Robert Collet Edwin Hampton 4
- Born: Jul 1842, March, Cambridgeshire, England 5 6 7
- Baptised: Oct 12, 1842, March, Cambridgeshire, England 8
- Marriage (1): Margaret McNeill on Apr 12, 1869 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia 1 2 3
- Died: Apr 12, 1899, Kanowna, Western Australia, Australia at age 56 9 10
- Buried: Apr 1899, Kanowna, Western Australia, Australia
 General Notes:
Robert's occupation was noted as "Superintendent" on his marriage registration in 1869.
[It is believed this was with the Police Service, following in his father's footsteps. However no record of this, or any othe service has been found to date (July 31, 2015)]
1869 Robert CE & Margaret were in the Richmond River district of New South Wales for the birth of Frederick Osborn
1871 Robert CE & Margaret were possibly in Grafton New South Wales for the birth &/or death of Catherine.
Robert was the Leasee / Publican of the Club Hotel, Thargomindah, Queensland from April 1879 when he recieved a Retail Spirit License from the Queensland Government to August 1889 when the license was transferred to John Taylor.
[Queensland State Archives - Queensland Government Gazette 1870 - 1889 (accessed July 30, 2015)]
He then took up the lease of Ashby Vale Station and others. He remained there until about 1895.
[Queensland State Archives - Queensland Directory - Wise 1894 (Accessed July 30, 2015)]
The Queensland Government Gazette lists the the properties, lessess names & the associated cattle brand.
PropertyNearest P. O.
Hampton, Robert EdwinAshby ValeNocundra
Hampton, Frederick OsbornAshby ValeNocundra
Hampton, Edwin Q.Ashby ValeNocundra
Hampton, Frederick OsbornAshby ValeThargominda
Hampton, MargaretCurracunya SpringsThargominda
Hampton, Robert Collet EdwinCurracunya SpringsThargominda
Hampton, R. E. & Rowan, M.Ashby-de-la-ZouchThargomindah
the brand cannot be replicated here the table gives an indication of the Hamptons holdings.]
[Ref: Queensland Government Gazette 1903-1910 P698.]
It is estimated the family abandoned their pastoral holdings in early May, 1895 due to the long period of drought. [This estimate is based on a letter to Frederick Osborn Hampton from R. Ryan dated Nov 7, 1895 in which he mentions among other things, they will "make a pile over there"]
An advertisement appeared in The Barrier Miner newspaper in May 1895 for the sale of 20 thoroughbred horses under "instructions from Messrs.Hampton Bros. (late of Ashby Vale Station, Queelsnand.)"
[Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW 1888 - 1954) Wednesday 29 May 1895
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/printIssue/292706 (accessed July 30, 2015)]
The family was in Knaowna Western Australia by about Aug 1895
Robert was unfortunately killed in a tragic mining accident at Kanowna, Western Australia in 1899.
In the Qld. Govt. Gazette of 1908 on p158 there is a table showing the lesses or occupants of rural properties. It shows Ashby Vale had been taken up by Mr. T. Derrick
Some of his life's milestones were:
He was an occupant at the residence of Capt. Frederic Blagg Hampton on Mar 30, 1851 in Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England: No 20 Hurst Lane, March. 4 4 He is listed in the Census with his wife Matilda, sons Robert & Frederic, daughters Isabel & Mary, as well as staff members.
He immigrated to Australia, arriving on Sep 20, 1856 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 11 Robert Collet Edwin HAMPTON arrived aboard the "Prince Alfred". He was the only passanger on the manifest.
He was working as Superintendent in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia on Apr 12, 1869 12 13 This was noted on Robert & Margaret's mariage certificate.
[It is believed he was in the police service or the judicial system in Rockhampton given he was a NSW Court District Commissioner 5 years later.]
