Biography William Shilling  Research by Ken Scadden for NZ archives
1915 Wm Stringer Reminiscences
Time Line:

1848 William Walter Shilling (b: 05 Nov 1848 in Boughton under Blean, near Faversham, Kent, England to parents James and Ellen Shilling;

1858 Leaving school when ten years old, he worked for a time at the building trade

1862 At aged fourteen, he joined the Navy where he served two years.

1868 He joined the Merchant Service and in 1869 arrived in Wellington as a member of the crew of the ship St. Vincent. He left the ship in that port (she was wrecked shortly afterward in Palliser Bay, with the loss of most of her crew.)

Shilling became a master (home trade) and was for some years engaged in the coastal trade and skippered schooners Alert, Falcon and Dido of the Fell Brothers of Blenheim.

1874: On 13 April, William Shilling mar: in Wellington17-year-old Harriett Casement Mexted, the daughter of George Mexted, a Johnsonville farmer.

1877: William joined the Wellington pilot service of the Wellington Provincial Governmentas coxswain and assistant pilot and was a crew member on their 30-foot whaleboat.

1880's; The  boats of the Wellington Harbour Board Pilot Servicefrequently had go far out to meet sailing ships and it was not uncommon for the pilots to be at sea for days in sailing ships trying to work their way in against strong adverse winds. There were no tugs and when a ship could not run in or beat up into harbour, the services of coastal steamers had to be requisitioned.

1881 The Wellington Harbour Board granted Shilling his pilot's certificate on 19 December 1881. In September 1889, after the previous pilot drowned, he took charge at the heads and moved into the pilot's cottage.

When the service at the Heads was abolished, the headquarters were removed to the wharf.  He then held the position as second pilot.

Evening Post 10 Mar 1915; He retired in the early months of the Great War During his long service with the Wellington Harbour Board, Captain W. Shilling, late deputy-harbourmaster, who has just retired on superannuation, gained the esteem of all who came, into contact with him, and he was one of the most popular officials on the waterfront. With a view to showing their appreciation in a tangible manner, Captain Shilling's late colleagues of the pilot staff and the Harbour Board last evening presented him with a solid leather dress case and a double gold albert watch chain, both suitably inscribed. Captain H. Johnson, the harbourmaster, made the presentation, and in doing so referred to Captain Shilling's long and valuable service with the board. The recipient, in replying, thanked the friends for their tokens, and wished all members of the pilot staff a prosperous future.

1917 Captain William Shilling held the position of second pilot, retired from the Harbour Board’s service in early months of the war, but his services were again required, and he rejoined on Nov 6, 1917.

CAPTAIN SHILLING'S 90th BIRTHDAY Captain W. Shilling celebrated his birthday with a family reunion at his home in Tutchen Avenue. Despite his years he is bright and sprightly, and he took a keen delight in the large number of congratulatory messages that reached him by telephone, telegram, and letters.

1939 Christchurch Star:  Captain William Shilling, of the Wellington Harbour Board’s pilot staff, completed his fifty years in New Zealand. He may be said to be the oldest  mariner in New Zealand and was described as being full of life until the day he died in Wellington on 16 August 1939 at the age of 90. His wife, Harriett Shilling, predeceased him by five years.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM SHILLING, HIS LONG SERVICE AS PILOT: The death occurred on Wednesday at Tuchen Avenue, Captain William Shilling who died in his ninety-first year,

EVENING POST, 19 AUG 1939: LATE CAPTAIN SHILLING: The funeral of the late Captain William Shilling was held yesterday. A large number of friends, among whom were representatives of the Wellington Harbour Board, shipping companies, and other maritime bodies, attended. The chief mourners were Captain Shilling's daughters, Mesdames A V Morgan (Featherston) and J. Cock (New Plymouth), and his sons, Messrs. W. Shilling, A. Shilling (Wellington), and S. Shilling (Auckland). The services at the chapel and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. N. F. E. Robertshawe. Among those present were Mr. A. G. Barnett, general manager of the Harbour Board, Captains P. S. Peterson (harbour master), W. McLeod (deputy harbour master) and D. M. Todd; Mr J. Neale (Wellington manager for the Union Steam Ship Company); Captains F. A. Mclndoe (secretary of the Merchant Service Guild of New Zealand), W. Whiteford, S. J. McClellan, and L. C. H. .Worrall (Union Company) , S. Holm, J. E. Dawson, J. Spence; and Messrs. E. D. Cachemaille (Harbour Board engineer) and B. L. Roberts (Harbour Board accountant). The pall bearers at the chapel were Captains Whiteford, Worrall, Macindoe, and Holm, and Messrs. Robinson and Henderson, and at the graveside Captains Peierson, Dawson, and Spence, and Messrs. R. K. G. Hardie, W. E. Cathie, and H. R. Thomas. A service held by the Masonic Lodge was conducted by Worshipful Master Scott, and Captain Dawson, a Past Master. (William Shilling was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters and the Masonic Lodge Waterloo for many years.) Mr. Kenneth Calders, Lower Hutt,' a grandson of the late Captain James Calders, first pilot and harbourmaster at Wellington, and nephew of the late Captain Tucker, a close friend of Captain Shilling, also attended. Mr. Calder's father knew Captain Shilling well.

