William Patterson and Maria Hennem

Bones in the Belfry home page
Parents        Eyre Patterson and Alice Stanley         Maria's parents not known

 Email Aug 2019 from Mel Walden

My GGGG grandfather was Eyre Patterson b. 1768 a teacher at the Barbican London, he had a son called William Patterson b. 1789 and they were indeed from Morphett (maybe spelling Morpeth)
This gives us Williams Parents.
Furthe confirmation from Mel October 2020 with a press clipping of Eyre Patterson and William Patterson dissolving a partnership by mutuial consent in 1812. William is given as schoolmaster, Barbican, City of London

William Patterson (b Morphett Northumberland abt 1792, m Maria Hennem 1810 St. Mary's Church Marlebone, London, d 1850 Geelong )
    William Patterson (b 1818 London, m Eliza Grace 1844 Launceston Tas, d 1882 Cumberoona NSW)
        Anne Maria Patterson (b 1848 Launceston, m William Paull Broome 1877 Albury NSW, d 1938 West Wyalong NSW)
            Eircell Paullina Broome (b 1884 Talgarno, m Joseph Smart Rowley 1909 Talgarno, d 1917 Bethanga)

LDS emtry for William and Maria's marriage has her surname as Hennem
For an excellent coverage of William and Maria, see Chapters one and two of Janet's book. Extracts follow on this page in italics. missing are photos and maps, and a lot of detail

William Patterson(Snr)
The Early Years
Maria Denam
12th November 1825 - Bankruptcy
Fleet Prison
October 1827 - Arson
13th October 1828 - Horse Stealing
Petitions for Mercy
Petition from Residents of the Barbican
Petition of Richard Peters Smith, Solicitor
Submission from Mr Rickards, Solicitor for Royal Exchange Assurance
8th August, 1829 - Imprisonment and Transportation
6 March 1830 - use of language
29 October 1830 - paper in his possession
29 October 1830 - Stealing of Quills
1 September 1832 - Petition of William Patterson
19 Nov 1832 - Plotting an escape
9 Sept 1833 - Maria arrived in Hobart
24 Oct 1833 - Petition of Maria Patterson
22 November 1833 - recommendation
6 December 1833 - Assignment refused.
21/24 November 1836 - Free Pardon
2 January 1847 - School Moved
14 November 1848 - Death of Maria Patterson
3 September 1850 - Death of William Patterson
Acknowlegements:
References

William Patterson(Snr)

William was, in order, schoolmaster, bankrupt, arsonist, horse stealer, convict, schoolmaster. The death notice in the Hobart Town Courier just about has to be him, since it is hard to believe the reference to Calcutta in the Wallace notes is coincidence.
Note there appears to be no connection with the William Patterson who was an early Governor of Tasmania. That WP died in 1810, though he is interesting as the man who fought the duel with Macarthur that caused Macarthur’s arrest (Australian dictionary of Biography). The presence of a more distinguished Patterson in early Tasmania makes one a little wary of the family clain that a street in Launceston was named after them.
Now follows selected material on William from Janet's book, in italics

The Early Years

    The few details we have on the life of William Patterson in England have been gained from various Court records.
    William Patterson was born at Morpeth in Northumberland in about 1793.  Morpeth is a very old town and site of a Grammar School established in the 16th century.  Bert Patterson recounted ‘Family Trad’ that said that the Pattersons lived in the Cheviot Hills, and at differing times were captured by the Scots or the English, with skirmishes around them being the normal order of their lives.  The town of Morpeth is in the vicinity of the Cheviot Hills.  ...
    The family seems to have moved to London when William was about seven years of age.  His father had a school in the Barbican, the old walled city of London. 

Maria Denam

William married Maria Hennem (or Denem)....   ‘Family Trad’ says that she may have been French.  (Did her family escape to England during the French Revolution?).Their son, William (junior) was born in London ...  ‘Family Trad’ says he was the only survivor of 19 children.  He maintained that he was born within earshot of the Bow Bells (the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow) and therefore he was a Cockney.  This suggests that the family was living in the Barbican when William was born.

