This period in Walter’s life has been extremely difficult to unravel. The period between 1832 to 1841 saw Walter begin his adventurous travels throughout the colony in the quest to make his fortune.

In 1831 there was an unclaimed letter for Walter Butler at the Post Office:

Sydney Gazette Tues 7 June 1831

In the Sydney Post Office Directory for January 1832,[i]Walter was listed as a cabinet maker in Castlereagh Street.

The following advert signaled a change in his domestic arrangements:
Sydney Monitor 11 February 1832 p3:

By February 1832, Walter had left his wife and infant children and started a relationship with Eliza Bodecin nee Dwyer, the married daughter of 1798 Irish rebel hero, Michael Dwyer, also known as “The Wicklow Chief”. As the Wexford rebels joined up with the Dwyer rebel group in the mountains of Wicklow at one stage, particularly when the Wexford rebels attacked the garrisons in southern Wicklow, it is highly probable that Laurence Butler and Michael Dwyer may have known each other in Ireland. They certainly would have known each other in Sydney as both were part of an active Catholic community. One of Dwyer’s gang Hugh Byrne, his first cousin (their mothers being sisters), who surrendered under terms with Dwyer and was transported with Dwyer on the “Tellicherry” (arrived Feb 1806), had a son Michael Byrne (b.1800), who was apprenticed to Ann Butler in 1821, and probably Laurence before her as his age of 21 years would indicate. Michael and another apprentice were reported to have absconded from her employ in August 1821.[ii]

Eliza, the youngest daughter of Michael Dwyer and wife Mary Doyle was born c.1812 (according to the 1828 Census- no birth record found in the NSW BDM).
Eliza was 15 years of age when, in 1827, she married the much older Frenchman Peter Bodecin, a 34 year old George Street cabinet maker who was known as a “zealous French Catholic” and very ‘pious’.[iii] (As a cabinet-maker it is possible that Walter may have had some business dealings with Bodecin.) By 1828 the Bodecins were living in George Street, and had premises at the corner of Kent and Druitt Streets. Eliza had two children with Peter Bodecin, born in 1828 and 1829. As Eliza’s father had died two years previously and the family was probably in financial straits, this was most likely an arranged marriage.

Eliza’s family were devout Catholics, her mother and elder sister were living with Father Therry after the death of Michael Dwyer in 1825, the same Roman Catholic priest who had been given responsibility for the Butler children, under the terms of Laurence Butler’s will. The Dwyer's eldest sons and daughters who had been left behind in Ireland with their grandparents, arrived in 1828. Eliza’s mother was Father Therry’s housekeeper, and two daughters were governesses at his school at St Mary’s Cathedral. So, it would seem that the bond between Walter and Eliza developed through their mutual association with Father Therry, and their shared Irish heritage. Sharing an understanding of their fathers’ mutual experiences in the rebellion and the land that their fathers came from, which was only a few miles apart, must have given them a great bond. Walter may have learnt a lot about his Irish heritage from Eliza’s mother, Mary Dwyer. Two of Eliza’s brothers were employed by Bodecin in his wool store. He becoming insolvent in late 1831 with debts of £935.5.0 (Sydney Monitor 2 Feb 1831, p4S). Bodecin was involved in a case in 1830 (Sydney Gazette 11 Dec 1830, p.3), Delaney v Bodescine, in which John Delaney, Bodecin's apprentice obtained a summons against Bodecin to answer for assaulting him, and to show cause why the indenture should not be cancelled. "He was examined at considerable length, to ascertain the nature of the treatment he received; but although 'he did a tale unfold it wore certainly more appearance of a tale of a tub' than 'a tale of woe'. The principal grounds of complaint were a threat used by the master, about three years ago, and a blow inflicted six months back, for playing with the servant girl; and as the only object of the boy appeared to be that of getting on his own hands, the Magistrate dismissed the case." It was believed it was being used by the apprentice as a means to be released and become self employed.

Bodecin left Sydney for Hobart in December 1833 and was granted land at Glenorchy just seven miles north of Hobart Town, where he opened a pub in 1834 known as the Green Man. He was still listed as the owner in 1835 (Hobart Town Courier 3 April 1835 p.3). No records have been found of Bodecin between 1835 and 1839. Bodecin would eventually settle in Melbourne in 1839 with his son, and helped found and build St. Francis Church and in fact, the first Mass was celebrated in his home in 1839.

The following article described:

Mr Peter Bodecin, a carpenter by trade, and a very zealous French Catholic, once on a time occupied a small weatherboard cottage in the thinly built on Collins Street West, on the side opposite St James Church, and this was the humble and unassuming home of the first Roman Catholic worship in Melbourne. At the beginning of 1839, there was, so to speak, only a mere handful of that persuasion in the community, and amongst them was Bodecin, recently arrived from Sydney, where he had been favourably known to the Bishop and clergy as a man who had conformed scrupulously to the spiritual requirements of his creed. (Finn, Chronicles, p. 135/136)

As there was no priest in Melbourne to officiate Mass, Bodecin read aloud some of the Rosaries and Litanies of the Catholic Prayer Book with his listeners making responses.

The first place of worship was constructed next to his cottage, completed in October 1839 (Kalgourlie Miner 9 Oct 1930 p.7), and this temporary chapel was replaced by a little wooden church in the bush to the north of the town, now St Frances’ Church at the corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets. (Argus 17 June 1950 p.26S) Bodecin employed joiners and a carpenter who had arrived on the Scottish Bounty ship ‘David Clarke’, to build this chapel.

In the “Port Philip Patriot” 22 April, 1841, Bodecin is named in the list of applicants for a publican’s licence for the “Venetian” hotel in Lonsdale Street. His application was refused, no reason given. On the same list, Walter’s brother, Lawrence Junior, was refused the licence for the “Irish Harp” in nearby Elizabeth Street. In the following month of May, Walter was granted the licence for the “Ship Inn” at Williamstown. Bodecin and son, Mark Henery, were witnesses to a marriage in 1842, and P. Bodicen signed a public notice supporting John Stephen to be a Councillor for the La Trobe Ward in January 1843 (Port Phillip Herald Tues 3 Jan 1843), and were not heard of again, although there is a record of an inquest into the death of a Bodecin known as “Sydney Bill” in Adelaide in 1853, recorded as for “William Henry Bodecin” aged about 26, a horse breaker who died of inflammation of the brain, which may refer to Mark Henry. (South Australian Register [Adelaide] Thurs 4 Aug, 1853, p3)

Peter Bodecin’s daughter by Eliza, Mary Ann Bodecin, married John Wall, a carpenter, in Melbourne in 1847, and had a large number of children.

Records for Peter Bodecin:

Immigration: Arrived as a free settler from France, on the convict ship St. Michael on 30 October 1820. The St Michael carried a few convicts picked up in Calcutta who had committed crimes or were charged with military crimes such as desertion, at the British outposts in India and Bengal, such as Madras, Bombay etc.

12 Oct 1822- Peter Bodecin and Robert Jillett were convicted of selling spirits by retail without a license to do so in Hobart. The former, being his first offence, in the mitigated penalty of £10; the latter, being the third offences, in the full penalty of £20. (Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen’s Land Advertiser Sat 12 Oct 1822 p2)

NB This was two years after he arrived in Sydney on the St Michael.

