Robert Broomfield (1833 - 1925)

Born 2 Oct 1833 in Darnick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Nancy (Wallace) Broomfield — married 15 Oct 1859 in Dingo Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 24 May 1925 at age 91 in Dingo Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Stitt [send private message]

Biography

Robert Broomfield^[1] was born in Scotland in 1833.

In 1839, Robert emigrated with his parents and siblings to NSW on the 'Formosa' (arrived May in Sydney)^[2]. He was recorded as 6 years old, Presbyterian, from Roxburgh.

Robert married Nancy Wallace, daughter of Robert Wallace and Ellen Grant, in 1859 at 'Chester Hill', Dingo Creek, the marriage registered at Wingham, NSW^[3].

They had children^[4]:

1. BROOMFIELD ELLEN C 13401/1860 ROBERT NANCY WINGHAM
2. BROOMFIELD ELIZABETH J 8891/1863 ROBERT NANCY MANNING RIVER
3. BROOMFIELD MARGARET W 10846/1867 ROBERT NANCY MANNING RIVER
4. BROOMFIELD ALICE JAMES 11659/1870 ROBERT NANCY MANNING RIVER
5. BROOMFIELD ETHEL AGNES 13771/1874 ROBERT NANCY MANNING RIVER
6. BROOMFIELD EDITH ANNIE 17876/1880 ROBERT NANCY MANNING RIVER

Robert died in 1925 in 'Bow Hill', his death registered at Wingham, NSW^[5] and he is buried with his wife in Wingham cemetery^[6].

From an article featured in 'The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer', February 11, 1919. One of the Old School, Mr Robert Broomfield An Interview [By "The Wanderer"] ........................."The longest ride I ever had," remarked Mr. Broomfield, "was from Bow Hill to Stroud for the Doctor. I crossed the Manning at Black Flat and went up the Barrington, and through to Gloucester. There I got another horse, and went on to Stroud. I started late in the evening one day and rode all night. Was in Stroud next morning. The Doctor wouldn't come. I went to bring him over to see Elizabeth Parker'. She's buried on a property not far from the residence of Mr. R. Wallace today."

