Migrated to Van Diemen’s Land 1840, arr. 1841, with brother Robert (“The Convict”)
Appointed House Surgeon, Hobert hospital 21/4/1843 - 1846. (CSO 50/19; 50/21)
Marr Cert: District of Oatlands, Rites of Ch of SCT by Jn Mackersey. No. 535.
1883 Ship Record shows him arriving NSW. (Reel 455 Rodondo)
1884 Shows him arriving on a shipping record in NSW. (Reel 461 Wendouree)
See extensive notes on photocopies in file. Was living at 1 Royal Tce, Nicholson St Fitzroy in 1888 at brother Robert’s death. Says he owns property “Yarra Doon” Parish of Yourauga? County of Evelyn 25 acres of land and family residence worth 2000 pounds

Surname: CROOKE
Given Names: William
Title and Honours: Dr
Qualifications: MRCS
Date and Place of Birth: 1817
Date of Death: 10 December 1901 - Melbourne, Victoria
Legislative Council: 15 March 1855
Electorate: Buckingham 
Party: 
Positions Held:
Date of Departure: 1856
Reason for Departure: Parliament restructure.

Died in St Vincent's Hospital

Australian Representative Men (1st Ed) Vol 1(SLV)
William CROOKE, Surgeon, Royal Terrace, Fitzroy, second son of William Crooke, J.P., of Derreen, County Cork, Ireland, and Frances, daughter of Daniel Gibbs, Barrister-at-Law, of Derry, County Cork, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Warren, Bart., of Warren's Court,County, Cork, originally an old Hampshire family of Saxon origin, closely connected with the Warrens, the descendants of Count de Warren, who married the daughter of William the Conqueror, was born in Ireland.Sir Warren Crooke, Bart., was High Sheriff of Hampshire in the fifteenth century.

Walter Warren, the founder of the Irish branch of the family, with which the family of our present subject is closely allied, arrived in Ireland in the suite of William 111. In June 1690, his eldest son, the first baronet, married the daughter of William Crooke, of Crookestown Castle in the county of Cork.
Sir Thomas Crooke, Bart., the founder of the Crooke family in Ireland, a man of considerable wealth and active benevolence, conceiving the idea of improving the condition of the Irish poor, went to Ireland in the early part of the reign of James 1., and purchased large estates on the south coast for the purpose of establishing a pilchard fishery in order to furnish employment for the people. He built the town of Baltimore, and introduced a number of skilled English families to instruct the Irish peasantry, obtained a charter from James1., under which, and owing to the rapid growth of the town, and its increased population and prosperity, it obtained the privilege of sending two members to Parliament, of whom Sir Thomas Crooke was one.
He also built the town of Crookehaven, and successfully established the same industry there.
When he had brought his benevolent enterprise to a success which exceeded his warmest expectations, the project was crushed by a most unlooked-for calamity. On the 25th June 1631, in the dead of night, the town of Baltimore was surprised , sacked and burned by Algierine pirates, and the greater part of the male inhabitants carried into slavery. The town never recovered from this blow. Sir Thomas returned to England and died shortly after, leaving his son, Sir Thomas Crooke, in charge of his Irish estates. He married the only daughter of the Macarthy More, Prince of Munster, owner in fee of the counties of Cork and Kerry, and known as Donald, Earl Glencare, in the peerage of England. To propitiate the anti-English feelings of his intended father-in-law, Sir Thomas resigned the baronetcy, and married her as plain Thomas Crooke. The Macarthy More espoused the cause of Charles I., and lost his sons and estates in the unhappy struggle that followed the elevation of Cromwell, the last of his keeps, Macroom Castle, now one of the seats of the Earl of Bantry, surrendering to Cromwell's lieutenant, Ludlow, after a vigorous defence. Some of the Stone cannon balls used in the assault are still preserved amongst the memorabilia of its history.

Dr. Warren Crooke, of Macroom is now the head of the family. He is heir to the honours and title of his ancestor.the Macarthy More, Earl Glencare, and has been advised by, Sir Bernard Burke, of Ulster, King-at-Arms to the Court of Dublin of his right to assume the same at his pleasure.

