John Louis Leverman (1838 - 1927)

Born 6 Jul 1838 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Husband of Elizabeth (Rowland) Leverman — married 30 Mar 1864 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

Died 2 Sep 1927 at age 89 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

Biography

John Louis Leverman was born in 1838 in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a cabinetmaker cum undertaker who arrived in Western Australia in 1859^[1]. He was a descendant of the Von Levermann family, and son of Frederick William (born 1800) and Marion Anne Leverman (nee Ortner, born 1801). Louis was baptised in August 1838 and grew up and his early education was in Nova Scotia. Louis (as he was known) completed his training, as a carpenter, in Canada and was sent to live with relations in Boston, in order to attend University in that city. Instead, he jumped a whaling ship from Boston Harbour, aged about 18 years, and sailed for the Western Australian Colony, in 1859. Louis was about twenty at the time^[2].

After he left the ship at Fremantle, he joined the Colony's Water Police. He sailed from Fremantle to Champion Bay, aboard the Schooner Favorite (46 tons), on the 12th October. Later, he was able to procure a job as a Carpenter to work on the Greenough Mill - payment for this work was a grant of land on the Greenough Flats^[2].

John (25) married Elizabeth Rowland (20) (born in 1843 in Perth, Western Australia) on March 30, 1864 in Greenough, Western Australia. She was a strict Methodist and he a Catholic which caused a rift with her family^[1]. Their children were:

• Amy Louisa Leverman (1865– )
• Frederick William Leverman (1867– )
• Harriet Elizabeth Leverman (1868– )
• Charles Louis Leverman (1870– )
• Emma Mary Leverman (1873– )
• Mary Ann Leverman (1875– )
• Emily Frances Leverman (1877– )
• Cecily Gertrude Leverman (1880– )
• Urban Rowland Leverman (1881–1918)

Louis, began building a cottage that would be known as “Leverman's Cottage” in the early 1860s. He also worked on the original St Peter's Catholic Church, at Central Greenough. The cottage has been occupied continuously since that time. Located close to the Brand Highway and surrounded by several large trees the painted stone cottage has, a combination hipped and gable corrugated iron roof. The original stone cottage comprises the central section that has additions to the north, south and west^[2].

He worked at the Greenough from the 1860s into the 20th century. Assisted by his son Charles Louis (1870-1936), he fitted-out of the Catholic Church at Greenough. The pair also made furniture for the Waldeck family of the district. By 1874 he had acquired land and was farming. He made a travelling medicine chest for his son- in- law Charles Conway^[1].

See here for an example of furniture built by Louis.

John died on September 2, 1927 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia, aged 88.

Research Notes

LEVERMAN, John Louis. b . 1838 (Nova Scotia) , d. 2. 9.1927 (Greenough) , son of Frederick William & Marion (nee Ortner). arr. 1859. m. 30.3.1864 (Greenough) Elizabeth ROWLAND b . 4. 1843 d. 25.7.1925 (Greenough). dtr. of Richard & Elizabeth. Chd. Amy b. 1865. Frederick William b. 1867 , Emma Mary Imelda, Harriet Elizabeth b. 1869 d . 1901, Charles Louis b. 1871 d. 1936 (Greenough), Mary b. 1875, Emily Frances b . 1877, Cecily Gertrude b. 1881, Elizabeth Ivy b. 1885. Greenough, carpenter 1867 & farmer 1874. Undertaker. Employed 9 T/L men 1863-1878 .^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Design & Art Australia Online. Record for John Louis Leverman b. 1838 Designer (Furniture Designer / Cabinetmaker). https://www.daao.org.au/bio/john-louis-leverman/biography/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} . The Voyage of the Tranby:https://tranby1829.weebly.com/7-elizabeth.html
3. ↑ The Bicentennial dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888. [compiled by Rica Erickson], https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary