OBITUARY. Mr. W. Beaton, Senr.
‘One of our oldest residents passed away on Friday last in the person of Mr. W. Beaton, senr. The following sketch of his life has been handed us;-
The deceased, who was 89 years of age was one who had passed through many vicissitudes, and his life’s history, if recorded in detail, would be found to be full of strange incidents and dramatic experiences. As those who know him as host of the old ‘Pilgrim Inn’ in the fifties, he is spoken of as fine type of the class of pioneers … Stalwart and strong, with a reputation of being able to hold his own in a rough about with anyone who travelled the road, he had already been through a rough schooling in the bush, on the road, on mining camp, and on the high seas, he was then a respected and useful citizen … and he kept his house clear of ill repute: and by his championing of just causes won respect and esteem also. The Pilgrim’s Inn was one of the best conducted hotels on the Sydney road, and the enterprise of Mr. Beaton is evidenced even today in the ruins of what was a well equipped house of accommodation, even though the large coach stables and portion of the hotel buildings have long since been demolished. Mr. Beaton was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and just after his marriage, at the age of 21 years, he emigrated to Australia … in 1841. The voyage out provided experiences never to be forgotten. The ship, The India, caught fire at sea and was totally destroyed, the passengers having to take to the boats. Mr. Beaton succeeded in getting his wife and sister (who afterwards became the wife of Mr. M. Garrett, senr.) into a small boat, but as it would not safely hold another person, he himself swam two miles before they were picked up by a passing whaling vessel. They were taken to Rio de Janeiro, from whence they were afterwards brought on to their destination in the ship Green Lees [sic]. The late Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, father and mother of Mr. Jas. Ferguson, of Binney Street, were shipmates on the fated India. On arrival in Melbourne Mr. Beaton first found employment to go up country on a cattle station, a year or two later finding his way to Old Longwood where he built the first hotel, the Salutation Inn, for Mr. Hugh Middlemiss, the structure being of wattle and daub and slate. He was a stone mason by trade, and he afterwards put up the stone buildings at Killeen homestead for Mr. Chas. Ryan. He tried his luck as a miner and worked on the diggings at Castlemaine, Jamieson, and other places. When the Ovens diggings were in full swing he secured a team of bullocks and a wagon and for some years was engaged in carrying between Melbourne and Beechworth. These were the days when the freights were £100 a ton. It was about 1854 when he came to Euroa, and when he opened Pilgrim’s Inn he soon became prosperous, combining farming with hotel keeping. In his bullock-driving days he was associated with Messrs. Watkins, Herring, Jas. Hogg, Windsor, and others. Men were then often better known by nick names than by their own, and so, for instance, Herring was known as “Apple Jack,” and Windsor as “Cockatoo George” (the latter lived with Mr. Beaton up to the time of his death). Mr. Beaton was one of the first trustees for the Euroa cemetery, and with Messrs. Garrett, Rose, DeBoos, Wignell formed the first school board committee. With the onward roll of time the deceased gentleman gradually lost his grip of business, and whilst his good nature led him into unfortunate speculation he was left to spend his declining years in somewhat reduced circumstances … only two sons, William and Hugh, survive him.’
Euroa Advertiser (Vic: 1884-1920), Friday 29 May 1908, page 2
William, Mary and Isabella Beaton finally arrived at Melbourne on 22 October 1841 on the Grindlay not the “Green Lees’ as described in the article.
William and Mary Beaton had 6 children after their arrival in Australia, Jane Beaton (1842-1861), Elizabeth Evancenee Beaton (1844-1882), Helen Sullivan nee Beaton (1846-1870), William Beaton (1849-1931), Robert Thomson Beaton (1854-1882) and Hugh Middlemiss Beaton (1858-1950).
Additional information contributed by Dianne Wheeler Member No. 1505