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Convict and architect. Born in Thorne, Yorkshire, in 1811, son of Robert Rowntree and Elizabeth Casson. His family were prominent Quakers, and like the Fry family, were chocolate and confectionary manufacturers.
Rowntree was charged with and convicted for stealing money and was sentenced to transportation in 1829. He was disowned by the Balby Meeting and on arrival in Tasmania, was described as a 'non-member'. Arrived in Van Diemen's Land per Manlius (2) on 12th August 1830. Rowntree appears to have regressed only twice whilst a convict: on 24th January 1831 he was charged with "being drunk on Saturday night last,"1 and reprimanded. The second offence was "insubordinate Conduct to Mr. P. Jackson, Master of H.M. Cutter Charlotte when a passenger on board the said vessel proceeding from Gb Island to Hobart Town.2 Rowntree was living at Richmond in 1835.
He married Hannah Nichols at Richmond on 6th July 1835.3 In 1842 Rowntree was living in a timber house in Torrens Street, Richmond, belonging to Henry Garland. Six people were residing in the house; one "mechanic" (Rowntree) and five "others", including children.4
The Congregational Church in Richmond, built in 1873-4, was designed by Rowntree. Rowntree prepared several plans for Alexander McGregor's Lenna at Battery Point, and James Gregory the builder used a composite of the several plans for the final building.5 Later, Rowntree migrated to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he died in 1893. Designed the Congregational Church in Richmond. Died 8th November 1893. Memorial in Friends Cemetery, Mellifont Street, West Hobart.
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1 AOT CON 31/37 p.12.
2 Ibid.
3 AOT RGD 44/1.
4 AOT CEN 1/38
5 Mercury, 26 June 1878, p.3, cc.1-2.
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