Ernest Roy Pretyman was born on 17 August 1892, the son of Ernest Henry and Alice Pretyman (nee Bulley). He was both a collector and amateur historian and published many articles on aspects of Tasmania's history. He was employed by the Hobart Savings Bank from 1908 until his retirement in 1949 and during World War I served in the 40th Battalion. He was a foundation member of the Tasmanian Historical Research Association, a member of the Nomenclature Board and Royal Society of Tasmania and served on the Board of Trustees of the Narryna Folk Museum. He died on 3 December 1985. His father, Ernest Henry, (1865 - 1941) was an accountant, Tasmanian Auditor General and involved with the Methodist Church. Ernest Henry's brother, William Arthur (1863 - 1949) was Secretary for Mines in the Tasmanian public service. Ernest Henry and William Arthur's father was Charles Pretyman (1825 - 1921), an accountant and auditor, who, together with his brother William, (1828 - 1907) emigrated from London to Victoria in 1852 aboard the Emily. On arriving in Tasmania, William worked for the merchants T.D. Chapman and Co but then went into private practice as an accountant, auditor and estate agent.;;;;;;