William Shilling mar: 13 Apr 1874 in Wellington to 17 year old HARRIET CASEMENT MEXTED, GEORGE and ELIZA MEXTEDs youngest child. Harriet's parents arrived 14th May 1841 at Wellington in the ship Lord William Bentinck transporting immigrants to New Zealand. Ships List: George Mexted aged 34Y Occ. Ag Lab (son of John Alfred Mexted and mother Mary nee Else) his wife Eliza (Elizabeth Ann) nee Wilmhurst   aged 30Y, and children Jane Spicer 11Y, Richard Spicer 8Y (children of her 1st mar: to Wm Alfred Spicer 1816-1832) George 5, Stephen 3Y and Elizabeth Ann Mexted aged 6mths. The Mexted family settled first in the vicinity of Johnsonville, then for 30 yrs farmed on the old Porirua road and then at Tawa Flat and had 7 more children; Sarah Ann (1843-1873); Alfred (1845-1924); Jesse (1845-1924); John (1847-1865); William Henry 1850-1903); Caroline Elizabeth (1853-1891); and HARRIET CASEMENT MEXTED b: 03 Mar 1857at Porirua  at Porirua,  their youngest child.

Children of William Shilling and wife Harriet nee Mexted:

i. WILLIAM GEORGE SHILLING (b. 14 May 1875; d. 09 May 1962); he mar. 16 Mar 1907 to ANNIE JANE KEANE (b. 1869; her 1st mar; 22 Dec 1886 to Hans (Harry) Jacob James Olsen b: Christiania, Norway) she d. 27 Nov 1944)

ii. ELLEN ISOBEL SHILLING (b. 10 Sep 1876 in Blenheim Marlborough ; d. 27 Aug 1950, Featherston, Wellington); mar. 09 Nov 1904 to ALBERT VINCENT MORGAN (b. 24 Jun 1877; d. 18 Jul 1962) Their daus:

1 Gladys Isabell Morgan (b: 15 May 1905; d: 20 Feb 1994) Mar: 20 May 1939 Robert Morrow b: Abt. 1905 ...

2 Nola Elizabeth Casement Morgan (b: 04 Aug 1907 in Methven, Ashburton; d: 18 Oct 1978) Mar: 22 Oct 1928 to Gordon Alfred King (b: 02 May 1904 in Makotuku, Ormandville; d: 19 Apr 1965 in Nelson Bur: Wakapuaka Cem, Nelson)

iii. ALFRED JAMES SHILLING (b. 04 Feb 1878 Kilbirnie, Wgtn; WW2 serviceman; d. 05 Mar 1949); mar. 11 Mar 1907 to ELLENOR MEXTED (b. 22 Jan 1875 Wgtn; d. 19 Dec 1914 Dannevirke) Alfred remarried 1921 to May Woodward (b: 1884; she d: 5 Oct 1959) Their children:

1 Jessie Christina Shilling (b: 16 Jul 1907; d: 15 May 1984)  Mar: 08 Jun 1931 to Robert Frank Rowntree (b: 18 Sep 1906; d: 25 Oct 1979 in Auckland NZ Bur: Waikumete Cem)

2 James William Shilling (b: 26 Oct 1910; d: 15 Mar 2006 in Auckland aged 95Y Bur: Waikumete Cem) Mar: 1942 to Winifred Mary Finlayson 9b: 28 Jul 1909; d: 23 May 1990 in Auckland 80Y)

Their children: i Iva Shilling; ii June Shilling; iii Doreen Shilling; iv Ronald Shilling; v James Shilling

3 Roy Brentwick Shilling (b: 01 Dec 1914; d: 30 Mar 1990) Mar: 1939 to Hazel Patricia Joan Polglase (b: 20 Apr 1912; d: 8 Jul 1982) Their children:

i Irma Patricia Shilling (b: 27 Jul 1941 in Gisborne; d: 19 May 1997 in Wgtn) mar ? Hinchcliff - 3 children

ii Kenneth Roy Shilling mar: ? Dobson - 2 children

iv. EVA MAY SEATOUN (b: 16 May 1881 Wgtn; d: 30 Aug 1932 Oxford, Canterbury); Mar: 27 Nov 1912 to JOHN ROBERT PAVELKA (b: 3 Jan 1881Wgtn; d: 24 Jun 1947 Oxford, Canterbury) Their family:

i Ruby May Seatoun Shilling (b: 25 Feb 1895; d: 22 Mar 1895)

ii Rosalie Harriet Pavelka (b: 05 Feb 1915; d: 09 May 1999) Mar: 1940 to Edward Stuart Bunn (b: 31 Jul 1915 in Oxford, Canterbury; d: 1975 in Whangarei)

iii Edward Michael Pavelka (b: 12 Jul 1917; d: 13 Jul 1992) Mar: 1942 to Catherine Daphne Merle Gilbert b: 27 Oct 1920; d: 12 Sep 2011)

iv. WALTER EDWARD SHILLING (b. 19 May 1883; d. 16 Jun 1883)

vi. FLORA SHILLING (b. 17 Sep 1885 Wgtn; d. 02 Nov 1969, Ashburton); Mar. 20 Apr 1932 to ALBERT SAMUEL BOYCE (b. 12 May 1883, Rakaia, Canterbury; d. 31 Dec 1969, Ashburton)

vii. ETHEL MAUD VICTORIA SHILLING (b. 18 May 1887 Pilot Station, Wgtn; d. 21 Jul 1955 New Plymouth); Mar. 13 Apr 1907 to JOHN HENRY COCK (b. 21 Mar 1882; d. 24 Jan 1949) Children are:

1 Joyce Casement Cock (b: 01 Aug 1908; d: 28 Jan 1991) Mar: 12 Mar 1930 to George Joseph King (b: 16 Sep 1908; d: 16 May 1976 in New Plymouth Bur: Awanui Cem, New Plymouth)

2 Vera Ethel Mary Cock (b: 23 Sep 1909 in Waitara, Taranaki; d: 28 Apr 1988 in Palmerston Nth 78Y Bur: Kelvin Grove Cem: Mar: 16 Apr 1930 to Frederick Charles Parr 9b: 09 Feb 1908; d: 17 Apr 1974 66Y)

3 Ruby May Cock (b: 06 Jun 1911 in New Plymouth; d: 09 Jan 1953 41Y Bur: Te Henu Cem, New Plymouth) Mar: 1939 to Samuel Seffen

4 Hector Cock (b: 05 Aug 1912; d: ?) Mar: 1945 to Elizabeth Grace Marshall Wotton Vernon (b: 26 Aug 1909; d: 30 Sep 1995 in Wellington Bur: Taita Cem)

5 Loris Hazel Cock (b: 13 Aug 1916; d: 18 May 1940 in New Plymouth) Mar: 1939 to Douglas Gould Jansen (b: 10 Nov 1915 in Fielding, Manawatu; d: 25 Apr 1978 in Richmond, Nelson)

viii. SYDNEY ROY SHILLING (b. 09 Nov 1889 Wgtn; d. 21 Jul 1960 Auckland) Mar. 01 Mar 1916 to JESSIE LOUISA HALEY (b. 04 Dec 1892; d. 22 Oct 1979 in Auckland)

1 Phyliis May Joan Shilling (b: 04 Sep 1916; d: 25 Jul 2001 in Wgtn) Mar: 22 Jun 1939 to Walter John Alexander Robb (b: 20 Nov 1912; d: 12 Jul 1988 in Wellington Bur: St Mathiias Cem., Makara, Wgtn

2 Sydney Harley Shilling (b: 27 Jan 1918; d: 09 Dec 1999)

3 Bertram Swannerton Shilling (b: 15 Oct 1919; d: 13 Dec 1997) Mar: 1949 to Jeannie Hall Gallacher (b: 24 May 1921; d: 2002)

ix MABEL SHILLING (b. 7 Dec 1889; d: 15 Nov 1890 11 mths; drowned)

xi. LILLIAN (LILY) CLARA SHILLING (b. 02 Feb 1892); d. 21 Jul 1964, Timaru 73Y; mar. 15 Jul 1915, Chalmers Church, Timaru to (b. 02 Feb 1892); d. 21 Jul 1964, Timaru 73Y; mar. 15 Jul 1915, Chalmers Church, Timaru to ERNEST CECIL MATTINGLEY (b. 12 Apr 1889, Temuka; d. 06 Jan 1970, Timaru 80Y)

xii. ELIZA (Lizzie) SHILLING (b 15 Aug 1894, d: 17 May 1895)

Copyright - Please Living person's dates not shown for privacy reasons