(3) Home of Antonio Richard Williams, Dee Street, c.1859 - 1863
Component — Box: ICC-0998
Identifier: S27520001_003
Home of Antonio Richard Williams, Dee Street
Scope and Contents
Home of Antonio Richard Williams [the Black Doctor], Corner Dee and Leet Streets, Invercargill, Block LXIX, section 1 and Block LXVIII, section 22.
Dates
- c.1859 - 1863
Creator
- Ross, Donald William (Photographer, Person)
Conditions Governing Use
This item has no known copyright restrictions. Please acknowledge Invercargill City Council Archives, Ref: A0105 S27520001_003, when re-using this image.
Biographical / Historical
Very little is known of Antonio Williams’ life prior to his arrival in Invercargill, sometime around 1859. He was one of the town’s first residents, working first as the cook at the first Royal Hotel. He quickly built a reputation for his knowledge of natural medicines, earning him the nickname “Black Doctor” – though he was most likely of Latin American descent. Antonio was also known for an eccentric style of clothing, often wearing a toga and bell-topper hat.
The first house he built was an A-frame style, using wood offcuts, sticks creepers, leaves and twigs, “around the sloping trunk of a large growing broadleaf tree which grew for a considerable distance at an angle, and then turned to the perpendicular” (Fulton, 1920). It was noted as being “of no particular colour, but of many”. It was situated on a section owned by J.T. Thomson on the corner of Dee and Leet Streets, and opposite the Melbourne Hotel.
In 1863, Antonio was given notice from the Land Office to vacate his property. His response was to return the letter, adding a drawing of a dagger across the top of its page and writing "Misters Macdonald, and Russelle Esq. ... I will kille you so help mi godde, I warne you for your life..." Antonio Williams / Knowne as de Blaque Docter.” A court case followed. A painting of his house and a copy of the letter can be found at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
Finally forced to leave, he relocated a short distance further north on Dee Street but bad luck followed and in February, 1864, a violent gale overturned his new hut.
Antonio died on 19 May 1872. He is buried in free ground at the East Road Cemetery, Invercargill.
In 1922, Robert Valpy Fulton, M.D. of Dunedin published his book 'Medical Practice in Otago and Southland in the Early Days: A description of the manner of life, trials, and difficulties of some of the Pioneer Doctors, of the places in which, and of the people among whom, they laboured' but before that some chapters were serialised in the Otago Witness. One chapter was devoted to Antonio Williams.
See Bibiliography for sources
The first house he built was an A-frame style, using wood offcuts, sticks creepers, leaves and twigs, “around the sloping trunk of a large growing broadleaf tree which grew for a considerable distance at an angle, and then turned to the perpendicular” (Fulton, 1920). It was noted as being “of no particular colour, but of many”. It was situated on a section owned by J.T. Thomson on the corner of Dee and Leet Streets, and opposite the Melbourne Hotel.
In 1863, Antonio was given notice from the Land Office to vacate his property. His response was to return the letter, adding a drawing of a dagger across the top of its page and writing "Misters Macdonald, and Russelle Esq. ... I will kille you so help mi godde, I warne you for your life..." Antonio Williams / Knowne as de Blaque Docter.” A court case followed. A painting of his house and a copy of the letter can be found at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
Finally forced to leave, he relocated a short distance further north on Dee Street but bad luck followed and in February, 1864, a violent gale overturned his new hut.
Antonio died on 19 May 1872. He is buried in free ground at the East Road Cemetery, Invercargill.
In 1922, Robert Valpy Fulton, M.D. of Dunedin published his book 'Medical Practice in Otago and Southland in the Early Days: A description of the manner of life, trials, and difficulties of some of the Pioneer Doctors, of the places in which, and of the people among whom, they laboured' but before that some chapters were serialised in the Otago Witness. One chapter was devoted to Antonio Williams.
See Bibiliography for sources
Extent
From the Item: 1 Volumes
Language of Materials
From the Item: English
Existence and Location of Copies
To obtain a high resolution copy of this image please contact the Archive.
Bibliography
"Alpine". (1889, July 18). Old memories of Southland; Invercargill in 1859. Southland Times, p. 3.
Coats, W.B. (2018). The history of hospitals and healthcare in Southland, 1860s to the present : a resource document for the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Library reference: LC 362.11 COA
Fulton, R.V. (1920, November 9). Medical practice in Otago And Southland in the early days. Xxxv. The Black Doctor of Invercargill - Antonio Williams, the man with a black skin and a white heart. Otago Witness, p.53.
Hall-Jones, F.G. (1946). Invercargill pioneers. Library reference: 993.98 HAL
Hall-Jones, J. (2013). Old Invercargill. Library reference: 993.98 HAL
Invercargill. (1872, May 29). Bruce Herald, p.9.
Invercargill City Council cemetery records
McCarthy, S. (2017, December 28). City resident upset after conviction. Southland Times. https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/100213727/city-resident-upset-after-eviction
Untitled. (1863, June 23). Southland Times, p.2.
Untitled. (1872, May 24). Southland Times, p.2.
Coats, W.B. (2018). The history of hospitals and healthcare in Southland, 1860s to the present : a resource document for the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Library reference: LC 362.11 COA
Fulton, R.V. (1920, November 9). Medical practice in Otago And Southland in the early days. Xxxv. The Black Doctor of Invercargill - Antonio Williams, the man with a black skin and a white heart. Otago Witness, p.53.
Hall-Jones, F.G. (1946). Invercargill pioneers. Library reference: 993.98 HAL
Hall-Jones, J. (2013). Old Invercargill. Library reference: 993.98 HAL
Invercargill. (1872, May 29). Bruce Herald, p.9.
Invercargill City Council cemetery records
McCarthy, S. (2017, December 28). City resident upset after conviction. Southland Times. https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/100213727/city-resident-upset-after-eviction
Untitled. (1863, June 23). Southland Times, p.2.
Untitled. (1872, May 24). Southland Times, p.2.
Physical Description
Black and white, gelatin silver photographic print.
Dimensions
H 72mm x W 81mm
Album Caption
3. Black Doctor's House built on a leaning tree opposite Wesleyn Church.
Creator
- Ross, Donald William (Photographer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
