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William Bartram

The Dictionary of Western Australians (online version) has William Bartram arriving on the Eglinton on 4 September 1852 with his wife Susan (Anne Carter has Sarah), who was drowned in the wreck of that ship on 8 September 1852.

J.K. Hitchcock, however, writing from memory in 1919, refers to "loss of his wife, who, in coming from England to rejoin her husband, was drowned through the wreck of the ship Eglinton on the coast north of Fremantle." This implies that Bartram had arrived on some earlier date. It would then be less surprising that he went into business with the Carter brothers in the same month as his arrival – and the death of his wife – in a new building which opened its doors 27 September 1852, selling among other things ... goods which had arrived on that ship.
It is plausible to conjecture that the grieving widower (aged 56) had put up much of the money to allow the Carter brothers to build a commodious store, but took little part in the running of the business, a 'silent partner'.
Here is the way Hitchcock tells the story:
On the corner of William and Henderson-streets still stands, though in a state of senile decay, the commodious premises in which a large general business was carried on by Mr. Edward Newman, under the style of T. and H. Carter and Co., that being the original name of the firm when it was first established in the very early days. One of its founders, a very old gentleman named William Bartram, was associated with Mr. Newman in the business, but took only a passive interest in its affairs, a very sad event having a cast a gloom over his declining years. This was the loss of his wife, who, in coming from England to rejoin her husband, was drowned through the wreck of the ship Eglington on the coast north of Fremantle.

However, Anne Carter's account, in her paper in Early Days, has William on the ship. She also has Susan's name as Sarah. I suppose Hitchcock's memory might be wrong on those points. I have put three detailed accounts of the wreck of the Eglinton on its page. One of them mentions Mrs Bartram, none mentions her husband, so I'm inclined to follow Hitchcock's 1919 version that he was already here.

Erickson:
BARTRAM, William, b. 1794, d. 23.4.1874 (Frem), arr. 4.9.1852 per Eglinton with wife Susan b. 1805 who d. 8.9.1852 in the shipwreck (sister of Messrs. Carter, Frem). Bartram entered into business at Frem. with his brothers-in- law, (Inq: 8, 1858) as Carters & Bartram. (Edward Newman another partner).

Many advertisements were placed for Carter & Bartram in the Inquirer 1852-54. A couple of examples:

Inquirer, 29 December 1852, p.1:
Now landing ex '"Dido."
BAREGE, de laine, cypress crape, rich moulton crape, crinoline, French print-
ed cambric, and embroidered ladies' dresses; a large quantity of prints, calico, and other
drapery; trimmed bonnets and dress caps
Superior gentlemen's clothing, ladies' and gentlemen's boots and shoes.
Norwich fancy Balzarine Dresses
A new assortment of fancy French printed Lama, de Cote, Barege, Silk Check, Tissue,
printed Cashmere, and Paisley Shawls.
ALSO,—
Proprietors' brandy in quarter casks, tobacco in kegs
Ironmongery, assorted iron, crates of assorted earthenware, corn sacks, sheep ointment,
small bales of assorted shepherds' clothing, &c, &c.
CARTERS & BARTRAM.

Inquirer, 3 May 1854, p.3:
To arrive per 'Travancore.'
AN extensive assortment of ladies' Autumn and Winter cloaks, shawls, mantles, gloves, hosiery, millinery, &c, &c.
Gentlemen's waterproof and cloth clothing, black and blue cloth in the piece, Tweeds in great variety, hats und cups, boots and shoes, pier and chimney glasses, barometers, Palmer's patent candle lamps, paper hangings, cutlery, ironmongery, china and earthenware, glass, bottled fruit, confectionery, biscuit in tins, preserved meats and Yarmouth bloaters, raisins and currants, &.c., &c.
CARTERS & BARTRAM.
Fremantle, March 15, 1854.

References and Links

Erickson.

Carter, Anne 1999, 'Thomas and Henry Carter: pioneers of York and Fremantle', Early Days, vol. 11, part 5: 595-611.