William Rutter 1766–1812

Interior view of the historic Lymington Church, William Rutter may have been baptised at this Church in December 1766

4^th Great-grandfather – Maternal father’s line of Johnston Family

William Rutter was born in 1766 in Lymington, Hampshire, his father, John, was 30 and his mother, Joan, was 24. He was married three times and had two sons and six daughters. He died on 31 December 1812 in Parramatta, New South Wales, at the age of 46, and was buried in New South Wales.

William Rutter was born in 1766 in Lymington, Hampshire, to Joan Trickey, age 24, and John Rutter, age 30. He was baptised on 27 December 1766 at Lymington Hampshire England.

Parents of William Rutter

Siblings of William Rutter

• John Rutter [1760-1835]
• Henry Rutter [1761-1763]
• Henry Rutter [1764-1840]
• Joseph Rutter [1769-1840]
• James Rutter [1769-1789]
• Jane Rutter [1774-1834]
• Thomas Rutter [1776-]
• Richard Rutter [1779-1792]
• Cecilia Rutter [1782-1854]

First Marriage

William Rutter married Elizabeth Kitchingham at St. James Church, Isle of Grain, Kent, on 26 March 1787 when he was 21 years old. William and Elizabeth had three children, two daughters and one son. Refer to descendant chart below for more information.

His first wife Elizabeth passed away in March 1793 in Isle of Grain, Kent, at the age of 23. They had been married 5 years.

Second Marriage

William Rutter married Sarah Jewell in Lymington, Hampshire, in 1796 when he was 30 years old. William and Sarah had two children, one daughter and one son. Refer to descendant chart below for more information.

His second wife Sarah passed away and was buried on 17 May 1800 at St James, Isle of Grain, Kent. They had been married 4 years. Sarah Jewell –1800

Arrival in Australia

William Rutter arrived aboard the ship “Brothers” on 4 April 1807. His status on arrival to the Colony of New South Wales was as a “Free” passenger. William came to Australia and worked for John Blaxland managing the procurement and sale of salt. Also aboard the ship “Brothers” was Charlotte Flower. Charlotte was the governess of the Blaxland children.

Third Marriage

William Rutter was 41 years old when he married Charlotte Flower (nee Robinson) on 21 November 1807 in St Philip’s Church at Church Hill in what is now Lang Park. William and Charlotte had three daughters during their marriage. Refer to descendant chart below for more information.

St Philips at Church Hill Sydney-1798-1856

At the time of their marriage William and Charlotte lived on John Blaxland’s Brush Farm near Parramatta. In addition to selling salt, William and Charlotte raised cattle and horses and had tenements at Parramatta.

Occupation

Salt Boiler, Parramatta River, New South Wales, Australia.

When emigrating to the colony, John Blaxland brought out the superintendent from the Lymington Salt Works, one Mr Rutter, and a number of salt workers to construct ‘a manufactory for salt‘ a venture pressed on him by the British Ministry. His main occupation was Salt Boiler on the Parramatta River in the Colony of New South Wales.

The first modifications began with the set up of the salt-works on the Blaxland Estate. They set about building an embankment over the Parramatta River tidal flats to contain the incoming waters, the area now occupied by the northern part of Blaxland Common.

William Rutter made a very valuable contribution to the Colony in his role as Salt Maker for John Blaxland. Salt was essential for curing meat and hides and protecting ships timbers from dry rot. Imported salt was costly and not always available. William employed the Lymington method in producing salt from the Parramatta River.

By 1827 eight tons of salt a week was supplied to Sydney. John Blaxland advertised his salt for sale in the Sydney Gazette, 14 August 1808 and 26 October 1811. A Board of Survey reported in 1831 that the colonial salt “was of the best kind”.

Advertisement for the sale of Salt c.1808

Descendants of William Rutter

William, aged 46, passed away on 31 December 1812 in Parramatta, New South Wales. He had been married to Charlotte for five years; William was buried in the Parish of St John, Parramatta on 2 January 1813.

According to a memorial from Charlotte written to Governor Macquarie:    ‘William was eminent in his profession of a salt-boiler which he brought to great perfection and rendered particularly useful to the inhabitants of the colony altho’ by his unwearied pursuits in that line, he sacrificed his health and eventually his life’. William Rutter 1766–1812

Town of Parramatta c1812

Reviewed and Updated on 2 September 2022