    William, like his father, was a school teacher who gave classes at his school at Bartholomew Close in the Barbican.  The family seems to have lived at this site for some years.
     In about 1822, William Patterson went into partnership with William Elliott in a firm named William Patterson and Company, merchants dealing in cloth and other merchandise.  The business operated from premises in Basinghall Street.  William Patterson resided with William Elliott at Westminster Road, Surrey (now Sutton) in 1825.
    In 1829 the address of Maria Patterson was given as 24 Berners Street, Russell Square.  There is a Berners Street today which runs off Oxford Street and so could be in the area of Russell Square.  However this street was not given this name until the 20th Century.  There was a Berner Street which ran off Commercial Road which was renamed Henriques Street on 3rd May, 1963.

12th November 1825 - Bankruptcy

On 12th November 1825, William Patterson and William Elliott appeared before the Commissioners,... Their report in part read,  … that the said William Patterson & William Elliott, did for three years last passt before the date and suing forth of the said Commission carry on and follow the trade and business of merchants, and during all such time did seek and endeavour to get their living by purchasing quantities of Cloth and other merchandize and selling the same again as others of the same trade and business are used to do AND that the said William Patterson and William Elliott so seeking and endeavouring to get their living by buying and selling became indebted unto Eric Ehrenstrom (or Ehrenshorn ?) of John Street, Bedford Square, Middlesex, Merchant in the sum of One hundred and thirtyfive pounds ten shillings of lawful money of Great Britain…

Fleet Prison

    William Patterson spent time in the Fleet Prison, the Debtors Prison, which was situated on the eastern bank of the Fleet River, part of which is where the Holborn Viaduct is today.  Prisons of that era were moneymaking ventures where fees were charged for food, lodging, turning keys etc.  Prisoners were able to take lodgings outside the prison on payment to the keeper of the prison.  Fleet Prison was reported to have had the highest charges in the country.

October 1827 - Arson

In October 1827 William Patterson was implicated as accessary before the fact in a case of Arson on goods at Maidenhead.  This followed an insurance claim made by John Wright with whom William Patterson was associated.  It was John Wright to whom William Patterson owed £697-16-6 in the bankruptcy case of 1825 and he was one of the Assignees appointed in this case.

13th October 1828 - Horse Stealing

On 13th October 1828, he stole one mare of the price of Fifteen Pounds, one chaise of the value of Thirty Pounds, one set of harness of the value of Two Pounds Ten Shillings, and one whip of the value of Three Shillings, the goods and chattels of Thomas Coggin.
William gave his occupation as Labourer, and his address as Bexley, Kent.  This may have been the residence as reported by Alice Wallace, great granddaughter of William Patterson,  …our Great grandfather (also William) lived in Prince Rupert’s Mansions, London.  Great grandfather would often be out late at night and Grandfather at 11 years old would feel very creepy pacing the suits of armour in the hall…  To-day there is a Prince Rupert’s Road in the Eltham area of London, just west of Bexley.
On 8th March 1829 he stole one gelding of the price of Fifteen Pounds, one chaise of the value of Fifteen Pounds, and one set of harness of the value of Four Pounds and one whip of the value of Three Shillings, the goods and chattels of John Gleid. William gave his occupation as Labourer, and his address as Milton next Gravesend, Kent.

The trial was reported by the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser newspaper (date unknown) as follows:
William Patterson was indicted with stealing a gelding value £15, and a chaise value £15, the property of John Gleid at Gravesend.  The prisoner was described in the calendar as a writing master.
    John Gleid lives at Milton, next Gravesend, and keeps a public house.  On the 7th of March last, the prisoner hired a horse and chaise of witness, for the next day, to go to St. Mary Cray, about a ten mile drive.  He said he was lodging with Mrs Clark in Gravesend.  He was to return it in the evening and pay 10 shillings for it.  Saw the horse and chaise again at Bury St. Edmonds, beside a wagon.  ...
    Edward Briggs lives at Bury St. Edmonds.  Saw the prisoner on the 10th of March.  It is about 108 miles from Maidstone.  He had a horse standing in a stable with a horse belonging to witness, and asked witness to attend to it as he was very lame from driving, and he did not like the appearance of the farrier who was in attendance.  He said to witness that he appeared to be a deserving man, and he should like him to get a guinea or two.   He had come to Bury to take a large business, and wanted to sell the horse and chaise.  He afterwards sold it to witness for £12.  Witness had not money enough to pay for it, and he applied to a friend, Mr Cross, a horse dealer to lend him some. In consequence of what Mr Cross said to him, witness stopped the prisoner and horse and chaise.  Witness afterwards saw Mr Gleid, at Bury, and showed him the horse and chaise, which he claimed as his property.
    There was another indictment for a similar offence to which the prisoner withdrew his plea of not guilty, and pleaded guilty.
    His Lordship said he should give this case his most anxious consideration, but he thought it would be his painful duty to pass sentence of death on the prisoner, and he feared it would be necessary for that sentence to be carried into execution.
    The prisoner was respectable in his appearance, and was a fine handsome man.  He appeared excessively agitated on hearing the judge’s intimation.  ...
    However, it seems that the judge immediately exercised his prerogative and commuted the sentence to Transportation for Life.

