Descendants of William Robertson by Rhonda Brownlow [email protected] Generation No. 1 2 1 1. W ILLIAM R OBERTSON (T HOMAS ) was born 21 Sep 1842 in Gundaroo, and died 12 Mar 1925 in Goondah. He married E LLEANOR E LLIOTT 27 Oct 1862 in Canberra rg 2905, daughter of O WEN E LLIOTT and C ATHERINE M CALPINE . She was born 25 Oct 1845 in Gundaroo, and died 27 May 1919 in Yass. WILLIAM R OBERTSON : In about 1878 William acquired the “Sutton Grange” homestead from Henry Barber. The house is situated 38 kilometers from Yass, in off the Burrinjuck Road, between it and the Black Range Road. The younger sons were born within in three years of moving. By this time numerous blocks of ground in the area were taken up by various members of the family, covering quite a large area, about 11,500 acres. At the time much of it was leased by Mr. A.B. Triggs of Yass. After clearing the land cattle and sheep were raised. Horses played and important role in country life at this time, for transport as well as for work. Cream, butter and honey produced fro sale over the years. William was a keen fisher and in later years. He rode a grey pony to Woolgarlo, “but he didn’t always catch fish!” He died at “Sutton Granger” on 12.3.1925 and is buried in Yass Cemetery with his wife Eleanor. In the same section are the graves of their sons Eugene, Edwin, Albert, Arthur, Victor and Roy, together with Eugene’s wife Louisa, Victor’s wife Eva, Roy’s wife Elsie and grandsons REFLECTIONS Dedicated to William Robertson Esq. The Murrumbidgee River, that runs a curling course I travelled o'er a bit of it, on Robertson's brown horse. From the junction down to Weston's to close to Barren Jack We started on a Sunday morn, along a rugged track. The first house was Old Sutton's. I think he saw us both And further on Dwyer's who's noted for his oath. The next I think was Skillin's but we went around A decent bit of pasture but stoney looking ground. And then we came to Old Fred Day, a drawin' in his wheat His look at us, why! Made us think, we're chaps he'd like to meet. But we weren't having any, so off we set again To have a look at Wilson, of white eyed horse's fame. He's a funny looking character, at first look he'd remind You of the early forties and one horse plough behind. Resuming then our journey, we settled down again And got in sight of Moor's my lads, when Lord it looked like rain. But the river was between us, s we wisely trotted on To Morton 's just in time to see, that the sun hadn't shone. We had a consultation there, but dogs they were about. I thought that five of them at once is worse than English gout. So Daddy off his horse he jumps and down the yard he goes A sapling in his hand to use, if those were his blanky foes. But as we found out afterwards, the beggars wouldn't bite Although the horrid noise they made would make you think they might. We left them as we found them and off we went again To shortly strike the river, of which you know the name. And them among the rocks and sand, we battled for a while The time I was agetting, why! Old Jack he had to smile. You see I wasn't used to it, so I thought it pretty rough And thanked the Lord almighty, that he'd made me pretty tough. We negotiated safety and over at last To come upon a lovely place, with something like a fast. We did not view the scenery, but made straight for the house And tied up the blanky horses up, too late to have a slouch. A hurried introduction, at dinner lent a hand. They must have thought at Weston's they're hearty kind of brand. And then the caves they showed up, those girls from down below They are alright sort to meet, a thing or two they know. Our pleasure trip came to an end, we started for the home Well satisfied and wiser, than before I had that roam. Extracts from a letter written by Mr. R. McCallum, grandson of Argyle McCallum of "Goodhope" near Yass, to Mr Roy Robertson, late of "Sutton Grange" Yass on 27 March 1957. "When we had the Woolgarlie country, the Yass River was the only boundary between us, so of course, the sheep got well and truly mixed - and I can still see your old Father (William) now, trailing behind a mob, as they came to the yard, with his whip hanging over his arm and a hunk of raddle