William Robertson (1806 - 1861)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Marriage & family 1.2 Emigration to NSW 1.3 Untimely death 2 Research Notes 3 Sources

Biography

William Robertson was born 19 Aug 1806 in St George Hanover Square, Westminster, London, England. He was the oldest son of George and Margaret Robertson. He was baptized aged 12 years, along with his younger siblings Elizabeth (born 17 Nov 1808) and George (born 16 nov 1810) on 23 Jul 1819 in the Church of England St George Hanover Square^[1]. The register records that his father was a tailor, and that the family lived in Charles Street.

Marriage & family

William married Jane Robertson on 16 May 1837 in St George, Hanover Square^[2] They were both living in the parish. The witnesses were R. Robertson, Elizabeth Knox, Eleanor Knox and Isabella Robertson.

William and Jane started a family shortly thereafter. The following are the known children of William and Jane:

1. George, born 22 Mar 1838 at Half Moon Street, baptized 30 Oct 1838^[3] Died 20 Aug 1857 on board the ship Dunbar at South Head entering Sydney Harbor^[4]
2. Juliana Sandilands, born 25 Nov 1840 at Half Moon St Hanover Square, baptized 10 Feb 1841^[5]
3. Richard, born 21 Sep 1842, baptized 24 May 1843^[6] Died Oct 1910, in Grange, Brisbane, Queensland^[7]
4. William, born 25 Oct 1843, baptized 12 Jun 1844^[8]
5. John Knox, born 3 Jan 1845, baptized 23 May 1845^[9]
6. Margaret Goodall, born 22 Oct 1846, Islingron, baptized 28 May 1847^[10]
7. Jane, born 13 Mar 1850, baptized 13 Sep 1850^[11]
8. Mary Isabella, born 15 Apr 1852, Islington, baptized 30 Jul 1852^[12]
9. Appolicia Inglis, born 14 Sep 1852, baptized 18 Mar 1853^[13]

William and his family were living at 5 Caroline Place in the parish of St Luke Old Street, in the Borough of Finsbury, London in 1851 at the time of the Census. William was a licensed victualler, aged 44 years. In his household were Jane (38), his four children: George (13), Richard (8), Margaret (4) and Jane (1), and four servants: Ana (sic) Coe (unmarried, 31, General servant), Mary Ann Coe (unmarried, 26, General Servant), Henry Forder (unmarried, 24, barman) and Christopher Hook (unmarried, 22, barman). All four servants were born in Norfolk (respectively in Bingham (both women), Ludham and Lynn)^[14].

Sometime before April 1861 William acquired properties in the Colony of NSW (and possibly elsewhere). In 1853, William and Jane purchased Bonalbo (or Bunalbo) station in the Clarence River catchment, in northern NSW, from John Donald [Jock] McLean (1821-66). He had settled there in 1841. Adjoining Bunalbo to the south was Sandilands station occupied by Jane's brother Thomas Robertson in 1848 (presumably Sandilands was named after Jane's mother). Around the same time William and Jane purchased Sandilands from Jane's brothers (Thomas and Richard). The family made plans to emigrate to their new properties, presumably after a homestead had been built to accommodate them:

"By 1862 Bunalbo homestead was completed; it was built of cedar, pit-sawn on site, shingled roof, shady verandahs, terraced garden laid out by Frederick Eversham who had trained at Royal Gardens Kew. He later planted trees around Una Coe’s grave on the property in 1864 (actually 1868) and Jane Robertson’s in 1876"^[15]

William was living at 2 Millbrook Place in St Pancras' parish London in April 1861 when the 1861 Census was conducted. He was recorded as aged 54 years, a Colonial proprietor, born in St George Hanover Square London. The household included his wife Jane, aged 48, their daughters: Juliana (20 years), Margaret G (14), Jane (11), Mary (9), Appolicia (8), and two servants: Una Coe (42 years, born Binhand, Norfolk), housemaid, and Clara Farrer (20 years, born Cambridge), cook^[16].

Emigration to NSW

Very shortly after the household (excluding the cook) embarked on the ship Waterloo^[17] for Sydney, Colony of New South Wales. She left the Downs under Captain Malcolm Green on 2 May 1861, arriving in Sydney on 14 Aug 1861 after a passage of 104 days. She arrived at a late hour and anchored at the Light Ship^[18] the passengers presumably disembarked on 15 Aug.

Untimely death

William died unexpectedly on 24 Aug 1861^[19] while the family was still in Sydney. He was buried in Camperdown Cemetery^[20]. Jane and her five daughters proceeded to their property via Lawrence on the Richmond River and the overland to Bonalbo.

Research Notes

William's death notice:

ROBERTSON — At Petersham, on the 24th August [1861], in his 56th year, William Robertson, Esq., late of No. 2, Mellbrook-place, Harrington-square, London, eldest son of the late George Robertson, Esq., 47, Albermarle-street, London . Deceased only landed in the colony on the 15th instant, per ship Waterloo^[19]

.