Petitions for Mercy

Friends and associates of William rallied to support him, and a number of written submissions pertaining to the case were delivered to the Secretary of State, Sir Robert Peel who would advise King George the Fourth on the implementation of the sentence.  These documents are held in the British Public Records Office, and they tell us a great deal about William's crime and the background to it.

Petition from Residents of the Barbican

The first petition was addressed to the trial judge Justice Sir Stephen Gaselee, and it carried the signatures of seventy-three people, residents of the City of London or nearby.  The petition was designed to persuade the judge that a sentence of something less than transportation should be imposed.
    "We the undersigned beg leave most respectfully to represent to your Lordship that we have known the above named Prisoner, William Patterson for many years.  He having kept a large school in Barbican now in Bartholomew Close, both in the City of London, for a great length of time and his father before him also in great respectability and being well respected by his neighbours and friends for his general conduct of himself and family.  Some of us also the undersigned have placed our children under his care for tuition, which we should not have done had we not known that the prisoner was competent both from knowledge and habit to instil into their minds the first great principles of morality and honesty, and though, we believe he has, in many respects, much deviated from them himself, (in the first instance, through poverty and misfortune having fallen on him) yet, we confiding in his protestations of repentance since he has been committed for the above and another like offence and having heard of his good conduct while in gaol at Maidstone with his attention to his religious duties, and as well on behalf of his unfortunate and afflicted wife who has one infant son to support with no likely means of existence but benevolence of friends, who formerly knew them in prosperity chooses to bestow.  We are induced to trouble Your Lordship with this memorial, hoping that if consistent with Your Lordship’s duty to the public, you can represent such circumstances of mitigation in the Prisoner’s case and conduct to His Majesty that he would in the exercise of his prerogative of Mercy suffering his stay in this Country and that when such punishment as His Majesty by the advice of his Council shall think proper to inflict on him be expired We hope and trust that he will return to his Friends, and his Family, a much better man, - and believing also, as we do that he will be enabled to earn his future bread in an honest way."
    It is interesting to look at the list of petitioners and note their trades, (Leghorn Hat Manufacturer, Professor of Musik) and addresses, (mostly in the Barbican).  Thomas Mann, Merchant, 35 City Road - Known the Prisoner for upward of thirty years.  John Straker, 11 Red Cross Square, Cripplegate has known the said William Patterson near twenty years.  From this it would seem that William and his parents came to the Barbican in about 1799. 

