William Alexander Ivan Binks

Born on October 7, 1865 at 6 Nelson Place, St. Pancras.

William worked as a compositor - 'one who sets the type ready for printing', and is rumoured to have been a newspaper reporter in both England and Australia.

William married Christianna Leaves (born May 9, 1868 - Allowanshay, Somerset) on August 28, 1886 at St Peter's Church, Clerkenwell.

Christianna had probably met William through her sister Emily who had moved first to London and had married William's brother, Joseph Frederick Ernest. (Two brothers had married two sisters).

Sometime after the birth of William and Christianna's first daughter, Christiana Jubilee on May 9th 1887, the family emigrated to Adelaide, South Australia. Writing in a family bible indicates this may have been in 1891.

On June 6, 1893 William lodged an application for a patent on a trade mark emblem for use in respect of "chemical substances for use in medicine and pharmacy". (See images below). In the documents he is described as a 'Medicine Vendor' operating at 13 Flinders Street, Adelaide, South Australia.

William and Christianna's only son William Alexander Leaves Binks was born on July 24, 1893 in Flinders Street. More children were to come; Mildred Cecil - b. October 14th 1896, Hilda Easter Mary - b. September 8th 1899, and Edith Eveline - b. February 1st 1901.

After buying a farm in Yuna, Western Australia, the family moved there abt. 1907-1908. (Sources from later in William's life, show his occupation as a farmer).

After the tragic deaths of William's brother and sister-in-law Alfred John & Blanche May Binks in 1913, Alfred's 3 daughters were taken into an orphanage for the duration of the First World War, until safe transit could be arranged for them to return to America. Their safety and well-being was overseen by William & Christianna and a letter exists (see below) from William addressed to the girls' Aunt Sarah Boswell in Fort Worth, Texas dating from shortly after their safe arrival at her home.

Christianna died on September 29, 1923 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.

William re-married on September 15, 1928 to Esther Eleanor Dillistone who was born between 1890-1891 in Clare, Suffolk, England. They married at St. Matthew's Church, Guildford, Australia but in doing so may have created a major family rift with his son, William, who was only about two years younger than his new wife. William wasn't completely truthful at the wedding, giving his age as 59 and Esther's as 37. He was actually nearly 63 at the time.

William and Esther had one known daughter, Nancy Binks, born November 29, 1929, and William died on May 27, 1936 aged 70 years. Esther died Dec 29, 1977 in Nedlands, Australia.

Christianna Leaves

Photo Album (Click on the thumbnails to view the pictures)
Documents relating to W. A. I. Binks' application for his 'CLIMAX' patent trade mark Images are numbered in order as they appear in the N.A.A. file. Source reference: National Archives of Australia: A11731, B2455
1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8
Family Portrait circa 1904 L to R: Hilda, Christiana Jubilee, Edith, William A. Leaves, Christianna & Mildred	This badly damaged photograph is of Christianna & William taken between 1909-1918 in Australia	Letter sent by William to Sarah Boswell (Aunt of nieces Anna Evelyn, Grace Gertrude & Opal Eloise) after the girls arrived safely in Fort Worth, Texas to live with her. (Letter dated 26th August 1918)	William's grave at North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia. Plot 6664 Path 41 North