William Henry Alderson

Wholesale & Retail Shipping and Family Butcher

In August 1883, Mr W H Alderson purchased three allotments from the Estate of William Lowther for £35. The sale was recorded in both the Grafton and Sydney newspapers.

William Henry Alderson was the son of an English immigrant, Henry Alderson, and Susannah ‘Susan’ Small. The Small family’s further connection to the land at River Street will again come to light in the 1890’s with Kate Alice Houison nee Small the daughter of William Small and Elizabeth Neale.

William Henry’s father Captain Henry Alderson, had been a Master Mariner employed on the Parramatta River. He married Susannah ‘Susan’ Small on 24 April 1843, she was the daughter of Thomas Small and Priscilla Small nee Mason Squire.

Thomas Small was a well known original settler in the Clarence River district, a Cedar getter, and was the first explorer of the Richmond River travelling on the ‘Rainbow’ to open up that region to timber and cedar getters. He is believed to be the first of the cedar getters on the Clarence River.

‘CLARENCE RIVER First Settlement DISTRICT CELEBRATES CENTENARY IN NOVEMBER Cedar-getters on “the big river.” The existence of the Clarence River first became known to the Government from a report by Captain Butcher, who came to the river late in 1838, in the schooner Eliza. In December, 1838, a map was compiled from his sailing records and a copy of that map is hang ing in the Historical Society room, at Grafton Council Chambers. It shows that several cedar-getter’s huts were here when Butcher came. Governor Fitzroy first reported the discovery to the Home Government in 1840, and, in that report, he stated that the river had been found by cedar-getters about two years previously. The names of the cedar-getters are not given, but it is known that Thomas Small, of Kissing Point, was one of them, and it is believed that he was the first. His vessel was the Susan.’ ¹

His brother John Small was the owner of the ship the ‘Susan’ that first explored the Clarence River, and what is now known as Woodford Island was originally ‘Small’s Island’. Captain Francis Freeburn also sailed on the ‘Susan’ into the Clarence River and later became the first Pilot at Yamba in 1854. Susan Alderson nee Small was the sister to well known Ulmarra settler William Small. She was born in Kissing Point, Sydney in 1924 and died in 1858 aged just 34 years of age. So the Alderson and Small families connection to each other is also echoed in their connection to 3 River Street Yamba.

When Henry Alderson first came to the Clarence in 1845, he was a Postmaster at South Grafton and was later a well known Auctioneer in Grafton and died there on 17 May, 1862.

William Henry Alderson was born on 17 April 1848 in Balmain, the second child and first son of Henry and Susan. There were six children; Susan Elizabeth Ford, William Henry, James Barry, Frederick, Sophia Louisa and Thomas Arthur.

William Henry was first employed by the Queen Street butcher, Thomas Hewitt, and later purchased the business of John Hann, butcher in Bacon Street, on the south side between Queen and Prince Street. The Alderson and Small families were important pioneer families in the Grafton district and a little of William Henry and his mother and father are part of ‘The Bawden Lectures’ on the early history of the area reported in 1937.

On 7 Feb 1872 William Henry married Elizabeth Catherine Strauss, who came to Grafton with her parents as an eight year old and one of the first German settlers in the area. The two had eleven children; William Arthur, Kate Adelaide, Frank Barry, Alfred Ernest, Oswald Percival, Henry Norman, William Cyril, Beatrice Norma, Montague Carrington, Ida Irene and Nea Evelyn Ernestine. William Henry first worked at T G Hewitt’s Butcher in Queen Street, Grafton, which was first started by Thomas Hewitt one of the earliest and well known settlers who came to Grafton in 1848. Thomas owned the wharf and store and started the butchering business which was taken over by his son, Thomas George (T G) Hewitt. In March 1876 Thomas Hewitt senior died and the same year William Henry, at 28 years of age, purchased his own Butcher’s shop from John Hann another early settler in Grafton whose shop was in Bacon Street. Like many others William Alderson also dabbled in mining which was not without its difficulties and landed him in Warden’s Court over a Lease claim.²

William Henry joined the ‘Loyal Star of the East Lodge of Manchester United Oddfellows’ (MU) and by 1871 had passed through all the offices becoming a trustee within the organisation. This is significant because it meant he had was part of an important group of businessmen and had access to influential men in Grafton. In 1880, with his own business and properties, he took the next step in a political life and stood for election as an Alderman on the Borough of Grafton Council. The election was not without drama, with advertisements taken out int he newspaper ‘ELECTORS! Sharpen your pencils, and with one stroke obliterate the name of MADGWICK’ ‘What we want in Council is NEW BLOOD – not Bad Blood of which there was a sample at the Nomination Meeting’ ‘BARKUS is willing. The Old Sly Fox was smelling around, but now cries out SOUR GRAPES’ in reference to the other nominee Mr Madgwick. However, William Henry won the vote and remained an Alderman on the Council for many years.

River Street Yamba

In relation to the allotments of land in Yamba that William Henry Alderson purchased in August 1883. Although the purchase of the land took place in 1883, it was not until 1884 that the application for a Certificate of Title appeared in advertised in the NSW Gazette. The Certificate of Title is transfer to Dutfield brothers took place on 13 May final 1885 with the final transfer from the Dutfield’s to William Arthur Alderson on 6 Aug 1885. The NSW Land Title reference is found in Volume 740 Folio 236, 237, 238, 239, and 240.³ In relation to the Inverell property of the Estate if William Lowther, the Land Title reference is found in Volume 740 Folio 241 to 245 and the Grafton Property Volume 740 Folio 246 to 250. These Certificates of Title list both the names of the Dutfield brothers, the town they were living in and their occupations. they do not however, give us a clue as to why they were the beneficiaries in the Estate of at least these three portions of land. The five Dutfield brothers were:

Arthur Dutfield of Whitechapel England, Wheelwright
Albert Dutfield of County of Middlesex England, Harness Maker
Thomas Dutfield of County of Middlesex England, Pianoforte Maker
George Dutfield of East Ham England, Carman
Henry Thomas of Mile End England, Carman

On 17 April 1891 William Henry Alderson became unwell and within days of contracting ‘the epidemic which appears to be raging throughout the colony’, he died aged just 43 years. In 1889 – 1891 the ‘Great Russian Flu’ came to Australia via passengers on ships, it killed more than a million people. Reports in the newspapers at the time include references to William Henry in Grafton.

William Henry’s obituary gives an insight into his life and achievements but also paints the picture of a quieter, kinder man with over 2000 people present at his funeral.

DEATH OF MR W. M. ALDERSON. Death of Mr. W. H. Alderson (who had been suffering from the epidemic which appears to be raging throughout the colony) came like a thunder clap upon the citizens on Saturday evening last. It was know that he had been ailing for some days previously; but it was thought by his friends that, aided by medical skill, his naturally strong and robust constitution would have pulled him through successfully. Hence the announcement of his death came as a shock to the community. The event is one that has aroused widespread regret and sympathy throughout the district, evidence of which was shown by the immense concourse of people which joined in the funeral procession and attended the burial service on Sunday last. There must have been fully 2000 people present at the burial ground, while the procession – which included 106 members of the Star of the East and Uloom Lodges of Oddfellows and 80 members of the Palmerston, Prince Leopold and Ulmarra Lodges of Freemasons ; besides numerous vehicles, horsemen, and pedestrians-gave some proof of the respect and esteem in which the deceased was held. Amongst the mourners were residents from Southgate, Ulmarra, Copmanhurst, and other parts of the district. Numerous floral wreaths were suspended from the hearse, and the funeral procession was one of the largest yet seen in Grafton, being upwards of half a mile in length. The Ven. Archdeacon Greenway, assisted by Rev Mr Webber, officiated at the grave; and at the morning service at the Cathedral, hymns appropriate to the sad event were sung, while the “Dead march” was played as the congregation retired. At some of the other churches reference was made to the decease of our respected townsman. The Odd-fellows burial service was read by Bro. Emert PG, and that of the Freemasons by Bro. Driscoll WM of Lodge Palmerston. The deceased may be said to be a son of the district, having resided here almost from infancy. He was the eldest son of Captain Alderson; Mrs Alderson (his mother) being a sister to Mr William Small of Swan Creek. Some years back, having previously entered into the butchering business, he took over that formerly carried on by Mr Hewitt with, we doubt not, considerable success. Mr Alderson served several years in the Borough Council; on more that one occasion refusing to accept the Mayoral chair in which his brother Aldermen were anxious to place him. Though of a somewhat retiring and unassuming disposition, he took a warm interest in public affairs, being always ready to give his assistance to help on in every way the progress of the city and district in which was the home of himself and his children. He was one of the oldest members of the Star of the East Lodge of Oddfellows MU, being initiated in 1871, and one of the Trustees of the landed property belonging to the Lodge. He was also an enthusiastic Freemason, being Past Master and Past Treasurer of the Palmerston Lodge. The respect in which he was held by both Freemasons and Oddfellows was shown by the great numbers of members of both bodies present at the funeral obsequies, for the purpose of paying the last sad office of respect to departed merit. As a citizen and business man, William Henry Alderson won the respect and esteem of every one with whom he came in contact. He was a warm friend, a good neighbour, a conscientious business man, endowed with the kindliest disposition towards those in need or in distress. The deceased took a considerable interest in mining development in this district, and has contributed largely – not at all times we fear with success which his enterprise justified – in that direction. He leaves a widow and nine children, the two eldest sons at the time of their father’s death being absent from home with the Public School Cadet corps in Sydney. A sad return must be theirs to a father-less home. Death in its demands is no respector of persons – of your, or of age. Of that we are forcibly reminded in the case before us, deceased being only in his 43rd year.⁴

After his death Probate was granted to his wife, and she took over the Butcher business which became ‘Mrs Aldersons’ Butcher’. Her obituary gives an insight into her strength, her ability to run her husband’s business and resilience.

‘Obituary. MRS. W. H. ALDERSON. It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we chronicle the demise of Mrs. Elizabeth Catherine Alderson, which occurred at her residence. Pound Street, Grafton, about 8 o’clock on Wednesday night. Deceased, who was highly esteemed and respected for her charitable disposition and kindly nature, was the widow of the late W. H. Alderson, who carried on a large butchery business in this city for many years. For about 10 years after Mr. Alderson’s death his widow carried on the business, but for the last 9 or 10 years she lived in retirement. Deceased, who was 58 years old, was a native of Offenbach, near Frankfurt. on-the-Main, Germany, but came to the Clarence, when 3 years’ old, with the first direct shipment of immigrants from the Fatherland to the river. She was therefore, one of the oldest residents of this district, and one of the most widely connected. She was the young-est daughter of the late John Strauss, and therefore the aunt of Ald. C. Strauss, Messrs. J., W. J. and P. Strauss, P. and J. Kritsch, H. Jordan and a great many other prominent Clarence people. Of her marriage with Mr. Alderson, the issue was 12 children, 9 of whom are living, 6 sons and 3 daughters. The latter are Mrs. C. J. Ainsworth, South Grafton ; Mrs. F. T. Doberer, Grafton; and Miss Nea Alderson, who resided with her mother. Mrs. G. Wumderlich, of Graf ton, is a sister. Mrs. Alderson underwent a serious operation in Sydney some 12 months ago and for a time seemed to have recovered her usual good health. Six months ago, however, she commenced to fail again and gradually grew worse, the end coming, as stated, on Wednesday night. The remains were interred yesterday afternoon in the Anglican portion of the Grafton Cemetery, the Rev. W. Ashley-Brown officiating. There was a very large concourse of friends present. To the bereaved family and relatives we tender our sincere sympathy.‘⁵

So the land has travelled from the Yaegl peoples, to a young single man who came from England as a free settler and made a financial success as a ‘Gentleman’ in his new country, to another young man who worked hard, married a strong woman, was successful in business and within leadership in the community but who died tragically as a relatively young man. The next owner would take the land and build several enterprises.

James Ryall & Hannah Eggins

References

1. _{Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Saturday 20 August 1938, page 4}
2. _{Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW : 1859 – 1889), Saturday 1 September 1888, page 8}
3. _{Certificate Title Volume 740 Folio 236 New South Wales Land Registry Services (NSW LRS)}
4. _{Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889-1915), Tuesday 20 October 1891, page 4}
5. _{Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser (NSW : 1874 – 1875; 1879 – 1882; 1888; 1892; 1899 – 1922), Friday 23 September 1910, page 5}