REDAWAY, William Matthews (1831-1900) — London
Artist and engraver for H. M. Geological Survey. Also worked with his father James Redaway (1797-1858) and brother George Matthews Redaway (1828-1892) as ‘J. Redaway & Sons’ in engraving prints from some of the photographs of Australia produced by William Blandowski in the 1850s, some examples of which Redaway donated to the BM in 1872. Some engravings after Frank Paton are also in the BM.
Born 26 Oct 1831 near Torquay, Devon, and baptised 9 Feb 1832, the son of James Redaway, artist and engraver, and his wife Martha Redaway Matthews (1793-1877), who had married in London in 1820. He was living with his mother and two brothers at Rudgwick, near Horsham, Sussex, in 1851. He worked with his father and brother George Matthews Redaway as ‘J. Redaway & Sons’ in the 1850s, all three Redaways spending three years in Australia, Jul 1853 to Aug 1856, engaging in mining as well as engraving. Recorded as an engraver when granted probate on his father’s will 27 Aug 1858. Still in Rudgwick with his brothers, he was working as an artist in 1861. He was confirmed as a Roman Catholic at Torquay 18 Oct 1867, but in 1871 was once more in Rudgwick, living with an uncle and an assortment of aunts. He worked as assistant to Joseph Wilson Lowry (see BME 2011) as engraver to the Geological Survey of England and Wales, succeeding Lowry in that post after Lowry’s death in 1879. He married Esther Edwards (1854-1925), formerly the family servant in Rudgwick, with whom he had several children born in North London, at St. Pancras in London in 1880. He was recorded as an artist and engraver for the Geological Survey when living with his family in Essex in 1891. He died at Kensington, London — his death recorded in the first quarter of 1900.
Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne — 1854
King Street, Melbourne — 1854
39 Robert Street, St. Pancras — 1882
Herongate, Ingrave, Essex (home) — 1891
BM. Census 1851-1871, 1891. Darragh. Engen (1979). LHD.