William Crooke arrived in Tasmania in 1841, and was offered a district surgeo ship by the late Sir R. Officer, then P.M.O. of Van Diemen's Land, which he declined. He entered into pastoral pursuits in connection with the practice of his profession at Bruni Island, and was appointed to the Commission of the Peace by the late Sir John Franklin, this being one of his last official acts as Governor of that colony. The enterprise not proving successful, he accepted an appointment under the Imperial Government as Resident Assistant Surgeon in charge of Her Majesty's General Hospital at Hobart, the said hospital then containing accommodation for three hundred patients.
He held this appointment for over three years, during which time he married the only daughter and heiress of the Hon. James Maclanachan, MLC., of Ballochmyle House, Tunbridge, Tasmania. Soon after Mr Crooke resigned his appointment and commenced private practice in Hobart Town, and this venture was attended by marked success. He offered himself as a candidate for a seat in the Legislative Assembly in the Liberal interest in 1853, but was defeated, after a costly and exciting contest, by the late Sir R Officer.
A vacancy occurring soon after, he offered himself again in the same interest, defeating the Conservative candidate Mr J.K.Walker, by a large majority. On the dissolution of that Parliament he stood for the district of the Huon, where he purchased property, and was elected without opposition, and held his seat until his removal to Victoria in 1857. During his occupation of a seat in the Legislature of Tasmania he devoted earnest attention to the discovery of the causes of the rapid decadence of that colony, and became convinced that it was due to the introduction of free trade in substitution for the 15 percent, ad valorem tariff which had been in vogue for many years, and under which all the industries suited to a new country had grown up and flourished, whilst its abandonment led not only to their extinction, but to a rapid dispersion of the colony’s working strength, he submitted a series of resolutions to the House for the establishment of certain manufactures to be encouraged by a protective tariff. The proposition was received with amazement and ridicule, and, with difficulty, he succeeded in obtaining the appointment of a committee to enquire into the subject.
He claims the honour of being the first member of an Australian Legislature who suggested the introduction of a protective policy, and has lived to see his ideas brought into fruition in the principal member of the Australian group, and adopted by the most intelligent and progressive nations of the world. On arriving in Victoria he selected Collingwood as his residence, and soon secured a large and remunerative practice. He entered heartily into the organisation of the Volunteer Force, which he joined as a full private, and in which he now holds the rank of Surgeon-Major. On the formation of the Heales administration, when protection became the principal plank in the platform, he threw himself earnestly into the contest, addressed crowded meetings at Collingwood,Melbourne and Brunswick, and succeeded in defeating Mr. Harker, the free trade candidate for Collingwood.

In the latter part of 1870, hearing, by accident, that a peculiar eruptive disease had appeared at the Emigrants Hospital, King Street, which was treated as Chicken Pox he visited the establishment and found it to be the true small-pox of a most virulent form; he communicated his discovery immediately to the Central Board o Health and offered his aid to arrest its progress. His opinion of the nature of the disease not being accepted, and his proffered assistance declined, he called a meeting of medical men at the Port Phillip Club Hotel, and described the symptoms he had diagnosed. With the concurrence of those who were present, he forwarded a despatch to the Governor on the night of the meeting at 10 p.m., informing him that small-pox had broken out in the city. A commission was appointed next morning and the report of this commission confirmed his statement. As a proof of the virulence of the disease, it might be stated eleven deaths occurred previous to its being stamped out. Mr Crooke was then appointed Public Vaccinator and a member of the Central Board of Health, and this was all the recognition he received for the greatest service a medical man could have rendered a colony and his fellow citizens, especially when it is considered that disease in its recent outbreak in Cape Town carried off one tenth of the inhabitants in three months, and the mortality attending its presence in Sydney at the time. He was the first Australian medical practitioner who drew attention of the Profession and the public to diseased milk as a factor in the production of diphtheria,and, aided by the cordial and intelligent cooperation of Mr Graham Mitchell F.R.C.V.S., carried the line of investigation into the origin of the disease in animals, and by which Pasteur is now obtaining such important results.

