Artisans From England
Robert Bourne, son of Ebenezer Bourne and Margaretta Sealey, was born in about 1793 in London, Middlesex, England and was christened on 26 June 1793 in St Mary Colechurch, London. Robert’s father was in the rag trade – that is, he dealt in lace & haberdashery; he also was a manufacturer of silk and hats. Robert was the seventh of ten children – all of whom survived to adulthood.
Robert married Ann Butler on 8 July 1816 in St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, a Church of England church located on Queen Victoria Street, London, near Blackfriars station. Robert had a calling to the church from a young age. He was ordained as a minister at Surrey Chapel in London on 30 September 1816 when he was 23 years old, just a month after his marriage. Robert was immediately appointed by the London Missionary Society to the South Seas and he and Ann left England on 17 November 1816 on the ship Harriet. |
Travelling with a number of other missionaries including Reverend John Williams, the voyage took them firstly to Rio de Janeiro where Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld joined the expedition and onto Hobart Town in Van Diemen’s Land. Arriving in Derwent Harbour on 20 March 1817, the party spent over a month conducting Evangelical services in and around Hobart.
Robert and Ann’s first born son, Robert Ebenezer, was born on 27 April 1817 on board the ship in Derwent Harbour. Soon after his birth, the party continued their journey; their next stop was in Sydney where they were to spend about five months assisting the evangelistic endeavours of both the Anglican and Wesleyan ministries.
In September the entire mission party left for the South Sea Islands. The ship arrived at Eimeo, one of the Windward Islands in French Polynesia, exactly one year after it left England – 17 November 1817. Robert established his mission in Tahaa, one of the Society Islands.
Robert and Ann’s first born son, Robert Ebenezer, was born on 27 April 1817 on board the ship in Derwent Harbour. Soon after his birth, the party continued their journey; their next stop was in Sydney where they were to spend about five months assisting the evangelistic endeavours of both the Anglican and Wesleyan ministries.
In September the entire mission party left for the South Sea Islands. The ship arrived at Eimeo, one of the Windward Islands in French Polynesia, exactly one year after it left England – 17 November 1817. Robert established his mission in Tahaa, one of the Society Islands.
The Society Islands are a group of South Pacific islands, part of French Polynesia, consisting of the Windward Islands – Tahiti, Moorea & Tetiaroa & the Leeward Islands that include Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa & Maupiti.
One of Robert Bourne’s fellow missionaries was John Williams. Williams and his wife, Mary, had traveled to the Society Islands on the same voyage as Robert and Ann Bourne. John and Mary Williams established their first missionary post on the island of Raiatea. From there, they visited a number of the Polynesian island chains, with other London Missionary Society representatives, including Robert Bourne. Most of the Williams' missionary work was very successful and they became famed in Congregational circles. However, in November 1839, whilst visiting a part of the New Hebrides where he was unknown, Williams was killed and eaten by cannibals on the island of Erromango.
Despite the dangers, Robert and Ann Bourne spent ten years in their missionary work with the natives of Tahaa. Six of their ten children were born during the years spent in the islands. |
Ann Bourne was described as a stern, severe woman; she was also reputedly over seven foot tall and built in proportion – surely a daunting figure!
In 1827, Ann Bourne, pregnant with their eighth child, became severely ill. On 11 November 1827, the family left Tahiti and sailed on board 'Rolle' to Sydney, New South Wales. Jane Margaretta Bourne was born on 31 July 1828 in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Robert Bourne became Rector at the Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney. However in 1829 he was offered a position with the London Missionary Society in New Zealand. Turning down the position, Robert and his family returned to England in February 1929 and on 13 July 1829, Robert severed his connection with the London Missionary Society. This apparently caused uproar as the Society believed that a man was appointed as a missionary for life.