Petition of Richard Peters Smith, Solicitor

    The petition from the residents of the Barbican was intended to reach Mr Justice Gaselee before he passed sentence on William, but it seems that the sentence of death and the subsequent reprieve had in fact been pronounced before the petition reached the judge.  The petition was then forwarded on to Sir Robert Peel by Richard Peters Smith, solicitor, of Charter House Square, with a covering letter from Mr Smith as follows;
    "I also humbly beg to add - that I defended the Prisoner and provided him with Counsel at my own expense from a former knowledge I had of the Prisoner three years ago and of his then great respectability as a Schoolmaster in Bartholomew Close near my then and present residence - I believe the Signatures to the Petition to be those of respectable Tradesmen residing near here who not only knew him well but who placed their children under his care and had every opportunity of being well acquainted with his moral character - many of whom now say they have retained such confidence in him that if he was now at liberty they would not only again send him their children but would also assist in establishing him in a respectable seminary - knowing he has fell from his former station from unforeseen circumstances having been the dupe of pretended Friends to whom he lent his then respectable name to accommodation Bills by which be was ruined - he went to the Fleet Prison where he met with unprincipled Swindlers who initiated him into their dishonest mode of life and persuaded him that the crime of which he stands convicted was mere swindling - Viz. - that of Hiring a Horse and Chaise and afterwards at a Distant place endeavouring to sell it - the Law has properly construed this (under certain circumstances into Felony) - the moment the prisoner was taken into Custody be felt his awful situation and to make all the amends he then could he sent for another person who he had before committed the same fraud on and voluntarily confessed to him what he had done with his Horse and Chaise and I hope nay I believe thus the owner obtained his property back the former one had not been disposed of - to this second indictment the prisoner pleaded guilty and by a short petition of the Prisoner when at the Bar to the Learned Judge who tried him the facts of his former station in Life was fully set forth -     I feel more than a professional interest for this prisoner and for his Wife and Child - I believe his conduct in prison has been praiseworthy - He kept the juvenile (County) Prisoners in great subjection and taught them lessons for their future which I hope those who were so fortunate as to escape conviction will not easily forget - I am informed the worthy Governor Mr Agar allowed him to teach his children their daily lessons and will speak favourably of his conduct –
 Under all these circumstances (many of which take away (I hope) the stigma of being ranked with a Common Horse Stealer) - I most humbly beg to add my Testimonial to the Petition and Pray now Sir if consistent with your Duty (and I sincerely hope you will think with me that such a man may with safety after a slight punishment be permitted to remain in his native land) and for his future conduct I would almost pledge myself - I ought not to dictate but I believe an Imprisonment in Maidstone Gaol would be productive of Good to other prisoners -

Submission from Mr Rickards, Solicitor for Royal Exchange Assurance

   ....
    While the petition and Mr Smith's letter to Sir Robert Peel present William in the best possible light and put forward extenuating circumstances, another side of the story was put forward in a submission to Sir Robert by George Rickards, Solicitor to the Royal Exchange Assurance.  Mr Rickards' letter reads:
    'Sir,
By the Instructions of the Corporation of the Royal Exchange Assurance I take the liberty in reference to the case of William Patterson, who was convicted at the last Assizes at Maidstone on charges of stealing two Horses and a Chaise, but reprieved by the Judge -   
    to state that in the course of their investigation of a claim on the part of one John Wright for an alleged loss by Fire on Goods at Maidenhead in October 1827, which the Corporation were at the time satisfied was a fraudulent claim, it appeared that the William Patterson above named was intimately connected with, and aiding Wright in, the fraud practised on the Corporation - that from information - subsequently communicated to the Corporation they entertain no doubt, that the case was one of Arson, and that William Patterson was accessary to it before the fact and that they would have had considered it their duty to prosecute the parties, if the case had not deemed to rest too much on the testimony of persons who had been connected with Wright, and whose apparent motives might probably be considered materially to affect their credibility. - I beg leave to add, that The Royal Exchange Assurance have thought it a duty they owe to the public to cause this representation to be made to you Sir, in order that you may think proper of it in any Report to His Majesty in Council upon the case of William Patterson ........."
    This submission from the Solicitor for the Insurance Company lends weight to the submission by Mr Smith in that the association between William Patterson and John Wright seems to have had its origins in the bankruptcy case and questions might be raised as to the circumstances under which he entered the drapery business with William Elliott.

8th August, 1829 - Imprisonment and Transportation

    In any case, Sir Robert Peel was unmoved by the appeals to allow William to serve his sentence in Britain.  Perhaps the submission from the insurance company was a telling blow against the persuasive arguments put forward by the tradespeople from the City of London area and by Mr Smith.  Sir Robert's decision was that William should be transported to New South Wales or Van Diemen's land "for the term of his natural life".
    William was convicted on 8th August, 1829, and ... until his removal to the prison hulk, Retribution, on 16th September, 1829, he was in the custody of Thomas Rider, High Sheriff.  Rider subsequently claimed on the County of Kent for thirteen shillings and eleven pence for ‘bread money’ for William's maintenance during that period. ...  William was lucky - his confinement on the Retribution lasted only five days.  On 21st September, 1829 William was put aboard the convict transport the Bussorah Merchant, which then sailed for Hobart.   
    18 January 1830 arrived Hobart

6 March 1830 - use of language

Clerk Audit Office / Stating use of language to the P.S. of Convicts on Sat'y last which tended to traduce the characters of Captn. Johnson & Dr Henderson of the Bussorah Merchant.  These gentlemen not wishing to press the charge the prisoner expressing contrition & being his first offence in Rep'd (B.S.)

29 October 1830 - paper in his possession

Clerk Audit Office having a quantity of paper in his possession, believed to be the property of the Crown for which he cannot satisfactorily account.  Recommended to be removed to a penal settlement for 3yrs. (C.P.M. & A.P.M.)

29 October 1830 - Stealing of Quills

Stealing 8 bundles of Quills value 8d and twenty-six parcels of paper value 4/6 the property of our Sovereign Lord the King.  Complaint dismissed (C.P.M.)

1 September 1832 - Petition of William Patterson

    Petition of William Patterson to His Excellency (we do not have a copy of the petition, but have the recommendations attached to it):
    "Petitioner has conducted himself much to my satisfaction ever since he has filled the situation as Clerk of the Gaol  --Signed John Biddel Keeper.
    I have never had occasion to find fault with William Patterson since he has been Clerk to the Gaol but have always found him very attentive to his duties and I therefore hope that His Excellency will take his case into consideration and grant him the Indulgence he now prays for.  --Signed Dudley Fareday  20 Sept 1832.
    Since the Memoralist has been employed as Clerk in the Gaol his conduct has been attentive and good, and I have had frequent opportunities of witnessing his general behaviour.  I therefore beg leave strongly to commend him to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor.  --Signed  W Bedford Senior Chaplain Parsonage 21 Sept 1832
    I recommend the petitioner to the favourable consideration of His Excellency.  I have found him ready and useful on several occasions.  --Signed  M Forster.
    I beg leave to recommend the Memoralist to the favorable consideration of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor in the discharge of my Medical duty at the Gaol I have always found him attentive and obliging.  --Signed  Adam Turnbull.
 William Patterson is referred to as a Memoralist, that is he made hand - written copies on parchment of Registered Deeds.  The people who supported the petition appear to have been identities within the penal system: ...
It would appear that the petition was unsuccessful, and as a result of this the following case was heard.

19 Nov 1832 - Plotting an escape

    P.W. Plotting & contriving an intended escape from the Colony.  Removed to Notmans Rd. Party during the pleasure of His Excy.
    During the 1830s Notman’s Road Party was located just south of Launceston, building the road from Launceston to Evandale and Perth.  During 1834/35 this Road Party also built a blue-stone bridge, the Kerry Lodge Bridge, which still stands as part of the road to the Launceston Airport and Evandale.  The Convict Barracks stood on a hillside not far from the bridge.  Robert Notman was apparently a very tough character and a hard task master.  (Communication Jillian Koshin)

9 Sept 1833 - Maria arrived in Hobart

    Maria, wife of William Patterson, and son William, arrived in Hobart on the Indiana.  The Indiana, a ship of 400 tons with 2 guns, carried General Cargo and Passengers.  The names of 115 passengers appeared on the shipping list with a crew of 23 under the Master J Webster.  Listed amongst the Steerage Passengers were Maria Patterson and William Patterson aged 15.   ...
    In Launceston Maria took up residence at Mr Dean’s Livery Stables.  Under the dictates of Governor Arthur, the wife of a convict was only permitted to emigrate if she had the support of the convict’s master.  In their early years in Van Diemen’s Land it appears that both Maria and William (Junior) were supported by Mr Dean.  William Matthew Dean occupied two adjacent stores, a stable and counting-house in Cimitiere Street.  Lucy Dean and Katherine Dean were also passengers on the Indiana in 1833 but it is not known if they are relatives of William Matthew Dean

