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Freotopia > people > Bateman family > John Bateman Jnr

John Bateman Jnr (1824-1909)

... on the left in the photo, second generation, is the son of John Bateman Snr (1789-1855) and brother of Walter Bateman (1826-1882), who is on the right.

John Bateman Jr married Rachel White (1829-1899), who was born at Sydenham (then in Kent) which gave its name to his North Fremantle house. Among their children were Charles Henry, John Wesley [Snr], Walter, Arthur Ernest Albert, Emma, and Matilda. He died in 1909 and was interred in Fremantle Cemetery at Congregational D 28.

Rachel White's father Richard White had an uncle called James and a brother called Jabez who married Sarah Lewis. Jabez White was a pioneer of Orange Grove nr Gosnells, where his 1860s cottage still stands.

John Bateman Snr (1789-1855) arr. Medina 1830, bought lots, set up business. Three sons: John (1824-1909), Walter (22 June 1826—24 September 1882), Charles (b. 1828). Firm J&W Bateman set up 1860. Walter (died unmarried, mentally unstable) sold his share to John 1872. John Jnr's son John Wesley Bateman (1852-1907) took over the firm from his father 1900.

JOHN BATEMAN (son of John Bateman and Mary Ann Benningfield) was born on 15-Dec-1824 in Wood St, London, England. He died on 04-May-1909 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia (WA BDM 101/19099-10). He married Rachel White (daughter of Richard White and Elizabeth Watson) on 17-Aug-1850 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia (WA BDM 324/185011-13). She was born on 17-Jan-1829 in Sydenham, Oxfordshire, England11, 14-16. She died on 13-Oct-1899 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia (WA BDM 1033/189911, 15-18). (Ward)

BATEMAN, John, b. 15.12.1824 (England), d. 4.5.1909 (Frem), son of John & Mary Ann, arr. 6.7.1830 per Medina with parents, m. 1st (Frem C/E) 17.8.1850 Rachel WHITE b. 17.1.1829 (Eng.) d. 13.10.1899, dtr. of Richard 6 Elizabeth, m. 2nd 8.1.1909 Agnes Pozer SNOOK, widow of Woolcock, (she rem. BAKER). Chd. Charles Henry b. 1851 (Frem) d. 1852, John Wesley [Snr] b. 1852 d. 1907, Emma b. 1853 d. 1919, Francis b. 1854 d. 1886, Rachel b. 1856, Edith Elizabeth b. 1857 d. 1929, Maud Mary b.1858 d. 1941, Walter b. 1860 d. 1861, Myra b. 1861 d. 1936, Matilda b. 1862 d. 1886, Jessie b. 1865 d. 1915, William Augustus b. 1866, Lewis Benningfield b. 1868 d. 1914, Ethel Eliza b. 1869 d. 1954, Arthur Ernest Albert b. 1871 d. 1871, Samuel Benningfield b. 1878 d. 1959. Import & export merchant, Frem. & shipowner in partnership with brother Walter 1857, went whaling mid 1830s & was Involved in Frem. Whaling Co. Monopoly over coastal trade North West & Kimberleys until steamships were introduced 1888. Bought out his brother in 1872 & continued until 1890 when sold his interests to son John Wesley. Bt. "Brentwood” Qualified as a juror in 1860 with £1500 personal estate. Made several voyages sometimes accompanied by wife & chd. Congreg. (Erickson)

Obituaries for John Bateman Junior (courtesy of Rob Ward)

Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950), Thursday 6 May 1909, page 9
THE LATE MR, JOHN BATEMAN ,
THE FINAL TRIBUTE. - AN IMPOSING SIGHT.
The funeral of the late Mt. John Bateman, who died at Fremantle on Tuesday afternoon, took place this afternoon. The cortege, which was a very lengthy one, moved off from deceased's late residence, Mary-street (where a special service was held prior to the body being conveyed to the hearse), shortly after. 3.30 o'clock for the Fremantle Cemetery. Following the hearse were five mourning coaches and six cabs, all of which were occupied by the relatives of the deceased. The chief mourners numbered 70. The pall-bearers were Messrs. F. G. and J. Pearse, George Bland Humble, Edwin T. Duffield, W. A, George (superintendent of the Fremantle Prison), R, Fairbairn, and Captain C. J. Irving (chief harbor master). Amongst those who followed the remains to the last resting place were representatives of all the shipping companies and commercial houses of the State. In accordance with a request made by the relatives of the deceased, no flowers were sent. All along the route a large concourse of people congregated to view the funeral procession, which proceeded through Mary-street, thence to Stephen-street and Hampton-road, thence along High-street east. At the graveside a huge gathering assembled to pay their last respects to one of the best known residents of the Port and an early colonist of Western Australia, The remains of the deceased were interred in the Congregational Church portion of the cemetery, and the Rev. Joseph Parker, of that church, assisted by the Rev. Tom Allen (Methodist minister), rendered the funeral service. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Arthur B, Davies and Co.

Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 8 May 1909, page 17
MR. JOHN BATEMAN.
One of the earliest colonists of the State - Mr. John Bateman passed away at Fremantle on Tuesday, in his eighty fifth year. Last Sunday week his condition was such as to cause his relatives alarm, and his medical adviser (Dr. Blaxland) was called in. He gradually sank, however, until the end was reached on Tuesday. The late Mr. Bateman was one of the founders of the well-known commercial and shipping firm of J. and W. Bateman, which was established at Fremantle in the early sixties. At the outset the late Mr. Bateman, in partnership with his brother, the late Mr. Walter Bateman, engaged in shipping, especially in connection with the lightering and coastal trade, almost the whole of which was in their hands, until the advent of steamers. His brothers expanded their trade to such an extent that at length they had vessels engaged in carrying cargoes of timber, horses, sandalwood, etc., to China, the Straits Settlement, Java, and Mauritius, and bringing back to Fremantle sugar and other commodities suitable for the local market. As a result they soon found that from commencing as shipowners they had developed into extensive merchants and importers. For a long time they also carried on the whole of the coastal passenger traffic, the voyage from Fremantle to Geraldton often taking about ten days. The late Mr. John Bateman was an enthusiastic whale fisher, and on returning from one of his cruises his vessel, the Star, a fore-and-aft schooner, was wrecked in Safety Bay. In 1872 Mr. John Bateman bought out his brother's interest in the firm, and in 1890 he sold out to his son the late Mr. John Wesley Bateman, and retired from business.

West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 10 July 1937, page 7
BUILDERS OF THE STATE. John Bateman.
THERE have been several John Batemans in Western Australia and he who was the founder of the business which is still carried on under the name and style of J. and W. Bateman, Ltd., was not the founder of the family. The first John Bateman arrived at Fremantle in the sailing ship Medina in July, 1830, about 12 months after the founding of the colony. With him came his wife, two sons, John and Walter, and three daughters, and with them he brought with other personal property the material for building a three roomed house. Under the Imperial law then operating this property was assessed for the purpose of securing a block of land at a total value of £345/1/7 1⁄2, a sum which was supplemented by the value of the family, which was assessed for like purpose at £39. Little need be said for this adventurous immigrant, as he does not appear to have engaged in a mercantile career or to have otherwise distinguished himself. About all that we know of him is that he was 40 years of age when he landed, that he was one of the first landowners of Fremantle, and also the first postmaster of the then obscure little township. His eldest son John, who was to play many parts in the mercantile and commercial life of the State, was born at Brentford in Sussex and was but seven years of age when the family arrived here. Building material was not readily obtained in Fremantle in the year 1830, and the story goes that young John and his brother Walter pending the erection of the family home found the only sheltered sleeping accommodation in a large barrel while other lads, their shipmates, were housed at night in a tank that was found lying on the beach. From his boyhood up John Bateman, jun., the merchant-to-be, had no specific training for a commercial career, and little education. His early years were mostly spent out of doors, and even when he became immersed in a many-sided business he was never tied to the desk and counting house, contriving to find much to occupy his time outside office and store. He early gave evidence of strength of character, business aptitude and the spirit of enterprise. His first notable venture was whaling, an industry which, loving life out of doors as he did, he found most congenial, notwithstanding the risks and peril of life to which this venturesome calling exposed him. Whaling on the coast in those days was carried on with weapons and equipment generally which were extremely primitive. The business, however, was a lucrative one and young Bateman so prospered while engaged in it that in the end he had established whaling stations at Fremantle, Castle Rock, near Quindalup, and at Port Gregory, north of Geraldton. One of the difficulties and dangers of the trade was to prevent the carcass of the harpooned whale being demolished by sharks. Recovery of the prize often involved Bateman's plunging into the sea to assist in the operation. He was fortunately, however, a strong swimmer and of good courage and not infrequently faced the risk of an encounter with a man-eater in order to save his quarry from its maw. While still engaged in the whaling business John Bateman, in association with his brother Walter, founded the firm of J. and W. Bateman, which has existed down the century to our own times. When whaling was discontinued the attention of the firm was centred on the mercantile business and it developed as a universal provider. Very soon its clientele embraced all classes of the community. But whaling and storekeeping were not the be-all and end-all of the firm's activities. The enterprising brothers embarked upon a shipping business and became the colony's principal importers and exporters. They owned or held under charter a fleet of sailing vessels. These operated not only in the coastal trade but the larger of them regularly visited Mauritius, laden on their outer voyages with timber, horses, dried fish and other local produce and on their return with sugar and molasses. Oversea trade was also cultivated by the firm with Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. To these ports were shipped sandalwood, timber and horses and from the East were brought cargoes of tropical pro-duce. The largest vessels of the Batemans' fleet voyaged as far afield as Vancouver, British Columbia, returning from there with cargoes of Oregon timber. Old colonists will remember such vessels as the Spinaway, the Sea Ripple, the Laughing Wave, the Flying Foam, the Rose and The Thistle as flying the Batemans' flag and as being closely associated with the early shipping history of the State. With the advent of steam the firm gradually relinquished its shipping interests. Before the opening up of the river harbour at Fremantle and immediately following the opening up of the Goldfields and owing to the sea jetties being unable to accommodate the congestion of shipping arriving in Gage Roads, it was necessary for much of the inward cargo to be lightered to Fremantle and up the river to Perth. Accordingly, rising to the occasion the firm employed a lightering fleet for this purpose. From first to last John Bateman persisted in spending most of his time out of doors, the management of affairs so far as office duties went devolving upon his son, Mr. J. W. Bateman, who in 1900 acquired the business for himself, and who, after conducting it for some years, died in May, 1907. Thenceforward it was carried on by his trustees until 1919 when the present company (J. and W. Bateman, Ltd.), was established. John Bateman, the founder of the firm, died in 1909, leaving an enviable record of service in the business life of the land of his adoption.

Photograph from Battye's 1912 Cyclopedia

The corner of Croke and Henry Streets looking very similar today. Now part of Notre Dame University.

The original John Bateman, who came to the colony in 1830, was the first postmaster in Fremantle and was a member of the first Town Trust formed in 1848. His eldest son, John, became the largest shipowner in the State and employed a large number of men in the whaling and timber industries. Another son, Walter, was Fremantle's first representative in the semi-elective Legislative Council which came into being in 1868. A grandson, John Wesley Bateman, succeeded to the business established in 1857 under the firm name of J. & W. Bateman, which he had previously managed for many years after the death of his uncle, Walter, and the retirement of his father. He took an active part in everything appertaining to the trade of the port and promoted the West Australian Shipping Association in 1884. For five years in succession he was president of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce. Hitchcock: 104.

Plaque near the Bateman graves in Fremantle Cemetery on their Heritage Trail. The photo does not show Batemans, but Moore brothers, W.D. and S.J.F. I informed the Cemeteries Board of the error. There was no reply.

A duplex pair was built c. 1900 at 139-141 South Terrace for a John Bateman: perhaps this one.

References and Links

Many thanks to Robert Ward for an invaluable, comprehensive genealogy of the family, and also for the excellent photograph at the top of the page.

Thanks to Diane Humphry for information about the Whites.

Bott, Bruce 2001, 'Some of John Bateman's houses in and around Fremantle', Fremantle Studies, 2: 17-35.

Brown, Patricia M. 1996, The Merchant Princes of Fremantle: The Rise and Decline of a Colonial Elite 1870-1900, UWAP.

Erickson, Rica et al. 1987 (etc.), Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, UWAP.

Hitchcock, JK 1929, The History of Fremantle, The Front Gate of Australia 1829-1929, Fremantle City Council.

Wikipedia entry for John Bateman 1789-1855

Geoffrey Bolton's entry for John Bateman 1789-1855 in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1966.

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This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 21 February, 2018 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/batemanjohnjr.html (it was last updated on 15 January, 2024). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.