Robert Wardlaw (1803 - 1873)

Born 17 Jul 1803 in 'Miryhall', Saline, Fife, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Marion (Bennett) Wardlaw — married 26 Nov 1823 in Saline, Fifeshire, Scotland, UK

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1873 at age 70 in Falmouth, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

“Sacred Ground The Old Saline Cemetery” by Jean COKER with Elizabeth Auld GRYMES says the following about this family: ¶Robert Wardlaw was born 17 Jul and baptised 14 Aug 1803.

Birth: Robert WARDLAW; male; born 17 Jul 1803; christened 14 Aug 1803; Saline, Fife, Scotland; parents Robert WARDLAW and Helen ROSS ^[1]

Also christened 14 Aug 1803, Glassford, Lanarkshire. AND 14 Aug at Queen Anne St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland^[2].

Marriage [Scotlands People]: WARDLAW, ROBERT & MARRION BENNET/FR414 (FR414); married 26/11/1823 455/20 127; Saline, Fife^[3].

I have been unable to find this family in 1841 Census in Scotland... despite birth in Dunfermline 1840 and arrival in Aust 1842; and letters sent with them to Mr. Amos from his Accountant, suggesting they were in Edinburgh before voyage...

Emigrated 1842 “Prince of Orange” to Tasmania^[4] directly to Amos family at Cranbrook (“Glen Gala”) - Robert and his sons Robert and James were all signed on as agricultural labourers for the Amos farms and their fares and outfitting were paid by Mr. Amos for the whole family^[5].

1851 - Robert Wardlaw was one of a number of signatories to a request to Charles Meredith to allow himself to be nominated as first Representative in new Tas elected government, representing Districts of Oatlands and Great Swan Port. ^[6] [NOTE: Courier 22 Oct, lists Robert Wardlaw as part of committee to get him elected].

1851- CROWN LAND SALE. The following is the result of the sale of Crown Land on Monday last, at the Court-house:-Waub's Bay, township of Bicheno . . . Lot 4, 1a[acre], Robert Wardlaw ¹4 . . .^[7]

1852 - “Robert Wardlaw, St Albans, landowner” was one of a large number of signatories to an open letter to Tas Governor DENISON: “WE, whose names are hereunto annexed without relinquishing our opinions as to the employment of Convicts generally, but taking into consideration the probable excessive increase of consuming immigrants, and the equally great diminution of productive labourers, which the gold mines in Australia will occasion in this part of the world, which may cause the ruin of the agriculturists, the discomfort of the possessors of small fixed incomes, and distress, and perhaps famine among the searchers for gold, are induced respectfully to request Your Excellency to exert your influence that the sending of Convicts to this Colony may not be discontinued at present.”^[8]

1853 - Swanport.-The following gentlemen have been appointed trustees for Road purposes in this district. Messrs. Francis Cotton, Kelvedon; John Amos, Glenn Herriott; John Mitchell, Lisdillon; Henry Lyne, Comb-end; James Amos, Cranbrook; Robert Wardlaw, St Albans; John Alexander Graham, Swansea.^[9]

1853 - PRESENTATION TO MR. RICHARD McVILLY, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DOUGLAS RIVER [or Bicheno] CONVICT STATION. Great Swanport, 29th November, 1853. SIR,- We, the undersigned inhabitants of the North-eastern part of the district of Great Swanport, consider ourselves bound to acknowledge the service you have rendered the public by undertaking the duty of District Constable (without salary) at Bicheno and especially for the indefatigable conduct you evinced in detecting and bringing to justice the cattle stealers, Lefere and Dewhurst, for which we beg you to accept the accompanying purse of Thirty-eight Sovereigns as a small token of our appreciation of your worth. We are, Sir, your well-wishers, William Lyne, Apsley; James Amos, Cranbrook; Henry Lyne, Coombend; Robert Wardlaw, St. Albans . . . [and others].^[10]