24 Oct 1833 - Petition of Maria Patterson

Petition of Maria Patterson for the release of William to her:
To His Excellency  Colonel George Arthur,  Lieutenant Governor Of Van Diemens Land
The humble Petition of Maria Patterson Most Respectfully Sherveth
    That your Petitioner and Son arrived in this Colony Per Ship Indiana/Free in September last.
    That your Petitioner on leaving her Native Land was deeply impressed with the Affectionate Remembrance of having been the wife of William Patterson (Per Bussorah Merchant) nearly 24 Years who was unhappily Banished from England in 1829.  Under the full Hope that she would find relief in your Excellency's Merciful consideration, undertook so long and dangerous a Voyage, fully trusting she might be allowed the considerable Indulgence of having her Husband Assigned to her Service.  Your Petitioner would on this occasion make a humble appeal to your Excellency's humanity that being a Female now in the decline of Life, with a Son who is entirely unprovided for, has ventured all her means to Save a lost Husband and now humbly prays that her husband may be assigned to her service. 
And your Petitioner in duty bound  will ever pray. 
Maria Patterson 
    At Mr Deans  Livery Stables  Launceston.
 
The Petition was sent to John Burnett, the Colonial Secretary.
To John Burnett Esqr.
Sir
    By the suggestion of Lieutenant Dexter of Launceston, and with all deference, to call your humane consideration to the enclosed  petition and to forward the same for his Excellencys approval at your earliest convenience.
    I would beg to state that I left England under the full impression that on my arrival in Van Diemens Land I should be favoured through His Excellencys humanity to have my unfortunate Husband assigned to my Service.     
   May I call upon your intercession on my behalf, for which favor I should always entertain the warmest feelings of Gratitude.
I am Sir,     Your most Obedient Servant
    Maria Patterson    at Mr Dean's   Launceston.
    Your petitioner begs further to state that she has the permission of the Commandant Major ..?......clough who will be pleased to give a reply favorable to the Character and general behaviour of her Husband William Patterson should your Excellency deem it nesessary also begs to refer your Excellency to the recommendations attached.
   
I beg leave to state that William Patterson has been under my care as a Crown Patient, from this and other opportunities I have had of judging, think him a steady and deserving character.
R. Garrett  Col of Surgeons     Nov 8th 1833

The general conduct of William Patterson has been very good during the last eight months that I have had an opportunity of seeing him.
Ronald C Gunn     14 November 1833

I beg to certify that the conduct of Wm. Patterson has been much under my notice since he has been at Launceston and that he appears to be zealous in his duty sober & steady.
Math Curling Friend    Nov 8 1833

 The people supporting the petition ... appear to be identities within the Penal System.
Ronald Campbell Gunn arrived in Hobart Town in 1830, aged 21.  In 1830 he was Superintendent of a convict barracks in Hobart before he was transferred to Launceston as Assistant Superintendent of Convicts in Northern Van Diemen's Land.  By 1833 he had become Superintendent of Convicts for Northern Van Diemen's Land as well as Police Magistrate. 
Lieut. Matthew Curling Friend RN arrived in Hobart in 1830 and took up a grant of land near Launceston in 1832.  He was appointed Port Officer and Harbourmaster, Justice of the Peace and Coroner for Northern Van Diemen's Land towns.

22 November 1833 - recommendation

This is a petition of Mrs Patterson who lately arrived free to have her husband assigned - I cannot recommend any Indulgence before the regulated period, if the Act of Parliament would allow it, for he has been Convicted of Felony in the Colony - J Spode.
J Spode was appointed Muster Master in the Police Department in 1827.  By 1833 he was Superintendent of Convicts, thus all applications for assignment had to be passed through him.

6 December 1833 - Assignment refused.

Assignment refused.           Communication accordingly (re refusal).

21/24 November 1836 - Free Pardon

Free Pardon No. 238 (or 235)
This was approximately seven years after transportation so conformed to the rules laid down by Governor Arthur.  Governor Arthur's term ended in 1836 and this may have influenced the granting of the Free Pardon. After the Free Pardon of 1836 it seems that William resumed his occupation of Schoolmaster. 

2 January 1847 - School Moved

This notice appeared on page 10 column 1 of the Cornwall Chronicle:
Mr Patterson begs to announce to his friends and the public, that he has removed his school from the residence in which he has for so long been established in Brisbane St. to the premises adjoining his sons in Wellington St. near the Elephant and Castle.  He also begs to remind the parents and guardians of his pupils that he re opens on the 4 Jan. next.
These premises appear to have been on the corner of Frederick and Wellington Streets.

