29 July 1843 'Stonycroft' 6 Stone Street Cataract Hill Launceston Tasmania Australia Emma Clarke George William, Samuel Burton, Mabel Mary, Margaret Ellen, Frank & Harold Tasman

George William Batty was born on 29 Jul 1843, a son of Samuel Batty, and his wife Ellen Holmes (1812 - 1874) from Rothwell, Yorkshire, England, who married on 25 Dec 1836 at Calverley, near Leeds. Samuel, born 22 Nov 1815, died suddenly on 4 Jun 1893 in his 78th year. An In Memoriam notice in the Examiner on 14 Jul 1893 said: 'For over half a century he ably filled the important lay offices of the Wesleyan Church in his circuit.'

George's wife Emma Clarke was born in America in 1844. She was the daughter of Benjamin Clarke, a grocer, and his wife Caroline. In 1881 when the English census was taken, Emma was living with her parents at 'The Laurels', Churchfield, in the district of Hunslet, Yorkshire. Her children George, Mabel, Margaret and Frank were also there. Samuel was at school in Devon. Her husband George was not listed, so it might be assumed that he had already left for Australia. The family was living in Launceston, Tasmania, when Harold was born in Jan 1884. Two years later George read an historical sketch of 'Milton Hall' from its formation in 1840, at the formal opening which was held to celebrate alterations to the Hall in Feb 1886.

George junior was a salesman. For a short while (1896-97) he and his wife had a grocery store on the corner of Garfield and Mulgrave Streets, Launceston. They returned to Leeds after that time, and George died there in 1916.

George senior's son Samuel Burton and daughter Mabel are also in the Album. See The Examiner 20 Jan 2007, page 30.

Marion Sargent Jan 2007