Dr. Samuel Westbrook

#195, (13 June 1795-2 March 1866)
FatherHenry Westbrook (7 Aug 1756-b 1827)
MotherSarah Taylor (1751-9 May 1836)
ChartsBarbara Nicholson - ancestors
Last Edited14 Sep 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Westbrook-1652.
Samuel Westbrook's signature from the certificate of his wedding to Mary Margaret Mason
(Source: Event Date: 1 Apr 1820; Parish: St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney; Borough: Tower Hamlets)
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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Dr. Samuel Westbrook was likely born on 13 June 1795 at Rotherhithe, London.1 He was the son of Henry Westbrook and Sarah Taylor. Dr. Samuel Westbrook was baptised at St. Mary the Virgin on Friday, 31 July 1795 at Rotherhithe, London.2

He married Mary Margaret Mason, daughter of Joseph Mason and Sarah Raynor, in a Church of England ceremony, after banns had been read on February the 20th and 27th and march the 5th at St. Dunstan's and All Saints on Saturday, 1 April 1820 at Tower Hamlets, London. He was 24 and his wife Mary was 20. Her father was a carpenter.. Mary and Samuel went on to have seven known children together.3

Samuel's child Margaret received her baptism at St. Dunstan's and All Saints on Thursday, 10 October 1822 at Tower Hamlets, London.4,5,6,7

At the age of 33 Samuel and his wife Mary emigrated with their three children from London on 4 March 1829 on the 'Calista'. They were consigned to Hobart.8,9,10 Samuel and his wife Mary arrived at Swan River, Perth, Western Australia, on 31 May 1829. They came via Rio de Janeiro with 47 passengers.9


However, it seems that the Swan River District was a considerable disappointment:
"On Saturday last the long expected Calista arrived from England, via the new settlement at Swan River. The accounts brought by this ship of that place are far from satisfactory. The proposed colonization would seem to be a total failure ... The entrance to Swan River was found totally inaccessible, even to boats ; there being not more than four feet water upon the bar over which it unceasingly broke. The stores, and every thing else taken from the shipping, was therefore of necessity landed upon the beach, and carried a long distance across the land to the river inside the bar, to be again embarked in boats for conveyance to the proposed settlement, some 8 or 10 miles up the river. But the very worst part of the "Peel Colony," (as Mr. Hume called it in Parliament) is that the country itself seems to be altogether unsuited for the residence of man. The land is barrenness itself. Sand, sandstone, and granite, with- out an acre of good land, as far as observation has gone. The want of water is also most seriously felt; instead of those purling streams, and bubbling springs, which the London papers spoke of, the only bubbling appears to have been that which the Peel folks effected. In a word, the whole scheme seems to be an entire failure of the most unqualified description."11



Further describing the circumstances:
"The expectations of the settlers were somewhat disappointed, the quality of the soil not being near equal to what they had been led to anticipate; several exploring parties had been into various parts of the interior, but all the good land they had met with was reckoned not to exceed 3,000 acres. Two distinct settlements had been formed, one about twelve or thirteen miles up the River, which had been named Perth, and where Captain Stirling had pitched his head-quarters ; the other, close to the mouth of the River, had been called Fremantle. At Perth they were busily engaged in building dwelling-houses and stores, but at Fremantle they were all residing in canteens brought out from England. They were greatly in want of artificers."12

Aparently Samuel thought he might buy some land in the area but he continued on to Hobart. The conditions may have something to do with it, as might of his continuing role as the Calista's doctor. But perhaps the most important consideration might be family; his mother, probably widowed, emigrated to Hobart two years before and had endured a shipwreck.12,13

At the age of 34 Samuel and his wife Mary emigrated with their three children from Perth, Western Australia, on 21 September 1829 on the 'Calista.9,12' Samuel and his wife Mary arrived at Hobart on 24 October 1829.9,14
When he arrived, Samuel was said to be Hobart's first civilian medical practitioner.15 Dr. Samuel Westbrook applied for an allotment in Launceston in January 1830 at Launceston, Tasmania.16 He (and presumably his spouse Mary) moved to Launceston, Tasmania, circa 1830.17

He applied to take on an apprentice stating that as he "will be treated in every respect as one of the family, a premium of 200 guineas will be required."17 There is some suggestion that the person who became his assistant was a 17 year old Isaac Corney, who stayed for at least 5 years.18

Samuel and Mary had their house struck by lightning on 19 November 1832:
"During a thunder storm at Launceston, on Monday last week, the lightning struck the residence of Dr. S. Westbrook, doing considerable damage to the building and household articles, but happily without striking or doing any personal injury to any of the inhabitants."19

Dr. Samuel Westbrook and Mary Margaret Mason moved to Clifton House, in New Norfolk, Tasmania, on 17 February 1835.2020
Dr. Samuel Westbrook was a surgeon in 1836 at Hobart.16,21

His mother died 9 May 1836 at the approximate age of 84. Samuel was aged 40 when this happened.