in his hand. He always had a cotton lash on his whip and kept it raddled. He had an eye like a hawk and if he spotted one of his ewes mothering a lamb, he would flick the lamb and leave a raddle mark on him". Extracts form a letter written by Mr. R McCallum, to Ken Robertson, late of "Sutton Grange" Yass on 22 November 1965. Apart from Macoolama, the first Robertson home was down on the Yass River. It stood there for many years. No one lived there in my time. There had been quite a good garden there". Your father's grandfather (Thomas) built Marcoolma and had a big apple orchard there and for years it had a big reputation for production of apples, but Codling Moth got in and there seemed to be no known method of dealing with them, the orchard was ruined. Eugene your father's eldest brother, lived there after the old man shifted to Bowning" ELLEANOR E LLIOTT : Burial: Queanbeyan Children of W ILLIAM R OBERTSON and E LLEANOR E LLIOTT are: 2. i. EUGENE T HOMAS 3 R OBERTSON , b. 18 Aug 1863, Gundaroo; d. 06 Jan 1934, Yass. ii. EDWIN G EORGE R OBERTSON , b. 17 Aug 1864, Woolgarlo; d. 12 Apr 1939, Yass. EDWIN ROBERTSON 12.8.1864 –12.4.1939 Edwin George was the second son of William and Eleanor Robertson. He was born at Woolgarlo, where he spent his early childhood. He was about fourteen years old when his parents moved to “Sutton Grange”. At that stage there were four younger children so there would have been no lack of jobs to be done. Later he took up land in his own name and probably worked for other landholder, as his brothers are known to have done. No details of Edwin’s activities have been found. He lived at “Sutton Grange” with his parents and later with his brother Roy and his wife Elsie, until his death in 1939. In his later years as he leased his property to Roy, who subsequently inherited it. “The death occurred at the Yass District Hospital at 6 o’clock yesterday morning of MR E G Robertson of “Sutton Grange”, bachelor, aged 74 years. Deceased was only ill a week before his death and up till to that time he enjoyed an active life. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W Robertson, deceased was born at Woolgarlo, then owned by his parents. Incidentally, deceased’s parents owned Woolgarlo in 1870 when the great flood occurred. Subsequently the late Mr. Robertson took up adjoining country and followed grazing pursuits on it. He is survived by Mr. C. V. Robertson, Mr. R. C. Robertson and Mrs. A. P. Elliott. A scion of one of the oldest pastoral families in the district, deceased was held in the highest esteem. It is interesting to note that his grandfather, who was the original Robertson to settle in the Yass District, assisted to plant the beautiful pines in Victoria Park. The funeral was conducted by Mr. W> McIntosh form St. Clements’s to the Church of England Cemetery this afternoon”. 3. iii. MYRA R OBERTSON , b. 03 Jul 1865, Woolgarlo; d. 16 Dec 1944, Hornsby. 4. iv. JESSIE C ATHERINE R OBERTSON , b. 20 May 1867, Woolgarlo; d. 15 Jun 1936, Boorowa. v. MAY R OBERTSON , b. 05 Jun 1869, Woolgarlo; d. 27 Dec 1918, Yass. MAY ROBERTSON 5.6.1869-27.12.1918 May Robertson was the fifth and youngest daughter of William and Eleanor, She was born at Woolgarlo and was about nine years old when her family moved to “Sutton Grange’ little is know of her childhood, but she later became a prolific writer of postcards to members of the family and, no doubt friends. Much mention her attendance at dances, being at Nyngan on more that one occasion, probably with her brother, Arthur to visit her Aunt Jessie Culgan and her many cousins, The cards tell about having dresses made in Sydney for special occasions. The dressmakers were ladies by the name of Paterson, who also sewed for May’s mother Eleanor. The family stayed at Botany on many occasions on their visit to the city. During her busy life, May had a dairy from which cream was sent to Goulburn by train. A account exists dated 31 August 1918, form the Argyle Co-op Central Dairy Co, Goulburn showing receivable of cream 4 cans, 244 lbs., 101lbs first grade butter @ 15 six shilling freight and a cheque for six pounds and fourpence. Another document, under the Pure Food Act, 1908 guarantees the purity of honey.