PERSONAL DETAILS
Name/Alias	Alexander PATERSON
Birth date and place	c. 1825 Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
Baptism date and place
Civil Census Residences	St John’s Street, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland (1841 tentative). Royal Sappers & Miners Barracks, Woolwich, Greenwich, Kent (1851). 66 St James’ Place, Plumstead, Lewisham (1861). Harriet (widow) and the youngest three children are recorded in Croydon, Surrey (1871).
Trade	Coach Painter.
Physical Description	Height: 5 ft. 8 ins. Complexion: dark. Eyes: blue. Hair: dark brown.
Marriage date and place	1 Jul 1851 St Thomas’ Church, Charlton, Kent. Marriage banns read for three weeks.
Spouse	Harriet(t) THORNTON.
Children	Harriet b. 1852 Fremantle, Western Australia. Joseph Charles b. 1854 Fremantle, Western Australia. Ellen b. 1859 Portland, Dorset. Mary b. 1863, Sydenham, Kent. Alexander b. 1866 (d.1867), Croydon, Surrey (tentative).
Death date and place	Probably between 1865 and 1871. No record of death found.
Burial date and place
Will and Probate
Death/Funeral Notices
ARMY SERVICE DETAILS
Corps and Company	Royal Engineers 20th Company (formerly Royal Sappers & Miners).
Service No. and Rank	#1508 Sapper.
Attestation date and place	25 Sep 1846 Glasgow, Lanark.
Service/Campaigns	Western Australia 6 years 5 months.
Musters	WO11-126 20th Company, Woolwich (1851). WO11-130 (1851) to WO11-158 (1858), Western Australia.
Promotions	None.
Medals, Clasps and Badges	Two Good Conduct Badges.
Casualty/Medical	Disease of lungs. Invalided from Australia in January 1858 in consequence of disease of the right lung from which he had suffered and been under treatment for nine months periodically. Since his return, the disease has gradually progressed, the usual emaciation and extreme debility has kept pace with the disorganisation of the lung. He is totally unfit for any duty and there is no possibility of improvement. Disability caused by constitutional inferiority. Unfit for further service in consequence upon pulmonary disease [Chatham Sept 14 1858].
General Court Martial	At Chatham on the 28th & 29th December 1847. Charge. For having at Brompton on or about the 7th December 1847 offered violence to Acting Sergeant James Robertson of the Royal Sappers and Miners, his superior officer, then and there being in the execution of his office, by striking him, the said Acting Sergeant Robertson a violent blow on the temple and another violent blow on the back of the head. Finding. The Court having duly weighed and maturely considered the evidence adduced in support of the Prosecution, together with what the prisoner has urged in his defence, is of opinon that the Prisoner Private, Alexander Paterson, No. 1508, of the Royal Sappers and Miners, is of the charge Guilty. Sentence. The Court having found the Prisoner guilty of the charge against him, which being in breach of the Articles of War, and taking into consideration his former good character and the absence of former convictions, does in virtue thereof sentence him, the said Prisoner Private Alexander Paterson, No. 1508 of the Royal Sappers and Miners, to suffer imprisonment for two years composed of Twenty four Lunar Months, and to be kept in solitary confinement for six portions amounting to Three Lunar Months in each year, each portion consisting of a period of Fourteen days, with intervals between the periods of not less duration than such periods of solitary confinement. The imprisonment other than Solitary to be with Hard Labour. Which was Inflicted.
Discharge date and place	5 Oct 1858 Chatham.
Length of Service	10 years 48 days.
Chelsea Pension Reference	WO97-1363-59.
Post Discharge Residence	No. 6 Essington Terrace, Plumstead, Kent.
Pension	8d. per diem for 2½ years. Permanent 13 Apr 1865.
ARRIVAL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Ship	Anna Robertson.
Departure and Arrival dates	Dep. Woolwich 10 Sep 1851. Arr. Fremantle 18 Dec 1851.
Occupations post-arrival in WA	Instructing Warder [Barker p.167].
Subscriptions to Funds	None.
Land Acquisition	None in Western Australia.
Newspaper Articles	Inquirer & Commercial News 3 Feb 1858.
Ship ex-WA	Dolphin.
Departure date and destination	Dep. Fremantle 2 Feb 1858 to London.