John PEARSON b. 1800, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, son of Joseph PEARSON & Marion JOHNSTON was married in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1831 to Mary SIMPSON, b. 1800, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, daughter of David SIMPSON & Mary JARVEY. Mary SIMPSON was an elder sister of Sir James Young SIMPSON 1811-1870, knighted for his discovery of the anaesthetic properties of chloroform and successfully introduction of it for general medical use.
John & Mary PEARSON had at least three children in Scotland before emigration from Scotland on the "North Briton" to Tasmania in 1840. Another child was born on the voyage in 1840 and the family arrived in Van Diemen's Land in Jube 1840.
John PEARSON had inherited the property "Douglas Park" at Campbell Town, Van Diemen's Land from his elder brother Dr. Temple PEARSON who had died there in 1839. Their last child was born there in 1843.
John PEARSON appears to have sold "Douglas Park" in 1846 and John & Mary PEARSON sailed from George Town, Van Diemen's Land for Portland Bay, Colony of Port Philip on the "Minerva" on 4 Jun 1846. This may have been when John brought his family to Port Philip as the records indicate he had occupied "Refuge" Pastoral Run, north-west of Casterton in 1844.
John PEARSON occupied, owned or leased the following Pastoral Runs in south-west Victoria....
John PEARSON of "Retreat Station", N of Casterton on the Glenelg River appears to have been linked by marriage to the family of Hugh McINTYRE who arrived from Van Diemen's Land and had three children at "Retreat Station" 1846-1849. Hugh McINTYRE occupied "Fox Hall Station" N-W of "Retreat" from 1849-1855 before moving on to Hamilton, Victoria in 1855 and to New Zealand in 1867.
John PEARSON was living at "Retreat Station", N of Casterton on the Glenelg River when his wife Mary died a few days after "Black Thursday", 6th Feb 1851.
John PEARSON died at Portland, Victoria in 1885 and was buried in the Old Portland Cemetery along with his wife Mary and son John Simpson PEARSON 1837-1884.
John PEARSON & Mary SIMPSON had the following family...