1828 Census- Peter Bodecin- employment cabinet maker; residence George Street; Came Free on ship St Michael in 1820, aged 35. His household (apart from 16 year old wife Eliza Dwyer, baby Mary Ann, and brother-in-law James Dwyer, 22, who was born in the colony) included 2 cabinet makers (including Bodecin),1 joiner, 1 wool sorter (brother-in-law Peter Dwyer who had arrived in January 1828), 3 apprentices, and 1 female servant.

13 April 1830- Premises for sale by Mr Bodenham… with instructions to sell, without reserve, those commodious and new erected Premises, situate at the corner of Kent and Druitt-Streets, with four capital Building Allotments, for the erection of Cottage Residences-

Lot 1- Contains a road frontage to Druitt-street, of 46 feet, and in the rear of which is erected an excellent and extensive Cabinet-makers shop and house, now let at the very low rent of £50 per annum, to a respectable tenant Mr Bodecin. (Sydney Gazette 13 April 1830 p3)

1 Dec 1830- CAUTION

Any Person or Persons, Fathers or Mothers, harbouring any of my Apprentices at any time, without my permission, or after nine o’clock at night with my permission, with be prosecuted as the Law directs.

Peter Bodecin

Dec 1^st 1830 (Sydney Monitor Sat 18 dec 1830 p4)

2 Feb 1831- Cases of Insolvency- Before the Chief Justice- Peter Bodecin, insolvent for 235l. 5s. (Sydney Monitor 2 Feb 1831 p4)

(NB. Sydney Directory of 1832, announced in Sydney Herald 19 Dec 1831, compiled by Post Master 1829-1835, had P. Bodacin, Builder, Druitt Street; Bodecin not listed in the Australian Almanack and Sydney Directory of 1834)

6 Dec 1833- Peter Bodecin, Green Man, on list of persons who have obtained a license to retail wine and spirits in the Buckinghamshire division of the island (viz. VDL). (Hobart Town Courier 6 Dec 1833 p3)

31 Jan 1834- Assignment of land at Glenorchy (7 miles from Hobart) to P. Bodecin (Colonial Times taken from the Hobart Town Gazette 4/2/1834 p3 & Launceston Advertiser 6/2/1834 p3)

25 June 1834- Chapman v. Bodecin- sheriff will cause to be put up for sale the premises called the Green Man on the New Norfolk Road, etc unless this execution be previously satisfied. (Hobart Town Courier 4 July 1834 p2)- NB. must have been satisfied as Bodecin still occupied the Green Man in April 1835- Colonial Times Tues 7 April 1835 p2 has sale of Land and House at Glenorchy for a stone dwelling and land bounded on the south by “land in the occupation of Peter Bodecin, etc.”

12 July 1834- Shipping Lists- Bodecin left Hobart to return to Sydney on the brig “The Red Rover”. (The Australian, 25 July 1834)

18 October 1834 - Mrs Bodecin and child depart Sydney for Hobart Town on the schooner Currency Lass (Sydney Gazette Tues 21 Oct 1834 p.2)

3 April 1835- Bodecin at Green Man (Hobart Town Courier 3 April 1835 p.3)

13 Feb 1839- P. Bodecin departed Sydney on schooner Bessy for Port Phillip with his son (Sydney Monitor 15 Feb 1839 p2), and,
The Colonist Sat 16 Feb 1839 p2:
Departures (from Sydney to Port Phillip)
Bessy, schooner, Watson, for Port Phillip, sundries, Passengers: Messrs Bodecin, Turtle, Reeves.

31 March 1839, money collected to build a weatherboard chapel beside Bodecin’s cottage- previously Catholics met at Bodecin’s cottage on the south side of Collins-street west. He was described as a “French carpenter”, (Kalgoorlie Miner 9 Oct 1930 p7- “A Pioneer Church”)

27 Oct 1839

Bodecin at a meeting of Roman Catholics in Melbourne to discuss the erection of a place of worship. (Australian Chronicle Sydney 29 Oct 1839 p3)

Oct 27 1839- The bounty ship “David Clark” arrived in Hobson’s Bay Melbourne from Scotland. The Disposal List gives details of each passenger, including particulars of employment and wages here- the stonemason, 38, by Mr Sim of Melbourne at £3/12/- a week, and the young home carpenter and joiners employed by Mr Bodecin at £3/12/- a week and 12/- a day respectively. They were engaged to work on the building of a little wooden church in the bush to the north of the town, now St Francis’ Church at the corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale Sts. (The Argus, Melbourne, Sat 17 June 1950 p26- “Labour Shortage was Desperate- in 1839”)

Advert in the Port Phillip Gazette, Sat 22 February 1840 p2:
Wanted- four or six good Carpenters and Joiners and no one who does not understand his business need apply
Peter Bodecin

In the 1841 NSW Census for District of South Melbourne; Town/Parish-Pentridge; County Bourke- Peter Bodicin (Ancestry.com)-

Peter has only one of his children with him, Mark Henry, so the daughter, Mary Ann, must have stayed with Eliza until she was of a suitable age to join him before marrying in 1847 to carpenter John Wall in Melbourne.

Census Info:

Place of Residency- Vine Farm, Merri Creek

Person in Charge of house- Mr P. Bodicin

Owner of House- Mr P. Bodicin

No. of Residents- 5

No of Free persons- 5 (all males)

Dwelling house- Wood/unfinished/inhabited

Male, aged seven and under fourteen-1 male child

Males aged over 21 and under 45- 4

Religion- 1x Church of England and 4x RC

Occupation- 5x employed in agriculture

The Port Phillip Gazette, Wed 21 April 1841 p3, Licensing Day- the following licenses for the Town were granted: Peter Bodecin, Lonsdale Street.

A few weeks later, the pub was sold. The Port Phillip Gazette Sat 12 June 1841:

This was followed by Bodecin's listing in the Court of Requests for debts in the Port Phillip Gazette Sat 4 December 1841 p2

The above adverts would seem to imply that Bodecin was in trouble financially.

The last reference to Bodecin was in the Port Phillip Gazette dated Sat 8 October 1842 when Peter Bodecin was listed on the Burgess Roll for the Latrobe Ward:
Bodecin, Peter, house, collins-lane

No further records have been found.

A newspaper reporter named J.P. Quaine, wrote a wonderful tribute to Peter Bodecin in The Advocate (Melbourne) Thurs 25 July 1929 page 6: The Bell of Peter Bodecin- A Picture of Early Melbourne, in which he wrote:

During the recent revival of interest in Melbourne's first Mass, I perused a vast amount of bygone literature dealing with the genesis of the Church of Port Phillip. Midst the devoted little band of enthusiasts who were instrumental in establishing the Catholic Church in the village of Doutagalla, Batmania, Near-grass, Yarrow-Yarra, or whatever the settlement was actually called in those far-off days, there outstands one picturesque personality- that of Peter Bodecin. Monuments have been erected to men of less merit.

Who he was, where he came from, what became of him finally, no one seems to know. We gather from "Garrowen's Chronicles" that he was a recent arrival from Sydney, a Frenchman, and a carpenter by trade, but, after a brief account of his activities on behalf of the Church, he vanishes and is spoken of no more!. Mr Mackle's book "Footprints of the Catholic Pioneers", tells us that Bodecin acted as the first Sacristan, and was a member of the first Confraternity formed in Melbourne, but after 1844, "nothing further concerning him can now be discovered." This is most regrettable, for the Catholics of Victoria owe much to him.