Sources

1. ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1919, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 61866 #758009 : accessed 13 November 2023), William Robertson baptism on 23 Jul 1819 (born 19 Aug 1806), child of George Robertson & Margaret Robertson, in St George, Hanover Square, London, Westminster, England; citing City of Westminster Archives Centre, London, England, Westminster Church of England Parish Registers, Reference STG/PR/2/7.
2. ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 61867 #881764 : accessed 13 November 2023), William Robertson marriage to Jane Robertson on 16 May 1837 in St George, Hanover Square, London, Westminster, England; citing City of Westminster Archives Centre, London, England, Westminster Church of England Parish Registers, Reference STG/PR/7/17.
3. ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1919, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 61866 #891365 : accessed 18 November 2023), George Robertson baptism 30 Oct 1838 (born 22 Mar 1838), child of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St George, Hanover Square, London, Westminster, England; citing City of Westminster Archives Centre, London, England, Westminster Church of England Parish Registers, Reference STG/PR/2/8.
4. ↑ "Wreck of the Dunbar: Inquest on the recovered bodies" Empire (Sydney, NSW) 25 Aug 1857 Page 4 online in Trove NLS (accessed 18Nov 2023)
5. ↑ Westminster, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1919, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 61866 #894011 : accessed 18 November 2023), Juliana Sandilands Robertson baptism 10 Feb 1841 (born 25 Nov 1840), child of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St George, Hanover Square, London, Westminster, England; citing City of Westminster Archives Centre, London, England, Westminster Church of England Parish Registers, Reference STG/PR/2/8.
6. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1805121 : accessed 18 November 2023), Richard Robertson baptism 24 May 1843, son of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, UK , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
7. ↑ Casino and Kyogle Courier and North Coast Advertiser 15 Oct 1910 Page 8 Death of a District Pioneer online in Trove NLA (accessed 26 Nov 2023)
8. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1835954 : accessed 18 November 2023), William Robertson baptism 12 Jun 1844, son of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
9. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1859561 : accessed 18 November 2023), John Knox Robertson baptism 23 May 1845, son of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
10. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1909627 : accessed 18 November 2023), Margaret Goodall Robertson baptism 28 May 1847, daughter of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
11. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1972611 : accessed 18 November 2023), Jane Robertson baptism 13 Sep 1850, daughter of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
12. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1987882 : accessed 18 November 2023), Mary Isabella Robertson baptism 30 Jul 1851, daughter of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/018.
13. ↑ London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #1543438 : accessed 18 November 2023), Appalina Inglis Robertson baptism 18 Mar 1853, son of William Robertson & Jane Robertson, St Luke, Finsbury, Islington, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, "London, England, UK" , London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P76/Luk/019.
14. ↑ 1851 England Census, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 8860 #2823311 : accessed 13 November 2023), William Robertson (44) head of household on St Luke Old Street in St Luke registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Weston, Middlesex, England; citing Class HO107, Piece 1521, Folio 4, Page 1, GSU roll 87855, ED, institution, or vessel 01, Household schedule number 1.
15. ↑ Lennon, Jane L. [Paper] "14: The Planted Landscape: forest transformation in the Upper Clarence catchment, northern NSW" in Australia’s Ever-changing Forests VII Proceedings of the Ninth National Conference of the Australian Forest History Society / edited by Sue Feary and Rob Robinson. [Kingston, ACT] : Australian Forest History Society, 2016 online [p. 2-3] (accessed 13 Nov 2023) citing Ralston, M.A., 1987. Bunaw:lbu Bonalbo, a pictorial history of Bonalbo Bonalbo : West of the Range Historical Society, 1987 p. 6-7
16. ↑ 1861 England Census, database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 8767 #8651799 : accessed 13 November 2023), William Robertson (54) head of household in t Pancras in Pancras registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in St George Hanths, Middlesex, England; citing Class Rg 9, Piece 109, Folio 15, Page 30, GSU roll 542575, ED, institution, or vessel 2, Household schedule number 124.
17. ↑ State Records Authority of New South Wales: Shipping Master's Office; Passengers Arriving 1855-1922; NRS13278, [X104-106] reel 409 citing Mr , Mrs Robertson, 5 Misses Robertson, Waterloo, arrived Sydney 15 Aug 1861 online at marinersandships.com.au (accessed 13 Nov 2023)
18. ↑ Empire (Sydney) 15 Aug 1861 Page 4 Col. 5 online in Trove NLA (accessed 13 Nov 2023)
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Empire (Sydney) 26 Aug 1861, Page 1 Family Notices online in Trove NLA (accessed 13 Nov 2023)
20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Nov 2023),
    memorial page for William Robertson (1806-24 Aug 1861 aged 54–55), Find A Grave: Memorial #188013884,
    citing Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Burial number BN09637; Maintained by Find A Grave