The late Mr. William Joyce, sen., was one of our oldest and most respected colonists. He was born in London in 1820, and at the age of twenty arrived in this colony, under engagement with the Australind Company, as a white-smith. [Definition: a person who makes articles out of metal, especially tin, a polisher or finisher of metal goods.]
After serving with the company for some time, he accepted employment in various surveying expeditions, in which he gained considerable bush experience.
From that time up till a few years ago, when he retired on a pension, he was employed by the Government in various capacities at Government House, and in the Survey, Works, Commissariat, Sheriff’s, Police, and Education Departments, in the last-named of which he spent upwards of thirty years; holding at the time of his retirement the position of packer and issuer. Mr. Joyce was predeceased by his wife several years ago, but both lived long enough to bring up a large family, and to see most of them married, and all well provided for.
The esteem in which Mr. Joyce was held was shown on August 16 by the representative gathering at his funeral, which took place in the Church of England portion of the Perth Cemetery. The body was enclosed in a massive polished jarrah casket, with silver-plated handles and plates, covered with wreaths, sent by members of the family, and the following sympathisers:—Mr. and Mrs. Egglestone, Mrs. Dale and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. Carmichael, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Woodbridge, Mrs. Buckley, Mr. and Mrs. R. Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. W. Joyce and son, Mr. E. Joyce and family, James and Harriet Joyce, Mrs. G. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. J. Barrett, Mrs. and Miss Green, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Manning and family, Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, and Miss May Pennington.
The chief mourners were Messrs. Edward, James, Stephen, and William Joyce, sons of the deceased, Messrs. J. D. Manning, W. Elsegood, and P. Demasson, Masters John, Edward, George, and Andrew Manning, and H. Joyce, William Joyce, Albert Joyce, Lionel and Harold Joyce. The pall-bearers were Mr. G. Randell, M.L.C., Colonial Secretary; Mr. L. S. Eliot, Under-Treasurer; Mr. J. B. Roe, Sheriff; and Mr. John Stone. Among others present were Messrs. G. Dent, F. L. Hussey, G. F. Glyde, A. P. Curtis, G. Letch, E. Randell, A. Woodbridge, sen., G. W. Bell, sen., G. W. Bell, jun., J. Veryard, J. R. Churchyard, and S. Hyde, sen., and Major T. Sherwood. The Revs. G. Cutts and F. J. Price officiated at the grave, and the funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. Donald J. Chipper.
(Western Mail, 25 August 1900)