Robert Bramble (1873 - 1942)

Born 5 May 1873 in New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Aug 1942 at age 69 in suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Robert Bramble is born on May 5, 1873 in New South Wales, Australia. The birth is registered in Port Stephens but the actual birth was in Carba on the Myall River. The location of Carba is not known although it is either in or close to the town of Bungwahl. Robert’s parents farmed near Bungwahl. Bungwahl is north of Myall Lake, which is about 100 kilometres north of Newcastle and the farm is south of Bungwahl near a place named “Tamboy” or “Tamboi” on the lower Myall River. It seems he was born on May 5th but the birth was registered on May 6th. His parents are William Bramble (1840-1892) and Ann Priestley (1837-1897).

As a young man Robert takes up fishing as an occupation. But at some point he switches from fishing to construction. He builds homes, fishermen’s launches and boats. In fact, according to his obituary, “many of the craft now on the waters of Wallis Lake were built by him to the designs of his own draughtsmanship.” Wallis Lake is just north of Myall Lake.

In 1895 Robert marries Fanny Louisa Kelsey (1877-1952) in Stroud, NSW. Stroud is 30-to-40 kilometres inland from Port Stephens (over 70 kilometres by road).

Robert and Fanny have four children:

• Ernest Bramble 1895-1895

• Stanley Robert Bramble 1896-1956 + (1925) Mary Jane Ireland 1907-1939

• Henry Fredrick Bramble 1899-1985 + (1920) Dulcie Ena Ravell 1900-1998

• Walter Ray Bramble 1903-1984 + (1921) Mary Frances Sherwin Hawley 1902-1954

The family lives in the Bungwahl area until about the end of the First World War when they move to Forster. Forster is a town on the north end of Wallis Lake, about 10 kilometres north of Bungwahl.

Robert dies on August 4, 1942. Two sources indicate he dies in Charlestown, a suburb of Newcastle, but his obituary suggests he dies in the home of his son in Kahibah, another suburb of Newcastle sitting next door to Charlestown. Robert has been in ill health for four years and in about mid July 1942 he moves down to his son’s house in Newcastle (Kahibah) to seek medical treatment. He is buried in the Forster cemetery. Fanny dies on February 22, 1952 and is buried with him.

Sources

[1] Newlin-Noakes family tree at https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ shows Robert Bramble born 6 May 1873 in Port Stephens, New South Wales. His parents were William Bramble (1840-1892) and Ann Priestly (1837-1897). In 1895 Robert marries Fanny Louisa Kelsey in Stroud, NSW. Fanny was born in 1877 in Manning River, NSW. Her parents were George Henry Kelsey (1839-?) & Sarah Jane Beacham (1849-?). Robert dies 4 July 1942 in Charlestown, NSW. Fanny dies 22 Feb 1952 in Charlestown. Robert and Fanny had 4 children: (1) Ernest 1895-1895; (2) Stanley Robert 1896-1956 + (1925) Mary Jane Ireland 1907-1939; (3) Henry Fredrick 1899-1985 + (1920) Dulcie Ena Ravell 1900-1998; & (4) Walter Ray 1903-1984 + (1920) Mary Frances Sherwin Hawley 1902-1954.

[2] Stuart Gregory at http://stuart.scss.dyndns.info/FamilyTree/ He shows Robert Bramble born May 6, 1873 in Port Stephens, New South Wales. His parents were William Bramble (1840-1892) and Ann Priestly (1837-1897). In c1895 Robert marries Fanny Louisa Kelsey in Stroud, NSW. Fanny was born c1877 in Manning River, NSW. Her parents were George Henry Kelsey (?-?) & Sarah Beacham (?-?). Robert dies Aug 4, 1942 in Charlestown, NSW. He is buried in the Forster General Cemetery (Anglican portion, row C 20). Fanny dies Feb 22, 1952 in Charlestown and she is buried with Robert (row C 19). Some of Stuart’s sources are emails from Helen Branch. This sources contains a picture of the headstone: “[difficult to read] In Loving Memory of /. My Dear Husband / Robert Bramble / died Aug 4, 1942 aged 69 years / and Fanny Louisa Bramble / died Feb 22, 1952 aged 74 years / Rest in Peace” Robert and Fanny had 4 children: (1) Ernest c1895-?; (2) Stanley R. c1897-?; (3) Henry Fredrick (“Fred”) c1899-? + (1920) Dulcie Ena Ravell 1900-1998; & (4) Walter Raymond c1903-1987 + (1921) Mary Hawley ?-? . All children were born in Stroud.

[3] NSW BDM registration # 17409/1873 The birth of Robert Bramble is registered in Port Stephens in 1873. His parents are William & Ann Bramble.

[4] NSW BDM registration # 3884/1895 The marriage of Robert Bramble & Fanny L. Kelsey is registered in Stroud in 1895.

[5] The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales , Sat 8 Aug 1942, pg 2: “A well-known identity of the Myall and Cape Hawke districts, in the person of Mr. Robert Bramble, of Forster, died last Tuesday morning, August 4, at the residence of his son, Mr. Frederick Bramble, of Kahibah, a suburb of Newcastle. The deceased gentleman bad been in failing health for nearly four years, and about a fortnight ago he was taken to Newcastle in the hope that he might receive treatment that would give him relief at last. He was accompanied by his wife and his son Ray, but his medical adviser held out little hope for him in such an advanced stage of life. Born at Carba, on the Myall River, on 5th May, 1873, deceased had passed his 69th milestone of life. From early youth lie was associated with the fishing industry, but subsequently his natural talents led him into the building trade and for several years he was engaged in home construction, and most houses he erected were to plans drawn by himself. He also excelled in constructing fishermen's launches and boats used in the tourist trade, and many of the craft now on the waters of Wallis Lake were built by him to the designs of his own draughtsmanship. He was a man of many parts, all of which he appeared to have a complete mastery of when it came to constructional work, either as a carpenter, a shipwright, or an engineer. About 46 years ago he married Miss Fanny Kelesey, who survives him. With their family they came from the Bungwahl district to Forster 25 years ago, where they have since continuously resided. The deceased was a most unassuming man and was held in the highest respect by a large circle of genuine friends who admired him for his genial and straightforward disposition. He was a well-known figure at the annual regattas of the Cape Hawke Club, to which he was a tower of strength as one of the officials. He was a great lover of the water sport, and in his younger days he was prominent in the football and cricket fields, games which he delighted to watch and discuss in his advancing years. In addition to his widow, he is survived by three sons: Messrs Stanley Robert, of Forster; Frederick, of Kahibah, Newcastle; and Ray, of Forster. The remains were brought by road from Newcastle to Forster on Wednesday, and interred in the Church of England section of the Forster cemetery on Thursday morning last after a short service at the home of the deceased, conducted by the Rev. R. V. Hanington, who also read the final prayers at the graveside, in the presence of a large, concourse of sympathetic spectators. The mortuary arrangements at the Newcastle end were made by Mr David Lloyd and at Forstcr by Mr. W. T. Howard.”

[6] Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 March 2019), memorial page for Robert Bramble (unknown–1942), Find A Grave Memorial no. 49639660, citing Forster Cemetery, Forster, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by T.V.F.T.H. (contributor 46496806) .