1854 - To H. F. Anstey, Esq. M.L.C., Anstey Barton, Oatlands. WE the Undersigned, Inhabitants of the District of Great Swanport, and particularly of the township of Bicheno and the valley of the Apsley, feel called upon to address you on the subject of your voting against the proposal of Government to set apart a sum of money from the public revenue for the purpose of erecting a Watch-house on the township of Bicheno . . . [long letter] . . . We cannot but consider that your opposition to so necessary a vote was dictated by no other motives than those of embarrassing the Government and insulting those of your constituents, who had signified to you privately their disapproval of your vote of the previous session against erecting a watch-house at Bicheno, and we therefore consider your conduct as a legislator, in thus preventing the carrying out of a beneficial measure for the public good, to call alone for the expression of our strongest condemnation. (Signed) J. Lyne, J.P., Apslawn; Edward Carr Shaw, J.P., Redbanks; George Fordyce Story, M. D., Kelvedon; Wm. Lyne, Jun., Apsley; W. H. Hume, Bicheno; Henry L. Steiglitz, Green Lawn; John Thomas, Bicheno; Henry Bryant, Fearney Grove; John Amos, Glen Alban; John Allen, Allen Grove; Robert Wardlaw, St. Albans; Henry Marshall, St. Albans; Joseph Butler, Courland; Joseph Bulgegood, Lila-villa; Mary Allen, Sherborne Lodge; Francis Cotton, Grange.^[11]

1869 - SWANSEA PLOUGHING MATCH. ^[12] . . . By the time the sports were concluded the stewards, Messrs. James Amos and Robert Wardlaw, had decided upon the successful ploughman. The numbers were therefore called up and the prizes delivered as before mentioned, also by the Warden, . . . [NB This could have been his son Robert?].

1870 - GOVERNMENT ADVERTISEMENTS. SALE OF CROWN LANDS. ^[13] . . . PARISH OF BOULTBIE. . . . COUNTY OF CORNWALL. . . . The above lots (excepting Lot 5306) front on the crown reservation on the South Pacific Ocean and Hume's Lagoon, and are situated between Lot 1942 at Picanini Creek purchased by Robert Wardlaw and the Town of Seymour. . . .

1870 - SWANSEA. GLAMORGAN ANNUAL PLOUGHING MATCH . . . When all the several classes had completed their tasks, the following persons were named, and kindly consented, to act as judges :-For the Association and bone dust prizes ; Messrs. Robert Wardlaw, J. Blackmore, and Jno Amos (Cranbrook) ; for the youths' prizes: Messrs. H. Harvey, -. Bellett, and J. Webb. . . . ^[14] [? This Robert or his son].

1873 - DEATH OF AN OLD COLONIST. SWANSEA. ^[15] On Tuesday last, Mr. Robert Wardlaw, of the Chain-of-Lagoons, near Falmouth, died at the advanced age of 70. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Bicheno, and were followed to their last resting place by upwards of 40 persons, amongst whom were relatives, friends, and servants all anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased. Mr. Wardlaw arrived in Tasmania in the year 1842, and for some time was employed by Mr. John Amos ; he was a native of Scotland, and true to the disposition of his country-men, was persevering, and thrifty ; and was anxious to secure a home for himself in his adopted country ; as soon, therefore, as he had saved sufficient money to carry out his purpose, he rented a property on the Apsley River, known as St. Albans, residing there for many years ; he next purchased a property at the Chain-of-Lagoons, which is now acknowledged to be one of tho most compact and prolific farms on the East Coast; here he ended his days in contentment and comparative luxury. This is an instance which might serve as a guide to many struggling farmers in Tasmania, and shows what can be accomplished by a willing and determined mind, and how the ladder to independence may be ascended step by step.

Buried Bicheno,Tas

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY8K-F4S : 10 February 2018), Helen Ross in entry for Robert Wardlaw, 17 Jul 1803; citing , reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,339.
2. ↑ International Genealogical Index - Mormon Church
3. ↑ Scotlands People - Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages
4. ↑ Immigration arrivals records - at Tasmanian Archives, Hobart.
5. ↑ AMOS Family Papers, Tasmanian Archives, Hobart, Tasmania
6. ↑ The Courier (Hobart) 17 Sept [and other dates through to 29 Oct re the campaign] 1851 p1
7. ↑ Launceston Examiner 4 Oct 1851 p7
8. ↑ Hobarton Guardian, or, 'True Friend of Tasmania (Hobart) 2 Oct 1852 p4
9. ↑ The Courier (Hobart) 13 Sept 1853
10. ↑ Colonial Times 22 Dec 1853 p3
11. ↑ The Courier 4 April 1854 p3
12. ↑ Mercury 26 October 1869
13. ↑ The Mercury 2 August 1870 p 3 Article
14. ↑ Mercury 15 October 1870
15. ↑ Mercury 6 September 1873