He was working as a District Commissioner in the NSW District Court in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia on Jul 21, 1874 13
He was working as Licencee & Publican at the Club Hotel in Thargomindah, Queensland, Australia between 1879 and 1890 14 Robt. was licenced as a "Retail Spirits Distributor" and for "Billiards" during this period. [from Qld. Family History Soc. Inc. database of Qld. Miscellaneous Licences 1860-1899 accessed Jul 30, 2015]
His occupation as a Publican was also recorded on Mattie Edith's birth certificate, Apr 27, 1886.
His postal address was Nocundra via Thargomindah, Queensland, Australia in 1894-1896 and he was listed as a station owner in the 1894-95 Queensland PO Directory (Wise)
[Ref; MyHeritage, https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-50629-100327/queensland-po-directory-1894-95-wise-in-queensland-po-directory-1894-95-wise (Accessed July 6, 2018)]
Robert Collet Edwin Hampton was killed in a rock fall, Kanowna, Western Australia, Australia 15
"HAMPTON Robert Collett Ewin [sic], 34 Miner 12 Apr 1899 Golden Valley Mine at Kanowna, Buried at Kanowna Reg NEC 23/1899"
[Ref: From "Outback Family History" web site - (http://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com.au/Mining Deaths E to H.html)]
Robert Collet Edwin Hampton was recorded as working as Squatter in 1914. This was noted on William Henry Thompson & Mattie Edith Hampton's marriage certificate after Robert C E Hampton's death. The property was called "Ashby Vale" near Thargomindah, Queensland, Australia. 16
Ashby Vale Pastoral Station: Mar 8, 1886, Thargomindah, Queensland, Australia 17 18
Ashby Vale Station was west of Thargomindah, Western Queensland. Some 2,060km (1280 miles) west of Brisbane on the edge of the central Australian Desert. It has an average summer max. temperature of 38 deg C (record 48 deg C) and an average winter low of 6 deg C (record -1 deg C). A very harsh environment with very low rainfall and occasional devastating floods. There are numerous records of pastoral holdings with soaring successes and as many records of heartbreaking loss. Ashby Vale Station was no exception.
The area did have one major advantage for raising cattle and sheep, the Great Australian Artesian Basin. This source of subterranean water covers a large portion of western Queensland and New South Wales.
The Brisbane Courier newspaper on March 8, 1886 in their page 3 section "The Country Mails" reported:
THARGOMINDAH.
(From Local Papers to 37th February.)
A LARGE supply of first-class water, either for stock or domestic purposes, has been struck at Mr. Hampton's Ashby Vale Station at a depth of about 80ft. The supply is estimated at 20,000 gallons per day. The water was found in sandstone. This discovery is another proof that good water can be found throughout this district at a trifling depth.
Good fresh water has been struck on Eronghoula run at a depth of 26ft. by a Wright and Edwards's boring machine. The water rose 2ft. immediately after being struck. Boring was continued to a further depth of 16ft through red rock and gravel, and the water is now 24ft. from the surface, or 18ft. in the bore. The supply is so good that a large bucket 4ft. by 3ft. kept constantly at work cannot exhaust it.
But by the end of the late 1890s Ashby Vale and neighbouring properties were abandoned.
The Brisbane Courier newspaper on Sep 11, 1903 in their page 6 section "Country News" reported:
THARGOMINDAH, August 31.
There is an abundance, of grass and herbage throughout the district, but pastoral matters generally are still In a languishing state. The lessees of Chartleton, Ashby Vale, Waverney, Dalton, and Tenapera stations, after fighting the drought for many years, have now abandoned their runs, which are consequently forfeited.
Robert married Margaret McNeill, daughter of Arthur McNeill and Catherine Rice, on Apr 12, 1869 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.1 2 3 (Margaret McNeill was born in 1847 in Tamnamore, Co. Armagh, Ireland 12 14 and died after 1910 in Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia.)
Marriage Notes:
Married in St. Josephs Church in Rockhampton, according to rites of the Roman Catholic Church by P. J. MacGuinnes, in the presence of Godfried Prolinsky & Catherine Faust.
NOTE: The date of marriage is listed as 12 April 1869 but on Mattie Edith Hampton's birth certificate it is incorrectly listed as 21 April 1868. 2
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