Walter Butler (c.1807-1870)- the life of a 'currency' lad born in the colony of NSW: Walter Butler- Ch. 14: Relocation to Hobart 1853-1870

Hobart- Old Market & Port Offices now Parliament Square c 1860

Walter’s last application for a publican’s licence in Williamstown was in February 1853. He transferred this license and put his Williamstown house up for sale in March 1853, moving his family to Hobart. Their youngest son, Ormond Tasman, was born at Newbury House in Hobart on 25 February 1854. [i]

The shipping lists for Tasmania, unassisted and coastal (1829-1865), show Walter possibly making many trips between Melbourne and Hobart, from 1851 onwards.[ii]

One record had Walter Butler on the steamer “Wm Denny” on 7 May 1854. He travelled ‘cabin’ class and the weather was described as ‘boisterous’. It left Melbourne 11am on the 5^thMay. The “Wm Denny’ was described as 422 tons, 2 guns, 36 crew, 8 passengers travelled ‘cabin’ class and 18 ‘steerage’. It was also carrying mail.

Another record has Mr Walter Butler travelling from Launceston on 10 Nov 1853 to Melbourne on the ‘Yarra Yarra’, again travelling cabin class.[iii]

There are many subsequent listings for a Mr Butler and some for a Mrs Butler, over several years following, many travelling on the 362 ton steamer “City of Hobart”. The ‘City of Hobart’ was a ‘screw-steamer’ owned by good friend and supporter Mr Charles Toby. (From Melbourne to Hobart:- Mr Butler 23/5/55; Mrs Butler 24/8/55; 2xMasters Butler 6/9/55; Mr Butler 20/10/55; Mr Butler 26/9/56; Mr & Mrs Butler 7/11/56; Mr Butler 19/2/58; Mrs Butler 16/4/58; Mr. W. Butler 5/59; Mr. W. Butler 21/10/59; Mr & Mrs Butler 18/11/59; Mr Butler 31/8/60) As there were other Butlers living in Melbourne at the time, it is difficult to gage from the records which ones specifically refer to Walter.

(There are also records of Walter travelling between Sydney and Hobart in 1837 and possibly 1841.)

Land Purchase:

On the 7^th February 1853, Walter made an application for a land grant on the New Town Road on the outskirts of Hobart. [iv] The application stated that Walter Butler, at present of Williamstown Victoria, answered an advertisement in the Town Gazette for part of an allotment occupied by Henry Propeting, and agreed to purchase.

Description: “It is bounded on the NE by 136 ½ links along the New Town Road; on the SE by 244 links along the land granted to Salter; on the SW by 137 links along Audley Street and on the NW by 224 ½ links along land of Mr McTavish.” The property measured 1 rood 10 perches, part of the original 3 acre grant.

The Colonial Times Sat 26 Feb 1853 p2

Caveat Board 2^nd Feb 1853

Notice is hearby given that the following claims to grants of land will be investigated by the Commissioners appointed for that purpose upon or immediately after the 22^nd day of April next, before which day any caveat or counterclaim must be entered.

Walter Butler. Suburbs of the city of Hobart Town. 0a. 1r. 10p.

(Originally part of an allotment located to William Mawle, which was sold by the Sheriff and conveyed to Henry Bilton, who conveyed to Henry Propstring, who agreed to sell to claimant.)

Map Hobart- Walter’s property between Elizabeth Street and Audley Street marked *

(now 432 Elizabeth St)

1858 Map of Hobart Town

Walter built his grand house on this property fairly quickly, and named it ‘Newbury House’. The announcement of the birth of his son at “Newbury House” in February 1854 was in the “Colonial Times”. [v]

'Colonial Times' Sat 4 March 1854

Newbury House (c.1880)

(State Library of Tasmania- Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts

ADRI: AUTAS001126252071)

The Tasmanian Electoral Roll for 1856, has Walter as a freeholder of a house and land in Patrick Street, and living in New Town Road. His place of abode is also listed as at ‘the Racecourse’, New Town.

The investment property in Patrick Street is named in a court case involving Walter’s tenant at Patrick Street:

Colonial Times Fri 13 June 1856 p3

Insolvent Court

Thurs June 12, Before Fielding Browne, Esq. Commissioner

Thos. Kirkham’s Insolvency

Insolvent examined by Mr Lees said

I have furniture to the value of ₤10. I have occupied the house where I am at present since Sept. __. I have only paid the rent by labor for Mr Walter Butler my landlord. I received ₤6 from him on account. My account against him was ₤35 or ₤36. I made a mistake in the schedule as to what I owed him. I kept no account. Mr Butler disputed the account through Mr Thomson, the surveyor as too much. I heard he had valued it at ₤20. I am willing to go out of the house. I have not refused to give possession. I told Mr Butler I would go as soon as I could possibly get another.

Mr Walter Butler (sworn)- Insolvent has been my tenant for 9 months; he has not paid me a penny rent. The house is in Patrick Street. The rent was ₤60 per annum, ₤40 cash and ₤20 to be __ out on the house. I have not had an opportunity of getting in to see if he has laid out anything. I have repeatedly asked him to give up possession since the insolvency, and Mr Tonkin wrote to him. He has continued possession ever since. I met him in the street on Monday, very tipsy. He sent me in a bill for ₤35 which I objected to and Mr Thomson said at a rough guess it would not come to above ₤20. I told insolvent that when he said, rather than have any bother about taking measurements he would accept ₤25. Since he has been my tenant he has not been a sober steady man.

Insolvent said this was not a fair examination; it was all false.

The Commissioner ruled that the line of examination was not regular.

Insolvent observed that he considered Mr Butler should seek his remedy in another Court.

The Commissioner asked how he could do that against a man whose property was in the hands of his creditors?

Insolvent again exclaimed in loud and indignant terms against his character being attacked.

In re-examination Insolvent said he had a wife and 6 children to maintain. (He then explained how he was paying his other debts)

Mr Lees said he was unwilling to take up the Commissioners time, but he opposed the discharge on the ground of a reckless and wilful contracting of debts without the least probability of their being paid… It was a case, the learned counsel said, that deserved punishment….

Insolvent said he was willing to give up the house to Mr Butler.

The Commissioner adjourned the decision to next Wednesday.

A Claim to a Grant of Land lodged in the Titles’ Office Tasmania in May 1876 (Launceston Examiner Thurs 18 May 1876 p1- Recorder of Titles’ Office Tasmania- City of Hobart Town), describes a block of land, bordered on the SW along land granted to Walter Butler now occupied by or belonging to Richard Propeting, to Patrick- street aforesaid.

Assigned Convict Labour

An advertisement placed in the “Victoria Police Gazette” dated Friday August 18, 1854, page 452 (in turn taken from the “Hobart Town Gazette, 1^st August 1854), states:

From the service of _ Butler, Esq., New Town, on 24^th instant.(July)

1207. Margaret Clements, or Mitchell, per Anna Maria. Tried at Sterling, 17^th April, 1851, 7 years, cook and laundress, 5 feet 2½, age 43, complexion sallow, hair brown to grey, eyes brown, native place Sterling.

27596. Thomas Bird, per Oriental Queen. Tried at Exeter General Sessions, 15^th May, 1849, 10 years, ploughman, 5 feet 4½, age 45, complexion dark, hair brown, eyes hazel, native place Preston, near Exeter, long scar on finger and thumb left hand, two moles left arm.

Reward 2/-, or such lesser sum as may be determined upon by the convicting Magistrate.

“Hobart Town Gazette” 8^th August- 27596-

Apprehended: Thomas Bird per Oriental Queen

The Colonial Times Wed 2 Aug 1854 p3

An ESCAPE- Thomas Bird, a ticket-of-leave holder, was charged with absconding from his authorised place of residence, Mr Walter Butler, in whose service the prisoner had been living, said that he had told him to escort a female servant to the factory, instead of which he had taken her to the Globe public-house, robbed her of her clothes, and there left her. The accused pleaded guilty of absconding, having neglected to register his change of residence, and the magistrates sentenced him to nine months hard labor.

This record of two convict servants absconding from Walter, may indicate he was a hard taskmaster. Walter’s property is not likely to have needed the services of a “ploughman”, however Bird was probably employed in the stables.

Newspaper reports:

Following Walter’s relocation to Hobart in 1853, there are numerous newspaper reports involving Walter that give us a very good idea of his life and character at this stage of his life. These will now be discussed in detail in the next chapter.

contact butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)

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

[i] Tasmanian Registry of BDM, 32/1854/4422; Colonial Times Sat 4 March 1854 p2, Births

[ii] Tasmanian Shipping Lists 1829-1865 Unassisted and Coastal

[iii] Tasmanian Archives POL220/3 p350

[iv] Tasmanian Archives, Folio 572, No. 707, 7/2/1853

[v] Colonial Times, Sat 4 March 1854 p2 Births

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Walter Butler- Ch. 14: Relocation to Hobart 1853-1870

Land Purchase: