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| Notes for Elizabeth (Bessie) (Bess) DEASON | ||||||||||||||
| Birth place was given at registration of marriage as Donnelly, (Dunolly?), Victoria. Father’s name at reigstration of death was given as John LEASON. | ||||||||||||||
| Notes for Hugh (Spouse 1) | ||||||||||||||
| Hugh’s first marriage was in 1860 to Louisa Julia Rennison born about 1839. They were married 24 January 1860, United Presbyterian Church Manse, Drummond St, Ballarat West. Hugh was noted as a bachelor aged 21 years, occupation: draper, residence: Main Rd, Ballarat South, born: Ballymena, Antrim, Ireland, parents: Hugh Robinson, linen draper and Jane Tomb [sic]. Louisa was noted as a spinster, aged 21 years, occupation: laundress, residence: Drummond St, Ballarat West, born: Dublin, Ireland, parents: William Rennison, police inspector and Sarah Ann Lambert. Hugh and Louisa had at least 7 children: • Sarah Jane Robinson – born 1862, North Melbourne [Hotham], Victoria, died 1896, Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria • Elizabeth Florence – born about 1863, (possibly the “unnamed female” registered 1864, born St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria) • Thomas Robinson – born 1865, Bendigo [Sandhurst], Victoria • Stewart John Robinson – born 1868, Sunbury, Victoria • Esther Robinson – born 1870, Sunbury, Victoria • Hugh Robinson – born 1873, Bung Bong, Victoria, died 1897, Red Cliffs, Victoria • Maria Miriam Robinson – born 1877, Tyabb, Victoria Hugh Robinson (father) is recorded in the admissions for Ballarat Hospital: ♣ 1 May 1860 – age: 21 years, occupation: draper. Shortly after Hugh is recorded in the admissions for the Melbourne General Hospital: ♣ 22 June 1860 – age: 22 years, occupation: draper, religion: Presbyterian, 2 yrs in the colony. Hugh and Louisa probably stayed in Melbourne where their first two children were born (1862, North Melbourne & 1863, St Kilda). By 1865 the family had moved to Bendigo and by 1868 to Sunbury where two more children were born (1868 & 1870). Later the family moved to Bung Bong, 20 klms west of Maryborough (1873) and Tyabb, south-east of Melbourne (1877). Hugh’s wife, Louisa, died 1891, West Melbourne [Hotham West], Victoria, aged 51 years. Hugh Robinson (father) is recorded in the admissions for Castlemaine Hospital on three occasions: ♣ 23 August 1871 – age: 31 years, born: Ireland, occupation: reader, married, residence: Alma, religion: C of E, discharged 29 August 1871, result: relieved; ♣ 9 November 1871 – age 31 years, born: Ireland, occupation: reader, married, residence: Maryborough; religion: C of E, discharged 20 November 1871, result: relieved; ♣ and ♣ 16 May 1874 – born: Ireland, age: 35 years, occupation: reader, residence: Maryborough, religion: C of E, discharged 14 August 1874, result: cured.2 Note: Alma, is near Maryborough, Vic. Rick Smith’s family tree notes Hugh’s full name as “Hugh McAndrew Robinson”. However, initial cross-checks have indicated that he appears as only “Hugh” on immigration records (Victoria – tentative check), marriage and death indexes for Victoria. Hugh Robinson (father) is recorded in the admissions for Castlemaine Hospital on three occasions: ♣ 23 August 1871 – age: 31 years, born: Ireland, occupation: reader, married, residence: Alma; ♣ 9 November 1871 – age 31 years, born: Ireland, occupation: reader, married, residence: Maryborough; and ♣ 16 May 1874 – born: Ireland, age: 35 years, occupation: reader, residence: Maryborough. Note: Alma is near Maryborough, Vic. Hugh’s occupation (as noted above) means that he was a paid ‘lay reader’ – probably in the Church of England (Anglican) which had full-time, paid ‘lay readers’ around that time to assist parish. There is no record of Hugh as being a ‘minister’, as such, in the Victorian Register of Clergy (1859 – 1908). It was in 1879, while at Tyabb, that Hugh obtained a lease over 67 acres of land: Applications for Licences Approved Licence no: 7633M; Hugh Robinson; area: 67 acres; Parish: Tyabb; allotment: part 34; licence date: 1 January 1879; payment: £1/13/6, survey charge: £2/0/0, licence fee: £1/0/0, total: £4/13/6; payable: Melbourne. However, by January 1881 Hugh had fallen into arrears: Licenses in Arrears License no. 7633; dated: 1 January 1879; Hugh Robinson; Parish: Tyabb; extent: 67 acres; rent due: £3/7/0; due: 1 January 1880. In 1885 there is a record of a horse impounding at Carlsruhe which may relate to this Hugh Robinson given the uncommon name: Impoundings Carlsruhe – impounded art at Carlsruhe Pound, 7th August 1885 by James Black, for Mr Hugh Robinson – Trespass 1d. 1 bay mare, like J M near shoulder, off front foot bumble. If not claimed and expenses paid, to be sold on 7th September. William Murphy, Poundkeeper. Hugh’s wife, Louisa, died 1891, West Melbourne [Hotham West], Victoria, aged 51 years. After Elizabeth and Hugh’s marriage