855 at Bothwell, Tasmania, the son of William Hastie and Janet McCrae, and was baptised there the following month. He entered public service as a police constable and, on 16 April 1879, married Mary Foster at St Anne’s Church, Dysart. The couple lived at various postings connected with William’s police duties, including the Quoin, Green Ponds, and Bothwell. Between 1880 and 1894, William and Mary had eight children: Alice Margaret (1880), Cecelia Mary (1883), Rosabella (1886), Ethel May (1888), Harold William (1890), and twins Alexander Edward and Archibald James (1894). William later left the police force and became a licensed victualler, operating an inn and store at Apsley by 1914. Electoral records show several of the children still living at home at that time, while their son Harold worked as a labourer before serving overseas during the First World War. In June 1929, William Hastie disappeared after leaving his home at Macquarie Plains to travel to Hobart. Despite police enquiries and newspaper notices describing him as a former constable aged seventy-three, no trace of him was found, and his death date and place remain unknown. His wife Mary survived him by many years, dying on 14 October 1945 at New Norfolk aged ninety-six. She was buried at Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park.

William Hastie, son of William Hastie and Janet McCrae.

b: 6 Oct 1855, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 18 Nov 1855, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: date and place unknown (went missing in Jun 1929 and never found).

Spouse - Mary Foster/Forster

b: abt 1849, place unknown; m: 16 Apr 1879, Dysart, Tasmania; d: 14 Oct 1945, New Norfolk, Tasmania; bur: 16 Oct 1945, Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park, Tasmania.

Children of William Hastie and Mary Foster/Forster:

1. Alice Margaret Hastie - b: 20 Jul 1880, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 17 Oct 1971, Tasmania; bur: St James’ Cemetery, Osterley, Tasmania. Spouse - Charles Frederick Berry, b: abt 1867, Tasmania; m: 5 Jul 1905, Hobart, Tasmania; d: 3 Aug 1950, Hobart, Tasmania; bur: 5 Aug 1950, St James’ Cemetery, Osterley, Tasmania.

2. Cecelia Mary Hastie - b: 31 Oct 1883, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 5 Oct 1946, Tasmania; bur: 7 Oct 1946, Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park, Tasmania.

3. Rosabella Hastie - b: 19 May 1886, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 7 Dec 1886, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 28 Jan 1943, Hobart, Tasmania; bur: 30 Jan 1943, Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park, Tasmania. Spouse - William Nunn, b: date and place unknown; m: 28 Sep 1908, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

4. Ethel May Hastie - b: 19 Jun 1888, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 22 Dec 1888, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 14 May 1943, Hobart, Tasmania; bur: 16 May 1943, Osterley Cemetery, Tasmania. Spouse - Charles Lawrence Reynolds, son of Lawrence Saxon Reynolds and Eva Jane Berry, b: 17 Jul 1894, Hamilton, Tasmania; m: date and place unknown; d: 29 Jun 1989, Tasmania; bur: aft 29 Jun 1989, Osterley Cemetery, Tasmania.

5. Harold William Hastie - b: 6 Dec 1890, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 2 Feb 1892, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 9 Jul 1970, Tasmania; bur: aft 9 Jul 1970, Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park, Tasmania. Spouse - Elvie Pearl White, b: abt 1894, place unknown; m: 16 Jun 1915, Hobart, Tasmania; d: 14 Nov 1974, Tasmania; bur: aft 14 Nov 1974, Red Hills Cemetery, Bushy Park, Tasmania.

6. Archibald James Hastie - b: 20 Jul 1894, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 21 Aug 1978, Tasmania; crem: 23 Aug 1978, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania. Spouse - Patricia Jacqueline Nellie Jacques, daughter of Joseph Jacques and Ellen Neil, b: 6 Jun 1910, Brighton, Tasmania; m: 14 Dec 1928, Glenora, Tasmania; d: 21 May 1999, Tasmania; crem: 24 May 1999, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania.

7. Alexander Edward Hastie - b: 20 Jul 1894, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 5 Mar 1966, New Norfolk, Tasmania; bur: aft 5 Mar 1966, Malbina Cemetery, Tasmania. Spouse - Lily Christina Eiszele - b: 20 Dec 1896, New Norfolk, Tasmania; m: 19 Aug 1925, New Norfolk, Tasmania; d: 18 Sep 1985, Tasmania; bur: aft 18 Sep 1985, Malbina Cemetery, Tasmania.