Background
Pitman was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, the eldest son of Samuel Pitman and his wife Maria, née Davis.
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Jacob Pitman
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He was apprenticed to a local builder then worked for a building firm in London.
Career
He was a brother of Isaac Pitman and associated with his development of shorthand transcription. They emigrated to South Australia with daughters Melissa and Sarah in the Trusty, arriving 15 May 1838. He set up as a builder and architect at 84, then 90, Rundle Street east.
He invested heavily in land, including in 1839 an 80 acres (32 ha) section (Section 824), one allotment of which, near the present corner of Grand Junction and Valley Roads, he sold to Holden, who used it to set up a butcher"s shop and general store.
lieutenant was Holden who dubbed the area Hope Valley. Pitman was declared insolvent in 1843 during a depression, and forced to unload these assets, but by the 1850s he was back in work, bridge-building on the River Torrens and near Echunga.
He moved to Camperdown, New South Wales, where he taught Pitman shorthand, for a time associated with the Sydney Technical College. Fourth daughter Rosella Pitman (c 1840 – 17 June 1859) died at Unley
Frederick Pitman (c 1842 – 5 August 1898)
second son Alfred Frank Pitman (c 1845 – 7 December 1873)
Harriet Lily Pitman (3 August 1846 – 18 July 1939) married George J. Ireland on 26 March 1889
Clarence Pitman ( – 9 March 1926) married Caroline
second daughter Ann Pitman (9 June 1826 – 14 August 1917) married John Harvey, a South Australian farmer and parliamentarian. fourth son Thomas Pitman (16 May 1834 – 17 January 1925) was a successful builder, living at 112 Osmond Terrace, Norwood.
The partnership was dissolved in January 1875, Crocker taking over the business.
