William Patterson and Maria Hennem
Parents Eyre Patterson and
Alice Stanley
Maria's parents not known
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)
William
Patterson was born at Morpeth in Northumberland in about 1793.
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.
William, like his
father, was a school teacher who gave classes at his school at
Bartholomew Close in the Barbican. .
William married
Maria Denham in 1810
In about 1822, William went into partnership
with William Elliott dealing in cloth and other merchandise. In
1825,
they were declared bankrupt owing the sum of £135/10/0. William
Patterson spent time in the Fleet Prison, the Debtors Prison.
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
countryIn October 1827
William Patterson was implicated as accessory 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.
In 1928 William
Patterson was indicted with stealing a gelding value £15, and a
chaise value £15, the property of John Gleid at Gravesend. He
hired
it, drove it to Bury St Edmonds 108 miles away and sold it for
£12.
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.
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.
In 1829 William
was put aboard the convict transport the Bussorah Merchant, which
then sailed for Hobart. He managed to get in trouble on or just
after
the voyage. He was charged with use of language
to the P.S. of Convicts 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 & it being his first offence.
William was put to
work in the government office as a Memoralist, that is he made
hand -
written copies on parchment of Registered Deeds. By October 1830
he
was in trouble again, being charged with having in his possession
8
bundles of Quills value 8d and twenty-six parcels of paper value
4/6
the property of our Sovereign Lord the King. William apparantly
ran a private operation writing letters home for those who colud
not write. Recommended to be
removed to a penal settlement for 3yrs.
In 1832 he was charged
with plotting & contriving an intended escape from the Colony
and
was removed to Notmans Rd. Party during the pleasure of His Excy.
In
1833 Maria, wife of William Patterson, and son William aged 15
arrived in Hobart. She petitioned to have William assigned to her,
but this was declined.
In 1836, approximately seven years after
transportation William was granted a Free Pardon. It seems that
William then resumed his occupation of Schoolmaster.
Maria
Patterson died at Launceston in 1848 and William died in 1850
There is much
more detail in the material that follows. Looking at William's
story
one can only wonder at his ability to find trouble. And all this
with
a wife and family to support. Though he was obviously a very
personable man, as shown by his ability to raise two large
petitions for leniency. And poor Maria arriving in Hobart to
find William was off in a road gang
Les Rowley
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
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.
LDS emtry
for William and Maria's marriage has her surname as Hennem
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?
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
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. 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.
(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
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