George Suttor

George Suttor (11 June 1774 – 5 May 1858) was an Anglo-Scottish farmer and pioneer settler of Australia, who is notable as the founder of a significant Australian family, and also as a supporter of Captain Bligh following the 1808 Rebellion at Sydney, New South Wales.

Early life Suttor was born in Chelsea, London, England, the third son of a Scottish market gardener (and botanist on the estate of Charles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan) and his wife, née Thomas. These were put on board in October 1798, but delays took place and it was not until September 1799 that a proper start was made. A gale almost wrecked the ship, which was found to be unseaworthy, and a return was made to Spithead. In March 1800 another start was made on a corvette taken from the Spanish and renamed

Australia Suttor arrived at Sydney on 5 November 1800. In spite of the delays, Suttor managed to land some of his trees and vines still alive. He was given a grant of land, and settled at Chelsea Farm. In a few years time he was sending oranges and lemons to Sydney, obtaining good prices for them, and had become a successful settler. In 1810 Suttor was summoned to England as a witness on behalf of Bligh, and arrived in Australia again in May 1812. In August 1814 Suttor was given the position of superintendent of the lunatic asylum at Castle Hill with a salary of £50; in February 1819 he was dismissed from this position on charges he used lunatic labour on his farm. During a time of great conflict with the Indigenous Australians of the Wiradjuri nation, who resisted the taking of their lands, Suttor and his family (in particular son William) established good relations with the local Indigenous peoples. They were known to have been close to the Wiradjuri's warrior leader Windradyne, and when Windradyne died he was buried at Brucedale.

Descendants George Banks Suttor (1799–1879), born on the Porpoise at Spithead. Eliza Maria Suttor (1801–1889) Thomas Charles Cadogan Suttor (1804–1889) William Henry Suttor (1805–1877) member of the New South Wales Legislative Council 1843–1854, and of the Legislative Assembly 1856–72 Grandson: William Henry Suttor (junior) (1834–1905), entered the Legislative Assembly in January 1875; in 1889 became Vice-President of the Executive Council Grandson: Sir Francis Bathurst Suttor (1839–1915). Cordelia Sarah Suttor (1806–1894) John Bligh Suttor (1809–1886), who for some years represented East Macquarie in the Legislative Assembly, and at the time of his death was a member of the Legislative Council. Sarah Ellen Suttor (1813–1901) Elizabeth Mary Suttor (1815–1862) Edwin Clark Suttor (1818–1896) Timothy Suttor (1926–1997) Historian