Back Ninety Years

That he was a man of exemplary character we know. The mere fact of the Port Phillipian Catholics selecting him as their treasurer proves that his probity was unquestioned by his co-religionists. Besides, he was so ardent in the Faith that he organised the 'prayer meetings' which were held in his house, and, later, was amongst the most active workers when Fr Geoghegan arrived. When the temporary wooden chapel was erected in the bush, outside the town, one of Bodecin's duties was the ringing of the sheep bell at the chapel door.... (The author then describes the difficult terrain and physical conditions faced by the residents of Melbourne at this time).

Peter Bodecin lived in Collins-street; his historic cottage was situated near the corner of William-street. To reach the chapel, Bodecin had to cross the Elizabethan flood early on Sunday morning, and very likely, in the evening also. The danger attendant upon this achievement may be appreciated when we read of children even adults being overcome by the rushing waters, carried down to the Yarra- there to vanish forever from the ken of men! So, there is something of pathetic and picturesque appeal in the lonely figure we conjure up before our mind's eyes, the elderly Frenchman braving the storm and by some means crossing the flooded gully, or treading his weary way round by Flagstaff hill, to ring his bell as a call to his fellow Catholics.

Peter Bodecin should never be forgotten! We know not where he died and was buried. perhaps he went back to his own land to lay his bones with those of his fathers, or perhaps his was among the unnamed graves uprooted a few years ago when the old cemetery was desecrated. So, beyond the knowledge that he was a Catholic and a carpenter, an energetic and devout man, we have little to aid us in visualising what manner of man he might have been. Of his hopes, aspirations, objects, activities, manners, and tastes we can form no idea. He was the leader of what, in his day, appeared to be a forlorn hope, and, in his humble way, laid the foundations of that which would to him, I daresay, have appeared beyond realisation. Yet, truly has he left behind him "Footprints on the sands of time":

Saluons Pierre Bodecin!

Walter and Eliza

Walter’s relationship with Eliza produced at least three children between 1837 and 1840, which DNA tests confirm. (This family is discussed in further detail in Chapter 27 at the end of these blogs.)

The following advertisement appeared in "The Independent (Launceston)”, October 13, 20 and 27th, 1832

The shipping lists for 15^th June 1832 name a Mr and Mrs Butler travelling from Sydney to Tasmania on the “Nereus”. [iv] Whether this was Walter and Eliza can't be determined.

Walter’s brother Lawrence had absconded from his Apprenticeship as a compositor with Arthur Hill, and gone to Van Diemen’s Land, probably with his brother, as indicated by this advertisement:

The Colonial Times, Tues 3 July 1832 page 4:

Whereas, Lawrence Butler, our Apprentice, about 20 years of age, son of the late Mr Butler, of Pitt-street, Cabinet maker, has run away from our service, and is supposed to be in Van Diemen’s Land, employing his time either as a Compositor or a Settler; this is to caution all persons in Van Diemen’s Land from employing the said Lawrence Butler, either now, or after he shall become of age, as he will according to the Act of Council, be compelled to serve us after his minority, for a period of time equal to the time of his absconding during his Apprenticeship. By Act of Parliament, all persons harbouring Apprentices are liable to an Action at Law, and pay heavy damages, and for the sake of public example, the Act of Council and the Act of Parliament will by us strictly enforced against the said Apprentice and his aiders and abettors.

A. Hill

E. S. Hall

Sydney June 11, 1832.

Arthur Hill was struck down with ill health during 1833 and died in March 1834. As Lawrence was apprenticed to Hill, not Edward Smith Hall, this would have cancelled his apprenticeship commitment, which may account for the brothers’ return to Sydney in June 1833 on the “Warrior”.

Sydney Morning Herald Mon 29 July 1833 p.2

Although the brothers returned to Sydney in July, it is unknown if or when Eliza returned to Sydney although a Mrs Butler travelled from Launceston to Sydney on the Ann in March 1833 (Launceston Advertiser), but whether this referred to Eliza is unknown.

It is unknown whether the following advertisement referred to Walter Butler, or whether it was another cabinet- maker from Hobart, Edward Butler, who set up business in Launceston at the same time that Walter was there. The advertisement does refer to Messrs Butler, so there may have been an association between the two of them.

On 25th May 1833, the following advertisement appeared in the “Launceston Independent”:

In the following weeks in 1833, there were further adverts for Butler and Co. in the “Launceston Independent”. However, in these adverts, instead of “having taken the premises of Mr Whitehead in Wellington Street” as advertised on 18th May, they stated “in Brisbane Street next to Mr Jennings”, and the latter advert is repeated on the 1^st June and the 8^th June 1833 in the “Independent”.

The following advert in The Independent Sat 2 November 1833, advises that the partnership was dissolved:

Edward Butler, cabinet maker then advertised Wed 7 May 1834 p4:

The Tasmanian Colonial furniture expert Robyn Lake gave the following information:

“Launceston was a town of 6000, 2000 being convicts and a big slice of the others ex convict males… not a nice place to be, and not easy to make any sort of a living in the cabinet making line. The only Butler I had in Launceston was an Edward Butler, cabinet maker, Wellington Street, Launceston in the 1835 Van Diemen’s Land Jury List. The only possibility I came up with was a convict, Edward Butler, Native Place Sheffield, arrived in 1825, trade gentleman’s servant. The only reason I’m keeping him as a possible is that when he marries in Hobart in 1831 his trade is given as carpenter, and the witness is an emigrant cabinetmaker with a business there. In Launceston in 1836 there’s a transfer of a convict between E. Butler and another person associated with carving, building etc. The only directory for Launceston in the period is 1833, and there’s no Butler at all in the householders ie. those paying rent over a certain sum.” [v]

It would be a strange coincidence that two cabinet-makers named Butler (Messrs Butler) should set up a new cabinet making business in the settlement of Launceston so soon after Walter’s arrival, and Walter not be one of them. Bodecin, in his advertisement re his wife, described Walter Butler as a ‘cabinet-maker in Launceston’, although he may have been misinformed.

However, if the two Butlers were in business together, Edward Butler may have carried on the business by himself, as there is the record of Lawrence and Walter travelling back to Sydney, leaving Hobart on July 21st, 1833 [vi].

Attributing this advertisement to Walter is, however, only speculation and cannot be proven.

Just six months after the brothers returned to Sydney, Peter Bodecin received a grant of land at Glenorchy just north of Hobart, in December 1833, at which he took over the licence for the Green Man inn. Whether he had gone to Hobart before December to look for property is not yet known.

6 Dec 1833- Peter Bodecin, Green Man, on list of persons who have obtained a license to retail wine and spirits in the Buckinghamshire division of the island (viz. VDL). (Hobart Town Courier 6 Dec 1833 p3)

31 Jan 1834- Assignment of land at Glenorchy (7 miles from Hobart) to P. Bodecin (Colonial Times taken from the Hobart Town Gazette 4/2/1834 p3 & Launceston Advertiser 6/2/1834 p3)

12 July 1834- Shipping Lists- Bodecin left Hobart to return to Sydney on the brig “The Red Rover”. (The Australian, 25 July 1834)

The following records are therefore important:

Sydney Herald, Thurs 18 Sept 1834, p2

Shipping Intelligence

From Hobart Town on Monday last, having left that place on the 11^th Instant, the schooner ‘Currency Lass’, Captain Taggart, with five tons of potatoes. Passengers, Mr E. O’Brien, and Master Bodecin.