^[7]OBITUARY
STILL ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
THE LATE ROBERT BROOMFIELD.
(By 'Fitz.')
After an illness extending over some months. Mr. Robert Broomfield of Bow Hill, Dingo Creek, near Wingham, passed away on Sunday afternoon last. Deceased was in his 91st year— in fact, had he lived till October next he would have celebrated his 92nd birthday.
We have on previous occasions practically given a life history of the late Mr. Robert Broomfield, and in a booklet recently issued by F. A. Fitzpatrick, entitled 'History Relating to the Magnificient Manning' will be found an account of the coming to the Manning district of the Broomfield family in the very early days. Remarkably straight and active Mr. Robert Broomfield was one of the early-day settlers.
The late Mr. Broomfield was a great reader, and there were very few questions of interest to mankind but what he could converse freely upon. A native of Scotland, he came to Australia with his father and mother, and one sister and one brother (the late Mrs. Lyon and Thomas Broomfield ). One brother died on the voyage from whooping cough, an epidemic of which broke out on the ship, resulting in the death of 15 children and 1 sailor.
Landing in Sydney in May, 1839, the family stayed there for 8 days — at the end of that time hiring out to a man named Townsend for 12 months, at the rate of £40 per annum, and found in everything for their own use. An extract from an old letter dated: Woodside. Scotland, 17th December, 1839, says: 'They were found in flour, butcher's meat, tea and sugar, snuff, tobacco, soap, etc., were very comfortable, and well satisfied with the place.'
At that time Townsend owned a large property on the Paterson, but afterwards failed. Mr. Broomfield's father, who had been brought up a shepherd in Scotland, and thoroughly understood sheep, made a bargain with a man named Fenwick to cure his flock of sheep, which had a disease known as 'scab' — the bargain being that he was to get half the flock if he cured the sheep. He accomplished that task all right, but a cold rain occurred at the time, and most of the sheep died. Mr. Broomfield's tally was only 16.
The family then rented it place, ran sheep, and were doing well. But, like all the old Scotchmen of those days, it was the ambition of the then head of the family to own a piece of land of his own — and so the members of the family packed up their traps, and made for the Manning River, after having spent 10 or 12 years on the Paterson. They arrived on the Manning in 1852.
On leaving for the Manning, the party comprised Mr. and Mrs. Broomfield Senr (father and mother of the subject of this sketch), Thomas Broomfield, and Robert Broomfield. The party came per bullock dray, by way of Gloucester and Krambach. Those days it needed a policeman and half-a-dozen blacktrackers to find a decent path; and the track negotiated by the Broomfield family was both narrow and dangerous in many places, but the journey was duly finished without any great mishap.
From what would then be termed the main Gloucester road, the party steered down Baker's Creek. Mr. Broomfield was no amateur at 'bullock punching' in those days. He learned the fine art of oxen coaxing before he had attained his 12th birthday.
On camping next night near the river, the Broomfields did so with Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Murray.
Of course, the head of the family had made provision for settling in the Manning district, and a holding comprising 50 acres had been purchased on the Lower Dingo Creek. In those days all land business had to be transacted at Port Macquarie.
The Broomfield holding on the Dingo was christened 'Bow Hill' by the pioneer selector, after a place in Scotland of the same name— the name still holds good. The property was not very inviting looking in those days, being all thick scrub, and a fine lot of hard work had to be done before a comfortable home was carved out of a veritable wilderness. The Bow Hill holding at first only comprised 50 acres, but it has been added to considerably, from time to time, since then. The Broomfields brought with them 80 head of cattle from the Paterson. The blacks were numerous in the Upper Manning district at this time, but very little trouble was experienced by the Broomfields with them.
Maize and wheat were the crops first grown by Mr. Broomfield at Bow Hill. Some splendid wheat was raised there, and this variety of crop was successfully produced for many years. The grain was usually sent to either the mill at Tinonee or the one at Taree. In later years sugar cane was grown on the Manning, and a mill for its treatment was erected at Kimbriki — evidences of the mill site are still to be seen.
The first maize that Mr. Broomfield recollects sent away was when Captain Newton's father built a little vessel, and brought it up to Taree to get ballast. A consignment of maize was sent down from the Dingo on that occasion, and the late David Irvine and Mr. Broomfield's brother assisted the subject of this notice to take that produce down from Wingham to Taree on an old whale boat.
The late Robert Malcolm (father of the more recent Robert Malcolm, who has also heard the Last Call) owned the whale boat referred to.
To get to Tinonee in those days from the Dingo and other centres, the principal crossing was at what is now known as Tregolden— the property of the Abbotts.
The Wallace family came to the Manning district about the same time as Mr. Broomfield, and the Irvines were also very early settlers. In fact, the Irvines bought property about the same time as our subject's father did.
An uncle of Messrs. John, William and Richard Wallace had a water mill on the Lower Dingo those days, and some of the stones still mark the spot where it stood. Wheat was ground there for some time. The 1866 flood washed the mill away. The flour that was made through its medium had a good reputation amongst the early-day settlers. Mr. Samuel Johnston was another who had a mill— it was a steel mill—and wheat was also ground there.
Mr. Broomfield was married at the age of 26, and the wedding took place on the 19th October, 1859, at Chester Hill, Dingo Creek, the site of the old homestead. The late Rev. W. Ridley (Presbyterian) was going away in a steamer on the wedding day, but something turned up to prevent him. He came up to christen Mrs. Jas. Lyon (Mr. Jas. Johnston's eldest daughter), and performed the marriage ceremony also. The Rev. Mr. Holland was really the clergyman that was expected to come.
There are five grown-up children in the Broomfield family alive to-day. They are: Mrs. J. W. McPherson (Bobin), Mrs. J. J. Gibson (East Bank), Mrs. H. Yarrington (Dingo Creek), Miss L. Broomfield, and Miss M. W. Broomfield (both living at home with the aged mother). The youngest daughter died in 1892.
Mrs. Broomfield was born in the year 1837, and she and her husband were shipmates. Miss Nancy Wallace was one of the very early-day friends of the Broomfield family. She was living at first at Dunmore, on the Paterson. Old Grandfather Wallace came out to this country to a brother of Dr. Lang's (Andrew Lang) .
The longest ride Mr. Broomfield ever had was from Bow Hill to Stroud for the Doctor. He crossed the Manning at Black Flat, and went up the Barrington, and through to Gloucester. There he got another horse, and went on to Stroud. He started late in the evening one day and rode all night, and was in Stroud early next morning. The Doctor wouldn't come. He went to bring him to see (Mrs) Elizabeth Parker. She is buried not far from the property of Mr. W. Wallace.
He had another experience with a Doctor. He went to Taree to get Dr. Calov. His son Ernest married one of the late John Abbott's daughters. The Cedar Party Creek was in flood when he was going down.
By the way, a man named Whitbread was the blacksmith in Taree in those days (he was the father of the Messrs. Steve and Sam Whitbread). Mr. Broomfield got his horse shod by him that day. He couldn't get the Doctor to come straight away, as he said he had to go to Cundletown to an inquest. He said he would come up next morning. When they got to the Cedar Party Creek, the Doctor reckoned it was not crossable — but Mr. Broomfield got hold of the bridle of his horse and led it in. They crossed all right, but the Doctor got wet.
Ellen Grant Wallace, sister of Mrs. Broomfield, lived all her life with the family. She died on 6th January, 1913.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral of the late Mr. Robert Broomfield took place on Monday afternoon, the remains of deceased being laid to rest in the Presbyterian portion of the Wingham Cemetery.
The Rev. R. G. Crawford conducted the service at the graveside, being assisted by the Rev. J. H. Terras (who for many years presided over the destinies of the Upper Manning Presbyterian Charge). Rev. J. H. Terras delivered an address at the graveside, paying an eloquent tribute to the good life always led by deceased, and to the splendid home life of the Broomfield family. The funeral was largely attended, despite the fact that the afternoon was a wet one. Mr. H. Brewer carried out the duties of undertaker.

Sources

1. ↑ "Pre-1860 Pioneer Register Book 1", Manning Wallamba Family History Society, PO Box 48, Taree 2430, New South Wales (2001), Head of Family #658
2. ↑ https://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?series=NRS5316&item=4_4784&ship=Formosa
3. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result? 3191/1859 BROOMFIELD ROBERT WALLACE NANCY WINGHAM
4. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?
5. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result? BROOMFIELD ROBERT 9288/1925 GEORGE ELIZABETH WINGHAM
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49107858/robert-broomfield Robert Broomfield BIRTH 1833 DEATH 1925 (aged 91–92) BURIAL Wingham General Cemetery, Wingham, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia Gravesite Details b. Scot; son/George & Elizabeth; h/Nancy; father
7. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166271681?searchTerm=dingo%20david%20irvine The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer (NSW : 1898 - 1954) Tue 26 May 1925 Page 2 OBITUARY

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Tash McNamara for creating WikiTree profile Broomfield-48 through the import of Family tree.ged on Mar 21, 2013.