Mottram Henry
Reseach by Gordon Freegard 2018 - 19
The very first people to settle and take up land in our area were generally former workers from Mason & Bird Sawmill. Just before and after it closed, areas of land were taken up and clearing commenced to start their new life as orchardists and growers in the district. Some of the earliest recorded settlers were the following; Henry & Anna Mottram who settled in Carmel 1874, Richard & Mary Weston who settled in Pickering Brook 1875, John & Emma Wallis who settled in Walliston 1880, Arthur & Annie Gibbs who settled in Bickley 1891. These are the stories of those early pioneering families.
Joseph Mottram married Hannah Capper on 28th December 1819 in Tarvin, Cheshire. They are the probable parents of Henry but no baptism records can be found of this.
Henry Mottram (Motteram) was born about 1823 in Eddisbury, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire, England to Joseph Mottram and Hannah Capper. In the 1841 Census he is listed as 18 years old and occupation as a “M.S” (Male Servant), still residing in Cheshire, England. His occupation was later listed as a miner.
HENRY MOTTRAM #1
Henry Mottram, 23, Henry Watson, 18, and John Martin, 15, were indicted for a highway robbery, with violence, at Delamere, on 23rd December 1848. The prosecutor, Mr. Norton, is a farmer living at Delaware, and was in the habit of attending the Manchester Markets on Saturdays. He had been there on Saturday the 23rd December, and had got as far as Eddinbury on his return home by five o’clock in the afternoon, when he heard somebody coming behind him. He turned round and saw three persons, two of whom he was sure were Mottram and Watson, within a yard of him. He gave them the road, supposing they were going to pass him, and said, “Good Night,” when he received a violent blow on the head which knocked him down, and rendered him insensible for a short time. On recovering consciousness, he saw Mottram take 24 sovereigns from one pocket, and Watson a quantity of silver from another. The third person lay across his face while the other two were robbing him, and after they had taken his money they got up and ran away. Besides money, Prosecutor, was robbed of a pair of spectacles and some bills and private memorandums.
In the afternoon previous to the robbery, Mr. Norton had called at a public house in Fordsham, on his way home, where he had changed three pounds worth of silver for three sovereigns, the prisoner Watson being in the same room at the time. A number of witnesses were called to prove that, about two in the afternoon, the three prisoners had been seen together in Fordsham, from whence they were traced in the direction of the Forest, to within a mile of where Mr. Norton was robbed,and distinctly spoken to by the persons who saw them.
Witnesses were called on behalf of the prisoners who positively swore that they were in Manchester at two o’clock, and between then and five o’clock on the afternoon of the 23rd December, which rendered if impossible that they could have been the parties by whom the offence was committed. The prisoners were found guilty on the 4th April 1849, of armed highway robbery with violence. Mottram and Watson were sentenced to 20 years with transportation to Australia, and Martin to 10 years. John Martin was sent to Van Demons Land on the “Equestrian 3, arriving on 16th December 1852. He had a prior conviction for housebreaking. Henry Watson also had a prior conviction.
On 1st June 1849 the Home Office issued orders for Henry Mottram to be removed from Chester Castle to the House of Corrections in Wakefield, Yorkshire. He stayed there until 2nd May 1850 when he was sent to the Convict Prison at Portland and then was sent to Western Australia on 28th December 1850.
He was convict number 257, and was one of the 209 convicts on the ship “Mermaid” that set sail on 30th December 1850. The average sentence was 13 years and 11 convicts on board had life sentences. Also on board were 29 pensioner guards plus their families which consisted of 23 wives, 20 sons and 19 daughters. The “Mermaid” carried the third of 37 shipments of convicts destined for Western Australia. This ship was only 473 tons in size and was built in Calcutta in 1817.
The voyage took 123 days and they arrived at the Swan River Colony, (Perth) Western Australia, on 13th May 1851. The Western Australian Convict Registers 1846 – 1930 describes Henry Mottram as: age 26, 5ft 5 ½ inches, hair – dark brown, eyes – blue, face – long and sallow, dark whiskers, no identifying marks, occupation miner, single, unmarried, semi-illiterate.
He served three years or less in Western Australia before he got his ticket-of-leave freedom on 23rd June 1853. Ticket of leave was granted before the expiration of a prisoner’s sentence. Ticket of leave men were freed to seek employment under a master or to seek their own work. They were not allowed to leave the district to which they had been assigned and were required to report to the local resident magistrate once per month.
Henry Mottram worked for Alfred Leech (also a transportee) in 1853, and also for John Stokes of Perth in 1855 and again in 1857. He was granted a pardon on 3rd October 1859. Records show that he was employed “occasionally” at Mason & Bird’s Sawmill from 1863 t0 1871 where he was in charge of ‘Ticket-of-leave” men, seven sawyers, one boatman, one bricklayer and two general servants.
Henry, aged about 46, married Anna Maria Banyard, aged about 34, at the Trinity Congregational Church in Perth on 21st January 1870. Anna was born in 1835, in Fulham All Saints, Middlesex, England, to William Banyard, a brick layer, and Sarah Marshall. She was baptized on 10th March 1835, in Fulham All Saints, England. . She was only eighteen years old when she arrived from England aboard the “Sabrina” on 13th June 1853. She was a domestic servant and quite probably came to Australia with the family who employed her. She must have been quite illiterate as she signed her marriage certificate with a cross which she would then have kissed to make it her personal mark.
HENRY MOTTRAM & ANNA MARIA BANYARD #2 POSSIBLE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY
Anna and Henry had a total of 9 children, 7 before they officially married.
James was born 8th December 1856 in Perth. He died in 1858 aged about 1.
Henry William was born 27th April 1858 in Perth.
Emily was born on 18th November 1859 (1860) in Perth. Married Martin McCormick in 1878 at Fremantle. He was the son of one of the police officers who accompanied her father on the “Mermaid”. They had three children; Martin Joseph born in 1878, Catherine Elizabeth born in 1883, Sarah Ann born 27th October 1884 and Florence born in 1886. Emily died in 1913, aged about 53.
Joseph was born on 18th April 1861 in Perth.
Sarah was born on 6th May 1863 (1862) in Perth. Married Charles Henry Marshall on the 20th October 1885. Charles operated a horse drawn coach between Perth and Fremantle and later in Leonora. They had three children: Alice Lavina Lydia, Vera and Percy. Sarah died on 27th June 1945, aged 82.
Elizabeth was born on 1st July 1866 in Perth. Partnered/married John (Jack) Charles Hall of Waroona Originally from Saddleworth, South Australia. They had 4 children, John Charles in 1891, Thomas Henry in 1892, Annie in 1893, and Edward in 1895.She died on 16th December 1932, aged 66 in Yarloop.
Samuel was born in 1869 in Canning Mills.
Thomas Henry was born on 25th October 1872 in Bickley. Married Mary Hannah Stirk. He died on 16th August 1946, aged 73 in Perth.
Un-named one day old daughter was born on 10th April 1874, and died
on 11th April 1874 and was buried at the Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery. Reg
No. 7070/74.
In 1879 he obtained a small 10 acres property in Carmel which he developed as a small orchard and market garden. A road in the area is named after the family. Their property was on Canning Road on the south side of the old Carmel Road before it was re-aligned. (east side of Canning Road). Described in the Canning Description Book as: FILE 1833, VOL No. 85, LOT 81, 10 Acres, HENRY MOTTRAM, 24th JULY 1879. The Mottram family appears to have lived on Lot 81 and the Gibbs family had a house on Lot 323 (yet to be confirmed).
For a number of years, Anna worked at the School for the Blind at Maylands. Though christened in the Anglican Church her preference was for the Salvation Army. Anna died on 6th June 1913 aged 78, in Charles Street, North Perth, Western Australia. Henry died on 29th February 1892 aged 69 years.
MRS. HENRY MOTTRAM & DAUGHTER C1880 (possibly Elizabeth) #5
Thomas and Mary lived for some years in Osborne Park (where they first met) and then moved to 55 Ferguson Street, Maylands where they lived until he died.
Mary was indefatigable. At one time she rose a 2 A.M. and rode a bike into Perth where she cleaned offices. For a number of years she worked at the School for the Blind at Maylands. The house was very nostalgic with rugs she had made from tailor’s patterns, her pots of fuschias and succulents, and a Sunburst rose in the front garden. Thomas was a radio “ham” and would sit up late at night tuning in to overseas short wave stations on sets that he built himself. He was also the unofficial weather forecaster. Neighbours would consult him about the likelihood of rain when washing day came round. Great faith was set by his barometer which he tapped gently as he passed it.
In 1894 Arthur Gibb’s house in Bickley Valley was burnt down by a mad man and the family fled in the dark of the night to neighbour Thomas Mottram who lived about a quarter of a mile away.
Thomas Henry, aged 22, married Mary Hannah Stirk, aged 20, on 23rd October 1895 at Saint Matthew’s Church, Guildford. Mary Hannah was born on 27th May 1875, in Yearby, Yorkshire, England.
They had eight children:
Frederick Henry
was born on 18th August 1896 in Kalamunda. He died 24th August 1960 aged 64 in Nedlands. Frederick married Jessie Patullo in 1924. They had three children: Alan, James Edwin and Colin Stanley.
FREDERICK HENRY MOTTRAM #9
ANN ELIZABETH MOTTRAM #10
Ann Elizabeth
was born on 19th June 1898 in Kalamunda. She died on 3rd January 1987 aged 88 at Como. Ann married George Charles Craig in 1918. They had two children: Vera and Kathleen Gladys.
Alice Evelyn
was born on 11th (12th) June 1900 in Kalamunda. She died on 17th August 1994 aged 94 years at Bentley. Married John Henry Jones. They had five children: Evelyn, Hazel Vera, Alan John, Isobelle Gladys and Robert Henry.
ALICE EVELYN MOTTRAM #11
VERA MAY MOTTRAM #12
Vera May (Mary)
was born on 14th November 1902 (14th October 1901) in Kalamunda. She died on 23rd May 1920 aged 18 at Perth.
Myrtle Winifred
was born on 27th August 1907 in Mount Lawley. She died on 3rd August 1976 aged 82 at Maylands. Myrtle married Alfred Sully. They had four children: Dorothy Joy, Clayton John, Elvie Jean and Bethel Janice.
MYRTLE WINIFRED MOTTRAM #13
GEORGE WIlFRED MOTTRAM #14
George Wilfred
was born on 14th February 1911 in Highgate. He died on 25th August 1976 aged 65 years at East Fremantle. George married Elsie Isabel Bruse on 21st December 1935. They had four children: Dorothy Isabelle, Kenneth, Mavis Elvie (twin) and Evelyn Joyce (twin).
Edith May
was born 1912. Married Howard Edward William Clarke. They had seven children; Norrine May, Vera Ann, Noel Edward, Alwyn Howard, Rosalyn Mary, Graeme Charles, Raymond John and Edward Thomas. Edith died in 2011
EDITH MAY MOTTRAM #15
LILLIAN MOTTRAM #16
Lillian
was born in 1916 and married Matthew Taylor. They had three children: Delys, Irene and Jean. Lillian died in 1995.
The first ever Darling Range Easter Sports event was held on Easter Monday 19th April 1897, on the grounds of Levi Green’s. Several of the events were closely contested. The meeting opened with kicking the football, James Beecham winning and F. Weston being judged second. The 100 Yard Handicap, for which there were six competitors, was, after a magnificent struggle, won by F. Weston, H. Weston second, M. Butler third. The Sack Race, which was very amusing, fell to F. Weston, Butler second, Fawkes third. The other results were:- Running Long Jump, F. Weston 1, M. Butler 2. Running Hop, Step, and Jump, G. Fawkes 1, H. Weston 2.Teasing the Caber, C. Ashcroft 1, G. Fawkes 2, H. Weston 3. Wrestling, Jas. Beecham 1, M. Butler 2. (Beecham’s wrestling was much admired). Putting the 56 Pound Weight, M. Butler 1, C. Ashcroft 2. Running High Jump, H. Weston 1, G. Fawkes 2. An Accordion playing competition was won by Thomas Mottram. With the exception of the musical contest, Thomas acted as judge. The event was a tremendous success with many visitors coming up from Perth. The day finished with a sit down splendid tea followed by a dance. Messrs. Mottram and Beecham deserved much credit for the pains they took in the matter, and on the whole the residents of the district were very proud of their first Athletic Meeting.
George Wilfred Mottram married Elsie Isabel Bruse on the 21st December 1935 at the Methodist Church, Fremantle. Elsie’s two sisters, Jean and Dorothy attended the bride on the day.
ELIZABETH STIRK #28
Thomas Mottram was elected to the council of the Darling Range Vine & Fruitgrowers Association 19th October 1898
Thomas Henry Mottram lived;
1903 Leederville
1919 Perth
1920 Perth
1923 Traylen Road, Bayswater
1924 27 Crawford Road, Maylands
1946 55 Ferguson Street, Maylands
He died on 16th August 1946 at Perth Hospital aged 73 years.
His wife, Mary, died on 17th April 1956 age 81 years.
Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please click here to email us at info@pickeringbrookheritagegroup.com We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.
References: Article: Pickering Brook Heritage Group
Diane Buckley
Ken Mottram
Rhonda Bozzelli
Vera Castledine
Vera Thomson
Images: 1, 2, 8, 27, 29, 30, 31 Vera Castledene
3 Internet
5, 6, 7, 17, 26, 32, 33 Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 25 Diane Buckley
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 Ken Mottram
15 Vera Thomson