in 1892 they moved to the Footscray area where their three children were born in 1893, 1894 and 1900. Hugh’s eldest daughter, Sarah Jane may also have accompanied them as she died at Footscray in 1896 and does not appear to have married. Sometime after 1900 they moved back to Dunolly where Hugh died in 1902. It is likely that they lived in Elizabeth’s parent’s home and shop on the corner of Moliagul-Dunolly and Monument Roads. The brick shop still exists today (2006) (Section E, Lots 1 & 2). Elizabeth was still living there with her mother as late as 1921. In 1940 two newspaper stories appeared retelling the story of the finding of the ‘Welcome Stranger’ gold nugget as told by Elizabeth Robinson (incorrectly recorded as ‘Robertson’) of Maribyrnong, Melbourne. Below are parts of those stories that relate to Elizabeth’s life (for complete stories refer John Deason, 264 for details): Gold – Two Hundredweight of it”, as reported in Picture News (magazine), 2 March, 1940, pps 34 & 35: Pioneer Remembers How Her Father Unearthed “The Welcome Stranger” This Is How She Tells The Story Surrounded by relics, never without memories of an epic event of her childhood, Mrs E. Robertson [sic – should read ‘Robinson’ – see Notes] lives in an atmosphere of the past. So vividly etched on her mind are circumstances surrounding the discovery of the Welcome Stranger – biggest nugget ever found – that now – 71 years later – she recalls the morning when as a toddler she saw her father, the late Mr John Deason, dig the golden monster from the earth. ….. Mrs Robertson [sic] treasure’s many documents, mementoes of the big strike. Gold – Two Hundredweight of it”, as reported in Woman (magazine), 14 October 1940, p 13: Woman Tells How Her Father Dug Up World’s Biggest Nugget Few Australian women are richer in memories than Mrs. E. Robertson [sic – should read ‘Robinson’ – see Notes], of Maribyrnong, Victoria – a little old lady who, 71 years ago, saw her father dig from the earth “The Welcome Stranger”, the biggest nugget of gold ever found. In her modest home Mrs. Robertson [sic] lives in an atmosphere of the past. Faded photographs, dusty documents and other relics, all highly treasured and closely guarded, serve as a constant reminder of the glamorous days when the discovery of the golden monster caused a major sensation throughout the world – a sensation which was revived not long ago when a replica of the nugget acted as magnet to thousands of incredulous visitors to the San Francisco Exhibition. As might be expected, many yarns have been spun, and many romantic stories written around the discovery. But Mrs. Robertson [sic], on whose mind the circumstances are vividly etched, says that the facts have never been told. …. His daughter, Mrs. Robertson [sic], married a clergyman and reared a family of three. Two sons are artists. Now Mrs. Robertson [sic] potters around on her little place at Maribyrnong, attends to her cows and chickens, dreams of the golden days when the Welcome Stranger brought what seemed fabulous fortune to the family – and is content. Acknowledgements: • Rick Smith, Launceston Tasmania, Australia • Joyce Tuohey, Quambatook, Victoria • Billy Warburton, Melbourne, Victoria (via Joyce Tuohey & Mavis Coghlan) General references: • Rick Smith, 2005, Deason Family Tree, (ref – D_Doc_#136) • Billy Warburton, 1969, Deason Family Tree, (ref – D_Doc_#014 & #015) • Joyce Tuohey, c1940, Deason Family Tree, (ref – D_Doc_#016 & #017) • Victorian Birth, Death and Marriage indexes – 1855-1920, extract Greg Campbell, May 2001, for Deason (ref – D_Doc_#106) • Victorian Marriage indexes – 1921-1942, extract Greg Campbell, 2005, for Deason (ref – D_Doc_#105) • Victorian Death indexes – 1921 -1985, extract Greg Campbell, 2005, for Deason (ref – D_Doc_#104) • Genealogical Society of Victoria, 1988, Victorian Cemetery indexes – 1855-1950, extract Greg Campbell, 1988, for Deason (ref – D_Doc_#131) • Genealogical Society of Victoria, 2003, Goldfields Hospital Admissions 1860-1920, extract 6 April 2006, Deason for Castlemaine Hospital (ref – D_Doc_#091) • Genealogical Society of Victoria, 2008, Ballarat Admissions Register 1856-1913, extract 13 August 2008 for Hugh Robinson (ref – D_Doc_#243) • Genealogical Society of Victoria, 2008, Melbourne General Hospital Ward Books 1856, extract 13 August 2008 for Hugh Robinson (ref – D_Doc_#243) • Catherine Deason, 10 January 1921, Correspondence (ref-D_Doc_#041) • www.land.vic.gov.au, Victoria, Land titles map – Moliagul, Section E, Lots 1 & 2 , with notations by Greg Campbell (ref-D_Doc_#059) • Pat O’Neil, 1940, Gold – By The Hundredweight, article in Picture News (magazine) (ref- D_Doc_#185) • Pat O’Neill, 1940, Gold – Two Hundredweight of it, article in Woman (magazine), (ref- D_Doc_#180) • Alan Robinson, 2008, Correspondence | ||||||||||||||
| Last Modified 10 August 2006 | Created 8 June 2009 using Reunion for Macintosh |