Robert Thornbury arrived in Sydney, NSW on 9th February, 1845 after leaving from Cork, Ireland with his wife Eliza and daughter Jane. His occupation was listed as a Rough Carpenter and Agricultural Labourer. Robert's parents were Robert Thornbury and Anne Hewitt from Kilmore, Armagh, Ireland.
The Sydney Morning Herald of Monday 10th February states: "The Herald has brought 205 bounty emigrants, the whole of which are in a very healthy condition; they comprise 60 men and 88 women and the remainder children. She has made the passage from Cork in 97 days, and has arrived in port in the same clean state for which she has hitherto been celebrated. She now lies in Neutral Bay, but will come off Campbell's Wharf in the course of today."
When Robert and Eliza arrived in Sydney they were engaged by G. Wyndham as Housekeeper and Cook (Robert) and Laundress (for Eliza) at Richmond River for a wage of 25 pounds for 12 months, with rations for two.
In 1847 he took charge of the property of John Alger at Mount Druit working as a cook and general hand on property before moving to the Colyton area. In late 1860 the family moved by covered wagon over the Blue mMountains and on to Lambing Flat (now Young) gold diggings before moving onto the diggings at Forbes and then to Parkes. He then became a farmer on a property called Mount Pleasant.
Their children were Jane, (born Ireland), Robert, John (my great grandfather), William, Thomas and a stillborn child.
Robert died on 21 Dec, 1891 and is buried in the Church of England Section of the Parkes Cemetery.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1815 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 21st Dec 1891 | |
