Henry Robertson (1828 - 1910)

Born 22 Apr 1828 in St Dunstan in the West, London, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Bridget Theresa (Berigan) Wall — married 25 Jul 1857 (to about 6 Oct 1869) in Beechworth, Colony of Victoria, Australia

Husband of Catherine (Winter) Robertson — married 7 Oct 1869 in Melbourne, Colony of Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 31 Jul 1910 at age 82 in Prahran, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Early life in the United Kingdom

Henry Robertson was born on 22 April 1828 and baptised on the 23 May 1828 at St Dunstan's in the West, London, England. His parents were Charles and Maria Robertson of the Rolls Building with his father's occupation being given as a bookbinder^[1].^[2]

Ancestry Free Image - Baptism registration Henry Robertson

In the 1841 English Census, Henry Robertson aged 13, is living in a household in the Rolls Building with his siblings Anne, John, Maria and James. All are stated to be of "Independent" means except for James who is an carpenters apprentice^[3].

Ancestry Free Image - 1841 English Census

The 1851 English Census shows Henry Robertson, aged 22, living with his elder brother James Robertson, age 24, at Lower Brunswick Terrace, Islington. Henry's occupation is given as "General Law Clerk" and his brother James as "Printer Compositor". Both state being born at Middlesex, Liberty of the Rolls^[4].

Ancestry Free Image - 1851 English Census

Sometime between the 1851 English Census and 17 March 1855 Henry Robertson emigrated to the Colony of Victoria, Australia.

Colony of Victoria, Australia

On 17 March 1855, the Colony of Victoria, Australia newspaper, "The Ovens and Murray Advertiser", which serviced the rich goldfields of Beechworth, carried an advertisement for Hy. Robertson's Provision Store located at High Street Beechworth. The store offered provisions such as: Flour, Oats, Potatoes, Onions, Hams, Butter, Tea, Sugar, Sardines, Salad oil, Pickles, Table Vinegar, Bottled Fruits, Capers, Mustards, Sauces (assorted), Pepper, Raspberry Vinegar, Salt, Ginger cordial, Soap, and Candles^[5].

On 19 May 1855 a further advertisement indicated Wholesale Wine and Spirit merchant Henry Robertson operating from High Street, Beechworth^[6].

On 18 March 1857 Henry Robertson is recorded as taking the licence for the the Star Hotel Beechworth^[7].

On 25 July 1857 Belinda Theresa Berigan married Henry Robertson.^[8] It is noted that the registration is for 1858 but contemporaneous newspapers confirm a marriage in 1857.^[9]

In 1859 Belinda and Henry Robertson had a daughter Belinda Robertson.^[10]

On 21 April 1865 a Ballarat newspaper reports Belinda Robertson taking maintenance action against Henry Robertson as he has left her without support.^[11]

No divorce has been identified for Henry and Belinda Robertson.

On 7 October 1869, Henry Robertson married Kate (Catherine) Winter, fourth daughter of Richard Winter, late of Westport Ireland^[12].

Henry and Catherine (Kate) had two children, daughters Florence Winter Robertson (1873-1960) and Violet May Winter Robertson (1875 -1875).

Henry's wife Catherine died aged 25 on 12 May 1875 at Ryrie Street, Collingwood, Colony of Victoria, Australia^[13]. The coroner's report confirms Catherine's death was related to the birth/death of daughter Violet.

Henry Robertson died on 31 July 1910 at the residence of Nurse Campbell, 301 High Street, East Prahran, Victoria, Australia. He was buried 2 August 1910 at the Kew Cemetery^[14][15]. His death registration records his two marriages to Belinda Berrigan and Catherine Winter^[16].

Death registration of Henry Robertson

Henry's will and probate documents have been digitised by the Public Record Office Victoria^[17]Henry's Last Will and Testament, signed 22 September 1909, leaves his estate in equal parts to his two daughters Belinda Bowen (sic should read Bowern) of Victoria, Australia and Florence Winter Sylvester of Johannesburg, South Africa. The estate was valued at approximately 300 pounds.

Sources

1. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P69/DUN2/A/01/Ms 10355/3, City of London, St Dunstan in the West
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NP3F-472 : 21 March 2020), Henry Robertson, 1828.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQJH-BSS : 22 May 2019), Henry Robertson in household of Ann Robertson, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGNM-QYV : 9 November 2019), Henry Robertson in household of James Robertson, Islington, Middlesex, England; citing Islington, Middlesex, England, p. 26, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical newspapers online, 1855 'Advertising', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 17 March, p. 1. , viewed 27 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013218
6. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1855 'Advertising', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 19 May, p. 3. , viewed 27 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013445
7. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1857 'POLICE COURT.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 18 March, p. 2. , viewed 27 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113014504
8. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 511/1858
9. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, "Family Notices" The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) 14 September 1857: 5. Web. 7 Oct 2019 . http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154835547
10. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 4878/1859,

    Event:births

    Registration number 4878 / 1859

    Family name: ROBERTSON

    Given name(s Belinda

    Place of event: B'WORTH, Australia

    Mother's name, Belinda Teresa

    Mother's family name at birth BERRIGAN

    Father's Name: Hy

11. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1865 '[No heading].', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 21 April, p. 4, viewed 4 February, 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page12094199
12. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 3704/1869,

    Event: marriages

    Registration number 3704 / 1869

    Family name: ROBERTSON

    Given name(s) Henry

    Spouse's family name: WINTER

    Spouse's given name(s) Kate

13. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history,

    ROBERTSON Catherine

    Death

    Mother Catherine :STEPHENS

    Father Winter Richard

    Place of Birth WEST

    Spouse at Death ROBERTSON, Henry

    Age 25

    Reg Number 6794/1875

14. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1910 'Family Notices', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 5 August, p. 1. , viewed 10 May 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10449836
15. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 December 2020), memorial page for Henry Robertson (1826–2 Aug 1910), Find a Grave Memorial no. 208247762, citing Boroondara General Cemetery, Kew, Boroondara City, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980) .
16. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 10475/1910,

    Event: deaths

    Registration number 10475 / 1910

    Family name: ROBERTSON

    Given name(s) Hy

    Place of event: Prahran, Australia

    Mother's name, Maria

    Mother's family name at birth GRIFFITHS

    Father's Name: Robertson Chas

17. ↑ Victorian Government, Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), Search Wills and Probates, https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/wills-and-probates,

    117/880

    Henry ROBERTSON

    Date of grant: 13 Dec 1910; Date of death: 31 Jul 1910;

    Occupation: Ex Civil Servt; Residence: Mid Brighton

    DIGITISED ITEM Digitised

    DATE:1910

    SERIES: Wills

    AGENCY: Master of the Supreme Court

    CITATION:VPRS 7591/ P2 unit 454, item 117/880

    117/880

    SERIES: Probate and Administration Files

    AGENCY: Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court

    CITATION:VPRS 28/ P3 unit 170, item 117/880