Wilhelm Arthur Ernest (William) Rissmann
Wilhelm Arthur Ernest (William) Rissmann
Date of Birth 22 April 1869
Place of Residence 144 Cimitiere St Launceston Tasmania Australia
Spouses Name Jane Lind
Childrens Names Arthur Ernest, William Herbert, Hilda Jan Rosalind & Harold Eric

Wilhelm Arthur Ernest (William) Rissman was born on 22 Apr 1869 in South Australia, son of Johann Georg Ernst Rissmann and Maria Elisabeth Zeihn who were married at Tanunda, South Australia on 28 April 1868. Both were German immigrants. Johann Georg Ernst anglicised his name and was known as Ernest. Maria became Mary.

There were several other children in the family: Anna Wilhelmina, born 24 Sep 1870 and died 8 Apr 1872; Theodore Johann (John), 16 Jun 1873; Elizabeth Clara, 4 Dec 1874 - 15 Feb 1875 and Berthe Hermine (Minnie) born in 1876, also in South Australia. Wilhlem (Alfred) was born in Victoria on 24 Jul 1878. Karl Theodore was born on 15 Feb 1881 at Latrobe and Albert Edmund (Bertie) on 16 Jul 1883. Spelling of names varies in official and family records.

Ernest was a tailor. He got into financial difficulties in South Australia and subsequently moved to Latrobe in Tasmania in 1877. In 1889 the Rissmann family moved to Launceston where Ernest worked as a tailor at 144 Cimitiere St.

Wilhelm would have been 22 at the time of the Tasmanian Exhibition in 1891-92. He married Jane Lind in New Zealand in 1896. He worked at the Otago Daily times as a compositor. Their children were: Arthur Ernest Rissmann 10 Oct 1898 - 10 Jan 1977; William Herbert Rissmann , 24 Oct 1899 - 15 May 1940; Hilda Jan Rosalind Rissmann, 1 Oct 1905 - 21 Feb 1906 and Harold Eric Rissmann 1907 - 17 Mar 1908.

Minnie married Thomas Boxall in Launceston in 1901. Karl Theodore Rissmann married Florence Ada Witherington in 1904, also in Launceston.

Ernest died on 2 Sep 1927 and is buried in Launceston. Mary died on 11 Apr 1899 at her residence 44 Cimitiere St.

The original website entry identified this person as William’s brother Theodore John Rissmann who married Ann Porteous at Merton, Otago. They farmed at Mokoreta, Southland NZ and had three children: George Alfred Ivan Rissmann, 1904 - 18 Dec 1934; Minnie Isabella Rissmann, 23 Feb 1906 - 23 Oct 1995 and Marion Vera Rissmann 27 Dec 1908 - 18 May 1918.

Barbara Valentine July 2008, Prue McCausland October 2011, Sarah Johnston August 2015.