George William Patterson (1855 - 1919)

Born 6 Apr 1855 in Sugar Loaf Station, near Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Amelia Cora (Flanigan) Patterson — married 1877 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Died 16 Aug 1919 at age 64 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

• LIFE SKETCH: GEORGE PATTERSON, Robert and Fanny's thirteenth and last child, was born on 6 April 1855 at Sugar Loaf Station, Goulburn. He was christened on 27 September 1855. On 22 January 1887 he married Frances Amelia FLANNIGAN (sister to Mary Jane and Isabella) at Wallacetown, where Frances's parents, John and Ann (nee McNeil) Flannigan, had settled after leaving the Goulburn area. This meant that three Patterson brothers had married three Flannigan sisters. George selected land adjoining Geralgambeth and also held land at Flowerdale Estate, which was eventually purchased by his brother, William. George purchased ten acres at North Wagga Wagga where he and his family lived, and was licencee of the Black Swan Hotel at North Wagga from 1892 to 1894. He then had a butcher's cart but returned to contract work and according to his death notice, he fenced practically all of the Wagga Experimental Farm, including the grape vine trellis. He was working on the Wantabadgery Estate when the Moonlight gang made its raid on the homestead to get horses. Frances used to assist the Wagga doctor, Dr Martin, with midwifery services. George died on 16 August 1919, aged 64 years, leaving five sons and six daughters (one female deceased) and is buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Wagga Wagga. Frances Amelia died at Wagga Wagga on 6 November 1936, aged 77 years, and is buried at the Church of England Cemetery, Wagga Wagga.
• Following is an extract from notes written by George and Frances's daughter, Hilda Nash: "The Pattersons and Flannigans were all farmers who owned property at Taralga, between Goulburn and Bathurst. Then they moved to Wagga Wagga where they had Geralgambeth Station, near Harefield and Junee. The Pattersons owned that, and I think the Flannigans were out Brucedale way, on the Coolamon side of Wagga. I'm not sure - it may have been out Malebo way - Old Narradera Road towards Currawarna way, through North Wagga out past the Black Swan. William Patterson was on Geralgambeth property between Junee and Harefield (near Junee) until he died. They had a private cemetery on the property which was consecrated by a Bishop (I don't know his name). My father, George, was a farmer, and a butcher in 1913 and 1914. Earlier in 1883 or 1884 he had the Black Swan Hotel at North Wagga Wagga. In the later years of his life he was a fencer and clearing contractor, and was working on Eulomo Station, Matthew Sawyer's property at Bethungra, when he died."
• BIRTH: 6 April 1855 at Sugar Loaf Station, near Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. [GEORGE PATTERSON; Birth Date: 1855; Father's name: ROBERT PATTERSON; Mother's name: FRANCES; Birth Place: New South Wales; Registration Year: 1855; Registration Place: Bungonia, Goulburn, Goulburn Plains, Lake Bathurst, Marulan, New South Wales; Volume Number: V1855660 42A.]
• BAPTISM: 27 September 1855 at Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia.
• MARRIAGE to FRANCES AMELIA CORA FLANNIGAN: 22 January 1877 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. [GEORGE PATTERSON; Spouse Name: FRANCES FLANIGAN; Marriage Date: 1877; Marriage Place: New South Wales; Registration Place: Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; Registration Year: 1877; Registration Number: 4561.]
• CAPTAIN MOONLITE and THE PATTERSONS: The following is an extract written by John's niece, Hilda PATTERSON Nash, daughter of John's brother and sister-in-law, George and Frances Patterson: "Uncle Jack was at Wantabadgery. He had the Australian Arms Hotel near Wantabadgery Station, and his sons and the hotel patrons were captured by the Moonlite gang and taken to the homestead where the owners and staff were prisoners. But they left Aunty Isabella at the hotel and told her to bring Uncle Jack down to the homestead when he got back. But Uncle Jack wanted to go into Wagga for the Police. My father, George Patterson, was with him, so my father and another man went back to Wagga on horseback and brought the Police. George was holding the Police horse while the shooting was going on, while Moonlite held my cousin, young Bert Patterson, prisoner. He was only about 7 or 8. He ran away and Moonlite called on him to stop and fired shots all around the lad, but it made him run faster. Moonlite is supposed to have said, "What I would give to own a boy like that!" When the people were prisoners in the homestead, the bushrangers gave them wine and beer from the cellars and they fed them well. They made the homestead owners wait on them. Moonlite wouldn't have taken prisoners, but when the gang went to the homestead first and asked for work and food and shelter, they refused them, so he made the homestead owners wait on the prisoners."
• DEATH: 16 August 1919, Aged 64, at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. [GEORGE PATTERSON; Death Date: 1919; Death Place: New South Wales; Father's name: ROBERT; Mother's name: FRANCES; Registration Year: 1919; Registration Place: Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; Registration Number: 18357.]
• OBITUARY: THE DAILY ADVERTISER, 8 August 1919. LATE GEORGE PATTERSON: The death occurred of Mr George Patterson, at the age of 64, at his residence, George Street, North Wagga, on Saturday afternoon. Mr Patterson was born at Goulburn, and was the only surviving son of a family of nine, five sons and four daughters, of Mr Robert Patterson. Mrs E Graham is now the only living member of the family. Deceased is survived by his wife, six daughters and five sons, who are as follows: Mrs W Hirst, Blacktown, Sydney; Mrs R Griffiths, Wagga; Mrs H Pendrick, Wagga; Mrs G A Bruce, Griffith; Mrs R Scurrah, Naranderah; Miss Hilda Patterson, and G H, R A, Leslie, J H and Pte C A Patterson. The latter is still on active service. Upon leaving Goulburn, deceased came to live at Gerilgambeth, now known as Harefield. He followed contract work for a number of years, eventually coming to Wagga about 36 years ago. Mr Patterson took up land at Flowerdale, about 13 miles from Wagga. For some time he was licensee of the Black Swan, North Wagga, but ultimately resumed his old vocation as a contractor. Among the contract work he did was to practically fence the Wagga Experimental Farm, including the grape vine trellis. In his young days Mr Patterson had some rather interesting adventures with bushrangers. He was working on the Wantabadgery Estate when the Moonlight gang made a raid on the homstead to secure horses, including a number of police animals, which were in the charge of Mr Patterson and Mr McDonald. The gang consisted of six men who eventually captured McDonald and several other station hands, and locked them in the Wantabadgery Hotal. Patterson, who was not captured, walked to Junee, and securing aid, made to the hotel, which was kept by his brother, Jack, to find that the bushrangers had departed. The gang was later caught at Urangully.
• BURIAL: 7 August 1919, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. A large number of relatives and friends of the deceased were present from Girilgambeth, Harefield, Kurrajong, Lake Albert, and Wagga. The internment took place in the Church of England portion of the Wagga Cemetery. The pall-bearers were Messrs George, Robert, Albert and Leslie Patterson, sons of the deceased; H G Pendrick, son-in-law; Arthur and Robert Graham, nephews of the deceased. The Rev P W Bramble officiated at the graveside. The chief mourners were the widow of the deceased, sons and daughters, Mrs E Graham of Lake Albert, sister, Messrs Patterson brothers, Harefield, Mr G Lindon, and others. Mrs W Hirst was unable to attend through illness. Wreaths included one from the employees of T Edmonstone and Co.

Sources

• Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
• Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950
• Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
• The Daily Advertiser newspaper
• Family documents