William Beaton (1820 - 1908)

Born 24 Jan 1820 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Anne (Thompson) Beaton — married 16 Apr 1841 in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 22 May 1908 at age 88 in Euroa, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Graeme Watson [send private message] and Sandra Lambert [send private message]

Biography

William Beaton was born in Scotland.

William Beaton came free to the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

William BEATON was born about 1820 and christened on 24 January 1820 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^[1]. His parents were William BEATON and Jane DICK.

Mary Anne THOMPSON and William BEATON were married on 16 April 1841 at St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^[2].

They left Greenock Scotland 5th June 1841 on the 'India' which was detroyed by fire, then came from Rio on the 'Grindlay'

PORT PHILLIP.

The India.- The Grindlay, of Liverpool, Captain Grindlay, arrived from Rio de Janeiro on Friday afternoon, with the surgeon-superintendent, Dr. Houston, and 159 of the survivors from the wreck of the ill-fated India. We are indebted to the polite attention of Dr. Houston for the following additional particulars concerning this disastrous voyage. The India sailed from Greenock on the 5th June, with 186 bounty emigrants on board; the health or the people, was good, and the voyage as prosperous as could possibly be desired until the 19th July, in 16 ° 41' S. lat., when the ship was destroyed by fire, as narrated in a former number, and 17 lives lost. The survivors were picked up by the Roland, a French whaler; belonging to Havre de Grace, and carried into Rio de Janeiro. The sufferings of the poor emigrants on board the Roland were truly deplorable, though every assistance in the power of the master and seamen was kindly afforded them. Many of them were taken on board, literally in a state of nakedness, others only half-dressed, and most of them suffering from wounds, bruises, and burns. The Roland fortunately had been fitted out for an eighteen months' voyage, the crew were well supplied with clothing, and there was abundance of water and provisions on board: to afford the poor people shelter sails were spread upon the deck, under cover of which they slept ; but the canvas proved but a sorry protection from the cold damp air and occasional heavy showers of rain. On the 24th July they reached Rio, and were furnished with comfortable lodgings on an island, a short distance from the town, where they remained until the 22d August, when they embarked on board the Grindlay for this port. There were three births on the voyage, one on board the India, one at Rio, and one on board the Grindlay ; the latter was still-born ; both the former are doing well. The deaths in all amounted to nineteen, of whom seventeen were drowned at the wreck of the India ; one, a child, died at Rio de Janeiro ; and one, a young woman named Eliza Quinn, accidentally fell overboard and was drowned on the 2d October. At Rio, three widows and three children were sent back to Scotland, and two men and three women remained behind ; the number was consequently reduced to 159, who have arrived in safety in the Grindlay. At the time the India was burning, one of the passengers, Mr. Rooney, had to swim nearly a mile before he was relieved by a boat from the whaler. --Port Phillip Patriot, 25th October.^[3]

The barque Grindlay set sail from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 22 August 1841 with the BEATON family among the assisted immigrant passengers and arrived in Port Phillip, Colony of New South Wales (later known as Victoria) on 22 October 1841 ^[4][5]. The BEATON family from Edinburgh consisted of

William Beaton; aged 21; Mason; Protestant; Read & write

Mary Beaton; 21 (his wife); House Servant; Protestant; Read & write

Isabella Beaton; 19 years (his sister); House Servant; Protestant; Read & write

Their children were^[6]

Jane BEATON was born in 1842 and died in 1861 at age 19.

Elizabeth BEATON was born in 1844.

Helen BEATON was born in 1846 and died in 1870 at age 24.

William BEATON was born in 1849 and died in 1931 at age 82.

Robert Thompson BEATON was born in 1854 and died in 1882 at age 28.

Hugh Middlemiss BEATON was born in 1858.

William Beaton was amongst the first purchasers of land in Euroa. He built a wattle and daub cottage near the corner of Templeton and Holland Streets,in which he lived whilst building the Pilgrim Inn in Tarcombe Street. - (Late 1850’s) The Inn was approx. 22yds long, constructed of hand made bricks, hand hewn timbers, hand made nails, and roofed with timber shingles, which were subsequently covered with corrugated iron.(as shown in the only photograph of the Inn I am aware of.) It was pulled down by Allan Thompson Beaton in the early 1950’s.^[7]

He died on 22 May 1908 in Euroa, Victoria, Australia, age 88^[8] and was buried at the Euroa Public Cemetery^[9]

OBITUARY.

Mr. W. Beaton, Senr.

One of our oldest residents passed away on Friday last in the person of Mr. W. Beaton, senr. The following sketch of his life has been handed us:- The deceased, who was 89 years of age was one who had passed through many vicissitudes, and his life's history, if recorded in detail, would be found to be full of strange incidents and dramatic experiences. As those who know him as host of the old "Pilgrim Inn" in the fifties, he is spoken of as as fine type of the class of pioneers who made Australia as one could meet anywhere. Stalwart and strong, with a reputation of being able to hold his own in a rough about with anyone who travelled the road, he had already been through a rough schooling in the bush, on the road, on mining camp, and on the high seas, he was then a respected and useful citizen- enterprising above the average. In those digging days some rough talent travelled the roads, and, though in no sense a brawler, Mr Beaten had occasion found him to establish his reputation as an exponent of the British art of self defence, and be kept his house clear of ill repute: and by his championing of just causes won respect and esteem also. The Pilgrim's Inn was one of the best conducted hotels on the Sydney road, and the enterprise of Mr. Beaton is evidenced even to-day in the ruins of what was a well 'equipped- house of 'accommodation, even though the large coach stables and portion of the hotel buildings have long since been demolished. Mr. Beaton was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and just after his marriage, at the age of 21 years, he emigrated to Australia. That was in 1841. The voyage out provided experiences never to be forgotten. The ship, "The India," caught fire at sea and was totally destroyed, the passengers having to take to the boats. Mr. Beaton succeeded in getting his wife and sister (who afterwards became the wife of Mr. M. Garrett, senr.,) into a small boat, but as it would not safely hold another person, he himself swam two miles before they were picked up by a passing whaling vessel. They were taken to Rio de Janeiro, from whence they were afterwards brought on to their destination in the ship "Green Lees." The late Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, father and mother of Mr. Jas. Ferguson, of Binney Street, were shipmates on the fated "India." On arrival in Melbourne Mr. Beaton first found employment to go up country on a cattle station, a year or two later finding his way to Old Longwood where he built the first hotel, the Salutation Inn, for Mr. Hugh Middlemiss, the structure being of wattle and dab and slate. He was a stone mason by trade, and he afterwards put up the stone buildings at Killeen homestead for Mr. Chas. Ryan. He tried his luck as a miner and worked on the diggings at Castlemaine, Jamieson, and other places. When the Ovens diggings were in full swing he secured a team of bullocks and a waggon and for some years was engaged in carrying between Melbourne and Beechworth. These were the days when the freights were £100 a ton. It was about 1854 when be came to Euroa, and when he opened Pilgrim's Inn he soon became prosperous, combining farming with hotel keeping. In his bullock-driving days he was associated with Messrs. Watkins, Herring, Jas. Hogg, Windsor, and others. Men were then often better known by nick names than by their own, and so, for instance, Herring was known as "Apple Jack," and Windsor as "Cockatoo George" (the latter lived with Mr. Beaton up to the time of his death).

Mr. Beaton was one of the first trustees for the Euroa cemetery, and with Messrs. Garrett, Rose, DeBoos, Wignell formed the first school board committee. With the onward roll of time the deceased gentleman gradually lost his grip of business, and whilst his good nature led him into unfortunate speculations he was left to spend his declining years in somewhat reduced circumstances. Mrs. Beaton died in 1884, and of a family of 3 sons and 3 daughters only two sons, William and Hugh, survive him. He leaves a brother Peter, and two sisters, Mrs. Bell, senr., of Euroa, and Mrs. Wilson, of Mebourne. Another sister, Mrs. Garrett. senr., died some 26 years ago.

At the funeral on Sunday there was a large gathering of representative district residents. The Rev. F. Robinson conducted the graveside services.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland's People: Church Registers - Old parish registers - Births and Baptisms. BEATON, WILLIAM; WILLIAM BEATON/JANE DICK FR2780 (FR2780); M; 24/01/1820; 685 / 1 550 / 63; EDINBURGH. https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
2. ↑ Scotland's People: Church Registers - Old parish registers - Banns and Marriages. BEATON, WILLIAM; MARY THOMSON/FR1871 (FR1871); 16/04/1841; 685 / 2 440 / 544; ST CUTHBERT'S. https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
3. ↑ SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1841, November 16). The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), p. 2. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2955246
4. ↑ NSW Government: State Archives and Records, Assisted Immigrants (digital) Shipping Lists. Ship: Grindlay; Departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22 Aug 1841; Arrived Port Phillip, Colony of New South Wales (later known as Victoria), 22 Oct 1841. https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?series=NRS5316&item=4_4814&ship=Grindlay
5. ↑ Ship Arrival: Shipping Intelligence. (1841, October 25). Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser (Vic. : 1839 - 1845), p. 2. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226511781
6. ↑ http://garypatton.net/beaton_family/D3.htm
7. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/list?id=37138 BEATON FAMILY - Pilgrim Inn molesworth on 2013-03-21 19:03:14.0
8. ↑ Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Search VIC BDM Death Record: Family name: BEATON Given name(s): Wm Event: deaths Mother's name Jane DICK Father's name: Wm Beaton Place of death: Euroa Age at Death: 88 Reg. year: 1908 Reg. number: 5781/1908
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163854869/william-beaton: accessed 13 January 2023), memorial page for William Beaton (24 Jan 1820–22 May 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 163854869, citing Euroa Public Cemetery, Euroa, Strathbogie Shire, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by TracySW (contributor 49032223).
10. ↑ OBITUARY. (1908, May 29). Euroa Advertiser (Vic. : 1884 - 1920), p. 2. Retrieved August 4, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65620679

Acknowledgement

Family tree handed down to Sandra Lambert.