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- 1828 (Creation)
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1 digital file - original document held in a Private Collection
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Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Mather (1782-1855) was a draper of London, son of Mather of Lauder near Berwick-on-Tweed, UK . In 1821 Robert Mather joined a group of members of the Wesleyan Methodist Society who proposed to charter a ship to proceed to VDL., and many of the papers are business papers relating to this proposal and the subsequent delays when the ship 'Hope' was seized by H M Customs as being unseaworthy and held in Ramsgate until the party was eventually transferred to the 'Heroine' in 1822 (Ml0/1-15, R&/21-32). Robert and Ann Mather and four children arrived in Tasmania in September 1822. Robert Mather rented a house for one hundred pounds a year and set up in business, for the first few months in partnership with a fellow passenger, Henry Hopkins. Later, in 1823, he moved to 'London House' which he had built at the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets where he established a general store and drapery business: In 1824 he acquired land at Muddy Plains, called Lauderdale, where he farmed. After his wife's death in 1831 he closed the Hobart business and moved to the farm, until in 1836 financial problems made it necessary to establish a business again in partnership with his sons.
Their children were: Sarah Benson (born 1812, married 1840 George Washington Walker, Quaker missionary); Joseph Benson (born 1814, married 1842 Anna Maria Cotton, children: Joseph Francis (1844-1925), Anna Maria (1846 -), Esther Ann (1849 - r married CH Robey); Maria Louisa (1851~1857); Emma Elizabeth (1853 - married William Benson); Frances Josephine (1855 -1856); Robert Andrew (1815-1884, married Ann Pollard, children: Samuel Robert (1843-); Ann Benson (1845-); Sarah Benson (1846-75); Robert (1847-1912); Theophilus Henry; Thomas Bourne (1851-1926); Joseph Benson (1852); Jane Dixon (1854-); George Lidbetter (1859-64), and two others who died in infancy.
For more information see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mather-robert-2438
Name of creator
Biographical history
Ann Mather (1786-1831) was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Benson (1749-1821), a prominent Methodist minister and friend of John Wesley. She married Robert Mather (c1782-1855)
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Three letters dated April 9th 1828, June 19th 1828 & July 15th 1828 from Ann Mather to her husband Robert Mather revealing the care and concern for her children. She lived at Lauderdale supervising the farm workmen, and the children lived in Hobart Town with their father. From Walker Family Scrapbook compiled by Peter Benson Walker. Private collection. Page 20
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Open for Research
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This material is made available for personal research and study purposes under the University of Tasmania Standard Copyright Licence. For any further use permission should be obtained from the copyright owners. For assistance please contact Special.Collections@utas.edu.au
When reusing this material, please cite the reference number and provide the following acknowledgement:
“Courtesy of the UTAS Library Special & Rare Collections”
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application/pdf