John Lewis Pasteur (1781-?)

John Lewis Pasteur (III) was born in Melbourne although later moved to London at least for a time. He married a woman called Ann judging from the children’s birth records in the IGI. I cannot positively identify this woman but I am pretty certain her name was Ann Adams.

In Jack’s notes he stated that John Lewis Pasteur III married an Ann Adams. Interestingly there was an Ann Adams born in1789 in Repton, Derbyshire (only five miles from Melbourne), the daughter of Ralph and Sarah Adams. Among their 5 children there was another daughter called Sarah. The naming of the children of JLP III and Ann reflects this iteration of the name Sarah. That this Ann Adams was the correct one is a strong possibility although one would have to check the marriage records of Repton, Derbyshire to be certain.

In addition in Jack’s notes he states that there was another John Lewis Pasteur descended from John Lewis Pasteur III. He was mentioned in the “Kirkland Papers” as having died on May 22 (no year given) at the age of 17 and a memorial was raised in Melbourne churchyard by his three surviving sisters, Sarah, Ann and Elizabeth. In the handwritten notes Jack says “d.1805 at 17”. This would appear to be impossible, as JLP III would have had to father him at age 9 years! In a similar vein in his notes he states that Anna Maria Pasteur died in 1807 and Sarah Adams Pasteur died in 1809. I suspect he meant birth dates, which would make sense. Why the two girls have the same christening date in the IGI in London, both in 1709 I have no idea.

The only other interesting thing is that an Ann Mary Pastor married a James Rook in St Anne Soho, Westminster in London on 25 May 1828. Knowing the frequency of spelling mistakes in the IGI I wonder if it could be Anna Maria Pasteur. Jack’s notes say she married a Mr Massey however and his notes are right for his sister Sarah Adams Pasteur #214 marrying a Mr Armstrong.

I do not know why John Lewis Pasteur III moved to London and whether he stayed there. I know that Elizabeth Pasteur had moved back to Melbourne by 1842 and that Sarah was married in Melbourne in 1833 so perhaps he had moved back by then also. I also do not know his occupation.


MELBOURN is a parish, in the hundred of Repton and Gresley. The village, which is a considerable one, and of some antiquity, is situate seven miles and a half S.S.E. from Derby, and about six N.N.E. from Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Camden notices this place as having a castle, wherein John Duke of Bourbon, of the blood royal of France, was incarcerated nine years, having been taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt.

The only vestige now remaining of this edifice is a wall of considerable thickness and height, about twenty yards in length. Lord Melbourn, who derives his title from this place, has a seat here, the gardens of which are laid out with exquisite taste, and are accessible to the inhabitants and strangers: the tourist will derive ample gratification from visiting this delightful spot. The inhabitants, many of whom were formerly employed in combing and spinning wool and working upon the stocking-frame, are now principally engaged in the manufacture of blonde lace. Melbourn is one of the stations named in the new Boundary Act, for receiving votes at the election of knights of the shire to represent its southern division.

The places of worship are, the parish church, and chapels for presbyterians, methodists, calvinists and general baptists. The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, is one of the oldest in the kingdom, as well as one of the finest specimens of Saxon architecture: it is said to have been founded by Ethelred, King of Mercia, who came to the throne A. D. 675. During the same year his Queen was murdered at which crime he was supposed to have connived; and, to atone for his guilt, began to found churches.

This church, one of the first which he erected, was built in the year 677. St. John’s church, at Chester, is in the same style of architecture, and was completed by him in between the years 682 and 689. Upon the capital of one of the pillars may be recognised similar characters to those seen on the coins of Ethelred. The living of Melbourn is a vicarage, in the patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. A school for infants, and one conducted upon the national plan, are in the village.

The parish (which has no dependent township) contained, at the census taken in 1821, 2,027 inhabitants, and by that for 1831, 2,301.

[Description of Melbourne from Pigot Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835]

Source: Colin Barber

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