Leaving his wife and younger children in London, Robert and his fourteen year old son, Robert Ebenezer, returned to Sydney in May 1831 aboard the 'Rifleman'. Robert had formed a partnership with a merchant by the name of Charles Appleton before leaving for England. Upon his return to Sydney Robert assumed full management of the business, establishing a drapery in Pitt Street, Sydney. He later joined together with his son-in-law, George Chisholm, in a drapery business, which was known as Bourne and Chisholm. Ann Bourne and the other children rejoined Robert in Sydney in August 1832. |
Robert purchased land north of what is now known as Campbell Street in Newtown, Sydney. In about 1840, he built a house on this land – Camden Villa. This property was later sold to Thomas Holt, a prominent politician, philanthropist, legal reformer, businessman, social crusader, church figure and civic identity of the time. Campbell Street was formerly known as Bourne's Lane. Camden Villa later became a Girls College. It was demolished in the late 1880’s.
Robert and Ann remained in Sydney at Camden Villa until 1847. They then relocated to Western Victoria where Robert continued his mercantile pursuits in Koroit until 1853. The family then moved north to Brisbane where Robert took up a position at the company of his son-in-law, George Raff. |
George Raff, who was married to Harriet Sealey Bourne, was a merchant, sugar-grower and politician in Carbrook, Queensland. Robert Bourne helped to found the Wharf Street Congregational Church in Brisbane in 1859. A prominent member of various philanthropic organisations, he was also Secretary to the Queensland Board of Education from June 1860 to January 1870. George and Harriet Raff had a large family of twelve children, although four of the children did not survive to adulthood. Of their surviving sons, one was a merchant, another an engineer, one went into banking, another was a surveyor and their youngest son was a solicitor.
Robert Ebenezer Bourne married Eleanor Isabel Orton on 8 July 1840. Eleanor's father, Joseph Rennard Orton was a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary to Kingston, Jamaica in 1826. He had a concern for enslaved people after being influenced by the antislavery movement instigated by William Wilberforce.
His ministry in Jamaica was brief however due to a serious illness and he returned to England for a time. In 1831 the Methodist Church in England sent Joseph to New South Wales where some dissent amongst the clergy required that there should be new leadership. He was appointed Chairman of the New South Wales district and later the Van Diemen's Land district until ill health warranted he return to England. Unfortunately he died at sea on 30 October 1842 without reaching his homeland. |
Of the children of Robert Ebenezer Bourne and Eleanor Isabel Orton, their education was overseen by their grandfather Robert Bourne in Queensland after the death of Eleanor Isabel Bourne on 27 August 1859. Four of Robert Bourne's grandsons went on to hold important positions in the Queensland civil service.
- Robert Orton Bourne recieved an Officer's Commission in the Queensland Voluntary Artillery in 1875 and he later took up a position as Commonwealth Inspector of Post and Telegraphs in Queensland. Robert married Augusta Mary Paddle on 4 May 1876 in Glebe, New South Wales and they had a family of five daughters, May Augusta, Minnie Eleanor, Daisy Gertrude, Edith Marion and Elsie Winifred. Edith Marion Bourne died on 25 July 1891 at the age of six years. The family home in New Farm, a suburb of Brisbane was called 'Arawatta'.
May Augusta Bourne married Roy Graeme Groom on 8 November 1904. Their son, Thomas Reginald Groom was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1955-1961. He was knighted in 1961. Alan Douglas Groom recieved a Distinguished Service Order for the work he did at the end of the 2nd world war in arranging truces in Indonesia which saved the lives of thousands of British soldiers. Alan Groom was a Japanese Prisoner of War in Indonesia from 1942-1945. The only daughter of Roy and May Groom, Helen Mary Groom, was a pioneer in the field of marriage guidance and was a consultant in the formation of the original Family Law Act.
Elsie Winifred Bourne married Albert John Bennett on 4 May 1909. Their son, John Makepeace Bennett was a renowed professor of Computer Science, he recieved an Order of Australia in 1983, the Centenary Medal for his service to Australian computer science and technology in 2001 and the Pearcey Medal for a lifetime of outstanding contribution to the ICT industry in 2004. |
- Joseph Orton Bourne married Emily Hobbs, daughter of Dr William Hobbs and Anna Louisa Barton. Emily’s uncle was Sir Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of Australia. Joseph trained as a draughtsman and was appointed as Registrar of Titles in the Register-General's Department in 1889. Joseph and Emily Bourne had five children: an infant daughter died at birth and another daughter died at the age of 18 years. Both sons served in the Australian Army during World War 1.
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- John Sumner Pears Bourne married Jane Elizabeth Hockings, daughter of Albert John Hockings, Mayor of Brisbane 1865 and 1867. John was appointed the Queensland Commissioner for Lands before his death on 12 July 1935 at the age of 83 years. Jane Elizabeth Bourne helped to establish the University of Queensland and paved the way for her daughter, Eleanor Elizabeth Bourne to become the first woman to study medicine in Queensland. Eleanor Bourne had an outstanding medical career in institutions, general practice and the military. Another daughter, Florence Ida Bourne was principal at Maryborough Girl's High School in Brisbane, Queensland from 1917-1948. George Herbert Bourne had a career in banking before and after his service in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment during World War 1. He received a distinguished service order and achieved the rank of Major. After the war he returned to the Bank of New South Wales, firstly in Brisbane, then Tamworth, New South Wales. he was appointed Manager of the Christchurch, New Zealand branch in 1936, followed by the Rockhampton, Queensland branch from 1938-1946. His brother, Harold Thornton Bourne also became a doctor and was appointed Senior Medical Officer at the Kew Mental Hospital before his death in 1934.
George Bourne was educated at Sydney College, and left Sydney when he was 16-years-old. He experienced life on the land on several stations before going to the Victorian gold fields in 1852. After some success in the gold diggings, he was able to purchase a small station and then a half-share in another station. Two years of drought compelled him to sell his share in the station and he then went to Queensland.
In 1861, volunteers were called for to search for traces of the Burke and Wills expedition. George Bourne volunteered his services with William Landsborough and was second-in-command of the 1861 Queensland Relief Expedition to search for traces of the explorers. Landsborough's party crossed Australia from Brisbane, Queensland to the mouth of the Albert River in the Gulf of Carpentaria before turning south towards the centre of Australia. Several expeditions were mounted during 1861-1862. Alfred Howitt was the leader of a contingent party of four sent to Cooper Creek. Howitt found the bodies of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills and the sole survivor, John King. He dug up their notebooks and maps at the Dig Tree and returned them to Melbourne. Landsborough's party learnt of the discovery in May 1862 when at the William's stations near the Warrego River but continued their journey. The explorers arrived in Melbourne in October 1862. Landsborough was acclaimed as the first explorer to cross Australia from north to south.
In May 1887, George Bourne was finally recognized for the part he played in the Landsborough expedition. He was honoured by the Royal Geographical Society and became a FRGS (Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society). he was also conferred with the Murchison Grant and recieved a watch and a certificate. George Bourne died on 26 May 1891 from heart disease at the age of 60 years. |
Robert Bourne died at his home in Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane on 1 June 1871 at the age of 78 years. He was buried in the Brisbane General Cemetery, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland. Ann Bourne died seven years later on 9 December 1878 aged 86 years. She was buried with Robert at the Toowong Cemetery.
Descendants of Robert Bourne
Robert Bourne was born on 21 March 1793 in London, Middlesex, England and died on 1 June 1871 in Carbrook, Queensland at age 78 years. Robert married Ann Butler on 8 July 1816 in London, Middlesex, England. Ann was born in about 1792 in London, Middlesex, England and died on 9 December 1878 in Carbrook, Queensland at age 86 years. They had ten children: Robert Ebenezer, Anne Butler, Harriet Sealey, Matthew Wilks, Henry Tahaa, Joseph Leate, Mary, Jane Margaretta, George and Louisa.
