Walter Butler (c.1807-1870)- the life of a 'currency' lad born in the colony of NSW: Walter Butler- Ch. 9: Walter's Community Service in Williamstown

Walter is named in various articles in the "Geelong Advertiser and “The Argus” newspaper in relation to his community service:

Geelong Advertiser Mon 25 July 1842 p3- Court Criminal Sessions on Monday July 18, 1842

His Honour took his seat on the bench at ten o’clock, when the following jury was empanelled:- George Ward Cole (foreman), William Budds, Andrew Beveridge, William Collins, Henry Crossley, Sylvester J. Brown, Thomas Baxter, William Belcher, Joseph Cheetham, James Cain, John Cumming, and Walter Butler

Port Philip Gazette Sat 30 April 1842 p2- donation to library
The following donations to the library have been received and are thankfully acknowledged:-
Mr Chisholm, Five Pounds (being amount of penalty awarded as forfeiture of wages under the Hired Servants Act) for the purchase of Philosophical Apparatus.
Mr Carirae, Journal of Agriculture 11 Vols and Prize Essays of Highland Society
Mr Bland, Lizar's General Atlas
Mr Somerville, Mechanics Magazine 5 vols
Mr H B Montgomery, Essay on the causes that have retarded the progress of Literature in Ireland
Mr PS Dutton, a small collection of Solver Coins
Mr Walter Butler, ditto ditto, Copper Coins
John Stephen, Secretary

Melbourne Argus, Tues 29 Sept 1846 p2- Offer to be Post Master

Williams Town- The inhabitants of William’s Town complain, and with some __ of justice, that the advantage of postal communication has not been yet extended to them; in consequence of which they are exposed to great expense, and loss of time, and both their own and the shipping interest is thereby damnified. Mr Walter Butler of the Ship Inn, William’s Town, with a view of advancing the interests of the place, which is experiencing returning prosperity has offered a room and to discharge the duties of post master there, provided the post office department will find the transit to and for Melbourne, which could be performed at a very trifling expense, because every morning at 9 o’clock a party arrives in Melbourne from William’s Town with the Custom House box, and returns again at 11 O’clock, and this being performed by contract, for an additional moderated remuneration, the mail bag could be transmitted by that mode of conveyance. We consider this suggestion worthy the notice

of the post office authorities.

It is unknown whether the Postal Department took up Walter’s offer of acting as post master.

Melbourne Argus, Fri 16 April 1847 p2- Jury Service

Supreme Court- Crown Side

Monday 12 April 1847

This being the first day of the Criminal Sessions for the present month, his Honor the Resident Judge took his seat, when the following Jury was empanelled, viz:.. W. Butler

Heard Larceny and Forgery cases

Again empanelled on Tuesday 13 April

Melbourne Argus, Fri 9 July 1847 p4- List of Electors

Revised List of Electors for the Electoral District of Port Phillip

For the Year Commencing 1^st June 1847 to 31^st May 1848

Butler, Walter- Williamstown

Argus, 25 June 1849 p4- List of Electors

List of Electors for the District of Port Phillip

For the Year commencing 1^st June 1849 to 31^st May 1850

Butler, Walter- Williamstown

(Notably Walter’s brother Lawrence Ormond Butler does not appear on either of these lists)

Argus, Mon 30 June 1851 p3—Supporter of Electoral Candidate

To John Carre Riddell Esq,

Sir,

We the undersigned and landed proprietors of the County of North Bourke request that you will allow yourself to be nominated to represent us in the first Legislative Council for the Province of Victoria and we pledge ourselves to use every exertion to secure your return.

Signed

Walter Butler

Argus, 22 July 1851 p3

Mr John Carre Riddell will meet the Electors of North Bourke at Mr Butler’s, the Ship Inn, Williams Town on Tues the 22^nd Inst, at 6 o’clock pm.

Argus, Mon 7 July 1851 p1- Supporter of Council Alderman Electoral Candidate

To John Thomas Smith Alderman,

We the undersigned Electors of the District of North Bourke, request that you allow yourself to he placed in nomination as a candidate, to represent our interests at the forthcoming election. Etc.

Signed Walter Butler etc

Argus, Mon 8 Sept 1851 p3-

North Bourke election

Alderman Smith will be happy to meet his committee at the times and place following, to make final arrangements for the Poll, viz-

At Mr Walter Butler’s Williamtown, on Tuesday evening Sept 9^th at 7 o’clock

The valuable experience he gained in supporting the local candidates in the above mentioned elections would prove useful in his future political aspirations in Hobart.

Victoria’s separation from NSW was widely celebrated in July 1851. Williamstown was eventually granted municipal status in March 1856, three years after Walter had left the settlement, although his business interests continued in the area for many years. The Municipality elected its first council in April 1856. It was now the City of Williamstown, Parish of Cut Paw Paw, County of Bourke.

Given Walter’s family history, his association with the following society is an interesting one:

Argus Fri 8 Aug 1851 p2- Anti- Transportation League

The League

Public Meeting at Williamstown

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Williamstown was held at the Ship Inn, on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of forwarding objects of the Australasian Anti-Transportation League- Mr Wallace in the chair, who, on introducing the Delegate of the League, Captain Harrison, to the company, stated, he imagined any one withholding his support from the League, must have something decidedly wrong in his constitution. The terms transportation and ‘scoundrelism’ were in his idea synonymous; and it would be an unendurable wrong should this heaven- favoured land be made a Thieves’ Paradise; or the sporting ground for a set of adventurers, at whose good will and pleasure they were liable to be shot at, or otherwise kept in bodily fear by those knights of the knife and bludgeon. Anti-transportation was not merely a political question, nor one that only concerned their present happiness, but it embraced the conservation of human life in this life, and their eternal happiness hereafter, it not only regarded themselves, but their descendants yet unborn. When their remains should have amalgamated with their mother-earth, let not their children despise those ashes because they did not use exertions to save them from the pollution of the robber and assassin.

