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Hi all,
I am an Aussie Chater just getting interested in tracing the family history. I found some information on the origin of the name among some old papers and photos after my dads death and it got me interested to find out more. I don`t know where my dad got the information but I will copy it below. The Leslie Chater mentioned is my dads brother., I believe his son now has the medal.
I was born Dorothy Barbara Chater 20 May 1947 in Sydney Australia, My parents were James Charles Chater born 25th February 1925 in Sydney Australia married Thelma Isabell Carstens June 1946 Sydney Australia, my grandparents were William Austin Chater born 1884 Durham UK married Barbara Meyers 1905 Sydney Australia, their marriage certificate gives his parents as Randolph Chater and Jane Austin. So far I am at a dead end with no trace of his birth or anything on his parents .
The family story goes something like this, Randolph died young in an accident and Jane remarried, a school headmaster named Dalzeil?(sp) who was pretty tough on the kid/kids? He wanted the kid/kids to use his name and my grandfather told him he was born a Chater and would die a Chater and then ran away to sea when he was about 14 years old. He went to New Zealand and then on to Australia and worked around the islands north of Australia on the sailing ships and when steam came in he became a stoker or oiler but hated the dirty rotten things and always bemoaned the passing of the sailing ships.
I will eventually track him down I suppose.
Anyway this is the story that dad had, I came across it when going through some old photos.
Enjoy.
Dorothy Sweeney (nee Chater)
ORIGIN OF THE NAME "CHATER"
Extract from private record- England 1968
The name CHATER is a derivation of the Norman name of ESCHEATER. IE: esCHeATER. This is a rare name and is considered may become extinct by persons who delve into the origin of names.
The name Escheater - CHATER- was introduced into Great Britain by persons bearing this name who were soldiers and sailors serving under William, Duke of Normandy, in 1066.
They landed in England with William, later known as William the Conqueror, King of England.
The landing took place at Pevensey and William`s army defeated King Harold at Senlac near Hastings.
Most of the persons named Escheater or Escheator appeared to have died in military operations serving both William the Conqueror and later William 11 (Rufus).
William 11 gained many military successes in Normandy and Scotland, but owing to his cruelty and profligacy, both himself and many of his followers were killed.
The remainder of the persons bearing the Escheater name subsequently became law enforcers, tax collectors, and made enquiries into 'escheats'. That is where a tenant died without a direct heir, the land then escheated (lapsed) back to the Lord of the Manor. A similar enquiry took place after the crime of treason or felony.
In these times this was a hazardous occupation and many were killed and the name almost became extinct. Over the years it appears that persons bearing the name Escheater and later Chater undertook dangerous occupations and as a result few remained.
Most records relating to this name are privately owned by the few remaining Chater families in Great Britain. These records reveal that a number migrated to Australia and New Zealand, some were soldiers, sailors, prison ship guards etc.
Most of the remaining persons bearing the name of Chater reside in New South Wales, Australia and as previously stated the name is rare and may, as many rare English names, become extinct.
Records at the Royal Mint, London reveal that a 'Queens Medal for Exemplary Service' was minted for a Leslie Chater, a New South Welshman in 1968 (Dads brother, in NSW police Force). Effort was made to contact him by members of a Chater family in England who retain the history of the Chater name without success.