Sofala, Bathurst, Hill End, Bourke, NSW

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Bathurst, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 10 November 1866, p 706, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115451513:

(From our own Correspondent.) His Lordship Dr. Quinn left here on Saturday morning for the metropolis, on urgent business. Before his departure, however, he made the following appointments:—[...] Rev. R.W. Nugent to assist Father McCarthy of Mudgee; [...] The rev. gentlemen above mentioned will leave during the week for their respective destinations. [...]

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Diocese of Bathurst, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 10 February 1872, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120727031:

The following clerical changes have been made in the Bathurst diocese. The Rev. Father McGirr, late president of St. Stanislaus College, to the important mission of Forbes; the Rev. Father Nugent, late of Forbes, to Fort Bourke; the Rev. Father Kelly, from Fort Bourke, to Bathurst; the Rev. Father Walsh, from Tambaroora, to Orange. The Rev. Father Horan, succeeds the Rev J.J. McGirr as president of St. Stanislaus College. He will be assisted by the Rev. Father Foran.

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Presentation to the Rev. W.C. Nugent, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 19 June 1875, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115476692:

On Sunday evening last (says the Parkes Gazette) the Rev. W. C. Nugent, was met by a number of his parishioners in the church and presented with a gold cross, a valuable gold watch, and a purse of sovereigns, worth in all about seventy guineas.

Mr. Ward read the following address:—
To the Rev. Father Nugent
Rev. and Dear Sir,—It is with deep regret we learn of your intended departure from our midst—from that sphere in which you have so long zealously ministered to our spiritual wants. We feel that by your departure we lose a good, humble, holy priest; one who has ever taken a most lively interest in our advancement (spiritual and temporal), and one who has at all times our well-being at heart.

Your labours here in the interest of the Church have been so energetic and unceasing that we cannot but regret your departure. Your assiduous attention to our spiritual wants, your particular care of our religious devotion, and marked solicitude for the young, have so endeared you to all, that the mere mention of your departure is sufficient to elicit expressions of sorrow.

Dear Father, you are about to leave us, but the thought of you shall be ever dear, and when, at future times, we, in memory, turn to the events of days gone by, we shall not fail to couple with them the humble, holy priest, who, by his unostentatious pious life, rendered himself so dear to all.

In pronouncing this, our last farewell, in saying that last, that fond "good-bye," we ask your acceptance of this tribute of our esteem and affection. We hope that where e'er you be, you will still remember us in your prayers, as we will pray for you, that your zealous endeavours may long continue to advance that holy faith, of which you are so noble a member, and promote your own spiritual and temporal welfare.

The rev. gentleman was greatly affected by this token of the esteem of his parishioners. He said he would never forget the kindness of the people at Parkes to the latest day of his life. He felt particularly pleased with the watch, which he would always look upon as a pledge of their love for him. The deputation then withdrew.

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Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 3 July 1875, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115478062:

The following changes have lately taken place in the diocese of Bathurst. [...] Rev W.C. Nugent, to Hill End; [...]

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The Rev. W.C. Nugent, Northern Star, Lismore, 15 September 1883, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71706610:

It will be seen that the above gentleman publishes a farewell in this issue, being about to leave this district for Grafton. During the above gentleman's stay here, he has endeared himself to the members of his congregation, and made many friends amongst the members of other persuasions by his kind disposition and unassuming manners, and we are sure all who know him, will, while regretting his departure, wish Father Nugent every success and long life at the scene of his new labors.

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A Farewell, Northern Star, Lismore, 15 September 1883, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71706600:

The Presbytery, Lismore, September.
To my dear friends of Lismore and Richmond River,
IT is indeed with feelings of deep regret, mingled also with sorrow, that I feel myself in duty bound to convey to you my projected and unavoidable departure, soon, from amongst you.

It has been pleasing to His Lordship, the Bishop of this Diocese, to remove me from here to the District of Grafton.

Hence it is that I pen these few lines in writing, in case I may not have the pleasure of seeing or meeting either yourself or family before my departure.

I desire, therefore, as a favor, to be remembered by you and family in your pious prayers : and I assure you (as a parting friend) I shall not forget to remember you and yours at the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, no matter where I may be stationed to promote and carry out (so far as my limited abilities afford me) the honor and glory of our Divine Lord.

I cannot, at the present moment say more, except with feelings of sorrow. So I wish you, one and all, GOOD BYE—but I hope not for ever.
I am yours very truly in Christ,
W. C. NUGENT, C.C.
Presbytery, Lismore.

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Preferments in the R.C. Church, Northern Star, Lismore, 9 July 1884, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71708713:

[...] The Rev W. C. Nugent, who has been assistant at Grafton, and has been in the district for about 2 years, has been appointed to Narrabri, whither he will shortly proceed and his place here will be filled by the Rev. Father Hennessey.—'C. Examiner.'

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Nugent, William C

Date and place of birth unknown. Details of education unknown. Place of study unknown. Date and place of ordination unknown [1866 for the Bathurst diocese]. Travelled to Australia with newly consecrated Bishop Matthew Quinn of Bathurst. Reputedly said the first Mass in Parkes in 1869. He moved from Forbes to Bourke in early 1872. Possibly also based in Sofala, Bathurst and Hill End at one time. He first appears in the Armidale diocese registers at Richmond-Tweed in the 1870s. He was at Casino in March 1882 and January 1883. A press report in June 1884 that he had been transferred from Grafton to Narrabri was denied in the following week. His name does not appear from that time. He was not among the priests who remained in the Grafton diocese, nor does he appear in the Armidale lists. Date and place of death unknown. Place of burial unknown.
(Sources: Kelly, Southerwood, Advocate 10 Feb 1872 p 6, FJ 27 Jan 1883 p 9, 28 Jun 1884 p 16, 12 Jul 1884 p 16, MDHC A-Z N33).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)