Brother (William) Dennis Tootell (1817-1897)



A Sub-deacon (English Benedictine) at the Benedictine Mission of New Norcia, Western Australia. Born Brindle, Lancashire 31 July 1817. Educated at Ampleworth 1831-35. Clothed at SS. Adrian and Denis, Broadway 1835, professed 4 January 1836. Ordained sub-deacon 1845. Died in the monastery of Fort Augustus, Scotland 29 October 1897.

Sailed with Dom Rudesind Salvado and 27 missionaries on 17 Sept. 1845 from England to Australia aboard the frigate Elizabeth.

They seemed to live a very hard life, living off what little food they could kill themselves (in many cases lizards!) and get from the local aborigines. There was always the threat of separation or lack of water. Brother Dennis soon returned to England due to ill health, although seems to have flourished there until he was 80.
 

Of note the French language history of New Norcia has his name spelt Denis Tutell. The English history has it as Tootle, and his Obit in the Book of Benedictines is as Tootell. 1