- Robert Ebenezer Bourne was born on 27 April 1817 in Derwent Harbour, Van Diemen's Land and died on 12 November 1887 in Walhalla, Victoria at age 70 years. Robert married Eleonor Orton, daughter of Reverend Joseph Rennard Orton and Sarah Jane Bragg, on 8 July 1840 in Sydney, New South Wales. Eleanor was born on 19 October 1817 in London, Middlesex, England and died on 27 August 1859 in Bathurst, New South Wales at age 41 years. They had ten children: Emily, Robert Orton, Joseph Orton, Annie S., Sarah Annie, George Iredale, Harriet A., John Sumner Pears, Walter Powell and Mary Emma Kezia.
- Anne Butler Bourne was born on 18 January 1819 in Papeette, Tahiti and died on 12 April 1850 in Sydney, New South Wales at age 31 years. Ann married George Chisholm on 3 December 1836 in Sydney, New South Wales. George was born ion 14 March 1805 in Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland and died on 7 July 1873 in Marrickville, New South Wales at age 67 years. They had nine children: George Robert, Anne, Jane Dunlop, Mary Louisa, Daniel Henry, Anne Butler, Charlotte McPherson, Harry and Margaretta Bourne.
- Harriet Sealey Bourne was born on 24 April 1821 in Bursar’s Point, Tahiti and died on 28 November 1880 in Carbrook, Queensland at age 59 years. Harriet married George Raff on 14 April 1843 in Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales. George was born on 15 April 1815 in Forres, Moray, Scotland and died on 28 August 1899 in Carbrook, Queensland at age 74 years. They had 12 children: Robert, Margaret, George, James, Alexander Cumming, William Henry, Harry, Anne Elizabeth, Harriet, Charles Stewart, John Dunsmore and Stewart Mowbray.
- Matthew Wilkes Bourne was born on 23 May 1822 in Raiatea, Society Islands. He studied medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland and was in General Practice both in Scotland and in Melbourne, Victoria.
- Henry Tahaa Bourne was born on 26 October 1823 in Tahaa, Society Islands and died on 13 July 1851 in Colac, Victoria at age 27 years. He was a solicitor and practised in both Melbourne and Colac, Victoria.
- Joseph Leate Bourne was born on 18 January 1825 in Tahaa, Society Islands and died on 12 June 1896 in Warwick, Queensland at age 71 years.
- Mary Bourne was born on 26 May 1826 in Tahaa, Society Islands and died on 29 May 1849 in Sydney, New South Wales at age 23 years. Mary married Benjamin Smith Lloyd, on 14 January 1847 in Sydney, New South Wales. Benjamin was born on 11 July 1818 in Norwood, Surrey, England and 18 June 1893 in Lee, Kent, England at age 74 years. They had one daughter: Mary Bourne. Benjamin later married Sophia Anne Lloyd in September quarter 1853 in Gloucestershire, England. Sophia was born in about 1829 and died on 27 May 1917 in Kent, England at age 88 years. They had four children: Sophia Lilly, Jane Cayzer, Benjamin Sidney and Francis Graham.
- Jane Margaretta Bourne was born on 31 July 1828 in Sydney, New South Wales and died on 5 July 1877 in Saint Leonards, New South Wales at age 48 years. Jane married John Dunsmure on 3 July 1845 in Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales. John was born on 16 September 1808 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland and died on 29 September 1864 in Homebush, New South Wales at age 56 years. They had ten children: Susan Anne, Mary Mitford, Grace Jane, James, Emily Louisa, Emily Louisa, Emily Stewart, Catherine Louisa and James. Three of the children died as infants.
- George Bourne was born on 3 September 1830 in Kingsland, London, England and died on 26 May 1891 in Brisbane, Queensland at age 60 years.
- Louisa Bourne was born on 16 June 1833 in Sydney, New South Wales. Louisa married Stewart Murray on 1 March 1860 in Homebush, New South Wales. Stewart was born on 20 May 1826 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland and died on 11 September 1892 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland at age 66 years. They had four children: Robert William, Anna S., Stewart Binny and Louisa D.