James Roberts (1878 - 1925)

Born 20 Feb 1878 in Plymouth, Devon, England

Ancestors

Husband of Edith Susan (Giltrow) Roberts — married 7 Feb 1912 in St George's Church, Goodwood, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 16 May 1925 at age 47 in Black Forest, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dave Roberts [send private message]

Biography

James Roberts was born in Devon, England.

James Roberts migrated from UK to Australia.

James Roberts came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

James Roberts was born on 20th February 1878 at Plymouth, Devon, England. His parents were Jesse Roberts and Anne Elizabeth Hockridge. ^{[1] [2]}

James Roberts migrated to South Australia as a 3 year old with his parents and three siblings. They arrived in South Australia on 22nd February 1882 on the "Nebo", having departed from Plymouth on 4th December 1881. SA Shipping record 82/1.

Roberts family passenger ticket for "Nebo"

James Roberts married Edith Susan Giltrow on 7 February 1912 at St. George's Church, Goodwood, South Australia.^{[3] [4]}

James and Edith Susan Roberts had seven children;

1. James Roberts Jnr b. 1912
2. Victor Roberts b. 1913
3. Arthur Roberts b. 1915
4. Jessie Roberts b. 1917
5. Mary Roberts b. 1918
6. Margery Roberts b. 1919
7. Annie Roberts b. 1921

James Roberts was an insurance salesman for Southern Cross Assurance Co. He worked mainly in country South Australia, doing his rounds firstly on a Harley Davidson motor bike with side car and finally progressing to a Chevrolet motor car.^[5]

James' wife, Edith, was admitted to the Park View Mental Asylum about 1920, with no hope of recovery. Their children were initially cared for by two of Edith's sisters. Later, a very good friend of the family, Alice Jessie Hill took all the children and raised them together with her own three.

James Roberts died on 16 May 1925 at Black Forest, South Australia, Australia. ^{[6] [7]} He committed suicide by hanging himself on a door at the home of Alice Jessie Hill at Cross Roads, Black Forest. He had seen "Auntie Hill", taking the children to the pictures earlier that evening. It is unclear who discovered his body, but police and a doctor were quickly called. There was an inquiry carried out where the police report, doctor's death certificate and evidence from his father were tendered. His father mentioned that his son had indicated to him that he was not well, "Something's wrong in my head", a couple of weeks earlier. The result of the inquiry was "inquest unnecessary".^[8]

James Roberts was buried on 19 May 1925 at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. ^[9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch [1] : 1 October 2014, James Roberts, 1878; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast [2]; citing Birth Registration, Plymouth, Devon, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England. Accessed 6 December 2016.
2. ↑ UK GRO Births; Roberts, James; Mother's maiden name Hockridge; GRO Reference: 1878 M Quarter in Plymouth, Volume 05B Page 290; [3] Accessed 12 Sep 2021.
3. ↑ SA BDM Marriages 1912 250/301, James Roberts and Edith Susan Giltrow, groom 43, bride 30, St George's Church, Goodwood, district Adelaide; GenealogySA database [4] Accessed 6 December 2016.
4. ↑ Edith Susan Giltrow in the Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950
   Name: Edith Susan Giltrow
   Father's Name: James Giltrow
   Spouse Name: James Roberts
   Spouse's Father's Name: Jesse Roberts
   Marriage Date: 07 Feb 1912
   Marriage Place: St George Goodwood
   Registration Place: Adelaide, South Australia
   Page Number: 301
   Volume Number: 250
   Source Information: Ancestry.com. Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Accessed 12 Sep 2021.
5. ↑ "The Story of My Life" by Jim Roberts, edited by Melissa Roberts, published by albumworks -10400064756.
6. ↑ SA BDM Deaths 1925 478/322 James Roberts no relative recorded, district Adelaide; GenealogySA database [5] Accessed 6 December 2016.
7. ↑ James Roberts in the Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
   Name: James Roberts
   Death Date: 16 May 1925
   Death Place: South Australia
   Registration Year: 1916-1925
   Registration Place: South Australia
   Page Number: 332
   Volume Number: 478
   Source Information: Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Accessed 12 Sep 2021.
8. ↑ Police report re suicide of James Roberts; SA Record Series No 3 Inquests 1880-1942 by Jill Statton. Page 45 James Roberts 17/5/1925 #219. Copy of the police report held by D. Roberts
9. ↑ Adelaide Cemetries Authority Record [6] Accessed 6 December 2016. James Roberts, age 47 years, Interred 19/5/1925 West Terrace Cemetery, Section Road 1S Path No 34 Site 55W Lease 6596
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162381656/james-roberts) accessed 07 September 2021, memorial page for James Roberts (20 Feb 1878–16 May 1925), Find A Grave: Memorial #162381656, citing West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by Dwight Baker (contributor 47306645).

• See also:

1. Passengers for 29/11/1881 - 22/02/1882 from the Passengers In History website. An initiative of the South Australian Maritime Museum. First accessed online on the 22nd of May, 2021.[7]