By 1838 they had had seven children, 6 of whom survived until adulthood. He was a Police Medical Officer in 1845 at Sorrell, Tasmania.21

On 30 June 1845 he published a notice in the paper that he wished to "DISPOSE of the SHOP, FIXTURES, and STOCK" of his practice in Liverpool Street, in Hobart, stating that "the shop has been established upwards of seven years". This move was due to him having received a government appointment. Evidently he had some difficulty with the sale; 5 weeks later an auctioneer listed to sell Samuel's "Medicines, Drugs, Bottles, Drawers, Shop Fittings, Still, &c" and the shop was to be let.22,23 He was the Medical Officer to Police Watch-houses and gaols until 1852 at Prosser Plains (now Buckland), Tasmania.16,24,25

In early December 1845 he was a member of the crew of the 'The Rose' that competed and won an ameteur gig race in the Hobart regatta.26

Samuel, as the father of the bride, along with Mary attended the wedding of Margaret and Rev. Samuel Berjew Fookes, a schoolmaster who emigrated from Dorset, in a Church of England ceremony at St. John the Baptist on Saturday, 20 February 1847 at Buckland, Tasmania. Margaret was 24 and her husband Samuel was 24.. Jane Berjew as mother of the groom. Samuel and Margaret went on to have four children together, two of whom lived into their adulthood.27,28,29

An unfortunate event occurred in mid 1850 where a passholder reported to Samuel that he was unable to work but Samuel decided "he had no ailment to prevent his working" and he was required to work. The man continued to maintain that he couldn't work due to his illness. He was "committed to custody, for disobedience of orders, &c. After some days incarceration, on being called up to take his trial, he attempted to put on his clothes, but during the effort he fell back and expired. An inquest was held on the body by Mr. Assistant Police Magistrate Forster, but no post mortem examination took place, and the jury returned a verdict of 'Death from natural causes' ". Samueal was criticised for this, and for not conducting a post mortem - how could he give a cause of death of natural causes where "could discover no symptoms of illness in the man so shortly before his death"?30

Samuel (and presumably his spouse Mary) lived in 1852 at Pittwater, Tasmania. They were to remain here for another eleven years.31

Dr. Samuel Westbrook was added by the Lieutenant Governor to the Commission of the Peace on 14 February 1854.32 He was the public vaccinator in 1863 at Sorrell, Tasmania.25 Samuel lived in 1866 at 169 Macquarie Street, in Hobart.16

Samuel died on 2 March 1866 at Macquarie Street, in Hobart, at age 70 of age and infirmity.33,34,16 His body was interred at Queensborough Cemetery on 6 March 1866 at Sandy Bay, Hobart. The cemetery was later converted to school grounds for the Hutchins School. Some headstones were preserved in a little park fronting Peel Street, Sandy Bay. The headstone of the Westbrook family, including Samuel has been preserved in this park. The headstone of his son-in-law, Samuel Berjew Fookes has also been preserved in the same park..34,35,21

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1795Birth-LikelyRotherhithe, London1
1795BaptismSt. Mary the Virgin, Rotherhithe, London2
1820MarriageSt. Dunstan's and All Saints, Tower Hamlets, London3
1829Emigratn-newLondon8,9,10
1829Immigratn-newSwan River, Perth, Western Australia9
Quotation type 211
Quotation type 212
Note memo only12,13
1829Emigratn-newPerth, Western Australia9,12
1829Immigratn-newHobart9,14
Note memo only15
1830NoteLaunceston, Tasmania16
1830Move-newLaunceston, Tasmania17
1831Note memo only CR CR17
1831Note memo only18
1832Quotation type 119
1835Move-newClifton House, in New Norfolk, Tasmania20
1836OccupationHobart16,21
Note memo only CR CR
1845OccupationSorrell, Tasmania21
1845Note memo only CR CRLiverpool Street, in Hobart22,23
OccupationProsser Plains (now Buckland), Tasmania16,24,25
Note memo only CR CR26
1846Occupation-hideProsser Plains (now Buckland), Tasmania24
Note memo only CR CR30
1852ResidencePittwater, Tasmania31
1854Note CR CR32
1854Occupation-hideSorrell, Tasmania16
1863OccupationSorrell, Tasmania25
1866Residence169 Macquarie Street, in Hobart16
1866DeathMacquarie Street, in Hobart33,34,16
1866BurialQueensborough Cemetery, in Sandy Bay, Hobart34,35,21