Sydney Gazette Tues 21 Oct 1834 p2- Shipping Intelligence

Departures

For Hobart Town, on Saturday, the schooner 'Currency Lass', Taggart master. Lading, sundries. Passengers, Mr and Mrs Thompson, Mrs Bodecin and child, and Masters Daniel and Thomas Cooper.

This was thirteen months after Walter had left the colony, and it was also nearly a year after Peter Bodecin had moved to Glenorchy near Hobart.

It is possible that Peter and Eliza tried a reconciliation at that time, until about 1836.

As Walter remained in Sydney in 1834, the child travelling with Eliza must have been one of her children by Bodecin. And which of their very young children travelled to Sydney from Hobart in September and who accompanied him/her (maybe the passenger named O'Brien), is a mystery.

Walter & Lawrence Junior become publicans

Walter and Lawrence Butler sold their inherited Pitt Street properties in October 1833 for £1,100, and their Kent Street property in 1832 for £185, so would have been in a very comfortable financial position at that time.

In the “Sydney Gazette” 3 October 1833, a list of Public Houses transferred at the Police-office on 1^st October, included Walter Butler, to the ‘Manchester Arms’ in George Street (transferred from John Gorrick who now had the ‘Bee Hive’), and Lawrence Butler to the ‘Goldsmith’s Arms’ Pitt Street (formerly Henry Charles Dedman). The 1834 Sydney Directory had Lawrence advertising his hotel, the ‘Goldsmith’s Arms’ in Pitt Street, and Walter was listed at the ‘Manchester Arms’ in George Street. Interestingly, in March 1834, Lawrence advertised for a stolen watch (valued at £15, reward £5 ) that had been stolen from him while at the ‘Goldsmith Arms’, yet he gave his contact address as at the ‘Manchester Arms’, so must have been residing with his brother. The Sydney Herald Thurs 9 January 1834 p1, reported that the Goldsmith Arms Pitt Street was transferred from Lawrence Butler to James Barker.

The Australian, Friday 8 November 1833 p1

In 1834, the ‘Manchester Arms’ was used as a Court of Inquest as reported in the ‘Sydney Gazette’: 21 January 1834-

“Inquest held on Friday last at the sign of the ‘Manchester Arms’ George Street”; 25 March 1834- “A regular “fives Court” has been established at the ‘Manchester Arms’”; 6 May 1834- “A Coroner’s Inquest was held at the ‘Manchester Arms’ public–house, George Street”.

This choice of venue for holding Coroner’s Inquests indicate that the venue was of a first class establishment, and would be the first sign of Walter’s future commitment to community involvement. It was also probably convenient being opposite the Police office and the burial grounds.

Walter had grand ideas for his hotel, purchasing an expensive grand piano for the use of the Philharmonic Society which would meet regularly at the pub:

Sydney Monitor 14 Feb 1834 p3

The Sydney Gazette Tues 25 March 1834 reported:

A regular "Fives Court" has been established at the Manchester Arms.

Sydney Herald Thurs 10 April 1834 p3-

Walter must have been influenced by previous work colleagues to help establish a Benefit Society amongst Carpeneters and Joiners

Sydney Gazette, 6 May 1834 p2- another Inquest was held at the Manchester Arms

However, that was the last entry for the Manchester Arms.

The Manchester Arms was originally owned by Daniel Cooper. An old resident of Sydney, Obed West (b.1807), wrote a series of articles in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1882 about Old Sydney streets, describing the residents and their properties. He wrote about George Street:
On the corner of Park Street (and George Street- opposite the markets and police station) was a brick cottage of Daniel Cooper who kept a baker's shop, general store and a public house, called 'The Manchester Arms'.

1836 Map of Sydney- Manchester Arms marked *

George Street Sydney in 1847

by Captain Owen Stanley (watercolour Mitchell Library)

There are no more references to the Manchester Arms after May 1834 in the newspapers, so the hotel, and the publican's licence, no longer seems to exist. In 1830, Joseph Raphael put an advert in the Sydney Gazette (24 April) describing his opening of the Manchester Arms hotel, “the large and commodious Mansion recently erected by Mr Daniel Cooper containing numerous bedrooms, sitting rooms and extensive stabling” on the site of the old Manchester Arms, so Walter may have sold the dwelling to someone as a grand home rather than a pub. This was the same time that the Butler siblings were selling all of their Sydney properties, and moving on.

On 17^th, 22^nd 25^th, 29^th July 1834, Walter and Lawrence placed adverts in The Australian in relation to their inherited farm in the District of Petersham:

CAUTION

ALL PERSONS are hereby cautioned against trespassing on the Land of the Undersigned, situate in the district of Petersham, adjoining the farm of C. Windeyer, Esq. and any person or persons found cutting wood burning shells, &c. on the said land without our written authority will be prosecuted as the law directs.

WALTER BUTLER

LAWRENCE BUTLER

Lawrence placed several adverts in the “Sydney Gazette” during the month of May and on June 2^nd the following year 1835. As Walter was not named on these advertisements, it would suggest he had returned to Hobart in 1835.

CAUTION:

The public are hereby cautioned against trespassing upon the farm of the undersigned, in the district of Petersham, adjoining the property of Mr. Windeyer, J.P., on the north, and on the east by the waterside, by falling timber, or otherwise injuring it. Any person found so trespassing after this caution will be prosecuted as the law directs.

LAWRENCE BUTLER

Sydney May 14^th 1835

Between 1833 and 1837, Walter and his siblings sold the remainder of their Sydney properties that they had inherited from their father, possibly due to Lawrence’s coming of age and Mary Ann’s marriage. The sale of these properties fetched a considerable sum, following which, the three siblings, Walter, Lawrence Junior and Mary Ann, would have been quite well-off financially. The 100 acre farm at Petersham was sold in 1837 to their friend and solicitor George Robert Nichols for ₤300, which was considerably less than it was worth, as he in turn sold it to John Ryan Brenan two years later for ₤800.
(Ref: Ken Leong, Rozelle Hospital 1819-1984- the amalgamation of Callan Park Mental Hospital and Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic, thesis for Bachelor of Architecture at School of the Built Environment, University NSW, 1984- his ref: Register General's Dept, Old System Deed, Book L, No: 596)

The disparity in prices paid, may have had something to do with the fact that Lawrence Junior had several brushes with the law during the period 1832 and 1838, due to his failure to honour his work contracts as a printer for the Sydney Gazette. George Nichols represented him in Court, and it is possible that Nichols’s costs may have been deducted from the price of the land, or that the siblings were desperate to sell.

The following advertisement in 1834 for land adjacent to the Butler property gives a glowing description of its position:

Sydney Herald 22 December 1834 p4

Walter's sister Mary Ann married John Campbell MacDougall, a successful Scottish businessman from Tasmania in 1834, and Lawrence Junior who had married in October the previous year to Catherine Gorman the Catholic daughter of an Irish emancipist wheelwright (Thomas Gorman arrived on Rolla 1803, from Dublin, life sentence), became a father in 1834 (to son George Henry Ormond Butler). So, it was quite an eventful couple of years for the Butler family.

Return to Tasmania

By the end of 1834, Walter had left Sydney and returned to Hobart. The following report in the ‘Sydney Gazette ‘Tues 20 January 1835 (p4) probably refers to Walter:

Native Ingenuity-

A cabinet maker in Hobart Town, named Butler, who is a native of the elder colony, has lately constructed a wooden chain, several inches in length, without a joint in any link, the whole being cut out of the solid piece of wood, only three inches square.

Shipping News, ‘Sydney Gazette 19 April 1836, had Walter’s brother Lawrence Butler travelling to Launceston on the Tamar. Again in 1837, Lawrence left Sydney for Hobart Town on the Francis Feeling on 5 Feb 1837, and returned on 15^th April 1837 on the same vessel. (‘Sydney Gazette’ 7 Feb, and 22 April 1837)

The Government Gazette 1833-1850 has the following entry:

Postal 12/5/1836 GPO Sydney[viii]

List of letters detained in the GPO and not forwarded in consequence of the Ship Postage required to be paid thereon previous to their despatch not having been received.

BUTLER Mr Walter, George & Dragon, Elizabeth Street, Hobart Town

The Colonial Times, Hobart, Tues 13 Dec, 1836 p6

William Bartlett was sentenced to 7 years transportation for stealing a bucket, the property of Walter Butler.

So it would appear that, while Lawrence Junior was travelling back and forth between the two colonies, Walter was established in Hobart from 1835 to 1837, during which time Eliza appears to have left Peter Bodecin once again, and renewed her relationship with Walter.
In that year, 1837, Walter returned to Sydney, and Eliza followed separately two months later with her children.

Sydney Herald, Mon 4 Sept 1837, p2- Shipping Intelligence

Arrivals

From Hobart Town, on Friday last, having sailed the 26^th ultimo, the schooner ‘Marion Watson’, Captain Shaw, with sundries. Passengers, Mr Walter Butler, Mr Cameron, Mrs Cameron, Mrs Ramus and servant, Mrs Shallis, etc

The Colonist (Sydney), Thurs 16 Nov 1837, p7- Shipping Intelligence

Arrivals

November 9- ‘Schah’ (schooner), Hayle, from Hobart Town 2^nd instant. Passengers, Mrs Jones, Mrs Bodecin, and three children, Messrs Raine, Muther, Campbell and Shribbs.

The questions that arise are:

Who were the THREE children travelling with Mrs Bodecin in 1837- her two children by Bodecin, and her son by Walter, named George born early 1837?

In a newspaper article in Hobart (discussed in later chapters) in 1856, Walter states that he was living in Tasmania 16 to 18 years before, and he was well known by many old residents of Tasmania. In another article, a gentleman named Harbottle stated, also in 1856, that he had known Walter in Tasmania 20 years ago.

Mr Walter Butler was named on a list of unclaimed letters in August 1839 at the Sydney P.O. (Government Gazette, 1839, p.915; The Colonist Sat 31 August 1839 p4 Unclaimed letters- Mr Walter Butler.

Return to Sydney

On Walter's return to Sydney in 1837, it would appear that Walter and Eliza settled in the South Creek area near Liverpool before their daughter Cecilia Ann was born on 24th August 1838. At a subsequent court case, Walter claimed that he "went up the country to keep an inn." Their third child Robert was born on 12 July 1839 and both were baptised in the RC Parish of All Saints Liverpool by the Rev. Marum on 10th October that year. The foundation stone for All Saints church was laid in 1840 (demolished in 1964), and before All Saints was built, mass was celebrated in people's homes.
Despite son Robert's death certificate stating that he had been born in Tasmania, the records indicate that he must have been born at South Creek or Sydney, and that only George may have been born in Tasmania. (It is possible that Robert was named in honour of Walter's friend, Richard Roberts, who had died just two weeks before Robert's birth- see below, although descendants maintain that he was named after the Irish patriot Robert Emmett)

In The Australian Tues 12 February 1839 (p3), the following case was reported:

Campbelltown Quarter Sessions:

Mr Nichols appeared on behalf of Mr Walter Butler, who appealed against the conviction of Major Phelps, Police Magistrate of Liverpool, and Colonel McKensie, J.P. The appellant had been fined ₤30 and costs for a breach of the Licensing Act. Upon the conviction being read, Mr Nichols submitted that it must be quashed for uncertainty, inasmuch as it charged a double offence, namely- selling and retailing, or, permitting to be sold and retailed. The Court held the objection to be fatal, and quashed the conviction.

George Nichols, the solicitor, was a close friend of the Butler brothers and often represented them in Court, usually with positive results. The case above confirms that Walter was running a pub in the Liverpool area before 1839.

The Commercial Journal and Advertiser (Sydney) 16 Feb 1839 p4, further reveals Walter's exact location as Kemp's Creek:

Kemps Creek is placed between Isaac Nichols farm and James Badgery's farm, and Elizabeth Drive crosses Kemps Creek and is possibly the location of the pub.
(See the maps below for location of Kemps Creek)

An advertisement places Walter at South Creek in May/ June 1838.
"Commercial Journal & Advertiser" Sydney, Wed 30 May/6 June 1838 p1:

James Badgery was the youngest son of James Badgery (Snr) who emigrated in 1799. Born in Devon in 1769 James Snr had worked for Sir Joseph Banks on his Chelsea Farm before his decision to emigrate with his wife Elizabeth. He set up as a miller in Sydney and opened a bakery. He was granted 640 acres at Bringley on the west bank of South Creek, which became Badgery's Creek, called Exeter Farm. He received top prices for his cattle and his horses were well known, winning race meetings on Hyde Park Racecourse. He died in 1827 and his wife Elizabeth continued living at Exetor Farm, along with their youngest son, James born in 1813. It would appear that James continued with his father's love of horse breeding. The road connecting Badgery's Creek to Liverpool is named Elizabeth Drive, probably named after her. Notably the Nichols farm at Mount Vernon is just north of Elizabeth Drive (see below).
"The Australian", Friday 14 Sept 1838 p3, announced James Jnr's marriage: By Special Licence at Sutton Forest, James Badgery Esq. of South Creek to Charlotte Emma Grey of Sutton Forest. James Jnr died 1848 aged just 35.
The advert above refers to The Plough Inn- this could have been the pub Walter was working at. In the list of publican's licenses for New South Wales, there is no record of a pub named The Plough Inn near Badgery's Creek, only one named The Plough on Liverpool Road Bankstown (licensed to Charles Driver in 1836/37), which is not close to this area around South Creek; nor is Walter in the list of publican's licensees for 1837-1839, which could explain the charges against him.

An advertisement in the Commercial Journal and Advertiser, Sat 23 February 1839, p3. revealed that Walter's brother Lawrence Ormond Butler was living with him at the 'Plough Inn':

(Of several William Hansons transported to Sydney, the most likely was the convict transported on the 'Agamemnon' in 1820 and transferred to Windsor to work for William Cox.)

In December 1839, Walter was charged with the theft of a horse, sixteen months previously. His counsel fought the allegations vigorously with the result that Walter was found Not Guilty. (see separate chapter for details)

During the Court case, George Nichols stated that Walter had “for some past lived on his brother’s farm”. George’s brother Isaac had '800 acres at South Creek', specifically bordering Rope’s Creek, and Kemps Creek on the west, now Mount Vernon.
The area west of Cabramatta, was first called South Creek because European settlement was originally on the banks of the Creek. The name St Mary's, named after the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene (built between 1837 and 1840 and consecrated 1840), was in use in the early 1840's. Mount Vernon is actually about 8 kms south of St Mary's, between Kemps Creek and Rope's Creek, with Nichols' property bordering Rope's Creek, in the Parish of Melville. (Capitol Hill Drive at Mount Vernon is in the centre of Isaac Nichols' land.) The Mount Vernon land is just north of Elizabeth Drive described above (see map).
The area known as 'South Creek' is where Walter and Eliza’s children Cecilia and Robert were baptised 1839, and Cecilia’s marriage records state she was born at South Creek, and George's death certificate stated he was born at St Mary’s (although he may have been born in Hobart- maybe he was baptised at St Mary's, record not yet found).

Early map of Isaac Nichols property, named 'Bowwood'

at Mount Vernon near South Creek, between Rope's Creek and Kemp's Creek

NB. Selkirk Ave road in SE corner to help get bearings- compare with Google map below

modern map of same area- NB Selkirk Ave

James Badgery's farm on Elizabeth Drive and Isaac Nichols' arm

Note that Kemp's Creek is between Isaac Nichols farm and James Badgery's farm

and is crossed by Elizabeth Drive

One newspaper reporting the case, stated that Walter Butler lived at Cabramatta, which was the closest large township.

‘Sydney Herald’ Wed 11 Dec 1839 p2

Domestic Intelligence

Horse Stealing- On Monday a man named Walter Butler who formerly kept a public-house in Sydney, and afterwards resided at Cabramatta, was committed to take his trial for horse stealing.

While another revealed that Walter had been residing near one of Mr McDermott’s farms for the previous three years ie. 1837-1839 (place unspecified), and that in mid 1839 he had been staying in Sydney at the home of “the late” Richard Roberts.

A witness at Walter's court case in 1840, stated that Walter was staying with 'the late Richard Roberts Esq' in Philip Street sometime in mid 1839. Whether Eliza joined him there or remained at Kemps Creek is unknown- maybe they went to Sydney for the safe birth of her child Robert.

Richard Roberts' story is a rather interesting one- as he appears to have been a friend of Walter's, it is worth exploring further.
Richard Roberts was a partner in the firm, Cooper, Holt and Roberts, a large importing/exporting company trading in London (as Cooper and Roberts & Company) and Sydney. (viz. Daniel Cooper, and James Holt brother-in-law of Cooper. Holt built Rose Bay Cottage which he left to Cooper.) Cooper had originally formed a partnership in 1826 with Samuel Levy, a very wealthy emancipist merchant, who was married to Richard Robert's sister Ann. As importers, exporters, woolbuyers, shipowners and shipbuilders, shipping agents, whalers and sealers, with a general store at the Waterloo Warehouse in George Street, they had a massive turnover and had a large share of the colony's business. They also purchased the properties of Captain Piper when he was in financial difficulties, as well as other extensive properties within and outside Sydney, making them one of the colony's largest land-owners and owners of stock. Levy went to London to establish a buying office and to raise finance.(See Australian Dictionary of Biography- Volume 2, (MUP), 1967, by G.F.J. Gergman).
When Levy died in 1833, Richard Roberts was named as one of three trustees of Levy's extensive estate for Levy's underage son. He then took over Levy's part of the partnership with Cooper, in October 1834, and the firm was renamed accordingly. It was said that the partnership was dissolved in February 1837 as Roberts did not contribute the required £5000 as his part of the partnership.

In late February 1837, only a couple of weeks after ending his partnership with Cooper, Roberts married Mary Muckle the only daughter (step) of the late Archibald McKellup, the wealthy proprietor of the Lord Nelson Tavern on the corner of Phillip and Hunter Streets, who died in 1835. Mary's mother Jane Muckle was also a wealthy businesswoman, and had left her estate to her daughter on her death in 1834. Mary was supposed to be worth £45,000, owning many properties, and it was suggested (in a scurrilous newspaper advertisement on the same day as their wedding announcement) that Roberts married her for her money. One newspaper report said, that in the course of a celebration, Roberts was dared to propose marriage to Mary Muckle which he did, and she accepted. Although by 1835 she was running the public house for her father, on his death she disposed of the Tavern's fixtures but continued to own the Lord Nelson for many years which she leased out. In 1834 she purchased land in Phillip Street costing £913, which presumably was where their house was located. An advert in 1838 by Roberts stated his address as No. 14 Phillip Street. By this time, he was one of three directors of the Union Assurance Company.

Richard Roberts, born in Sydney to William and Jane Roberts in 1810 (also Ann 1804, William 1805, Charles & Thomas 1807, Elizabeth 1812, Joseph 1814 and James 1816), was reportedly an Oxford graduate, having left for England with his young brother Joseph in 1827, and was a young man of culture, and was admitted as an Attorney of the Supreme Court of NSW in October 1836. William Roberts, transported in the Second Fleet, given 7 years for theft of a horse, became a very wealthy emancipist, as an innkeeper and also a builder of roads for Government contracts which were very lucrative. He built roads connecting Windsor and Liverpool and between Liverpool, Airds and Appin. He also oversaw the construction of 28 bridges including the South Creek Bridge. When he died in 1819, the Sydney Gazette noted that he was one of the first inhabitants of the colony, a man respected for his integrity and honesty, and who has rendered great services to the Colony in the construction of its public roads.

Richard Roberts came to an unfortunate end in June 1839. Convicted of trying to pervert the course of justice by threatening a witness in a civil case, Roberts was sentenced to one month in jail. On entry to the jail, he was so distraught, he went berserk and fell violently ill, having to be restrained by a strait-jacket. His brother Joseph and his friends were very concerned by his state. Doctors were called who bled him and administered various potions, but to no avail, and a few hours later Roberts died. The Coroner's inquiry gave the verdict that he had died from 'delirium tremens' which is an acute episode of delirium usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol. A doctor who knew Roberts stated that he was given to habits of intemperance. He was aged just 29. Newspaper editors were scathing of the inquiry findings and the treatment of Roberts after the trial. A few months later, the contents of his house in Phillips Street were auctioned.

The reason why Walter would be staying with Roberts in 1839 is unknown, particularly as it appears to coincide with the timing of Robert's unfortunate demise, unless it was because Eliza was due to give birth.
A map of Sydney in 1810 shows that Richard's father William Roberts held the licence for a pub in Bell Street which became Hunter Street in 1810, just around the corner from Pitt Street- he received that licence in 1809.

Map of Sydney c.1809-

Butler house in Pitt's Row and William Roberts in Bell Street (now Hunter St)

Before 1818, William Roberts had the licence for the Kings Arms, cnr. King and Castlereagh Street. Coincidentally, a William Roberts, possibly William Roberts Senior's eldest son, transferred his licence of the Goldsmith Arms in Pitt Street in 1832 and took the licence for the Golden Fleece in George Street instead- notably the Goldsmith Arms was transferred to Lawrence Butler Junior the following year.
As Richard was of similar age to Walter, and as they lived very close to each other during their boyhood, they were probably long term friends, even school friends- another Sydney lawyer of the same age who trained in London, George R Nichols (son of Isaac Nichols), who represented Walter in 1839 and would be a character witness for Walter at his trial in 1840, claimed they had been school friends, and testified that Walter "had always borne a respectable character, and that he always had and did consider him to be an honest man". (Nichols would also represent Lawrence Junior in his many trials for absconding from his employment.) Both Nichols and Roberts were members of the local chapter of the Freemasons, Nichols elected as "Deputy Pro. Grand Master of Australia" . Walter may have started his association with the Freemasons around this time (as indicated by his advertisement with a masonic sign in 1841- see below) however, he would have had to convert from his Catholicism to do so as Catholics were barred as members, and his two children by Eliza were baptised as Catholics in 1839). Their mutual association with the local publican scene may have also been a factor.

In 1841, Sydney: Butler. W.- South Creek and Butler. W. -care of W. Lovett,[x] however, one or both may refer to a William Butler, who lived in the Prospect area, not far from South Creek.

A significant Police Court report appeared in 1843.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 21 January 1843 p3-
Police Court Business

Joseph Raphael v. Cox, threats, and Eliza Bodecin v. Walter Butler, for neglecting to support his illegitimate children, were each dismissed, there being no parties in either case.

So, it would appear that Walter had completely abandoned Eliza and their children following his re-marriage 15 months previously.

Walter’s relocation to Melbourne, at Williamstown- 1841-1853:

Between February 1840 and March 1841, Walter, and possibly Eliza, moved to the young settlement of Melbourne. (Robert Butler’s son said the family lived for a short time in Victoria before returning to Goulburn.)

Walter’s brother Lawrence had moved to Melbourne in 1839, following a brief stint in Liverpool jail (1838-charge unknown but probably related to his unauthorised absence from his employment at the “Sydney Gazette” during 1835/36. ( Sydney Gazette, 14 April 1835, 21 April 1835; 1836- 26 May, 21 June, 25 June, 30 June; 2 July 1836 p2- Court Case).

After Walter’s brush with the law over the ‘stolen’ horse, he may have been more than willing to relocate. John Fawkner, recognised as the founder of Melbourne, was a builder and sawyer from Launceston who decided to start a settlement at Port Phillip in 1835. It is possible that Walter may have known him in former times, and Fawkner (and his editor W. Kerr) employed Lawrence for a short controversial period in 1841 on his newspaper the “Port Phillip Patriot”, before Lawrence took employment with George Cavanagh’s rival newspaper, “The Port Phillip Herald”.

(Port Phillip Patriot, 1841- May 24, June 14, June 17, June 21, June 28, July 1, July 12, Aug 19, Aug 23, Sept 2, Sept 16

By March 1841, Walter was living in the new settlement of Corio, Geelong. He placed the following advertisement in the ‘Geelong Advertiser’, March 27^th 1841:

WALTER BUTLER

Cabinet Maker & House Joiner

Grateful for the favors that have been conferred upon him since his arrival in this flourishing and important Town; takes this opportunity of informing the public, that he is prepared to execute any orders with which he may be honored.

Corio, March 26^th, 1841.

Notably, Walter's advertisement has the Masonic square and compass emblem representing Freemasonry, indicating his membership of the Freemasons. Walter's long-term friend and lawyer, George R Nicols, was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons Lodges of NSW, SA and VDL in 1839 and was replaced as Grand Master of NSW in 1849.
George had bought the Butler's 100 acre farm at Lilyfield from them in 1837.
Shortly after this advertisement was placed, Walter was named in the “Port Phillip Patriot” on Monday 5^th July 1841, as having his application for the transfer of the publican’s licence for the ‘Ship Inn’ at Williamstown from John Muir to Walter, granted.

The following advert appeared in the Port Phillip Gazette Sat 28 August 1841 p1

Another advert appeared in the Geelong Advertiser Sat 4 Sept 1841

Walter remarried by Special Licence on 26th October 1841 in Melbourne, to Frances Jane Catherine Edwards, the fourth daughter of the late Rev. William Edwards, Vicar of Kilmerston, County of Somerset, near Bath, England.
(Victorian Registry of BDM, Marriage record Registration Number- 1841 4439; Port Phillip Patriot, 4 November 1841)
She was born 1821 in Kilmerston.
Their witnesses were the owners of the ‘Ship Inn’, Joseph and Henry Bowden. The notice in the “Port Phillip Patriot” November 4^th, stated Walter Butler Esq. of Williamstown.

Therefore, Walter’s relationship with Eliza must have ended sometime during 1841, with Eliza either having remained in New South Wales, or returning there from Melbourne.

Robert’s children claimed that the family went to live in Goulburn. Goulburn in 1841 had a population of around 655, including Eliza’s sister Bridget and her husband John O’Sullivan, and supposedly their mother Mary Dwyer. Briget married John O'Sullivan in Goulburn in 1837, after which her mother lived with them. The family claim that sons Robert and George left Goulburn in 1852 to find work on Marsden’s Run, near Cowra. It is possible that Eliza's elder children went to live with their grandmother and aunt Brigid in Goulburn. It should also be remembered that family recollections can be incorrect, especially as Robert died when his children were young.

Eliza would have three further children, a son William in c.1843, and twin girls, Susannah and Jane in 1848, father unidentified at this point. DNA and YDNA tests have proved that Walter was not the father of these three children (see Ch 27 for details).

Eliza's son William’s obituary claimed he was “a native of Carcoar”, and Susannah and Jane were born in Carcoar. All three children married at Carcoar, indicating that they grew up in the small town of Carcoar. In 1841, there were 80 males living there. William also claimed he had to leave school at a young age as the family “were in dire straits due to the death of their father in 1853”, according to his descendant- whether this referred to Walter or to the identified father at Carcoar, is undetermined. All of Eliza’s children settled in the Cowra, Grenfell area of NSW.

No records have yet been found of the death of Eliza, and her fate is unknown. There is a shipping record of a Elizabeth Dwyer travelling from Melbourne to Hobart on the ‘City of Hobart’ in April 1860, but it is unknown whether this is Eliza, as this name appears to be a quite common one, and it is unlikely to be her. Kieran Sheedy in his book on Michael Dwyer “Upon the Mercy of Government”, claims that Eliza died in 1888, however, that has yet to be proven, and his source is unknown. If she was still living in Goulburn near her family, she is probably buried there, or she may have died at Carcoar.

As Eliza was the black sheep of a very religious family, records of her life seem to have been covered up in the past by relatives of the Dwyer’s, possibly ashamed of her behaviour in a strict Victorian era. As has been determined, this family is a rather confusing one to untangle, and has caused many headaches to descendants, who have only recently begun to unravel the complicated trail of information. (refer to more detailed information on this family in chapter 27 on Walter & Eliza at end of blog.)

Possible death record for Mark Henry Bodecin:

South Australian Register Adelaide Thurs 4 Aug 1853 p3

CORONER’S INQUEST

Mr Stevenson held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon, at the Rob Roy, Halifax-street, on the body of a man named William Henry Bodecin, better known as Sydney Bill, who died at that place on the previous day.