Mr Crooke has four sons - James Maclanachan, William Tasman, Robert Warren and Charles Garibaldi; and one daughter - Louise Maclanachan.

The 648 ton ship Orleana set sail under the command of Captain Caneron from Liverpool on October 5, 1838. Its arrival in Adelaide, South Australia, some three months later was noted: "Passengers, amongst others, James Barlow, Jas. R Harrison, H Johnston, Rose T Reid, Robert Dodgson, James Lamb, George Buster, 84 passengers in all."
ORLEANA - 1840
Master:  Captain Cameron
Rigging:  Ship; sheathed in copper in 1838
Tonnage:  649 tons
Construction:  1835 on the Isle of Man, using Elm, Red Pine, Pitch Pine & Oak planking
Owners:  Ridgeway
Port of registry:  Liverpool
Port of survey:  London
Voyage:  sailed for South Australia




 

The Lord of Derreen

In 1740 William Crooke purchased a grant of land in the townland of Derreen, Parish of   Kilmeen. From here on William was called William Crooke, the First of Derreen.

Thomas Crooke took part in the transplantation to Munster which started in the late 1500s. Together with several families from his immediate (English) vicinity (either Hants. or Northants.—this has not yet been confirmed) and his ample capital, he founded an English colony at Baltimore and started a pilchard industry. For his good works he was knighted and a little later created 1st Baronet of Baltimore. The town prospered until 1631 when Barbary (Algerian) pirates plundered and burnt the town and carried off to Algiers nearly all the inhabitants, amongst them nearly one hundred English settlers. The town never recovered and remained a small fishing village. The 1st Bart. died soon afterwards.

According to an 1876 document the so-called 3rd Bart. married into the MacCarthy line (then Lords of Muskerry) and built a house near to the old castle of Castlemore (former M`Carthy stronghold) to which was given the name Crookestown. Crookestown was a large fortified structure having four towers and a fish tank in the roof.

In 1740 William Crooke, the son of Thomas Crooke of Crookestown, settled in Magourney. William Crooke purchased a grant of land of the townland of Derreen. From here on William was called William Crooke, the First of Derreen. Here he built a house, improved the lands, acquired or leased about 1000 acres at a convenient distance to Derreen. These included Nadrid, Clontane, Carhue and Pluckanes. Burke`s Landed Gentry of Ireland, 4th edn 1958 pp196/7 call this line Crooke formerly of Derreen.

Branches of the Crooke family emigrated to London, Australia and America. There were members of the family living in Derreen at least up until WW II.

The connection to the family of General James Wolfe

Connection to Major General James Wolfe: The 1st Bart Thomas Crooke had a sister Sarah who married Stephen Egerton. Stephen had a sister Anne who married 2ndly Sir John Tyndal (spelling varies). After several generations we have:

a) Bradwardine Tindall of Brotherton m 1stly Mary dau. Francis Bayldon in 1665. They had sole issue:

b) Lucy who married Edward Thompson. They had a dau.:

c) Henrietta who married Col. Edward Wolfe in 1726. They had issue:

d) James Wolfe b 21 Jan 1729 and d 13. Sept 1759. (Maj. Gen. James Wolfe)

d) is confirmed on Appendix p26 and 3 a) - d) on Appendix p29 of the bookWolfes' of Fournaughts.

 

Mike Crooke    crooke@iafrica.com

 

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The Lord of Derreen

In 1740 William Crooke purchased a grant of land in the townland of Derreen, Parish of   Kilmeen. From here on William was called William Crooke, the First of Derreen.

Thomas Crooke took part in the transplantation to Munster which started in the late 1500s. Together with several families from his immediate (English) vicinity (either Hants. or Northants.—this has not yet been confirmed) and his ample capital, he founded an English colony at Baltimore and started a pilchard industry. For his good works he was knighted and a little later created 1st Baronet of Baltimore. The town prospered until 1631 when Barbary (Algerian) pirates plundered and burnt the town and carried off to Algiers nearly all the inhabitants, amongst them nearly one hundred English settlers. The town never recovered and remained a small fishing village. The 1st Bart. died soon afterwards.

