Addison, Stephen Captain
DESCRIPTION
NameAddison, Stephen CaptainDate of Birth1795Date of Death1854OccupationCaptainPlace of ResidenceLake House, Peterborough EstateBiographyStephen Addison was born in Scotland in 1795 to Elizabeth Addison (no mention of his father).
He married Mary Ann Wentworth, daughter of D'Arcy Wentworth, at St James Church Sydney December 1840. Stephen was a Marine Captain and lived at the Peterborough Estate (Shellharbour) for a time, where he managed his father-in-law's estate.
Stephen visited Australia as early as 1817 where he was listed as a third officer on the convict ship 'Larkins'.
The next record we have of him is in 1821, when he was 1st Officer on the 'Duchess of York' and then 'Regalia' in 1823.
When the ship 'Waterloo' was commissioned to carry convicts to Australia in 1829, Captain Addison was the Commander and made another trip in 1831.
After captaining the 'Waterloo' he captained the 'Susan' which arrived in Sydney in 1834.
In 1836 & 1838 he captained the 'Eudora'.
At some stage, Stephen moved to High Street Hobart. His marriage notice to Mary Ann Wentworth lists him residing in Hobart Town. Stephen and Mary Ann's first son was born in Hobart.
By 1844, the couple was living on the shore of Lake Illawarra, at 'Lake House', managing the estate Wentworth family estate, 'Peterborough'.
Robert Towns (Stephen's brother-in-law) reputedly commissioned William Humbrell, George Knight, and Robert Carnell to build a house for Stephen and Mary Ann Addison (Humbrell Family History), 'Lake House'.
Stephen and Mary Ann's second son was born at 'Lake House' in 1845.
In 1847, a notice in the newspaper stated a pound had been established on the 'Peterborough Estate' and notice was given by Stephen that any horses or cattle trespassing on the estate would be sent to the pound.
In 1847, Stephen is mentioned in relation to the festival of St. John, a Masonic ceremony in which he was the Worshipful Master.
The Governor visited 'Lake House' and had lunch with the Addison's on a visit to the Illawarra in 1848.
In 1848, a third son was born at 'Lake House'.
The same year the Addison's returned to Hobart and a farewell dinner was given in Stephen's honour, recounting his achievements since coming to the district.
In William Bayley's 'Green Meadows' Stephen is said to have built a slab hut school for the 51 children living on the 'Peterborough Estate'. The slab hut would have been where Little Park is now, at Shellharbour Village.
Addison made improvements to the 'Peterborough Estate' and was involved in the formation of the first Illawarra Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He also established a shell mining business with his brother-in-law Robert Towns.
Stephen Addison died in Hobart in 1854 after a long illness.
External LinkMary Ann Wentworth'Waterloo' Captain 1831'Waterloo' Commander 1832Court of Claims re land in Illawarra 1833-1844'Susan' Captain 1834'Eudora ' Captain 1838Notice in SMH.of marriage 1840Notice in Hobart newspaper of marriage 1841Birth of Son Hobart 1842Birth at Lake House a son 1845Notices Public pound 1847Public Meeting to aid the destitute in Scotland & IrelandFestival of St. John (masonic) 1847Notices For lease with harbour 1848Birth at Lake House a son 1848Lunch with Governor at Lake House 1848Notices for lease 1848Farewell Dinner 1848Farewell Dinner Sept 1848Passengers to Hobart on the 'Emma' Oct.1848Notice of death in Hobart 1854Notices to Trespassers 1858Notices to tenants rent due 1858
He married Mary Ann Wentworth, daughter of D'Arcy Wentworth, at St James Church Sydney December 1840. Stephen was a Marine Captain and lived at the Peterborough Estate (Shellharbour) for a time, where he managed his father-in-law's estate.
Stephen visited Australia as early as 1817 where he was listed as a third officer on the convict ship 'Larkins'.
The next record we have of him is in 1821, when he was 1st Officer on the 'Duchess of York' and then 'Regalia' in 1823.
When the ship 'Waterloo' was commissioned to carry convicts to Australia in 1829, Captain Addison was the Commander and made another trip in 1831.
After captaining the 'Waterloo' he captained the 'Susan' which arrived in Sydney in 1834.
In 1836 & 1838 he captained the 'Eudora'.
At some stage, Stephen moved to High Street Hobart. His marriage notice to Mary Ann Wentworth lists him residing in Hobart Town. Stephen and Mary Ann's first son was born in Hobart.
By 1844, the couple was living on the shore of Lake Illawarra, at 'Lake House', managing the estate Wentworth family estate, 'Peterborough'.
Robert Towns (Stephen's brother-in-law) reputedly commissioned William Humbrell, George Knight, and Robert Carnell to build a house for Stephen and Mary Ann Addison (Humbrell Family History), 'Lake House'.
Stephen and Mary Ann's second son was born at 'Lake House' in 1845.
In 1847, a notice in the newspaper stated a pound had been established on the 'Peterborough Estate' and notice was given by Stephen that any horses or cattle trespassing on the estate would be sent to the pound.
In 1847, Stephen is mentioned in relation to the festival of St. John, a Masonic ceremony in which he was the Worshipful Master.
The Governor visited 'Lake House' and had lunch with the Addison's on a visit to the Illawarra in 1848.
In 1848, a third son was born at 'Lake House'.
The same year the Addison's returned to Hobart and a farewell dinner was given in Stephen's honour, recounting his achievements since coming to the district.
In William Bayley's 'Green Meadows' Stephen is said to have built a slab hut school for the 51 children living on the 'Peterborough Estate'. The slab hut would have been where Little Park is now, at Shellharbour Village.
Addison made improvements to the 'Peterborough Estate' and was involved in the formation of the first Illawarra Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He also established a shell mining business with his brother-in-law Robert Towns.
Stephen Addison died in Hobart in 1854 after a long illness.
External LinkMary Ann Wentworth'Waterloo' Captain 1831'Waterloo' Commander 1832Court of Claims re land in Illawarra 1833-1844'Susan' Captain 1834'Eudora ' Captain 1838Notice in SMH.of marriage 1840Notice in Hobart newspaper of marriage 1841Birth of Son Hobart 1842Birth at Lake House a son 1845Notices Public pound 1847Public Meeting to aid the destitute in Scotland & IrelandFestival of St. John (masonic) 1847Notices For lease with harbour 1848Birth at Lake House a son 1848Lunch with Governor at Lake House 1848Notices for lease 1848Farewell Dinner 1848Farewell Dinner Sept 1848Passengers to Hobart on the 'Emma' Oct.1848Notice of death in Hobart 1854Notices to Trespassers 1858Notices to tenants rent due 1858
Person
Family
CONNECTIONS
CollectionPeopleFamilyAddisonPersonWentworth, D'ArcyFenwick, ThomasPlaceLake HousePeterborough Estate
Addison, Stephen Captain. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 07/12/2025, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/14323