Dutton family of South Australia
The Dutton family of South Australia was established by Frederick Dutton, who "rose to distinction" from modest origins in Norwich, Norfolk, to leave a number of descendants who became prominent in Australia.‘The family name was originally Mendes, but was changed by … Frederick Hugh Hampden Mendes to that of the family of the latter’s grandfather, who was descended from the Duttons, of Dutton, in Cheshire’. Family. Frederick Dutton Mendes, of Norwich, was father by his first wife, Elizabeth Pond, of Frederick Hugh Hampden Dutton (3 February 1769 – 27 December 1847). Frederick Dutton. Frederick Dutton  (as he was known) was baptised in Norwich on 19 Feb 1769 as Frederick Hugh Hambden Dutton. He settled near Newry in County Down, Ireland, where he kept a pub “without a licence” and embarked on a career noted for its unscrupulousness. He was employed, apparently as a valet, in the service of a Mr Carlisle, but was discharged on accusation of theft. At the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, he was recruited as a spy and "notorious" informer for the British Crown and is alleged to have perjured evidence at several celebrated State trials of United Irishmen , notably that of the Rev. James Coigly, leading to his conviction and sentence to death. Dutton was promoted in the official service of the government when he was appointed by Lord Carhampton to the rank of quartermaster in the Royal Irish Artillery in 1795/6. He is also said to have had a position in the Revenue. He was posted as British Consul at Cruxhaven, Hanover, 1814–32, where he also held a position in the post office department and worked as an agent for the packet ships. He died at Rotterdam on 27 Dec 1847. A biographical note appended to Richard  Robert Madden's (he was later Colonial Secretary of Western Australia), "The United Irishmen, Their Lives and Times" states of him: "In a letter from a settler in one of the most flourishing colonies of Australia, it is stated that Mr. Frederick Dutton obtained an official position in Holland, connected with the British government; that he was living about 1840 at Cruxhaven, married to a second wife, a step-daughter of the late William Pollock, Esq., of Newry, and holding some situation in the post-office department; that his sons went to Australia, speculated in mines, and became persons of  great opulence and distinction there." He married at Hanover on 30 August 1804 his second wife, Mary Ann (Pollock) Norris (b. Newry, Ireland, 1781; d. , near Cuxhaven, 15 Dec 1851). Their descendants are listed below.