John-Foggo-Whillas-B1846

# John Foggo Whillas (1846–1897)

Dick's paternal grandfather and the founder of the Australian Whillas line.

## Key facts

- **Born:** 21 May 1846, [Edinburgh](/places/edinburgh-scotland), Scotland
- **Died:** March 1897 (age 50), Blackwood, South Australia
- **Emigrated:** Left London for [Adelaide](/places/adelaide-south-australia) on the sailing vessel *St Vincent*, Sep 1868; arrived Port Adelaide 1 Dec 1868
- **Married:** [Frances "Fannie" Johnston](/people/frances-johnston-whillas-b1849), 13 Sep 1871, Norwood, SA
- **Children:** 8 — see below

## Life

John Foggo Whillas emigrated from Scotland as a young man, sailing on the *St Vincent* and arriving at Port Adelaide on 1 December 1868. He kept a diary of the voyage, which survives in the family (held by Janet Wilkin) — see [John Foggo Whillas voyage diary](/documents/john-foggo-whillas-voyage-diary).

He married [Frances Johnston](/people/frances-johnston-whillas-b1849) in Norwood in 1871 — see [the marriage](/events/marriage-john-foggo-whillas-to-frances-johnston-1871). The couple's children were born in Melbourne and Adelaide before the family settled in South Australia.

## Family

- **Wife:** [Frances Johnston](/people/frances-johnston-whillas-b1849) (1849–1936)
- **Brothers who also emigrated / visited:**
  - [Charles Bailie Whillas](/people/charles-bailie-whillas-b1848) (b. 1848) — teacher and school inspector
  - [Thomas Foggo Whillas](/people/thomas-foggo-whillas-minister-b1848) (b. 1848) — Free Church minister, Motherwell
  - [James Andrew Whillas](/people/james-andrew-whillas) — arrived Adelaide 1878
- **Children:**
  1. [Charles Johnston Whillas](/people/charles-johnston-whillas-b1872) (1872–1944) — Dick's father
  2. [Helen Mary "Nell" Whillas](/people/helen-mary-whillas-b1876) (1876–1939)
  3. [John David Whillas](/people/john-david-whillas-b1878) (1878–1948)
  4. [Frances Anne Whillas](/people/frances-anne-whillas-b1880) (1880–1959)
  5. [James Mawhinney Whillas](/people/james-mawhinney-whillas-b1881) (b. 1881)
  6. [Lily Johnston Whillas](/people/lily-johnston-whillas-b1882) (1882–1949)
  7. [Thomas (Tom) Foggo Whillas](/people/thomas-foggo-whillas-b1884) (1884–1972)
  8. [Minnie Constance Whillas](/people/minnie-constance-whillas-b1889) (1889–1971)

## Sources

- Whillas–McLeod family history spreadsheet (Rev 4), *1860s*, *1870s* and *1890s* sheets.
- Voyage diary of the *St Vincent* (family collection, held by Janet Wilkin).