Walter Butler (c.1807-1870)- the life of a 'currency' lad born in the colony of NSW: Walter Butler- Ch. 25: Issue of Walter & Frances

		Family Group Sheet for Walter Butler

Husband:		Walter Butler

	Birth:	Abt. 1807 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (1828 Census)
	Death:	04 Oct 1870 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Tas AO 1870/99)
	Marriage:	26 Oct 1841 in Williamstown, Victoria (NSW Reg. V1841845 25C/1641)
	Father:	Laurence Butler (Laurence Butler's Will; Walter Butler's 1824 Memorial)
	Mother:	Mary Ann Fowles ? (1806 Census)
	Other Spouses:	Margaret Dunn (16 May 1825 in Sydney, NSW- V1825120 127/1825, died 1840)
		Eliza Dwyer (de-facto from Feb 1832)

Wife:		Frances Jane Catherine Edwards

	Birth:	c.1819 in Kilmerston, Somerset, England (Kilmerston bap. No 530 - June 21 1821)
	Death:	23 Apr 1866 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Tas AO 1866/6186)
	Father:	William Edwards (Rev.)
	Mother:	Mary Ann Anthony
	Other Spouses:

	Children:

1	Name:	Edmund Walter Butler
M	Name:	Edmund Walter Butler
M	Birth:	03 Sep 1842 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia (Vic. Reg. CP1842/12993)
	Birth:
	Death:	Unknown- after 1875
	Other Spouses:

2	Name:	Louisa Caroline Butler
F	Name:	Louisa Caroline Butler
F	Birth:	03 Jul 1845 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia (Vic. Reg. CP1846/14696)
	Birth:
	Death:	buried 17 February 1920 Cornelian Cemetery Newtown, Hobart
	Marriage:	Oct 1876 in Hobart, Tasmania (Tas AO 1876/175)
	Spouse:	George Normanton/Normington (b. 1834, d. Oct 27,1887 Hobart- 1887/1053)
	Other Spouses:	John Wolfe (m. Oct 24, 1889- 'The Mercury' 18 Nov 1889 p.1; b. 1839 d. 1912)

3	Name:	Frederick Henry Butler
M	Name:	Frederick Henry Butler
M	Birth:	1847 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia (Vic. Reg. CP1847/15445)
	Birth:
	Death:	13 Nov 1880 in Hobart, Tasmania Tas AO 1860/2792)
	Other Spouses: unmarried

4	Name:	Arthur William James Butler
M	Name:	Arthur William James Butler
M	Birth:	1849 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia (VIc Reg. CP1849/16148)
	Birth:
	Death:	1849 in Williamstown, Victoria (Vic Reg. CP1849/4724- aged 2M)
	Other Spouses:

5	Name:	Frank Butler
M	Name:	Frank Butler
M	Birth:	1851 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia (Vic. Reg. CP1851/17133)
	Birth:
	Death:	28 May 1887 in Hobart, Tasmania (Tas AO 1887/753)
	Marriage:	05 Jun 1872 in Hobart, Tasmania (Tas AO 1872/165)
	Spouse:	Mary Ann Eleanor Ward dau. of William Ward
	Other Spouses:

6	Name:	Ormond Tasman Butler
M	Name:	Ormond Tasman Butler
M	Birth:	1854 in Hobart, Tasmania (Tas AO 1854/4422)
	Birth:	1854 in Hobart, Tasmania (Tas AO 1854/4422)
	Death:	21 December 1884 in North Fitzroy, Victoria (Vic. Reg. 1884/12244)
	Marriage:	22 June 1873 in Hobart, Tasmania (no record found)
	Spouse:	Julia Mary Ann Tilley (b. 12 Dec 1854 Hobart , d. 6 Nov 1928 Carlton Melbourne) dau. of George Tilley and Martha Wiggins

Notably, two of Walter and Frances Butler’s children would continue the association with hotels.

1. FREDERICK CHARLES BUTLER died, unmarried, at the young age of 35 in November 1880 in Macquarie Street, of cirrhosis of the liver, and was described as a ‘billiard marker’, a trade he learnt at the famous billiard room at his father’s ‘Ship Hotel’. [i] In his father’s insolvency court case, Walter had described Frederick as employed in his hotel as a barman and book-keeper.

He died at his brother Frank’s boarding house known as Ingle Hall in Macquarie Street.

Death record- Hobart

The Mercury Mon 15 November 1880, page 1 (and Wed 24^th)

Death

Butler- On November 13 at his brother’s residence Ingle Hall, after a long and painful illness, Frederick Charles, second son of the late Walter Butler, aged 35 years.

Notably his birth record has him as Frederick Henry and his death notice in the paper has him as Frederick Charles.

2. FRANK BUTLER died in May 1887 aged 37 of enteric fever (typhoid fever)- he was described as a ‘boarding house keeper’. [ii] Married in June 1872 to Mary Ann Eleanor Ward [iii], they had a son Frederick William Henry Butler born 1876, [iv] and a daughter Mabel C.E. Butler 1873-1946 (NB. descendant a DNA match with descendant of Walter's first family and eldest son Frances George).

Launceston Examiner, Tues 11 June 1872 p.2

At the time of his father’s Insolvency Court case, Frank had been described as employed as a billiards marker.

However, he appears to have rejected the life of a licensed hotel keeper in favour of a ‘temperance” boarding house keeper.

The following newspaper report of Frank’s boarding house establishment:

The Mercury Friday10 July 1874 page 2:

Tasmanian Temperance Hotel

This establishment (formerly known as the Manchester Unity Arms, and more recently as a lodging house), was last night opened as a first-class temperance hotel, by Mr Frank Butler. The place has been thoroughly renovated, every room having been completely refitted and presenting a very cosy and comfortable appearance. On the left hand side of the entrance door from Harrington-street is the sitting room which is excellently furnished, and on the other side is what may be termed the bar, or snuggery, whilst at the rear of the latter there is a more spacious compartment to he used as a small dining hall. Upstairs, above the bar and sitting room, there is a more extensive apartment, which will accommodate some sixty persons, and can be used for public dinners, meetings &c. There are several very spacious bedrooms, neatly filled up and as clean as a new pin. The opening dinner took place in the large room upstairs, and notwithstanding the exceedingly inclement state of the weather, there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen. The Rev. C.P. Greene, B.A., of St Johns, Goulburn Street, presided, and during the evening made a few observations on the enterprise of the host and hostess, and wished them success; and a very enjoyable time was spent.

However, by at least 1880, Frank was the boarding house keeper at Ingle Hall, cnr Macquarie Street and Argyle Street. Ingle Hall is now a heritage listed building, holding ‘The Mercury” newspaper museum, and described as an 1814 Georgian building, one of Australia’s oldest early colonial buildings. After Frank’s death in 1887, it became the Wharf Club. Then it was renamed Norman’s Coffee Palace and then the Customs House Hotel, as it was opposite the old Customs House which became Parliament House.

Ingle Hall c. 1890-1900

(State Library of Tasmania)

Ingle Hall today- 'The Mercury' Museum

An incident was reported in The Mercury Sat 16 Sept 1882 p2:

Narrow Escape and Plucky Rescue; in which a boy aged 3 and a girl aged 9, children of visitors from NSW, “now staying at Butler’s boarding house, Ingle Hall,” were playing near a pond. The boy fell in, was rescued by his sister who could not hold on to him, and they were dragged out by a passing gentleman.

3. ORMOND TASMAN BUTLER, Walter’s youngest son, was also short-lived, dying at age 33 at Fitzroy in Victoria in 1884. [v] He died of Phthisis (a progressively wasting consumptive condition, now called pulmonary tuberculosis) and Asthenia (a condition which shows symptoms of physical weakness and loss of strength; occurs in many chronic wasting diseases.) He was a compositor/printer by trade. (notably, his uncle Lawrence Butler Junior, also a compositor, died young from consumption- maybe this was a hazard of the trade)

Colonial Times (Hobart) Sat 4 March 1854 p.2-

birth of Ormond Tasman Butler on 25 February 1854

Death- Ormond Tasman Butler 1884

Death- Maria McCarthy nee Butler nee Tilley 1928

He was married to Julia Mary Ann Tilley in 1873 (who remarried to Francis McCarthy after Ormond's death- see 'Tilley family of Sussex' blog for interesting stories of this convict family:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~barbarahollis/tilley_edward_charlotte.htm)
Julia was the daughter of George Tilley who died at sea near Port Davey Tasmania in October 1855 (a fatal whaling accident- The Mercury, 29 October 1855), and Martha Wiggins who remarried to James Claridge in 1856. Ironically, George's father Edward Tilley, transported to VDL for 7 years in 1824 for poaching, was drowned in 1831 as the owner/master of a trading schooner which capsized in the D'Entrecasteaux's Channel in a squall, along with six crew. (The Courier, 14 May 1831 p3)

They had one daughter and five sons:
1.Violet Isabel Butler, Ormond Tasman and Julia Mary Ann Butler’s only daughter, born 1877, died 1927 Melbourne, married Frederick Nelson in 1894 and had a son Frederick W. Nelson, dsp.

2.Walter George Tasman b. 26 March 1873 Hobart Tasmania (Tas. Reg 33/1873/3209), died at age 2 yrs in 1875 (Vic. Reg.1875/10112)
3.Francis Gideon b. 6 Feb. 1875 Hobart (Tas. Reg. 33/1875/1040) died 23 August 1940 Collingwood, Victoria (Vic. Reg. 1940/8267); married Emily Middleton in 1897 Melbourne- no issue found.
4.Edward William Frederick (also Edward James, and James Edward) b.1879 Emerald Vic. (Vic. Reg. 1879/15931), died as James Edward Butler in 1941 at Maryborough Victoria; see below
5.William James Tasman b.1881 Fitzroy Vic. (Vic. Reg. 1881/16390), died 6 Feb 1939 Melbourne (Vic. Reg. 1939/980); married Ruth Emily Ebbage in 1913 at Carlton Vic. (Vic. Reg. 1913/8615), and had children: 1.William George Butler; 2.Ruth Emily born at Carlton; 3.Arthur; 4.Edith; 5.Nancy; 6.Francis Benjamin d.1980 Parkville Vic; 7.Patricia Daisy; 8.David; and 9.John.
6.Arthur Ormond Tasman b.1883 Fitzroy Vic. (1883/16494), died at Fromelles France on 19 July 1916; see below

LIFE STORIES of two sons

No. 6. Arthur Ormond Tasman Butler, died at Fromelles France on 19 July 1916 during one of the most famous and bloodiest campaigns in Australia’s war-time history, in which 5,533 young Australian men were killed, wounded or missing on the 19^thand 20^th July. Originally in the merchant navy, and the Naval Reserve, Arthur joined up in the army at a fairly advanced age, and was sent to France. His army records report that a witness observed Arthur being shot in the head. A letter sent to his widow stated that a Private Wickham had told them that a Private Crealman had told him that he had seen Butler shot through the head and killed with a machine gun bullet at Fromelles on July 19, 1916. Description: rather old, bald head and from Melbourne. Private Crealman then wrote:

There was a Butler of the same name and number killed on 19 July 1916. He was lying with me and was killed by my side. I will give you a description of him as near as I can remember. He was of medium height, fairly well built, slightly bald with heavy fair moustache, very deep dimple in chin. He was a married man and had spent a lot of his time on the sea and came from Sth Melbourne.

The Debt of Honour Register in memory of Arthur Ormond Butler, Private 3267, 59^th Battalion, Australian Infantry AIF, son of Julia Butler, husband of Sarah J Wagland (formerly Butler).

VC Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial Fromelles, Grave/Ref Panel No 15:

On the morning of 19 July 1916, after a preliminary bombardment, the 5^th Australian and 61^st (Sth Midland) Divisions undertook what is officially known as the Attack at Fromelles. The 61^st Division attack failed in the end, with the loss of over 1000 officers and men out of 3410 who took part in it. The Australian left and centre reached the German trenches and held their second line during the day and night, but the right was held off by a fierce machine-gun barrage and only reached the front line in isolated groups. The action was broken off on the morning of 20 July, after the 5^th Australian Division had lost over 5000 officers and men. It was the first serious engagement of the Australian forces in France, and the only one to achieve no success.

Arthur Ormond Butler

(Courtesy of Dorothy Guy nee Butler)

VC Corner, Australian Cemetery & Memorial, Fromelles

Arthur Ormond Tasman Butler married Sarah Jane (Jane Sarah) Thompson in 1900 (Vic. Reg. 1900/8246) and had issue:
1.Arthur Francis John b. 20 March 1901 Melbourne, d. 26 July 1979 Melbourne; 2.Margaret Isabel b. 1904 Melbourne, d. 1977; 3.William James b. June 1912, d. 1912 Melbourne, Vic. Widow Sarah Jane remarried to Samuel Wagland in 1918 (Vic. Reg. 1918/349)

No. 4. Edward William Frederick Butler: Edward appears to have also gone by the name Edward James or James Edward Butler. His marriage certificate states that Edward Butler, aged 21, born Tasmania, married Fredericka Maud Asling 11 May 1901 Melbourne (Vic. Reg. 1901/4116), father named as Ormond Tasman Butler (compositor) and mother Julia Foster (? Julia Tilley).

His service records, has him as ‘James Edward Butler’ born 26 January 1879 Tasmania, next of kin Maud Butler, wife, living at 56 Ireland St West Melbourne. He had been in the Naval Reserve for the previous six years, as a ‘leading stoker’. He was described as 5’ 10 ½ “, dark complexion and hair, grey eyes. He joined up on the 20 March 1915 in Melbourne, in the 1^st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, with the rank of A.B. Driver. This unit, although largely unknown, was the most decorated naval unit during WWI (receiving more than 20 decorations for its sailors), having played an important role in the Gallipoli campaign (25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916), and its short history deserves further explanation and recognition.[vi]

The Naval Bridging Train, composed of 9 officers and 348 other ranks, was active from 24 Feb 1915 until January 1917. Its role was logistical support, combat engineers and harbourmasters.

In February 1915, the Navy Board offered the use of two Naval Bridging Teams from the ranks of the Navy reserve, under the command of Lt. Commander (later rear Admiral) Sir Leighton Bracegirdle, who began to enlist and train the Train. By 12 March they had 115 encamped at the Melbourne Domain. As no one in the Australian Army or Navy knew anything useful about Bridging Trains, they had to build their equipment before training with it, and almost all of the sailors had to learn to ride with a very limited number of horses. By 3 June, the Train embarked upon HMATT Port Macquarie with 7 officers, 348 Petty officers and other ranks, 26 reinforcements, 412 horses, 56 horse pontoons and tressle wagons, and 8 other vehicles. After stopping in India, their orders were changed and they headed for the Dardanelles and transferred to the British Army, attached to Lt. General Stopford’s IX Army Corp which was to land at Suvla Bay on 7 August 1915. The sailors still had not any army training in the primary task, building pontoons. They disembarked on 17 July and by 6 August they had been given all the instruction they would receive.

Their first job at Suvla Bay was to set up the pier at A Beach. They had to move the pier twice to avoid enemy fire. After two more days with similar takes, they shifted camp to Kangaroo Beach where they were responsible for constructing the beach head’s water supply, and set up tanks on the shore, pumping water from the warships standing off the coast. The Train’s principal duties allotted to the unit were:

Water supply, care of landing piers, discharging of stores from store ships, and transports, lighterage of same to the shore, salving of lighters and steamboats wrecked during gales, disembarking of troops with their baggage on all beaches and of munitions and stores; control and issue of all engineer and trench stores and materials, and of trench bombs and demolition stores, erection of high-explosive magazines, dug-outs, cookhouses and galleys, assembly of hospital huttings, construction of iron frames for front-line wire entanglements, and the manning and control of the steam tug Daphne; also provided wireless operators for various forward wireless stations.

The little-known unit won high praise from Official War Correspondent Charles Bean (C.E.W. BEAN, Official War Correspondent, AIF; 11/10/15)

“There they are to-day, in charge of the landing of a great part of the stores of a British army. They are quite cut off from their own force; they scarcely come into the category of the Australian Force, and scarcely into that of the British; they are scarcely army and scarcely navy. Who it is that looks after their special interests, and which is the authority that has the power of recognising any good work that they have done, I do not know. If you want to see the work, you have only to go to Kangaroo Beach, Suvla Bay, and look about you. They had made a harbour.”

Their Commander, General Bland of the Royal Engineers (Brigadier-General E.H. Bland, CB, CMG, RE, Chief Engineer, IX Corps p.397 Vol IX Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918) wrote:

“From the time the 1st R.A.N.B.T. joined the IX Corps all ranks have worked hard, cheerfully, and well. They have rendered most valuable services in connection with the construction and maintenance of landing-piers, beach water-supply, and the landing, charge of, and distribution of engineer material at Suvla, and have most willingly given their help in many other directions. Their work has been continuously heavy, and they have done it well.”

This unit was the last Australian unit to leave Gallipoli. In preparation for the evacuation, the Train worked day and night for weeks, setting up buildings while other detachments pulled other buildings down. Other sections built piers for the soldiers to depart from. They cleared out "Royal Engineers Park" and packed their own supplies for transport.

On 18 December, the 60 remaining sailors destroyed what they couldn't take with them and rowed out to HMT El Kahira, the night before the final evaluation of Suvla by the British. The base was heavily shelled after their withdrawal. General Bland had this to say about their actions leading up to the evacuation.

“Both these units set a fine example of endurance, good organisation, arid discipline. Their commanders were indefatigable in anticipating requirements, and assisting whenever and wherever required. I bring them to your notice as two specially valuable and well-commanded units, which can be relied on to do their best under difficult conditions.”

The RANBT was the last Australian unit to leave Gallipoli, a party of 50 men under Sub-Lieutenant Charles Hicks was left behind to oversee the evacuation of British forces, leaving at 0430, 20 minutes after the last troops at Anzac Cove.

After recuperating at Mudros, the Train was transferred from the 11^th Division to the ANZAC Corps, where they took charge of bridges, tugs and supplies at No. 2 section, Suez Canal. During this time, there was argument over who would take over the Train, the IX Corps winning out and the RANBT moved south, where they played a major part in the El Arish offensive, landing while under fire and then building two piers through a minefield. It was the last real action the Train was involved in, and they were disbanded on 27 March 1917.

However, James Edward was no longer part of the unit, having contracted malaria and hospitalised on 10^th January 1916, the day after the end of the Gallipoli Campaign. He was admitted to hospital in Malta on the 26^th January and then sent to Plymouth England suffering from malaria and organic heart disease. Although attached to the 9^th Army Corp 11^th division at Malta on the 7^th May 1916, he returned to Australia in September, discharged with ‘Angina Pectoris’.

Why he went by the name of James Edward for most of his life is unknown.

James Edward’s service records also shows a change of next of kin to “ Selina Jane Butler, named as his ‘widow’, at 23 Park Rd Maryborough Vic, dated 27/11/1941. His wife Maud died 1934.

In the 1914 Electoral Roll, Edward James was living at 56 Ireland St Melbourne, described as ‘engine driver’. After the war, in 1919, James Edward, ‘returned soldier’ and Maud were living at 16 Provost St Nth Melbourne. In 1924, James Edward, stableman, and Maud were at 220 Barkly St east, Brunswick Sth. In 1931 at Carlton, James Edward, labourer, and Maud were at 132 Station Rd. He was still living there in 1936, two years after his wife had died, but by 1937, Edward was living with Selina and they had moved to Maryborough Victoria, where he died in 1941, listed as James E Butler, Maryborough, where he is buried.

Edward William Frederick and Maud Asling had issue:
1.Jessie Clarissa Asling Butler, 1900-1916 Melbourne;
2.Edward William Butler b.1902 Hotham d.Sept 1977 Sydney (parents named as Edward Butler and Fredericka Maud Asling);
3.Julia Martha Butler b.1904 Port Melbourne d.1973 Carlton (parents named as Edward 4.James Butler and Fredericka Maud Asling. Death cert. names her as Julia Martha Ross, parents Edward Butler and Fredericka Maud Asling);
5.Ormond Tasman Butler b.4 Jan 1923 Carlton d.10 July 2002.

4. LOUISA CAROLINE BUTLER, Walter Butler’s only daughter by Frances Edwards, born 3 July 1845 in Williamstown, Victoria, married (at age 30) George Normangton/Normington, a gardener, 11 years her senior, in October 1876 [vii]- no issue recorded. George died aged 56 in 1887.
Louisa, aged 44, remarried to John Wolfe aged 50 in 1889, again no issue. John Wolfe had children by his previous wife.
Wolfe who was a fruit grower at 'Rosendale' on the Huon Road near the ‘18 mile stone’, claimed he had eradicated a pest called Codlin Moth from his orchards, and offered to help others eradicate it. In 1903 he was giving lectures on his Codlin Moth cure. There are several newspaper reports of people by the name of Wolfe still living in the Huon area during the early 1900's and presumably they are John's descendants from his first marriage, or maybe relatives.

Marriage (Tasmanian Registration of BDM)

The Mercury Mon 18 November 1889 p.1

The Mercury Thurs 6 Dec 1888 p.3

There are several newspaper reports over a long period of time, relating to John Wolfe's Codlin Moth cure. In 1889, The Hobart Fruit Board resolved that the board would pay Mr Wolfe's orchard a visit to see what information could be obtained. The group proceeded to his residence and he conducted them to his orchard which looked 'the picture of health, some of the trees literally breaking down under the burdens of fruit'. He described the grub that had infested his fruit. When the inspectors asked him to come to the point of business, Wolfe said that all he wanted was something for his trouble ie. he wanted 50 pounds down and also a salary and inspectors placed under him, as it would take some time and labor to prepare the wash. But the inspectors wanted proof of a cure before agreeing to his demands. They also wanted to know what practical knowledge he had of the moth, saying that his remedy was for scale blight. They came to the conclusion that Wolfe's remedy was not for Codlin Moth.

‘Tasmanian News’ (Hobart, Tas), Friday 22 March 1889 p3

Mr John Wolfe's Codlin Moth Cure.

A VISIT OF INSPECTION .

For some considerable time past Mr John Wolfe, who is the proprietor of a prolific orchard situate on the Huon Road about 10 mile from town, has announced publicly that he had in his possession a certain specific which would eradicate the codlin moth pest. The Hobart Fruit Board, who are only too happy to assist anyone who could find any remedy to stamp out the apple scourge, have repeatedly been asked why they did not ascertain what cure Mr Wolfe really possessed. At the last meeting of the board the subject was fully discussed, and it was resolved that the board should pay Mr Wolfe’s orchard a visit and see what information could be obtained. Wednesday was the date fixed for the visit, and at 1 p.m. Mr C. F . Cresswell (the chairman of the board), Mr P.J. Johnson , secretary, Messrs Sayer, J Dalton, Elliott Brosnahan, Henry Hall Inspector to the board, Mr T.A. Tabart, Inspector under the Codlin Moth Act, and a representative from this journal, proceeded in a four-horse break, furnished by Mr W. Ikin, to Mr Wolfe’s residence.

Before reaching Mr Wolfe’s, adjoining neighbor, Mr Millhouse’s garden was inspected, but although in a neglected condition, no sign of the orchard pest could be discovered. The news was obtained from this source that M r Wolfe had a tree loaded down with the codlin moth, and the party on receiving this information were quite prepared to see the moth, and anxious to glean what the destroyer of it consisted of. M r Wolfe welcomed the board whom he at once conducted to his orchard, which looked the picture of health, some of the tress literally breaking down under the burdens of fruit. Mr Wolfe explained that the orchard had been suffering greatly from the effects of scale blight, which he said was brought about by a large insect resembling a horse-fly, one of which he killed and handed to Mr Tabart. He then informed the board, much to their astonishment, that the codlin moth simply originated from the scale blight, for which he had an efficient cure. So scathing had been the pest one year that he had lost no less than 400 bushels of apple s —Mr Tabart: What sort of grub is it that infects the orchard? — M r Wolfe : A small grub.— Mr Tabart : Does it go right into the core ? Mr Wolfe: Right into the core. Mr Cresswell: I should like you to come to the point Mr Wolf, and let us see if we can come to business. Mr Wolfe : All I want is something for my trouble. 1 have not enough money of my own to work the cure. I should want £50 down, and should want a salary and inspectors placed under me. It would take some time and labor to prepare the wash , and I want an appointment and also a guarantee from the Government as to what amount they will pay me. If I don't satisfy you, I don't want any pay.— M r Cresswell: We are prepared to do everything to assist you in every way, but I should like you to give us something more definite. We came here to-day believing you had a cure which will kill the moth, and we should like to see some proof.—Mr Wolfe: I want money, and I should require £50 down from the Government before I moved.—M r Brosnahan : Would you experiment on the town gardens and could you get rid of the moth ? — Mr Wolfe : Yes.— M r Dalton : If you can, it is not 5(??) you will get but hatfulls of them , every day of your life.— Mr Brosnahan : What sum do you want to start ? - Mr Wolfe : £50 .- Mr Hall : How long will the cure keep the moth away from the tree ?—Mr Wolfe : I can't say.—Mr Hall : Would the operation have to be done every year ? —Mr Wolfe : No — Mr Cresswell: Even if it d id , it would pay us to apply it . - Mr Tabart: Have you seen the moth flying about, Mr Wolfe ?—Mr Wolfe: It don’t fly.—M r Cresswell: I should really like you to give us some sort of an idea of how you intend to get rid of the pest.— Mr Wolfe : I must have some guarantee from the Government. If I cure, you pay me; if I don’t you pay me nothing.—Mr Tabart: Before the Government pay you Mr Wolfe , they should like to know what your practical knowledge of the moth is.— Mr Hall : I understand Mr Wolfe’s remedy is for scale blight.— Mr Tabart: Is your remedy for scale blight, the same as that you apply for the destruction of the moth? — Mr Wolfe : Very nearly the same:— Mr Brosnahan : If you have the cure you will make your fortune.— Mr Cresswell: It is too late this season, but are you prepared to do anything next season?__ Mr Wolfe : Yes. — Mr Johnson: Do you want the £50 before you start? — Mr Wolfe : Yes.— Mr Cresswell: Are you prepared to commence next year? —Mr Wolfe: If I get the £50 .—Mr Cresswell: The board are quite willing to gran t you a certain amount if things go on all right , and are also prepared to recommend the Government subsidise you handsomely. Mr Wolfe: I must have it in black and white — Mr Brosnahan : Your letter to the paper brought suspicion on the sincerity of the board, who lost no time in seeing you. Are you inclined to give us a practical illustration of your power to kill the moth? —Mr Wolfe : I must have some assurance from the Government. — Mr Johnson : Tell us what sort of moth it is, Mr Wolfe ?— Mr Wolfe : A small moth.— Mr Hall: What time does it lay its eggs?—Mr Wolfe : I have seen them laying them in the middle of winter in the warm days — Mr Hall: What is the general time for the moth to deposit it’s eggs?— Mr Wolfe : November ; but I have found them in the winter.—M r Johnson : On what conditions are you inclined to give us your practical knowledge ? —Mr Wolfe: When the money is put down. — Mr Johnson : Were your trees badly infected ?— Mr Wolfe: Very badly ; in fact, smothered.— M r Johnson : And the cure you have cured the trees?— Mr Wolfe : Yes .— Mr Johnson : Had you any moth in your garden last year ? —Mr Wolfe : None; b u t I had lots of sandflies.— Mr Johnson: How do you apply the remedy ? —Mr Wolfe : Spray it all over the trees. —Mr Johnson : When do you commence to spray ?—Mr Wolfe : When the garden is pruned .—Mr Johnson : Do you spray it when the buds are formed?— Mr Wolfe : Yes, but not after. Mr Dalton : Do you find the moth in the plums ? —Mr Wolfe : No, but in three years I believe we will have it in the green peas.— Mr Sayer: Your moth is not the codlin moth.—Mr Wolfe: Yes it is .—Mr Sayer: How long have you had moth ? - Mr Wolfe : Ten or 12 years.— Mr TabarT: Do you know the habits of the moth ? — Mr Wolfe : Yes, they have it in the next garden .—Mr Johnson : What garden ? —Mr Wolfe : Nichol’s. M

As Mr Wolfe declined to give any practical illustration of his ability to cure the pest, the board under his guidance proceeded to Mr John Nichol’s garden, which was subjected to a searching examination, but not a vestige of the moth could be found, although the garden was in a deplorably dirty state with vegetation and weeds. Mrs Nichols informed the board that she had never heard of the existence of the codlin moth in Wolfe's orchard or her own. She, however, believed that they had the moth at the Fern Tree . The party then left for the Fern Tree and inspected Miss Hall’s garden, but no moth was found. Town was reached shortly after 8 o’clock, the opinion of the board being that Mr Wolfe did not know what the codlin moth was, and that his cure was simply a solution of lime-wash , which he had used to get rid of the scale blight. The inspection will be satisfactory to orchardists throughout the colony, many of whom have firmly held the impression that Mr Wolfe possessed a sovereign remedy for the destruction of the moth. A healthier orchard than Mr Wolfe's could not be found, and the fine fruit in it, which the moth would attack first, has not a blemish.

‘Tasmanian News’, Tues 2 April 1889 p2

THE CODLIN MOTH

To the Editor of the Tasmanian News.

Sir- As you gave the Fruit Board a report when they visited my orchard, please to allow me to reply. In the first place they visited my orchard and gave it a good name, etc., for being clean and fine fruit, and so on; but because I would not tell them what my remedy for the moth was, my terms did not suit them; for if they had accepted my terms they would all be out a billet, because I told them I must be the Inspector, and have sub-inspectors under me; of course that did not suit, and I saw their report where they came to the conclusion that I did not know the codlin moth or grub when I saw it. What a pity I don’t. What a fool I should have been to have told them what my remedy was composed of. Don’t they wish they may get it? They don’t have me on the ground hop like that. A very intelligent lot of gentlemen to be members of the Fruit Board, for there was not one among them could find a name for an apple, the name of which is the Wrought Island Green. Now, Sir, what could be fairer than no cure, no pay? I only asked for working expenses, for anyone knows that a man wants something in the shape of working expenses. So no more at present, I must conclude, thanking you for taking up so much of your valuable space.__ Yours, etc

John Wolfe

Rosendale, Huon Road

In 1890, Wolfe again wrote to the newspaper (Tasmanian News Fri 31 Oct 1890 p3), in response to the Government offering a reward for the best method to eradicate the moth, that he was fully prepared to undertake the task if he was installed as a travelling and instructing inspector with a salary that will pay his travelling expenses, and that he was willing to travel from district to district through the whole length and breadth of Tasmania, if so required. His offer was not taken up. In June 1891 he wrote that he had received lucrative offers from Melbourne and New Zealand to eradicate the moth but had turned them down in the hope that he could still help Tasmanian orchards, to no avail.

The Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 18 February 1890 p3:
Gazette Notices
Hobart Feb 17
Appointments have been made as follow:
John Wolf Sen., to be poundkeeper at Huon road in succession to Richard Millhouse resigned.
Whether this was the same John Wolfe or a relative, is unclear.

In August 1891, A Coronial Enquiry (The Mercury Hobart Sat 8 August 1891) at Strahan, revealed that John and Louisa Wolfe were in the west coast town of Strahan. An inquiry into the cause of death of John Morrison, who died at the 'four miles camp', Strahan-Zeehan railway line, the evidence of John and Louisa Wolf, went to show that deceased had been complaining of being ill for several days before his death and that they had done what they could for him; that he had not been able to keep any food on his stomach and that he had gone into Strahan a day or two before his death to see the doctor, who had given him some physic to take; that they heard him groaning during the night, their tent being close to his, and that they found him dead in the morning. The post mortem examination found that the internal organs were very much congested, caused by exposure and cold.

In late November 1899, a young woman, Alice Fitzpatrick disappeared. Her body was found in Manuka Creek in West Strahan on 4th December. A Coronial Enquiry found that she had accidentally drowned.
In the Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tues 5 December 1899 p4, a Coronial Enquiry had Louisa Wolfe as witness into the cause of death of Alice Fitzpatrick. Louis Caroline Wolfe deposed that she remembered Saturday evening when she was ill and had to go to bed. While in bed, about 10 o'clock, she heard three distinct screams, which seemed to come from the opposite side of the stream from witness' house. First heard that the deceased was missing on Monday morning and told the father of deceased about hearing the screams but did not mention it to Superintendent Pilling or Sergeant Lonergan when they were making inquiries and saw witness. The screams seemed to witness to come from a point nearer Mrs Bracken's house than to witness's house, but Mrs Bracken was away at the time. The creek was rather high that night, but not over the bank. She did not think it her place to speak to the police about hearing the screams.
So the Wolfe's were still living in the Strahan- Zeehan area and had built a house near Manuka Creek. Manuka River empties out into Morse Bay, and is west of Strahan.
Strahan lies at the northern edge of Macquarie Harbour on the west coast and is one of the loneliest and most isolated places on earth. Strahan port and township came into existence in 1877 to service the early tin mining nad pining industries. In 1890 the government constructed a railway from Zeehan to Strahan and the twon was officially proclaimed in 1892. The ABT railway line from Queenstown was opened in 1899. Around this time the population of Strahan was over 2000 people and it was the second busiest port in Tasmania. Why the Wolfes left his orchard to live in Strahan is uncertain.

The following amusing story in the 'Tasmanian News' Thursday 8 March 1888 p2, the year before his marriage to Louisa, would appear to pertain to her future husband John Wolfe:

Advertising for a Young housekeeper.

This morning the dull monotony of the Police Station was enlivened by a man rushing in in a state of excitement and complaining that someone had robbed him. The individual, who described himself as a small farmer, had a defective utterance, which rather nonplussed the station sergeant, who, pen in hand, was anxiously waiting to take down the particulars of his charge. A series of questions, put in true police fashion elicited the following narrative. His name was John Wolfe, and he owned a farm which was very profitable. Domestic arrangement however, did not run smoothly, and his better half, after appropriating a considerable amount of the farm’s returns, bade him good bye. Feeling lonely, Mr Wolfe advertised for a young housekeeper through the medium of the newspapers. The advertisement was promptly answered by a prepossessing young girl, who called herself Maggie. Maggie was engaged at once, and so pleasantly did master and servant get on that the farmer presented his housekeeper with some of his wife’s clothing and other little odds and ends. Time rolled on and the hord of good feeling which existed between the farmer and Maggie gave promise of taking a decided turn in another direction. One fine day Maggie suggested to her master that if he saw any chance of getting a divorce she had no objection to being Mrs Wolfe No. 2 The answer he received was that if this could effected she should take the place of his absent spouse.

This week Maggie came to town with her master, and lodgings were taken up at one of the city hotels. The old saw that the course of true love never runs smooth was fully exemplified in the case of Maggie and her master, and the first contretemps occurred when be detected her speaking to a young man about her own age. An accusation of faithlessness was indignantly repudiated, and Maggie was forgiven and taken out shopping. A jeweller’s shop was entered, where the farmer purchased some two or three pounds’ worth of jewellery for his daughters, and a bangle for Maggie. The jewellery was then conveyed home, and placed in a box. The next day the farmer visited the box and found the jewellery had disappeared. On seeking Maggie he found that she had gone too. Disgusted with such heartless ingratitude, he lost no time in paying the Police Station a visit, and excitedly related his tale to a group of police officers. The particulars were duly inscribed in the police book, and this morning Detective Delaney and Franklin were given a carte blanche to seek out Maggie and try and get restitution of the missing property.

The Daily Telegraph Hobart, Fri 9 March 1888 p2, simply reported:

Hobart- A case of robbery was reported at the police station today by John Wolfe, a farmer. It appears his wife left him and he advertised for a young housekeeper, and one was engage who gave great satisfaction until, after a slight quarrel, she levanted with some jewellery.

Further newspaper letters from John Wolfe on his Codlin Moth cure offer appeared in 1903 and 1904. And then no more letters, maybe because John had died.
Although a case in the Police Courts was reported in The Mercury Fri 25 Sept 1914 p8, between John Wolfe of Leslie, fruitgrower vs. William Betts jun of Longley fruitgrower, for using abusive language in a public place calculated to cause a breach of the peace. This occurred in an auction room at Longley where defendant had got the impression that complainant had condemned some currant trees the defendant then exposed for sale, whereas the complainant had had no such intention. The defendant was found guilty and was fined and had to pay costs.
Whether this was John who would have been in his late 70's or maybe his son or a relation, is uncertain.

The Newtown Infirmary and Consumptive Home records (no 956) have Louisa Caroline Wolfe as a patient who died and was buried in a pauper's grave in Cornelian Bay Cemetery on 17 February 1920, Area: C. of E., Section B, record No. 1B21820. Her "Rank" was described as a "Domestic". A former orphanage, the home at Newtown was turned into an Infirmary the purpose of which was to "house people who were aged and infirm". So poor Louisa had returned to the same area in which she grew up.

Newtown Infirmary

(Tasmanian Archives)

5. ARTHUR JAMES BUTLER, another son of Walter and Catherine died in infancy aged 2 months in 1849 at Williamstown [viii].

6. EDMUND WALTER BUTLER- Walter's eldest son, sometimes known as Walter Junior- It is unknown what happened to Edmund.
In the Mercury Thurs 18 September 1862 p.8, Edmund Walter Butler was called as a witness in a civil suit over an incorrect survey line, McPherson v. Lord. Edmund deposed that he had been studying engineering under Mr Gale for 3 1/2 years, and that he had assisted Mr Gale in surveying the boundary line of Mr McPherson's property at Sandy Bay.

Apart from the newspaper reports in the Hobart newspapers involving Edmund's controversial appointment as clerk to the water works engineer Mr Gale contracted by the Hobart Municipal Council (of which Edmund's father Walter Butler was an alderman) to design the town's water supply system (see Hobart Town Daily Mercury beginning Tues 26 July 1859, p.3, etc.; refer to Chapters 18/19 for further details of this dispute), and one mention in a civil suit 'McPherson v. Lord' (above) in 1862, and 'Walter Butler Junior' being granted the licence for the British Hotel in Liverpool Street in 1870 (where his father was listed as landlord when he died that same year), no further records have yet been found on Edmund Walter, apart from the following Notice of Action to reclaim debts incurred by Edmund Walter and his brother Frederick Charles, in the Melbourne Courts in 1875. The Notice does not indicate whether the brothers were in Melbourne, but it does reveal that their property/properties which were probably inherited from their parents, may have been “in the hands” of a William Edwards. Edmund and Frederick's mother Frances Edward's eldest brother William Henry Edwards (b. 1809) was living in Melbourne, younger brother Frederick Edwards was living in Creswick Victoria, and second eldest brother Edmund Street Edwards was living in South Australia having emigrated there in 1838.

The Argus, 5^th and 11 October 1875 p7

Judicial and Law Notices

In the Supreme Court,

No. 3224 Between Mark Moss, Plaintiff and FREDERICK CHARLES BUTLER, Defendant,

(Also, a second Notice follows: No. 3225 Between Mark Moss, Plaintiff and EDMUND WALTER BUTLER, Defendant- NB. same wording in each notice.)

Notice is hereby given, that an action has been commenced in this court by the above-named plaintiff against the above-named defendant, for that the above-named defendant before and at the time of the commencement of this action was and is justly and truly indebted to the above-named plaintiff in the sum of ₤135 for principal and interest due and owing from the above-named defendant to the above-named plaintiff, upon and by virtue of an indenture of mortgage dated the 13^th day of January 1872, whereby the above-named defendant covenanted with the above-named plaintiff to pay the sum of ₤55 and interest thereon, to the above-named plaintiff, and which said sum and interest amount to the said sum of ₤135 as aforesaid, and a WRIT of FOREIGN ATTACHMENT has been issued, directed to William Edwards of Smith-street, in the town of Collingwood, in the colony of Victoria, draper’s assistant, for the purpose of attaching in the hands of the said William Edwards, all and singular the lands and other hereditaments, moneys and chattels, bills, bonds, and other property, of whatever nature, in the custody or under the control of the said William Edwards at the time of the service of the said writ, belonging to the above-named Frederick Charles Butler/Edmund Walter Butler, or to or in which such defendants shall at the same time be legally or equitably entitled or otherwise beneficially interested (and whether solely or jointly with any person or persons) and all debts of every kind then due by the said William Edwards to such defendant, although the same or part thereof may be payable only at a future day, and if at any time before final judgement in this action the said Frederick Charles Butler/Edmund Walter Butler, or any person on his behalf, will give the security required by law, the said Frederick Charles Butler/Edmund Walter Butler, upon entering an appearance, and upon giving notice thereof to the plaintiff, may apply to the Court and have the attachment dissolved.

Dated this fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.

William Cuddy, 84 Chancery-lane, Melbourne, plaintiff’s attorney.

By this time there appear to be a number of men named Walter Butler living in Melbourne and Victoria, which makes it very difficult to distinguish which records may refer to Edmund Walter.

There are no records of a death in the Pioneer Registers of an Edmund Butler in either Victoria, or Tasmania.

Acknowledgement: My grateful thanks to Dorothy Guy nee Butler for drawing my attention to this third family of Walter Butler, many decades ago.

Contact email: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, 35/1880/2795; and the Tasmanian Pioneer BDM Records

[ii] Ibid, 35/1887/753

[iii] Ibid, 37/1872/165

[iv] Ibid, 33/1876/1949

[v] Victorian Registry of BDM, 1884/12244

[vi] Wikipedia- Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train

[vii] Tasmanian Registry of BDM, 37/1876/175

[viii] Victorian Registry of BDM, 1849/4724

Friday 24 August 2012

Walter Butler- Ch. 25: Issue of Walter & Frances