Family

Mary Margaret Mason (7 May 1799-15 Aug 1853)
Children

Citations

  1. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) http://person.ancestry.com.au/tree/61774382/person/…
  2. [S815] London. London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, Oct 1783-Jul 1804 Name: Samuel Westbrook; Baptism Date: 31 Jul 1795; Parish: St Mary, Rotherhithe; County: Surrey; Borough: Southwark; Parent(s): Henry Westbrook, Sarah Westbrook.
  3. [S494] London. London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 Name:     Mary Margaret Mason; Spouse: Samuel Westbrook; Record Type: Marriage; Event Date:      1 Apr 1820; Parish: St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney; Borough: Tower Hamlets; Register Type:     Parish Register.
  4. [S1074] London. London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1813-1917 Name: Margaret Sarah Westbrook; Gender: Female; Record Type: Baptism; Baptism Date:
    10 Oct 1822; Baptism Place: St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney High Street, Stepney, Tower Hamlets, England; Father: Samuel Westbrook; Mother: Aoury Westbrook; Register Type: Parish Register.
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  9. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) Archives Office of Tasmania; Tasmania, Australia; Reports of ships arrivals with lists of passengers; Film Number: SLTX/AO/MB/1; Series Number: MB2/39/1/1 ( http://search.Ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll).
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  11. [S590] The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1829 'SWAN RIVER.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 26 November, p. 3, viewed 8 April, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2193945
  12. [S590] The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1829 'ADVANCE AUSTRALIA SYDNEY GAZETTE AND NEW SOUTH WALES ADVERTISER.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 3 November, p. 2, viewed 8 April, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2193745
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  14. [S638] The Colonial Times (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1829 'SHIP NEWS.', Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), 30 October, p. 2, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8644627
  15. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1930 'TASMANIAN 103 YEARS OLD.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 15 July, p. 2, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29805230
  16. [S276] Westbrooks (http://www.vintners.net/~mikel/family/westbroo.html).
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  18. [S1149] E-mails from Meg Bate to Tim Hill, 2020- 2 Apr 2020, 15:03 - 'ThoseBefore.com - Home.'
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  20. [S609] The Hobart Town Courier, Hobart, Tasmania, 1835 'Classified Advertising.', The Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839), 20 February, p. 3, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4181622
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  23. [S570] The Courier (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, 1845 'Classified Advertising.', The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), 6 August, p. 3, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2947779
  24. [S570] The Courier (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, 1846 'COURT OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS.', The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), 1 April, p. 2, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2946005
  25. [S1324] Australian Medial Pioneers Index (http://www.medicalpioneers.com/) http://www.medicalpioneers.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi
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  27. [S273] Tasmania, Marriage Certificate, 1847#1400 (Index only).
  28. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.3) (for exact place and minister).
  29. [S569] Victor Malham,"Descendents of Samuel Brejew Fookes, Rev.PDF," , 23rd March 2012. Currently held by Tim Hill's collection, e-mail address page 1.
  30. [S638] The Colonial Times (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1850 'DOINGS AT SORELL.', Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), 5 July, p. 3, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8767466
  31. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/837700/person/-2040352371 "Pineer History in Tasmania."
  32. [S570] The Courier (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, 1854 'THE LATE FIRE.', The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), 14 February, p. 2, viewed 12 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2240496
  33. [S317] Tasmania, Death Certificate, Name: Samuel Westbrook; Death Date: 2 Mar 1866; Death Place: Tasmania; Age: 71; Registration Year: 1866; Registration Place: Hobart, Tasmania; Registration Number: 6099; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1795.
  34. [S477] Australia Cemetery Index, 1808-2007 Ancestry.com, Name: Samuel Westbrook; Death Age: 71; Birth Date: abt 1795; Death Date: 2 Mar 1866; Cemetery: Queenborough Sandy Bay (book); Cemetery Location: Hobart, Tasmania.
  35. [S317] Tasmania, Death Certificate, 1866 No.6099.
  36. [S371] GEDCOM file created by Andrew Kemp, 25 March 2011.
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