According to an 1876 document the so-called 3rd Bart. married into the MacCarthy line (then Lords of Muskerry) and built a house near to the old castle of Castlemore (former M`Carthy stronghold) to which was given the name Crookestown. Crookestown was a large fortified structure having four towers and a fish tank in the roof.

In 1740 William Crooke, the son of Thomas Crooke of Crookestown, settled in Magourney. William Crooke purchased a grant of land of the townland of Derreen. From here on William was called William Crooke, the First of Derreen. Here he built a house, improved the lands, acquired or leased about 1000 acres at a convenient distance to Derreen. These included Nadrid, Clontane, Carhue and Pluckanes. Burke`s Landed Gentry of Ireland, 4th edn 1958 pp196/7 call this line Crooke formerly of Derreen.

Branches of the Crooke family emigrated to London, Australia and America. There were members of the family living in Derreen at least up until WW II.
 
DEATH OF DR WILLIAM CROOKE.

Among our obituary notices is issue of 23rd inst. Of a well known Hobart Politician and professional man in the old days when Sir John
FRANKLIN and Mr William Damison were pro-consuls Dr.William Crooke, to whom we refer, died at St Vincent;s Hospital,
Melbourne.on 19th instant, having reached the ripe age of 85 years

.***** The doctor arrived in Tasmania, then Van Dieman's Land, about 1843 and joined his uncle the REV.R.GIBBS who was farming at
Bruni Island.*******

Soon after the young doctor was appointed Resident Surgeon of the Hobert General Hospital, situated on the site of the present Lands
and Works Dept. And conveniently adjacent to Gaol. Opposite the present Treasury and near St Davids Church yard .Upon leaving
Hospital DR CROOKE commenced practice in Elizabeth St where Mr Weaver's Chemist shop now stands and practiced there until he
left the colony for Victoria in 1857. He afterwards practiced in Fitzroy, Melbourne, for over 48 years, but during the last two years had
practiced in Sydney where he had relatives. His death occurred in Melbourne whilst visiting that city. The late Dr.Crooke's practice was
of an extensive nature. For one thing he practiced in three Australian Capital cities, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney. He was at work,
without cessation. 48 years, Added to that his energy was so great that at least 45 years of that period he visited his patients at 5 a.m
and had done half his rounds before most medical men had swallowed their breakfast. The Dr. Is still and most warmly remembered by
many old residents of Hobart. While in charge of Hobart Hospital, he sent consumptive patients away as incurable. He sent convict
consumptives to Cascade Hospital to die, but found that with fresh air, good food and no work, the lungs healed.The late Doctor was an
example of the dictum "Physician heal thyself" It is doubtful whether, except for an attack of influenza, the Dr. had a day's illness in his
life. This he attributed to the fact that he never exceeded two meals a day,frequently took but one, and was always moderate with his
liquor. His splendid physique and iron constitution probably had more to do with the matter than rules. Dr.Crooke, was with the Hon.
Adye Douglas and others, in the early 1850's a member of Legislative Council of Tasmania that preceded responsible government. The
story of his Homeric struggle with DR.OFFICER for election for Hobart to the days when colours, bands, dead cats, rotten eggs and
broken windows were ordinary election accompaniments, is yet to be told by old Hobart citizens. Dr Crooke has always claimed that the
proposal to change the name of the Colony from Van Dieman's Land to Tasmania was his suggestion. When the new constitution was
introduced in 1866 Dr.Crooke was elected first member for Franklin without much opposition.

**********THOSE WHO THINK MUCH OF COINCIDENCES MAY NOTE THAT DR.CROOKE'S ANCESTOR SIR THOMAS CROOKE,
WAS THE FIRST MEMBER FOR CORK, THE MOST SOUTHERN PART OF IRELAND IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.********

DR.CROOKE married the only daughter of Mr. McLanarhan M.I.D Tasmania and has two surviving sons Mr.Warren Crooke, Brisbane
and Mr Garry Crooke, Surveyor.