FREDERICK JAMES DUTTON

Labourer, Father, Soldier and my Great,Great,Great Grandfather on my mother's side.

Frederick was born around 1829 in Cockfield Suffolk England. His parents were Francis DUTTON and Frances TAYLOR and from what I have researched so far, the Duttons had lived in this area from the 1700's.

As Frederick was growing up, changes were occurring in England:

The Metropolitan Police Force was established by Robert PEEL around the era of time of Frederick's birth.
There was the first major cholera epidemic in Britain 1830-1832.

The impact of industrialisation, which was to have a huge impact in Britain, could have had its beginnings in 1831, with the SWING RIOTS in the rural areas, against the mechanization of agricultural activities. I wonder whether this in later years, led to Frederick becoming a soldier.

1831 also saw the opening of the New London Bridge over the River Thomas, with another sweeping change in 1833 - the abolition of Slavery throughout the British Empire.

Come 1850 and Frederick marries Emma BAILEY, who was born in the village of Shimplingthorne in Suffolk. Not long after the marriage, their first child, Mary Ann was born, followed in 1851 by the birth of Diane in Chatham Kent.

Frederick enlisted in the Army at Bury St Edmonds on the 19th February 1981, at the age of 17 1/2 years, so both Fredrick & Emma were young by today's standards, but in that era, would have been seen as commom practice.

The Regiment that Frederick was accepted into was the 12th Foot East Suffolk Regiment, and maybe he was lucky, as in 1854 the Crimean War began, and on the 3rd November 1854, Frederick and his family arrived in Melbourne on the ship Empress Eugenie, as part of the Regiment.

Some members of the Regiment were despatched to Ballarat, and Frederick and his family were stationed there for 2 years. It seems highly probable that he participated in the Eureka Stockade rebellion (Sovereigh Hill, Ballarat) on Sunday 3rd December 1854 and its aftermath.

At this time, the first telegraph line was established linking Melbourne and Williamstown, and the first steam railway was opened in Melbourne.
The following year, 1855, James Harrison took out a patent for his ice-making machine, which ws the world's first mechanical refrigeration plant.

The Dutton family were then posted to Tasmania, as records show that Anna Maria was born in Tasmania 8th August 1856, and Frances Jane and Reuben (twins) were born 23 August 1857.

Following Frederick's posting in Tasmania,he was then transferred to New South Wales, as in June 1860, Frances Jane was born in Victoria Barracks, Sydney.

Brisbane was the next posting for Frederick, where he served from January 1861 to March 1862. During this period,a son, Richard Henry was born (6th August).

Frederick's short life ended in 1862 in Brisbane on the 4th March. He was buried in the Church of England Burial Ground Brisbane, and his grave has not been found and may have been "removed" when the Qld. Government built its Hale Street bypass some years ago.
Frederick was given a Military Funeral and the notice in the newspaper read:

March 6 1862 Military Funeral - The Funeral of Sgt. Dutton, late of the detachment of the 12th Regiment stationed here, took place here yesterday afternoon.

The deceased, who was 33 years of age, had been suffering for some time from a complaint of the lungs, and his death, which took place on Tuesday evening, last, was somewhat sudden.
The funeral was the first of the kind, which has taken place here, and hence attracted much attention, a large number of the inhabitants accompanying the cortege to the cemetery. The procession left the barracks about five o'clock, and consisted of the officers and men of the detachment, the Volunteer Band, a few members of the Volunteer Force and a number of the police.

The female relatives and friends of the deceased were also present.
The funeral service was read by the Rev. G. Bliss and procession formed afterwards in the following order:

The comrades of the deceased came first, in double file, with arms reversed;
Next followed the Volunteer Band playing "Dead March in Saul";
Then the volunteers and police, and lastly the hearse.
In this order, the procession moved towards the burial ground, accompanied by a large number of citizens, the band playing at intervals through the route. At the grave, and at the conclusion of the burial service, three volleys were fired over the deceased by his comrades. The scene was solemn and imposing throughout.

So ended the life of Frederick DUTTON.


Since undertaking my family research, I often ponder on where and who I would have been, had not my ancestors came to Australia - my mother maternal ancestors were convicts, but that;s another story to write.