William Field (Australian pastoralist)
Encyclopedia
William Field was a Tasmanian pastoralist, meat contractor and publican. Born in Enfield
, near London, he spent his early working life as a farmer and butcher. At the age of 26 he was convicted of receiving stolen sheep from his brother, Richard, and transported to Van Diemen's Land
in 1806, travelling on the Fortune to Sydney
and then the Sophia to Port Dalrymple, leaving behind a wife, Sarah, and a daughter, Ann. Richard had been sentenced to death in April 1800, and then pardoned to be transported for life, and was further pardoned 19 August 1802 on giving surety. By the time his 14 year sentence had been completed Field had already proven himself useful to the new colony as a farmer and merchant. He began living with Elizabeth Richards, who had been sentenced to death in 1806 for stealing cotton and lace, and whose sentence had been commuted to transportation for life, and they had five children, William (1816–??) (married Sarah Lucas, 1839), Thomas (1817–??) (married Elizabeth Lindsay, 1847), Richard (born 1820 who died seven weeks later), John (1821–??) (married Mary Anne Lindsay, 1854), and Charles (1826–??) (married Margaret Eddington, 1848). As a free man he continued acquiring land and cattle and by 1820 had become the main supplier of meat for the Launceston
region.
After Field expanded his meat contracting business colony wide, he continued to purchase property and at one point owned over one-third of the land and buildings in Launceston. By the time of his death he owned over 16000 acres (64.7 km²) of land and had amassed a fortune which, adjusted in percentage terms of GDP, ranks him as the seventh richest Australian, and richest Tasmanian ever to have lived.
Field died in Lauceston.
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
, near London, he spent his early working life as a farmer and butcher. At the age of 26 he was convicted of receiving stolen sheep from his brother, Richard, and transported to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
in 1806, travelling on the Fortune to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and then the Sophia to Port Dalrymple, leaving behind a wife, Sarah, and a daughter, Ann. Richard had been sentenced to death in April 1800, and then pardoned to be transported for life, and was further pardoned 19 August 1802 on giving surety. By the time his 14 year sentence had been completed Field had already proven himself useful to the new colony as a farmer and merchant. He began living with Elizabeth Richards, who had been sentenced to death in 1806 for stealing cotton and lace, and whose sentence had been commuted to transportation for life, and they had five children, William (1816–??) (married Sarah Lucas, 1839), Thomas (1817–??) (married Elizabeth Lindsay, 1847), Richard (born 1820 who died seven weeks later), John (1821–??) (married Mary Anne Lindsay, 1854), and Charles (1826–??) (married Margaret Eddington, 1848). As a free man he continued acquiring land and cattle and by 1820 had become the main supplier of meat for the Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
region.
After Field expanded his meat contracting business colony wide, he continued to purchase property and at one point owned over one-third of the land and buildings in Launceston. By the time of his death he owned over 16000 acres (64.7 km²) of land and had amassed a fortune which, adjusted in percentage terms of GDP, ranks him as the seventh richest Australian, and richest Tasmanian ever to have lived.
Field died in Lauceston.
See also
- Cattle King of Van Diemen's Land, William Field (1774–1837) - Claudia M Dean ISBN 0646366297