Daily Telegraph 15Feb1888
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/149490844The Colonist 18Feb1888
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/201174765The Tasmanian 18Feb1888
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/199508058Death of an Old Pressman. — The death of another of those old colonists who are rapidly passing away is recorded in our obituary columns this morning, Mr William Fletcher, the bookseller and stationer, having passed away on Monday (says the Mercury) at 4.37 p.m., after a long period of ill-health. He was born at Stockton-on-Tees, England, in February, 1815, just before Waterloo, and was appointed to the honorable calling of Benjamin Franklin. After working for some time at Gilbert and Riverton's, from whose Press issued the bibles and many standard classics published in that period, he sailed for Tasmania in the Sydney, Captain Potter, in February, 1841, and arrived at Hobart after a six months' voyage. Among his fellow passengers were Mrs Clark's company of theatricals, including the Carandinis, who subsequently became so popular in Australia.
Mr Fletcher came to Tasmania under an engagement to the late William Gore Elliston, proprietor of the Hobart Town Courier, and after working some time in connection with that paper be went to the office of the Colonial Times. Shortly after this he was engaged by Mr Goodwin to proceed to Launceston, where he worked at the Cornwall Chronicle office, and subsequently was employed in the Examiner office, where he had as a fellow-workman Mr Henry Button, the present proprietor of that journal. He returned to Hobart again, and started in business here on his own account as printer and bookbinder in Elizabeth-street. Establishing a good trade he removed to Liverpool-street, where he went into the book, stationery, and fancy goods line as well, and continued to do a good business, while winning the respect of all who had dealings with him by his integrity and attention to business. A few years ago his printing business was purchased by the proprietors of the Mercury, and his health becoming feeble he withdrew from his many years active connection with business.
His wife preceded him to the grave, and he leaves no family.
