The Horton District

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Mon, 26/12/2011 - 12:08pm

John Horton

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The Horton District

The Horton district in the North-West of Tasmania existed from 1841 to 1890. In 1841 the District of Launceston, comprising the North of Van Diemen's Land, was split into Launceston and Horton. In 1856 the Horton district was split into Emu Bay and Horton. In 1890 Horton was split into Stanley and Montagu and ceased to exist as a district in its own right.1 This forum topic is to discuss the origin of the district name, and any associated interests. There is a description of the Horton District in 1858 on the Mary Ann Briscoe and Thomas Carroll page.

1. AOT Registration District History

Mon, 26/12/2011 - 12:27pm

John Horton

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Joined: 30/04/2009 - 18:15

Name of the Horton District

A number of items have been found which may be of relevance in determining the source for the name of the district of Horton. In a letter from Captain Montagu to Mr. Edward Curr, he notes:

The County, in which you take your land, will be called "Horton", and as soon as you have made your election, you will be so good as to notify the same to the Surveyor General... 1

That was in 1826 but according to the AOT Registration Districts Timeline, the formal naming didn't occur until sometime in 1841. Check district dates.

As the Horton District was nearly totally comprised of the Van Diemen's Land (VDL) Company land grants it is highly probable that the naming of the district was after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton:

[Horton]...had a prominent part in the constitutional changes in New South Wales in 1823 and in the granting of charters to the Australian Agricultural Co., the Van Diemen's Land Co. and the Canada Co.2

1. HRA III., Vol. V. p. 405: from Captain Montagu to Mr. E. Curr, Secretary's Office, 8 March 1826
2. ADOB: Sir Robert Wilmot Horton

Sat, 19/05/2012 - 8:50am

John Horton

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Last seen: 16 min 37 sec ago

Joined: 30/04/2009 - 18:15

Tasmanian Registration Districts and Other Resources

The AUS-Tasmanian Genealogy Mailing List website includes a Tasmanian Registration Districts 1838--1945 - Origin and Development Chart.

Specific to the Horton district, the Archives Office of Tasmania has the following resources:

The Horton Road Trust: To construct, maintain and regulate cross and bye roads in the Road District of Horton.
Correspondence Records of the Horton District Police Magistrate: Correspondence of Malcolm Laing Smith.
Return of Penalties paid to the Constabulary in the District of Horton: Records of the Circular Head Police.
Estate Maps in the District of Horton: Circular Head and Stanley Subdivision ... 1862.
Estate Maps in the District of Horton: Circular Head and Stanley Subdivision ... 1892.