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Temple Pearson (1793 - 1839)

Temple Pearson
Born in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotlandmap
Son of and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 3 Aug 1839 in Campbell Town, Tasmaniamap
[children unknown]
Died at age 45 in Avoca, Tasmania, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 Mar 2018
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Biography

Temple was born 18 November 1793 in Douglas, Lanarkshire of Joseph Pearson and Marion Johnson and the event registered ten miles away at Muirkirk, Ayr.

Temple was baptised on 24 November 1793 in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland.[1]

Joseph Pearson was born 26 May 1772 in West Lothian, the son of another Temple Pearson, married Marion Johnstone on 14 Oct 1792 at Douglas and had issue Temple 1793-1839 and John 1800-1885. [HTG, 24 July 1835] [Historic Homesteads of Australia, Vol II, Australian Council of National Trusts]

The Pearsons had arrived in the Colony on 22 December 1822, aboard the Skelton.[HTG, 25 December 1822]

Temple Pearson of Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland, a retired surgeon, brought with him cash and goods to the value of £1300, and was granted 1000 acres on the Elizabeth River. He settled there in 1823 and named the property Douglas Park, after his native place, Douglas in Scotland. He bought a further 1645 acres for £192 in 1828, 300 acres for £66 in 1829 and 650 acres for £264 in 1832. He first built a two-story weatherboard homestead and next he began a fine Georgian sandstone mansion which was completed in the mid 1830s. David Pearson was a tenant sheep farmer on the Strathmore Estate, Forfarshire, where his grandson Temple was born in 1790.

Temple’s father John moved with his family to Linlithgowshire where he died in 1804. leaving his wife Jenny, a descendent Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington. When peace came in 1815,

Temple was put on half pay. He returned to Scotland and entered private practice in the ancient town of Douglas, in Lanarkshire.

Here he married the widow of Joseph Dodd, a soldier killed in the Napoleonic War. She was born Hannah Flinders in 1784 and they were devoted to one another until her death.

The young surgeon applied to the War Office in London for permission to emigrate, and to the Colonial Office for a land-order in respect of his military service. His land order dated 8 May 1822 was “for land in either Van Diemen’s Land or New South Wales”.

They sailed from Leith on the Skelton Castle in June 1822, arriving in Hobart on 12 December . It had been Temple’s intention to go on to Sydney but the administrator in VDL Colonel William Sorrell, after looking over Temple’s papers said “Why go further? We have land in abundance in this island, and your services as a medical oficer would be most valuable to us.” The area of his land grant was determined by the amount of his available capital, which he declared to be £1300, and so he was granted 1000 acres. He was allocated four convict servants and land was on the Elizabeth River at Campbell Town. Then followed timber getting, erection of a slab hut as home and fortress against attack by natives, clearing of land and establishing a farm. For five years Temple applied himself and a weatherboard cottage with outbuildings replaced the hut at Douglas Park, as he named the property. He acquired more land, imported stock and horses and exported wheat. He gave his medical service free to the surrounding district to free settlers and convicts, becoming a popular and familiar figure. In 1827 he represented to Governor Arthur that some renumeration for his years of service would be acceptable, and was made District Assistant Surgeon and later Government Resident Surgeon for the Campbell Town District. The Land Board also granted a further 1000 acres, in recognition of the excellent improvements made at Douglas Park. A final 1000 acres was granted in 1830 “By reason of his valuable services to the Crown”. He laid the foundations for a two-story stone residence. He had 4000 sheep and a dozen Clydesdale horses. [Government returns] He was almost ruined when 2000 acres of land he took on in good faith from his brother-in-law and spent money on, was forfeit too the Crown in 1833, despite pleas to Governor Arthur. They travelled to England for a holiday but soon after they returned Hannah died, on 18 July 1835. The blow caused by her death and the worries of the quarrel with Governor Arthur, drove Temple to drink. He was accused of gross intemperance and acts of insolence towards his convict servants. The Assignment Board at Hobart withdrew his fourteen servants, which weighed heavily upon him as a large landowner and with free men almost impossible to hire. For the next two years Douglas Park was a sorry place. Colonel Arthur was recalled and succeeded by Sir John Franklin, who set about breaking down Arthur’s harsh system and disciplinary rule. He reviewed the treatment of Pearson and reopened the question of Temple’s claims and restored the convict servants on condition that there would be no more lapses in sobriety. Temple recovered and married a second time, to the widow McKercher, his housekeeper for some years. Her second husband was Dr. Temple Pearson, whom she married as Jane Macarchie 31, on 3 August 1839 at Campbell Town. [2]

By 1839 he had amassed 14,000 acres of freehold lan in one of the most fertile parts of the island. Douglas Park and a hundred acres ay Llewellyn.

He died suddenly and unexpectedly on 24 September 1839 aged 49, leaving no issue. [3] The coroners report found cause of death to fit from epilepsy. [4]

His will dated 5 Oct 1836 left a legacy of £300 per annum to his widow, “Janet Malcolm, widow of Malcolm MacKeircher” and the rest of his property to his brother John of Bathgate, sisters Janet, Elizabeth and Marian,sister Betty, and some to his other sisters, aunt, and mother. Mentions friend Wiliam Rankin nephew of my late wife. executors or tustees George Alston, James Cox and George Scott. [5]

When John came over to investigate he found Douglas Park deserted and empty. The furniture, curtains, books and instruments had all been removed. Jane was living in Temple’s cottage in Campbell Town, Douglas Park being too lonely. She was on the right side of forty, buxom and of pleasing personal appearance, possessing an attractive, vivacious manner. Her life prospect was good so John elected to pay her a lump sum of £3300 to clear his obligations under the will and the cottage. She settled in Launceston.

Sources

  1. Baptism: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
    citing Digital film/folder number: 8; FHL microfilm: 1041399; Record number: 14318409
    FamilySearch Record: XY36-XX2
    Temple Pearson baptism on 24 Nov 1793 (born 18 Nov 1793), son of Joseph Pearson & Marion Johnstone, in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland.
  2. Marriage Index : Libraries Tasmania Names Index
    Index entry for Temple Pearson]
    Event: Marriages Age: 43 Spouse: Janet Macarchie Age: 31 Date of Marriage: 3 Aug 1839 Registered: Avoca Reg Year: 1839 Reg No: 467/1839
  3. Death Index : Libraries Tasmania Names Index
    Index entry for Temple Pearson
    Event: Deaths Date of Death; 24 Sep 1839 Registered: Avoca Reg Year: 1839 Reg No: 15/1839
  4. Inquest Index : Libraries Tamania Names Index
    Index entry for Temple Pearson
    Event: Inquests Date of Inquest" 1 Oct 1839 Resource: SC195/1/5 Request 313)
  5. Wills Index : Libraries Tasmania Names Index
    Index entry for Temple Pearson
    Event: Wills Year: 1840 File No: 179 Resource: AD960-1-1 Will Number 179




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