Captain J. Harrison then came forward and said, I am delegated to spread the sentiments of the League under this banner, and will do, in the words of Nelson, “my duty”, and I do hope that everyone who now hears me will join with heart and hand to relieve his adopted country from the curse of Convictism. Many of you I now address, doubtless, “left your country for your country’s gaol,” but now have become useful members of society. To such I do not object; but is to the importations from Van Diemen’s Land; and even many of these, if they could only produce a certificate of freedom, signed by two unpaid magistrates, not minions of the Government, I would willingly receive. I have had men on my station receiving ₤30 per annum with rations, who said they were far more comfortable in Pentonville prison; and who are we to thank for this, but the Government, who thus offer a premium for crime at the expense of the revenue. Many a man in Ireland has been expatriated his country as a felon, for merely being outside his house after 8 o’clock in the evening, others branded as criminals through the iniquitous Game Laws. Such as these I do not consider felons, a felon is one who from his childhood has been taught to steal, and whose education has led, as might be expected, to degradation. And who is responsible for this, but the Government of the country, who are bound by laws, both human and divine, to raise him from his lowly condition, and by means of education to instil right principles into his breast? Not many months past, our wise Legislators at home voted ₤70,000 for Prince Albert’s dogkennels, whilst thousands were dying of starvation, and were driven to desperation to procure even a bare existence. Our present condition may be easily illustrated by an allegory- Victoria, is a trim, fast-sailing corvette, towed by a line of battle ship, New South Wales; we ask her to cast off the tow line, which is done eventually, as we find she is dragging is to perdition. We are now on our own resources; our commander is a Post Captain, and as long as he is true to his duty, his crew will be loyal to him; but if he listens to the agents of his owner and runs our gallant vessel upon the reef of convictions, I will be amongst the first to pitch him overboard. Some people are of opinion, that now gold is discovered in Victoria, Earl Grey will desist from sending more convicts; but I imagine he does not care where they go to, so long as England is rid of them. At a public meeting in Melbourne, it was said, convicts shall not land here; and should Earl Grey still persist, and we suffer them to become inhabitants of this colony, we deserve to he degraded and branded as slaves, and to leave the brand as an inheritance to our children. As far as I am myself concerned, whilst I have a hand to draw a trigger, convicts shall not pollute our shores, should my life be forfeited as the penalty. In conclusion , the gallant speaker strongly inculcated the necessity of joining the League, and rendering every assistance both by contribution and example too, to the righteous cause, on which the prosperity and happiness of so many depended. At this, the end of his address, Captain Harrison resumed his seat, amidst loud cheers from all present.

Proposed by Mr John Cumington, seconded by Mr H. Patterson, and carried unanimously, “That this meeting cordially approves of the formation of the League, and resolves to co- operate in the great and important work in which it is engaged.’

The second resolution was proposed by Mr G.Ashton, seconded by Mr C. Broad, and carried unanimously. “That a committee to consist of the undermentioned gentlemen be now appointed to collect subscriptions in aid of the dunds, procure adherents to the cause, and diffuse its principles in this locality. Walter Butler, Frank Liardet,

G. Wilsmore, Woodford, Brownlow, Wallace, Masen and Conway. Three to form a quorum.”

Mr Walter Butler was likewise elected treasurer and secretary.

The meeting then broke up.

Walter’s active role in the formation of a local chapter of the Anti-Transportation League is interesting, given his parent’s transportation history. The speaker’s differentiation between “born felons” and those from Ireland convicted of “being outside his house after 8 o’clock”, must have resonated with Walter. However, it is doubtful that Walter ever confessed to being the son of Irish convicts, albeit a political prisoner. His attitude may have been influenced by his experience of discovering a murdered body in 1848, and the subsequent court case. Both the perpetrator and the victim were Pentonville ex-convicts.

Frank Liardet, named on the committee, was the owner of the Port Melbourne Hotel, and the Pier Hotel, built his own pier at Williamstown, and supplied a cart for hire by passengers or for their luggage, for transportation to Melbourne. [1] The Brownlow named, may have been the teacher named James Bromlow of the Trinity school (possibly misspelt by the journalist), and James Wallace the teacher from the Catholic school, both discussed earlier.

Argus, 9 June (and 4^th) 1852 p4

Seamen’s Hospital Meeting

“ for the purpose of considering the best means of establishing an Institution of this kind at Williams Town, was held at the Ship Inn on Monday Evening…. For the last five months 511 vessels entered Hobson’s Bay.” (This related to approximately 8000 sailors arriving at this port in the space of one year.)

A committee of Ship’s Captains was formed to pursue to matter.

This meeting indicates that Walter was closely associated with the shipping fraternity in Williamstown.

The above reports indicate that Walter was very involved in the development of the Williamstown community.

contact butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)

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

[1] Hobsons Bay online History Kit, op.cit

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Walter Butler- Ch. 9: Walter's Community Service in Williamstown