William Mutton (1823 - 1880)

Born 9 Feb 1823 in Altarnun, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte Elizabeth (Woodhams) Mutton — married 31 Aug 1847 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1880 at age 57 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

William passed away in 1880^[1]

Christening

Christening:

Date: 09 FEB 1823

Place: Altarnum, Cornwall, England

Sources

1. ↑ NSW Death Registration 9372/1880

MARRIAGE V184784 84 MUTTON WILLIAM to WOODHEMS CHARLOTTE E BATHURST NSW DEATH 9372/1880 MUTTON WILLIAM (f) RICHARD (m) MARY PARRAMATTA NSW https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-search.aspx

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JMHP-KXX : 30 December 2014), William Mutton, 09 Feb 1823; citing ALTARNUN,CORNWALL,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 236,570, 236,571.

Event

Event:

Type: Anecdote

Date: 2008

Note: He was aged about four when his parents left England in December 1826 bound for New South Wales. He was the younger of two children born in Cornwall to Richard Mutton and Mary Short and was baptised at St. Nonna's, Altarnun on 9 February 1823. He was aged about 18 when he purchased a land grant of 640 acres adjoining his father's 640 acre block near Essington in the County of Westmoreland. William Mutton's grant, applied for on 8 July 1838, was advertised on 20 June 1840 and purchased on 12 August 1840 for £352. He later purchased Portion 52 of an adjoining 40 acres. The whole of this property and his father Richard Mutton's 640-odd acres collectively was called Wattle Grove.

On 31 August 1847 William Mutton married Charlotte Elizabeth Woodhams of Bathurst.

Until about 1855 William Mutton farmed Wattle Grove and also maintained an interest in the family butchery in William St, Bathurst which had operated prior to 27 June 1851. On this date, and while he continued to farm at Wattle Grove, William Mutton ran a newspaper advertisement advising the people of Bathurst that the butchery had been moved to Howick St. The business would continue to be managed by his mother.

Far sighted men quickly realised the financial advantages of land speculation. Apparently William Mutton saw these opportunities too, for while he raised sheep and cattle for both his butchery and the general stock trade, he steadily acquired many parcels of land.

In September 1851 William Mutton purchased at auction 25 acres, 3 roods and 20 perches, being Portion 8 of the 'Government Reserve at Mutton Falls' at Fish River. The land was conveyed to William Mutton on 1 March 1852 and then sold in 1854 to the widowed Ann Webb. We wonder: Why did William choose this particular block of land from the 15 at Mutton's Falls that had been offered for sale - all of them comprising part of the farm formerly leased by his father for nearly 20 years? A study of the Parish Map reveals that the land was bordered on one side by the Fish River and also fronted a road to Bathurst. Perhaps these features alone made it an ideal investment.

On 18 January 1853 William Mutton purchased a further grant of 31 acres, 1 rood and 32 perches near King's Creek, Essington Park. The land was 'put up for sale' by proclamation of 29 July 1851. There is a rather baffling aspect to the indenture from which the foregoing facts were taken: William Mutton was erroneously referred to as 'William Mutton the younger'.

William Mutton apparently sub-divided part of Wattle Grove into small acreages suitable for tenant farmers.

An advertisement in The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal of Saturday 26 January 1856 indicated that William Mutton might have planned to draw away from large-scale farming and grazing.

The 680 acre farm was sold to Henry Humphries on 1 June 1856 for £500 down payment and £400 to be paid with interest over two years. The property, still known as Wattle Grove, is presently owned by an Humphries descendant.

Following the sale of his portion of Wattle Grove, William Mutton moved with his family to Bathurst. the exact location of their home has not been determined - we assume it occupied one of the blocks of land he had purchased on the south-western outskirts of the town.

William Mutton was actively involved in Bathurst's civic affairs. This was demonstrated in 1858 by his support, with his brothers Richard and John Mutton, of Henry Rotton as candidate for the Western Boroughs seat in Parliament.

In those times, as nowadays, public political meetings could erupt in heated argument. Rotton's campaign proved no exception. At such a meeting William Mutton 'characterised Mr. Rotton as a man from the old country, while he regarded Mr. Holroyd [the opposition candidate] as an unscrupulous adventurer (cheers and laughter)'. At a later public meeting William Mutton addressed Mr Holroyd thus:

'You say you are a lover of fair play; several persons have told me, whilst canvassing, that they would rather vote for Mr Rotton than for you, but they are pledged and do not want to break their promise. Rotton has offered to release those [voters] who are pledged to him if they are dissatisfied. Will you act in the same manner?' Mr Holroyd replied, 'No; I will not release one of them (tremendous uproar). Mr gentleman Mutton has called me an unscrupulous adventurer, but I tell him today that before long we will make hashed mutton of him'. (Great hissing, groaning and uproar)

In January 1859 William Mutton also advertised a two-roomed cottage 'to let' with half an acre of 'excellent land'. Then, in June of the same year, he advertised the letting of three small cottages -- one in Piper St, and two with stables near Vale Road, Bathurst.

