ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Records of Barron’s Army career are not available, thus detail of his life prior to arrival in Western Australia is limited. Nonetheless, a fellow-researcher was able to determine from the Adjutants Monthly Muster for Depot Company, that Edward first enlisted for 13th Regiment and transferred to the 63rd. He was one of a party of 13^th Regiment men detached on the Isle of Wight while the 63rd Depot Company was stationed at Albany Barracks. His height was given as 5 ft. 11 ins. (tall for his era) [TNA Kew via Sally Kenton].

The 1837 Census does not match what we know of the family at that time, but the source of this census was a typed transcription generated in 1973 of CSO Inward Correspondence Vol. 58, and may be subject to errors.  A more accurate account of the family is in the 1836 Return of Population as at 1 January [CO18-16-80].  However, the 1837 Census transcription does record that the Barron household’s property comprised 4½ acres – gardens, 2 horses and 14 horned cattle; this, we can assume, related to the Perth Lots on Murray Street and may be more accurate [WACEN1837 pp.58-59].

Edward Barron may be regarded as one of the Colony’s first entrepreneurs. While still a serving soldier with his regiment, he was involved in the management of some of the Colony’s earliest hotels: the Wheat Sheaf Tavern and the Criterion [TUCK pp.73-75]. But it was Jane who held the liquor licences (see sidebar) and probably attended to the day-to-day activities of these establishments. She also ran the first Dairy in the Colony [STAT p.15]. This ‘moonlighting’ by at least one soldier of the 63rd caused some consternation in the small community of settlers (or perhaps by the competition!). This letter (in part) from an officer of the 63rd, defended the conventions surrounding the right for family members of soldiers to conduct business: “You will oblige me by inserting the following reply to a letter, which appeared in your last Number, calling on one of the Officers of the 63rd Regiment to explain why Privates of that Corps are permitted to trade. The Soldiers of the 63rd Regiment stationed here, are strictly prohibited from trading; and in order to prevent their wives, when so engaged, from having any advantage over trading Settlers, they have been required from the commencement of the present year, either to give up traffic, or to relinquish the rations allowed them and their children. Those who have chosen the latter alternative are no longer under Military control; and are consequently as free as any class of Settlers, to follow what pursuit they please. None but married Soldiers are permitted here to live out of Barracks, and this only during good behaviour; an indulgence granted them at home, and in other Colonies. etc. etc.” [Letter to the Editor of Perth Gazette 19 Jan 1833].

The publican’s lot was not always plain sailing, however, as can be seen from the newspaper story in February 1835 (see sidebar).

In July 1834 Edward Barron, then discharged from the Army, he and 19-year-old Private Hugh Nesbit of 21st Regiment were attacked by natives. Nesbit was killed and Barron wounded. Click here for details.