Robert Laws
William Laws > Benjamin Laws > Edmund Laws > Robert Laws > Charles Laws
Robert Laws was my great-great-great-grandfather. He was born in Hockwold-cum-Wilton in Norfolk, England on 19 December 1819 and married Charlotte Vincent on 26 July, 1846, probably in Feltwell.
Robert and Charlotte had their first two children, Charles Vincent and Mary Ann, in Hockwold in 1849 and 1851 respectively.
Charlotte and the couple's two children are listed in the 1851 UK census. Note that Robert's brother Benjamin is staying with her at the time of the census and that Robert is not listed
Robert and Charlotte had their first two children, Charles Vincent and Mary Ann, in Hockwold in 1849 and 1851 respectively.
Charlotte and the couple's two children are listed in the 1851 UK census. Note that Robert's brother Benjamin is staying with her at the time of the census and that Robert is not listed
Immigration to New South Wales
Robert (32 yrs) and Charlotte Laws (29 yrs) immigrated to New South Wales in 1853 on the ship David McIver, arriving in Sydney on 1 September 1853. No relations in the colony were listed. Robert could read and write and Charlotte could read. With them were their two children, Charles (4 yrs) and Mary Ann (2 yrs). Charlotte was pregnant with twins to whom she would give birth about 10 weeks after arriving. The family's religion was noted as Church of England.
Robert and his family initially lived in Balmain, first in Ann Street and later in Curtis Road. The houses in this area do not appear to have been numbered during this period so I don't know exactly where they lived.
Robert listed his occupation in England as 'railway labourer' and in Sydney he seems to have worked as a labourer again for a time [1], perhaps in the brick works. In 1853, the gold rush had begun, the population was growing and there was a great deal of building work going on in Sydney.
By 1863, Robert had his own brick-making business on Abattoir Road, Petersham and had placed an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald for labourers. The clay beds in the Petersham-St Peters area were suitable for pottery and brick-making and a number of brick, pottery and tile works were established in the area from the early nineteenth century to fill the growing colony's need for bricks [2].
Robert and Charlotte seem never to have ventured very far from what is now the Leichhardt area of Sydney [3].
The following information about where they lived and worked comes from their children's birth and marriage records and from advertisements Robert placed in Sydney newspapers:
1863: ran a business in Abattoir Road, Petersham (now Lilyfield Road)
1864: ran a business in the Bullock Road, Petersham (now Catherine Street, Leichhardt)
1864: lived in the Bullock Road, Petersham
1867: was a brick maker in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1871: lived in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1873: lived in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1876: was a brickmaker in Styles Street, Balmain
1876: sold land on corner of Catherine Street and New Balmain Road (these roads no longer intersect)
1876: lived in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1877: was a brickmaker in Petersham (at time of son Benjamin's marriage)
1877: lived on the Bullock Road, Petersham (now Catherine Street, Leichhardt)
1878: sold land in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1878: lived in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1883: land sold after his death on corner of Moore and Mackenzie Streets, Leichhardt
Note that Abattoir Road is now Lilyfield Road and the Bullock Road in Petersham is now Catherine Street in Leichhardt. Leichhardt did not exist until 1871 [2].
Robert and his family initially lived in Balmain, first in Ann Street and later in Curtis Road. The houses in this area do not appear to have been numbered during this period so I don't know exactly where they lived.
Robert listed his occupation in England as 'railway labourer' and in Sydney he seems to have worked as a labourer again for a time [1], perhaps in the brick works. In 1853, the gold rush had begun, the population was growing and there was a great deal of building work going on in Sydney.
By 1863, Robert had his own brick-making business on Abattoir Road, Petersham and had placed an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald for labourers. The clay beds in the Petersham-St Peters area were suitable for pottery and brick-making and a number of brick, pottery and tile works were established in the area from the early nineteenth century to fill the growing colony's need for bricks [2].
Robert and Charlotte seem never to have ventured very far from what is now the Leichhardt area of Sydney [3].
The following information about where they lived and worked comes from their children's birth and marriage records and from advertisements Robert placed in Sydney newspapers:
1863: ran a business in Abattoir Road, Petersham (now Lilyfield Road)
1864: ran a business in the Bullock Road, Petersham (now Catherine Street, Leichhardt)
1864: lived in the Bullock Road, Petersham
1867: was a brick maker in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1871: lived in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1873: lived in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1876: was a brickmaker in Styles Street, Balmain
1876: sold land on corner of Catherine Street and New Balmain Road (these roads no longer intersect)
1876: lived in Abattoir Road, Petersham
1877: was a brickmaker in Petersham (at time of son Benjamin's marriage)
1877: lived on the Bullock Road, Petersham (now Catherine Street, Leichhardt)
1878: sold land in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1878: lived in Catherine Street, Leichhardt
1883: land sold after his death on corner of Moore and Mackenzie Streets, Leichhardt
Note that Abattoir Road is now Lilyfield Road and the Bullock Road in Petersham is now Catherine Street in Leichhardt. Leichhardt did not exist until 1871 [2].
Children
After Charles and Mary Ann who were born in England, Charlotte and Robert Laws had eight further children together in Sydney:
Vincent John (17 November 1853-1933)
Bowers Robert (17 November 1853-1923)
Benjamin Jonathon (1856-1900)
Thirza (1858-1952)
Louisa M (1860-1933)
George Pearson (1862-1949)
Edward William (1864-1865)
Adelaide Charlotte Mary (1868-1948)
Vincent John (17 November 1853-1933)
Bowers Robert (17 November 1853-1923)
Benjamin Jonathon (1856-1900)
Thirza (1858-1952)
Louisa M (1860-1933)
George Pearson (1862-1949)
Edward William (1864-1865)
Adelaide Charlotte Mary (1868-1948)
Death
Robert Laws died on 2 July 1881 at home at 165 Catherine Street, Leichhardt. He was buried in Balmain Cemetery which is now Pioneers' Memorial Park. There is no headstone so no way of knowing exactly where he was buried. Charlotte, was buried with him when she died in 1902.
References
[1] From son Vincent John's birth record (1853).
[2] https://dictionaryofsydney.org/node/19567
[3] Leichhardt was proclaimed a municipality in 1871. In 1949, it was merged with the municipalities of Annandale and Balmain. In 1967, the municipal boundary was altered to include Glebe and parts of Camperdown. In 2003, the municipal boundary was again changed, to exclude Glebe and Forest Lodge, which are now part of the City of Sydney.
[2] https://dictionaryofsydney.org/node/19567
[3] Leichhardt was proclaimed a municipality in 1871. In 1949, it was merged with the municipalities of Annandale and Balmain. In 1967, the municipal boundary was altered to include Glebe and parts of Camperdown. In 2003, the municipal boundary was again changed, to exclude Glebe and Forest Lodge, which are now part of the City of Sydney.