On 31 August 1859:

THIS NEWS ITEM referred to William Mutton's eldest son, William, a lad of about 11 at the time of the incident in 1861:

Narrow escape -- Yesterday a young lad, son of Mr W. Mutton, came into town with a horse and cart; when driving up George Street, the horse stumbled and the winkers came off, fortunately, the lad had a good hold of the reins and kept the bit in the horse's mouth. The horse, frightened at what it saw, set off in a hard gallop and ran like a mad animal across the square. Mr G. Palmer happened to be riding on horseback near the spot, galloped up to the cart, and after a short time succeeded in running the horse close to the gaol wall, where, like a sensible brute, when he found he could not get any further, he stood still and suffered the winkers to be replaced. But for the presence of mind and the courage exhibited by young Mutton in holding tightly on to the reins, there is but little doubt that the cart would have been smashed and the lad seriously injured'.

On 13 November 1862 the town of Bathurst was constituted a municipality. The petition to the Governor, Sir John Young, was signed by 366 householders and stated that the inhabitants of the town numbered about 4000. Several Mutton properties were mentioned in the statement of the limits of the municipality. Sections of the north- western boundaries of two of Richard Edward Mutton's properties formed part of the southern boundary of the municipality, while the north- western corner of William Mutton's 11 acres 1 rood and 22 perches gained a mention.

It was on portion of this land William built the cottage, Woodville, where the family resided for some years after leaving Wattlegrove.

On Saturday 17 September 1864 The Western Examiner carried this advertisement:

FOR SALE -- A MOST CONVENIENTLY situated FARM, containing 175 acres of purchased land, and 140 ditto of Free Selection, together with 1,000 Ewes, rising two and three years old, now Lambing, warranted sound. This property is about 7 miles from Wentworth Cold Mines, and about half-way between Guyong and Blayney, and to be appreciated, it must be seen. Or the land would be sold without the Sheep, but not the Sheep without the Land. Unless the lot is first sold, such an opportunity does not occur every day for procuring a most eligible property on easy terms. Real purchasers only, will be treated with. Apply to the proprietor. An early call is necessary, because if a property now advertised in Bathurst, is sold, this will be withdrawn.

WILLIAM MUTTON,

Tarah Farm, near Blayney.

September 7, 1864

What a strangely worded, or punctuated, advertisement! From its contents we assume that William Mutton was awaiting the sale of either Tarah Farm or property at Bathurst. Unfortunately, no copies exist of Bathurst newspapers for 1864, so we could not be certain which town property William had put up for sale. It seems more than likely the property was, Woodville, the family home on the outskirts of Bathurst that William had earlier advertised for sale or rent.

In all probability 'Woodville' was sold, as William and Charlotte soon established the family home in Greghamstown at Tarah Farm, known later as Woodlawn.

WILLIAM MUTTON suffered cancer of the throat and tongue for the six months prior to his death in the Parramatta Asylum on 9 September 1880. He was buried at Greghamstown on 12 September 1880. Wesleyan minister, Reverend E. J. Rodd, conducted the service.

Greghamstown is a locality some five miles north of Milithorpe. The old church, now converted to a private residence, and the derelict remains of the rubble-stone schoolhouse and residence are all that remain of the former hamlet. The Millthorpe Historical Society has no records confirming the existence of a cemetery in the Greghamstown area. However, on the block of ground occupied by the former church a big pine tree stands sentinel over several unmarked graves.

Was the site of these graves a special part of Tarah Farm/Woodlawn? Were the mortal remains of William Mutton laid to rest here? Was this the final resting place of his grand daughter, the young Caroline Louisa Mutton? Were others buried here? Who were they? We might never know ...

In his will drawn on 9 July 1864, William Mutton stated that he was a 'grazier of Tara Farm, King's Plain'. He appointed his brother-in-law, George Palmer of Queen Charlotte's Vale, his sole executor and trustee.

George Palmer died in 1906 -- about 26 years after the death of William Mutton -- and, other than placing the farm in the possession of William Mutton's widow, Charlotte Elizabeth Mutton, he apparently pursued no further action in respect of probate. The long delay in finalising William Mutton's affairs doubtlessly imposed hardship on his family. This notation from the Probate Office of the NSW Supreme Court explained subsequent action:

16th September 1915. On this date Letters of Administration with the Will annexed in the Estate of the said deceased William Mutton were granted to The Public Trustee. The Executor named in the said Will having died without having taken any action in respect to Probate. Testator died 9 September 1880. Estate sworn at £2851 net.

In William Mutton's deceased estate (probate) papers his personal estate was declared 'nil'.

The article is an extract from 'The Rule Family Tree' web site.