William was born in Dursley on 12th September 1801. His father, Peter, born in 1766, was a hatter. His grandfather, also William and born in 1714, was a saddler. Both lived in Dursley so the family had probably been established here since at least 1714.

Our William's father, Peter, owned a hat factory in Parsonage Street and William became a hatter. From later events, it is also certain that he learned and practiced Church Bellringing in Dursley. He married Maria Mann from Bristol at St. Steven's, Bristol, on March 23rd 1822. A daughter named Esther Maria was born to them early in 1823. Their lives were changed completely when, on 7th April 1823, William was convicted for receiving stolen hat blocks and sentenced to 14 years transportataion to the Penal Colony of Van Dieman's Land as Tasmania was then known. There followed a long and arduous journey of 163 days aboard the convict ship "Asia II" which landed William and 149 other convicts in Hobart Town on January 18th 1824.

As was customary, William was "assigned" to a master in need of workers. William was assigned to Mr. Monro of Hobart Town who was quick to make use of William's expertise as a hatter. In October 1824, Monro was advertising his newly established Hat Manufactory. In the meantime, William Champion had made the first hat in the Colony and had created the first Beaver Hat, made from wool and rabbit hair rather than beaver!

William's wife was obviously loyal and strong-minded. She and their daughter joined him from England in 1826, which probably accounts for William being constantly reprimanded for absence without leave. They prospered, however. Their son, William opened his own Hat Manufactory. He received his Ticket of Leave on April 12th 1832 and was granted a Conditional Pardon on 30th March 1833. Later that year, he ceased to be a hatter changed his house into the Jolly Hatter's Inn and became the licensee on December 6th.

William's joy must have known no bounds when, on 14th March 1834, his father, mother and two of his sisters arrived in Hobart Town from England. His prosperity continued to increase from ownership of a variety of properties. He was active in promotion of the labour movement and the formation of Unions and Societies for the benefit of workers and tradesmen. He worked on many issues for the working class and contributed to the end of transportation and the convict system in 1853.

William's beloved wife, Maria, died on 4th March 1855. They were married for nearly 33 years. In 1856, William returned to Dursley for a period of eight years during which he married his cousin, Elizabeth ("Aunt Betsy") Champion. When he went back home to Tasmania in 1864, he went alone. Elizabeth never saw him again.

In 1847, Holy Trinity Church, Hobart, purchased a new peal of eight bells from Mears & Co. of Whitechapel, London. William promoted this project, supervised the installation of the bells, recruited and trained a band of ringers. This was the first peal of bells in Australia.

Courtesy of The Hobart Ringers, Tasmania
(There are only two churches in Tasmania with bells hung to swing full-circle for English-style)

By the time of his death on 25th September 1871 at the age of 70, William had become one of the most respected gentlemen of his time. The bell ringers of Hobart drink a toast to his memory each year at their annual dinner and, to further honour his life, do so wearing hats.

The Dursley Ringers joined their Hobart colleagues in 2001 by honouring William Champion with a quarter-peal of Grandsire Triples. The ringers all wore hats!

Ref: John Taylor (The Ringing World)

Asia 2 - Convict List Tasmania - Departed 9 August 1823 arrived VDL 19 January 1824
Place of Conviction - Conviction Date - Sentence - Full details of who was aboard!

The Bellringers Early Companion
Hardcover - 448 pages (12 August, 1999)

The Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers