BUTTERWORTH, Samuel

(1845-1937)

Samuel was born at Fort Knockalla, Lough Swilly, Country Donegal in Ireland on 15 October 1845 to parents Samuel and Catherine Butterworth nee Quinn (reference; reference; reference; reference). His father, Samuel, was an officer in charge of Fort Knockalla's artillery (reference; reference). Ireland constructed the fort to fortify Lough Swilly against French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.

When Samuel was five years old, he arrived in Western Australia with his parents on 11 June 1850 on the Scindian (reference; reference). His father brought the family to Western Australia as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard of the Royal Artillery (reference). Samuel spent his childhood in Perth and was said to be educated at the Christian Brothers College, Perth (reference). However, it was the Christian Brothers College's predecessor, Riverview College, which he likely attended as the CBC did not open until 1894 (reference). 

Once Samuel finished school, he went to sea for several years trading on the North West coast of Western Australia (reference). In 1862, Dan Chapman contracted Samuel to go to Geraldton and aid him in breaking up Uncle Tom, a five-ton boat that came ashore half a mile up the Chapman River (reference). On another occasion, he brought a ship from Cossack to Geraldton with the help of a 12-year-old boy and an Aboriginal man who departed the voyage at Shark Bay (reference). During his naval career, Samuel was shipwrecked up to six times (reference). 

After his time on the sea, Samuel joined the police force and served for fifteen years (reference; reference). Samuel served at many places, including Donnybrook, Minninup and Bunbury (reference). He was also the police constable of Bunbury from at least 1875 until the end of 1884. One case Samuel worked on was in 1875 when two men, Simon Staines and James Ritchie, were accused of stealing six sides of bacon from Thomas Pigott's property in Bunbury (reference). When Thomas Pigott realised he had been robbed, he went to Constable Butterworth to deal with the crime (reference). They were both found guilty and sentenced to prison (reference). Samuel was also involved in an 1880 criminal case where William Coverley was charged with stealing and killing an ox (reference). At this time, Samuel was stationed as a police constable at Minninup (reference). Even after his policing career was over, Samuel helped others seek justice in the community. In 1914 there was a court case that Samuel provided supporting evidence for when John Scott charged John Barlett for letting his cows ruin his garden (reference). Samuel aided John Scott's claim by demonstrating from his lifetime's knowledge of gardening the value of bean crop trampled by the cows (reference). He also sat on juries after his police service, such as in 1895 (reference).

In 1883 at the Roman Catholic Church in Perth, Samuel married Anne Norah McAvoy (1849-1924) (reference; reference). Her name had many different spellings in the historical record, including Anorah McEnvoy and Nora McEvoy (reference; reference). Together they had seven children, Mary (1872-1872), Mary Ada Agnes (1873-1963), John Edward (1875-1938), Margaret Lucy (1877-1904), Samuel (1878-), Ann Norah (1880-1945) and Fanny Maria (1883-) (reference; reference; reference).

In 1864 he went into business at Pinjarra (reference). From this, Samuel became very involved with the Pinjarra community in later life. Nearly twenty years later, in 1883, Samuel ended his Pastoral Lease partnership with James Lambe in Bridgetown, showing that he had property in several areas of Western Australia (reference). Pastoral lease partnerships caused issues for Samuel, as in 1886, there was a dispute between Abraham Walter Moulbin and himself regarding payment and transferral of pastoral leases (reference). He was also expected to keep up with his holdings, and in 1902 when he fell behind in paying rates, the Southern Times published that he owed money for his Murray 15 and Murray 49 properties (reference). In 1933 he went on to misunderstand the Murray Road Board regarding his rates for his property (reference). 

Samuel retired from policing to take over the Exchange Hotel at Pinjarra on 12 George Street in 1885 which he was the proprietor and owner for several years (reference; reference). The Exchange Hotel was a baiting house when coaches plied between Perth and Bunbury (reference). In February that year, he announced in The Inquirer and Commercial News his intention to apply at the Quarterly Licensing Meeting for a Way-side House License to sell wines and spirits at the Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra (reference). He then announced that The Exchange Hotel would open on 1 April 1885 as a first-class roadside hotel, supplying the best brands of wines, beers, spirits, lemonade, ginger ale and cordials, and good stabling for guests' horses (reference). 

After leaving the hotel, he took up farming and purchased land in Pinjarra (reference; reference). However, the Exchange Hotel continued, with Edward Reynolds renting the premises and continuing the business from Samuel in 1893 (reference). Samuel was still renting the property in 1901 when it was run by Henry William Line (reference). 

Samuel was active in the community as a Road Board and School Board member (reference; reference). He was elected to the District Board of Education for the Murray District in 1896 (reference). He was also a foundational member of the Pinjarra Cemetery Board in 1902 (reference; reference). He was also active in the affairs of the Roman Catholic church (reference). Samuel supported community members in getting licences for inns (reference; reference). In addition, he managed reserved government land (reference). In 1892 he was the administrator of the estate of Mary McEvoy who had passed away and owned land in the Swan district (reference). In 1900 he was appointed as a member of the Pinjarra Local Board (reference). He continued to serve the cemetery board until at least 1921 (reference). At 82 years old in 1904, he was appointed to the Drakesbrook Road Board (reference). 

In 1904 one of Samuel's daughters predeceased him - Margaret Lucy (reference). Margaret had married Joseph Higham (reference). The funeral left Samuel's property, and she was interred in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Pinjara (reference).

Samuel's wife, Anne Norah, passed thirteen years before he died (reference; reference). She was a postmistress at Preston between 1879 and 1884. She also nominated her sisters Margaret and Johanna for assisted migration to Western Australia. They arrived on 23 February 1865 on the Fitzroy when Anne Norah worked at Auburn in the Avon district. Anne was also buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Pinjarra Cemetery (reference). The funeral departed from their residence on 13 June 1924 and was run by Ferguson and Co., undertakers (reference). After her funeral, all persons with claims against her estate were required to forward them to the estate's executor before 19 August (reference). 

In the late 1920s, Samuel moved to Mandurah from Pinjarra, where she stayed until he fell ill (reference). At Mandurah, he was living with his daughter Mary at Leighton Farm (reference). 

The South Western Advertiser wished Samuel a happy 91st birthday: 'congratulations and many happy returns to our hardy old veteran (reference).' During his life, Samuel was known to occasionally smoke cigarettes (reference).

On 19 October 1928, the South Western Advertiser announced that Samuel was at the local hospital in terrible health (reference). Despite this, he nearly lived another ten years. Having survived this health scare, Samuel met with some old friends the following year. In December 1929, he met with Thomas Gowman, 82 years old, William Underwood, 73 years old, Richard Fitzgerald, 69 years old, and Samuel himself was the most senior at 84 (reference). 

Samuel died at Leederville at the Perth Hospital on 23 or 25 February 1937 at 91 years old (reference; reference). Samuel was remembered to have had a 'cheerful disposition' and was 'well respected by the community (reference).' His motto was 'self-confidence', and he believed that his life could fill a book with all his adventures (reference). His son John and three daughters, Mary Cooper, Ann Green and Frances Green, were left to mourn his passing (reference; reference). His children Lucy and William had predeceased him. He also left behind grandchildren and great-grandchildren (reference). The funeral took place on 23 February 1937 in the Roman Catholic portion of the Pinjarra Cemetery and was attended by many, with Reverend Father Russel officiating the ceremony (reference). The funeral commenced at St Augustine Church in Pinjara before proceeding to the graveyard (reference). 

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BUTLER, William

In Bunbury he employed a ticket of leave man in 1884.

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BUSWELL, Walter John

He was baptised in Bunbury on 15/10/1871. Walter was the son of Joseph and Eliza. He married in 1893 to Emma Elliott. Emma was the daughter of Thomas of Busselton and Hannah. He worked as a brickmaker and building contractor in Bunbury. He also worked as a horse dealer. He was a member of the Local Town Council in 1908. He was educated at the government school in Bunbury.

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BUSWELL, Joseph

(1823-27/12/1891)

Joseph was born in England and died in Bunbury. He was an expiree, meaning that he was a convict who completed his sentence. Joseph arrived on 02/06/1855 on the Stag, leaving his wife and children in England. Joseph first married Eliza Stanton and then remarried on 14/10/1858 to Eliza Cross (1839-15/01/1914) in Bunbury. Eliza was the daughter of William of Taunton, England. Their children were Ellen Jane (1860-), Selina (1864-), Albion (1866-), Walter John (baptised 1871), Oliver (1873-), Arthur (1875-), Joseph (1876-) and two others. Joseph was a master chimney sweep, then a Vasse fisherman from 1873 to 1876. He worked at "Minniup" in Bunbury, at a boarding house as a keeper from 1877 to 1888. He employed fourteen ticket of leave men from 1864 to 1876, including two boatmen from 1864 to 1865 and a cook in 1876.


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BUSWELL, Henry

(-12/01/1886)

Henry died in Karridale, leaving a widow and two children. He arrived possibly on 20/11/1879 on the Otway from the Eastern colonies. In Bunbury he was a carter in 1885. Unfortunately, he was killed in a riding accident.

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BURROWS, William

(1827-14/06/1884)

William died in Perth and was an expiree, meaning that he completed his sentence as a convict. William arrived on 01/01/1858 on the Nile. He married on 19/01/1861 to Mary Ann Dellar (1846-) in Bunbury. She came on 06/04/1859 on the Hamilla Mitchell. Their children were Alfred (1860-), Alice, Charles (baptised 1870), Frank (1874-) and Mary Jane (1877-). He was in Bunbury at "Alverstoke". He employed four ticket of leave men from 1863 to 1867 and seven ticket of leave men from 1869 to 1871. He lived in Perth, where the City Council employed him. He was a member of the Church of England.

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BURNES. J

(1820-02/1841)

He was a steward on the ship Hercules and died at Bunbury.

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BURKITT, William

(1836-)

He may have been the son of Solomon. In Bunbury he worked as a bootmaker in the 1860s.

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BURKETT, Solomon

(01/01/1804)

He was an expiree, meaning that he completed his sentence as a convict. Solomon arrived on 01/06/1850 on the Scindian, with his wife and children following on 05/11/1852 on the Anne MacLean. Solomon married Elizabeth (1808-18/08/1856). Elizabeth died in·Bunbury. Their children were William (1836-), Sarah Jane (1840-), Elizabeth (1844-) and John (1847-). He worked as a shepherd and bought 10 acres of land in 1856 in the Wellington district. He employed two ticket of leave men between 1863 and 1865.

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BURCHAM, W

He arrived at Bunbury from Melbourne 19/01/1888 on the Albany.

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BURCHAM, T/ W

In Bunbury, he was a clerk and worked at the Blackwood Road in 1879. In Bunbury, he was a messenger for the Post and Telegraph. He departed around 1883.

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BUNBURY, Henry William St. Pierre

(1812-1875)

Henry William St Pierre Bunbury was born on 2 September 1812, in England, into a British military family. Following in his father’s footsteps, Sir Henry, Henry joined the 43rd Regiment in 1830 and by 1833 had been promoted to lieutenant. He transferred to the 21st Regiment which consequently led to his deployment in the Australian colonies, and having the township of Bunbury named in his honour. During his time in Australia he served in New South Wales (1834-1835), Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania, 1835-1836) and the Swan River Colony (Western Australia, 1836-1837) (reference). In Western Australia Bunbury was stationed in the Pinjarra, York and Busselton districts (reference). While at York he was involved in a government-sanctioned scare campaign whereby many Aboriginal people who were not involved in the murder of two white men, were murdered in retaliation (reference).

Governor Sir James Stirling decided to form the town of Bunbury in honour of Bunbury’s exploration across the land from Pinjarra to Vasse, on 21 December 1836. His exploration is described in his journal. 

According to Bunbury, no one wanted to be his guide because they would be travelling through ‘strange tribes’, but Monang, an Aboriginal man from the Murray region, volunteered to guide him on the 80km journey. Two unnamed men, Bunbury’s servant and a soldier, also accompanied them. With all previous travel having been conducted via water, Bunbury proclaimed he was the first European settler to tread this path through the bush. 

COLONEL H. W. BUNBURY IN LATER LIFE; In Early Days in Western Australia: Being the Letters and Journal of Lieut. H. W. BUNBURY; Photo courtesy of the DBCA Library (Reference)

Bunbury’s Journal

Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia

Their journey began in Pinjarra, in the early morning of 14 December 1836. They travelled south-southwest but avoided the “numerous swamps in the country between the Murray and the Harvey [Rivers]”. They were plagued by mosquitos, sand flies and shrubbery tearing at their legs. The next day they encountered a group of Aboriginals near a lagoon called ‘Miellup’ (Myalup). They were acquaintances of Monang, and greeted him enthusiastically. The men, women, children and elderly in the group were curious about the small party, and asked many questions about their horses and weapons, and their journey from Pinjarra to Port Leschenault (locally known as ‘Gombnup’) to Vasse (known as ‘Yandorup’). Then the whole party accompanied them onto the estuary known as Derbal (Leschenault Estuary).

The vast extent of water before us lay smooth and still like a glassy lake, the sea breeze, having fallen with the setting sun which threw out in dark relief the pointed and steep sandhills on our right.” (reference)

At nightfall, the new members of the party lit a large fire on the bank of the estuary to signal their arrival to the surrounding Aboriginal groups, and it was answered by several fires in the vicinity. The group walked a few more miles before stopping for the night. The locals remembered the first European settlement in the Bunbury area - the 63rd Regiment under command of Lieutenant Mcleod, which had been stationed north of the estuary (today’s Sykes foreshore) during 1830. Governor Sir James Stirling had ordered the regiment to stay there, offering protection to European settlers from the Aboriginal people.

The group that arrived at Port Leschenault, the future site of Bunbury, was large, having been joined by many Aboriginal people wishing to accompany Bunbury on his journey. Bunbury did not linger for long at Port Leschenault and continued onto his destination, Vasse, where he encountered the Bussell family and Governor Sir James Stirling, the latter he travelled back to Port Leschenault with.

It was 21 December 1836 when they arrived back at Port Leschenault and Stirling established the township of Bunbury in his name. Bunbury describes the location in his journal.

A township has been formed or at least laid down on the maps, comprising the southern promontory and part of the north beach at the entrance of Port Leschenault Inlet which the a house and make a nice place for myself and I could hereafter purchase land and settle on one of the rivers, where the advantages are in my opinion much greater than on the York side of the Daring Range… as the colony prospers I am certain that Port Leschenault must become a place of importance”.

Despite his desire to stay at the newly formed township of Bunbury, his duties as a soldier lay elsewhere. First being relocated to Wonnerup to lead the newly established military camp, he then departed Australia in November 1837 to continue his military service. His career led him to the Cape of Good Hope, where he met his wife, Cecilia Napier, the daughter of Sir George Napier, in November 1852. She was in Western Australia for less than two years. The couple had five children and Bunbury retired as a colonel in 1862. He died on 18 September 1875, having just turned 63 (reference).

Map courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia slwa_b1840542_2

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BULL, William

(1857-)

William was born in England and was the son of Edward and Charlotte. He arrived on the Palmerston on 11/02/1861 with his parents as a Pensioner Guard. William married on 09/03/1886 to Elizabeth Gibson in Picton. Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Amelia. Their children were Charlotte Amelia (1887-1971), James Henry (1889-1978), Alathia/Alphia (1890-1974), Hay Elizabeth (1892-), William (killed in World War I), Winifred (1895-1928), Gertrude (1897-), Alice (1898-1910), George (1899-1977). In Bunbury, William worked as a carpenter, then moved to a Fremantle Residence at Hampton Road and 95 McCleery Street and lived there from 1905 to 1925.

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BULL, Henry

(1799-)

Henry arrived on 09/01/1830 on the Nancy. Henry married on 15/05/1832 to Henrietta Ann Wells (1813-). Henrietta was the sister of Richard G.Wells. She arrived on 26/04/1831 on the Atwick. Henry was a retired lieutenant of the Royal Navy. In a partnership with lieutenant William Wood, they brought goods and servants to qualify for a grant of 17,760 acres. The partnership dissolved in 1834. He was the Commander of the Colonial Vessel in 11/1836, then a farmer at "Oakdale" in Canning and "Belbus" on the Swan. He was the community Justice of the Peace in 1830. He moved to Bunbury as Government Resident in 1838 briefly. His wife collected specimens of wildflowers for English botanists. She left for England on 02/1838 on the Abercrombie and returned in 1839. Her husband sent her back to England in 08/1840 on the Chieftain for having affairs with army officers. Henry Bull was a member of the Executive Council from 21/04/1841. He appointed agents to act for him in 01/1848.

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BUCKLE, Jonathon

He married Mary Magowan (17/09/1856-). Mary was born in Western Australia and was the daughter of Philip John and Margaret. Jonathan worked in Bunbury as a carpenter from 1877 to 1889, a carter in 1880 and a farmer in 1884.

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BUCK, George Richard

He married on 01/06/1893 to Maud Harriet Delaporte (21/06/1873-) in Bunbury. Maud was the daughter of Robert Thomas and Mary Love. Their children were Felix George (1693-1920), Alexander Percy (1895-1923), Vera Constance May (1897-1962), Ruby Haud (1899-), Roy Bernard (1900-), Gladys Irene (1901-), Marjorie Gwendoline (1903-), Sylvia Hazel (1904-), Stella Doreen (1906-), Phyllis Myra (1908-), Lesley George (1910-), Enid Mary (1911-) and April (1913-1969)

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BUCHANAN, William Hiller

(10/03/1868-). He was born in Bunbury. William was the son of Reverend Andrew. He married on 17/04/1901 to Susan Simpson (-08/04/1902). She was baptised on 06/10/1880. Susan was the daughter of George and Catherine. At 16 years old, William was employed by Padbury Loton and Company, then joined the civil service at 18 years. In Perth, he worked as a junior clerk for the Colony Treasurer from 1887 to 1888, according to the Government Gazettes 1886 to 1889. He then moved to the Audit Department and served in Geraldton. After Federation, he became a sub-collector of Customs and then moved in 1909 to Premier. He was a major in the Metropolitan Rifle Volunteers, joining in 1884.

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BUCHANAN, John

(1836-). He was an expiree, meaning that he completed his sentence as a convict. John arrived on 31/12/1862 on the York. In Bunbury he worked as a tailor and storekeeper from 1869 to 1881. He bought Town Lots in 1868. He was listed as a merchant in 1877 when he signed a petition regarding discrimination against expirees.

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BUCHANAN, Charles

He married Mary Ann and had a child, Harriet (1855-). He lived in Bunbury.

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BUCHANAN, Reverend Andrew

(05/11/1832-08/02/1923)

He was born in Scotland and died in Bunbury. He arrived from South Australia on 28/05/1866 on the Gem with his wife. He was married in Scotland on 29/08/1865 to Agnes Hiller, who died on 30/06/1874. Andrew remarried on 10/11/1874 to Catherine Ann Teede (30/06/1852 - 28/09/1924) in South Australia. Catherine died in Bunbury. She was the daughter of George Robert and Mildred Mary. Andrew and Agnes's children were William (1868-), Agnea and Marion. Andrew and Catherine's children were Eleanor Mildred (1875-1941), Mabel (1878-1960), Mary Bird (1881-1959), Andrew (1886-1889) and Blanche (1890-). Andrew worked as an ordained minister on 26/10/1865 in Scotland. He was the Bunbury Congregation Minister from 1867 to 1874 and on the Board of Education in 1870. He lived in Wellington District in Bunbury but later transferred to Port Pirie in South Australia from 10/1874 to 1879. He again served at Bunbury in 1879. In 1893 he visited South Australia and returned 31/10/1888 from South Australia on the Victorian.

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