Item attached Subject: Re [AUS – Tas] Walter Sayer Edmunds Family Hi Walter’s mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Burchall. Her mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Sayres. Walter was one of two brothers with Sayres as their middle name. I note that in his book Early South Australian Settler Deaths Who was the “first white person to die in the colony” and where was that person buried? Brian Stace refers to a letter written by Dawsey the second mate on the Lady Mary Pelham. Dawsey apparently despised both Thompson, the 1st mate and Walter. He comments on Thompson’s hard drinking and “other behaviour” and associates Walter with this too. Thompson died en route from Liverpool to South Australia. Given that Walter was not on board when the ship left to go whaling in the South /sea fishery – did he desert the ship? Was he dismissed because of his behaviour (as referred to by Dawsey)? W as he too ill to continue the voyage? Or did he intend to settle in Tasmania as a legitimate settler? Gerald Edmunds Christchurch, New Zealand