Peter Smith, landlord of the inn, deposed as follows:- Deceased was a lodger in the house. I never knew him by any other name than Sydney Bill till yesterday, when I ascertained his name to be William Henry Bodecin. I have known him eighteen months as a horsebreaker. His age was about 26 years. His health was generally good until last week, when he complained of ear-ache. On Friday or Saturday he went to De. Woodfords for advice. He said on Saturday evening he had been recommended by him to apply a bran poultice to his ear. He went to bed that evening between 8 and 9 o’clock. On Sunday morning he still complained of ear-ache. He went to bed again that morning, and I sent for Dt. Woodforde. I subsequently went to Dr. Woodforde, but he was not at home; but he came about 1 o’clock. He gradually became worse, and died about 20 minutes past 1 yesterday. He was generally sober. He drank no liquors at my house during the last few days.

Dr Woodforde deposed:- I first saw deceased on Saturday morning. He came to my surgery in Hindley-street, and complained of pain in his ear; was feverish, and had all the symptoms of inflammation of the internal ear. He told me he had just had his ear electrified, and stated that Mr Fletcher had advised him to go to Mr Dale’s shop and ask if it was a proper case for the application of electricity. He said they told him it was, and operated upon him accordingly, and that he received several shocks, and that he felt much worse for it, I understood him to refer to Mr Dale’s chemist shop in Hindley Street, and that the electricity had been applied almost immediately before. I told him I thought it had been very improperly allied, and that he might consider himself a lucky fellow if he did not have inflammation of the brain. I said it was an agent that should never be used without medicals advise. I ordered him to go home and apply leeches to the ear; and gave him some aperient medicine. He was perfectly sober at the time, but appeared to be suffering acute throbbing pain in the ear. I saw him again the next day. He was then in a state of coma, or approaching to insensibility, with a dilated pupil; great heat about the head, and symptoms of effusion within the cavity of the cranium. I consider those to be symptoms of intense suggested, viz. blisters, cold applications, bleeding, and powerful cathartics. He rapidly became worse, and died the next day at about 12 o’clock. I consider the immediate cause of death to have been the effusion within the cavity of the skull. I consider it exceedingly improper to apply electricity to and actively inflamed surface. My opinion is that the symptoms which ended in this man’s death were hastened by the application of electricity.

The Coroner then stated that a post mortem examination would be necessary and adjourned the inquest to the following day, at 2 o’clock; stimulating with Mr Dale that any person whom he might appoint for that purpose should be present during the operation.

The Coroner and the Jury met at the appointed hour yesterday (Wednesday).

Frederick Charles Bayer examined- I yesterday made a post mortem examination of the deceased. I found nothing unusual between the soft integuments of the head and skull. After the top of the skull was removed, I found inflammation of the membranes of the brain, by which I understand the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater. The inflammation had extended over all these membranes, but particularly on those of the right side, where the inflammation reached to the tympanum. The tympanum itself showed extensive inflammation. There was an effusion of blood of from five to six ounces on the right side of the skull, near the os ptrosum, or petrous portion of the temporal bone. After the dura mater was removed, we found a quantity of albuminous deposit near the os ptronum forming a deposit of the size of a small nut. The deposit so found was examined under a microscope and ascertained to be lymph. These appearances were those of acute inflammation of the membrane of the brain, and were sufficient to cause death. The cerebellum showed no unusual appearances. I was assisted by Mr Phillips. I do not think it is safe to apply electricity to a person showing symptoms similar to those indicated by the deceased. Candidly speaking, I believe that the applications of electricity in such a case, if it did not cause death, was calculated to hasten it. I believe the opinion expressed by Dr Woodforde at the inquest is confirmed by the post mortem examination.

By another Juror- Inflammation was the cause of the effusion within the skull.

James Phillips examined- I assisted Dr Bayer in the post mortem examination of the body of the deceased, and I coincide with the evidence he has given. I think with Dr Bayer that the post mortem examination corroborated the opinion of Dr Woodforde

By Mr Dale- I did not see the deposit spoken of by Dr Bayer as having been found by him near the Para Ptrosa (?) having arrived after the operation of the post mortem examination had commenced.

By the Coroner- Had I seen that deposit, my opinion would not have been altered as to the cause of death.

Henry Sutherland examined- I am by profession a galvanist, in the employ of Mr Dale, chemist, Hindley-street. I am not qualified as a medical man. On Friday last the deceased came into Mr Dale’s shop, and requested to have the galvanic battery applied, for he was suffering acute pain in the ear. I refused to do so for two reasons. One was that the battery was not in order, and another because I understood that a medical man prescribed for him. He persisted, and again requested me to relieve him of the acute pain if I possibly could. I said I would try. I then went and put the battery in order as well as I could, but found it would not act. I excited it a second time with the usual fluid, and applied it, but there was no sensation felt by the man. A third time I saturated the battery, and again applied it; but could only produce a slight vibration or tickling, but no shock, owing to its mechanical defect. He said he felt a slight sensation; and I then removed the battery. The man then said he felt the acute pain relieved. It however returned before he left the shop. I did not apply it again.

By a Juror- I applied galvanism without any medical man’s authority. I am in the habit of doing so.

The Jury consulted for half an hour, and then returned a verdict that the deceased died from acute inflammation of the brain; but accompanied their verdict with the following request in writing:-

“The Jury request the Coroner to express their opinion that the application of galvanism, under the circumstances laid before them in the present case. Was incautious, and that it should not be ordinarily used without the authority of a medical practitioner.”

Notably, ‘Sydney Bill’s’ age was about right; he was from Sydney at some stage; and I have not found other records for the name ‘Bodecin’ in the colony at that time.

contact butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)

Link back to Introduction chapter:http://butlerfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/walter-butler-introduction.html

[i] The New South Wales Calendar & General Post Office Directory 1832, The Trustees of the Public Library of NSW, Sydney, 1966

[ii] Sydney Gazette, 18 August 1821

[iii] George Cargeeg, The Rebel of Glenmalure- A History of Michael Dwyer, Hesperian Press ,Western Australia, 1988. Eliza and dau Mary Ann's birth calculated from their ages in the 1828 Census. Son Mark Henry Bodicine- NSW registry of BDM V18291370 128/1829

[iv] Launceston Advertiser

[v] Reply to my email sent to Robyn Lake by John Hawkins, Colonial furniture expert Oct 2002

[vi] Australian Shipping 1788-1969- www.ozships.net Arrival- ship Warrior- passenger list

[vii] The Australian, 25 July 1834.

[viii] NSW Government Gazette 1836, p440, 12 May 1836 Postal

[ix] Government Gazette, 1839, p.915; The Colonist Sat 31 August 1839 p4 Unclaimed letters- Mr Walter Butler

[x] Government Gazette, 1841, p.1554 (William Butler named in Land Dept Parish Maps-PMap MN04 Image

[xi] Sydney Gazette, 14 April 1835, 21 April 1835; 1836- 26 May, 21 June, 25 June, 30 June; 2 July 1836 p2- Court Case

[xii] Port Phillip Patriot, 1841- May 24, June 14, June 17, June 21, June 28, July 1, July 12, Aug 19, Aug 23, Sept 2, Sept 16

[xiii] Victorian Registry of BDM, Marriage record Registration Number- 1841 4439

[xiv] Port Phillip Patriot, 4 November 1841

Walter Butler (c.1807-1870)- the life of a 'currency' lad born in the colony of NSW

Sunday 19 August 2012

Walter Butler- Ch. 5: Walter and Eliza Dwyer- his second relationship, and the Missing Years 1832-1841

Walter’s relocation to Melbourne, at Williamstown- 1841-1853:

WALTER BUTLER

Cabinet Maker & House Joiner