14 November 1848 - Death of Maria Patterson

Maria Patterson died at Launceston.  The death record gave her age as 60, Schoolmasters wife, of Wellington Street.  The cause of death was given as paralysis. 
William may have left the colony after the death of Maria, but no record of his departure has been found.

3 September 1850 - Death of William Patterson

The following notice appeared in the Hobart Town Courier, Saturday Morning, October 26, 1850, and also in the Launceston paper.
"On 3rd September last, at Geelong, MR WILLIAM PATTESON, late of Launceston, Van Diemen's Land.  The deceased gentleman arrived here lately from Calcutta.  It may be a satisfaction to his numerous friends in Van Diemen's Land to know that in his last hours he was comforted by the care of several friends in this colony. - Victoria Colonist."
    This could be our William Patterson, as Alice Wallace recorded in her memoirs that,  …He left for England but died at Calcutta…." No death registration has been found in the Victorian or New South Wales Records nor a burial record at Geelong.

Email from Ian Patterson - 8 April 2008

I don’t think there is any connection between our families however I read with interest your comments about Sir William Paterson.
There is no clarification about dates in the article but I am aware of three Sir William Patersons.
    The first is the Scots Financier who founded the bank of England and was the architect behind the doomed Darien Project. His wife and son died of illness at Darien and I don’t know if he had any other family.
    The second is the Sir William Paterson of Tasmania Fame who died in 1810 I believe at sea from illness off the cape going round South Africa.
    The third that I know of is my own ancestor who was born approx 1771 and died in Brighton, England in 1849 (he had two wives). The title was not hereditary and I have traced his sons and daughter and the dates don’t seem to match your own family records.
    However, three of his sons and his grandson ended up in Calcutta and one of them (my Great Grandfather) married an Alicia (Herlotte) in Calcutta which is a kind of French name of course. Howewer, Alicia and  those children came back to England in the late 1800s before some of them went back to India in the late 1800s  to early 1900s etc and the dates don’t match (although some of them I have been unable to trace after they were teenagers in the UK)
    Looking at the detail you state however, it looks to me like this is just co incidence rather than a real link. I have spent years tracing these guys - also of course you spell Paterson with two “t’s. and these guys definitely only used one T.
    As Ian states there is no proven connection. However his information make Interesting reading beside a section of the Wallace sister's notes, which I had regarded as family legend
    Great-Great-Grandfather was Sir William Patterson. I think his wife was french. Somebody's wife was named Alicia, hence the Alicia's in the family. I believe there is now a Prince Rupert's Road in a very busy part of London. It would be interesting to find out if there really was a place called Prince Rupert's Mansions. Great-Great-Grandfather and son (our Great-Grandfather) came to Launceston and G Grandfather had a College there and Grandfather used to teach in it I think he was probably in his teens. It is not known when Great-Great-Grandfather (Sir William) died in England which meant that Great Grandfather inherited the title. ... left for England but died in Calcutta and all his papers disappeared.
    Alicia, Sir William, and Calcutta can't just be coincidences?

Acknowlegements:

Thanks to Wilma Drummond who supplied photographs and lots of good information, and to Janet Patterson for her authoritative account of the early Pattersons, and of the family later in Queensland. Janet had many helpers, acknowledged in the book

References

(1) Janet Patterson, "The Pattersons of 'Rangelands' Winton".  To see contents. Janet still has copies for sale for $30, posted in Australia. If you contact this website, we will relay requests to Janet. The book is 400+ A4 pages, beautifully produced. All bar 60 pages are about the Pattersons after they moved to Queensland. On the other hand, the 60 pages on England, Tasmania and Victoria/NSW reflect accumulated research by many people over a period of years. Janet is unhappy about the quality of the bookbinding, and you have to take the book as it is. Pages may come loose after heavy use.
The extracts from the book on these pages will always be selective, and you will miss out on most if not all of the illustrations.In general, highly recommended, and excellent value. (This website receives nothing from sales)
(2) A good  read to get a feel for the world William found in Tasmania is a book "An Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's land, principally written for the use of Emigrants"
Selected extracts
If you have additions or corrections to this page, please contact us      Bones in the Belfry home page      Page last updated - 31 May 2008   17 Dec 2012   14 Jan 2020