Millar Buzzard

Prologue

My interest in our family history started many years ago, but due to work and family commitments, it lapsed for a few decades. However, this interest was re-ignited after the production of a booklet by Leighton Buzzard of Melbourne, which traced our family history back to approx. 1714.

In the past two years, I have devoted many hours to getting facts on individuals, within our family tree, despite not knowing what I was eventually to do with them. However, one relative stood out: William Hunt, of New Norcia. Interestingly, although he was thought to be a schoolmaster in England, he was not a schoolmaster but a petty thief who was sentenced to be transported to the Swan River Colony as a convict. Being my great-great grandfather and there being little written about him, I further researched his life and it culminated in a year’s worth of work and with the printing of a booklet on him. And if not for the tireless energy of Nigel Peacock, of Norfolk, England, his story can now be viewed on the website here.

I was then moved to also investigate if enough information existed on my grandfather, Millar Buzzard of Moora, to allow me to document his life story.

He has historical records on the obvious places of research material, like the Trove website (a collaboration between the National Library of Australia and many hundreds of partner organisations) and at the National Archives of Australia. The commonly used genealogical websites were also a source of information but unless I could verify the information was correct, it has not been included.

Some family records existed, but they were scarce. However, after contacting family members, more and more records about the man and his family were sent to me. For these documents and photos from my immediate family members and distant relatives, I am truly indebted. In fact, the information I received kept coming in as I was writing what I thought was the final draft, so it kept on being revised.

The assistance of Historical Societies, and archivists of schools, military establishments, libraries, Government Record Offices and the like, from England to Australia, were also crucial in preparing this document.

As with many others of his time, Millar, made a valuable contribution to Australia’s history and in the writing of his life, I began to realise that he, his family, and many others of his generation, had a very challenging life. In good times, they made the most of what they had and celebrated family occasions with enthusiasm. In bad times, they fought through adversity and families supported each other.

I have predominately focused on Millar’s life, but the circumstances under which he died, left his widow, Margaret Mary, homeless and destitute. Her story, and that of their children, after Millar’s death, is also partially told here. I will leave it to others to expand on their lives.