Beddome, Robert Winter

Fast Facts

Type of person	Individual
Date of birth	1816
Place of birth	Romsey, Hampshire, England.
Date of arrival	1839
Principal occupation	Farmer, post-master, special land agent and later author.
Date of death	1889
Place of decease	Adelaide, South Australia and he is buried in West Terrace Cemetery.

Robert Winter Beddome was born on 17 Nov 1816 in Romsey, Hampshire, England. His father was John Reynolds Beddome (1787-1859) and his mother was Rebecca (nee Winter) (1787-1821) who were both resident in England for their entire lives. His maternal grandfather was the Rev. Robert Winter D.D., a Methodist clergyman. Robert had 3 sisters – Louisa (1813-1815), Marianne (1825-1912) who emigrated to Canada and Fanny (1819-1852) who was born in England and emigrated to South Australia in 1851 with her husband Joseph Bompas.

Robert Winter Beddome, aged 23 years, arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the barque Anna Robertson on 20 September 1839 from London via Gravesend under the command of Captain Augustus Munro carrying cargo and 111 passengers. Robert W. Beddome was resident in Willunga for a period around 1841 according to the South Australian Census (1841).

He appears to have returned to England where he married Mary Ann Kingham (1819 – 1899) at St. Clement Danes, Middlesex, England on 27 March 1843. He returned with his new wife to South Australia arriving on 12 Sept 1843 in Intermediate class aboard Madras from London and Plymouth.

He worked as a farmer, post-master and special land agent. He was resident in Currency Creek before 1845 and he remained there until at least 1857 as five of his six children were born at Currency Creek:

Mary Ann Fanny (1844-1920)

John Winter (1846-1934) m. Fanny Louisa Buttfield (1853-1926) on 19 Oct 1884 at Blinman SA

Sarah (1849-1911) m. Thomas Coombe (1847-1925) on 18 Dec 1872 at Adelaide

George Kingham (1852-1923) m. Emily Bates in 1877 in Victoria

Martha Ann (1855-1935) m. William Henry Cox at the residence of R.W. Beddome, Adelaide in 1875

Robert Winter (1857-1934) m. Elizabeth Sillett (1856- )

Marianne Sophia (1861-1862) b. & d. in Willunga, died as an infant

In 1850 he was involved in the establishment of the River Murray League and he signed the petition in support of the establishment of the Goolwa railway.

Robert W. Beddome appears to have been resident in Willunga again from about March 1861 until at least September 1863. James Brown(e) leased lot 82 (now 10 Bishop Street) in the township of Willunga (Lease No. 1783 dated 1 March 1861) to storekeeper Robert Winter Beddome, late of Currency Creek, for a three year term effective from 1 March 1861 for 50 pounds per annum payable quarterly. By 1861 Robert was resident in Willunga and he put his land at Currency Creek up for sale in June/July 1861. His youngest daughter Marianne Sophia was born and died aged 14 months in Willunga and is buried (grave 42) in the Uniting Church [Wesleyan Methodist] Cemetery).

During 1862 several lectures for the benefit of the Mechanic’s Institute were given in a building that was described as “Mr. Beddome’s News and Lecture Room” including Mr. George French Angas on "The Amazulu Kaffirs” in January, Mr. Townsend, M.P. on “Lights and shadows of London life” in February and Dr. MacIntosh on “Recollections of the East” in May. The last trace was in September 1863 when Beddome’s Reading Room was the site of an event following the laying of the Foundation Stone of the Oddfellows Hall.

In the 1870s and 1880s Robert Winter Beddome wrote four literary works mainly of poetry and songs (The Adelaide of the Future.1873; A Group of Songs for the Local Forces (Military and Naval) of the Australian Provinces. 1878; Appeal for union! To the British Australasian colonies, within, or near to Australia. 1887; Ode to the river Murray. 1887).

Robert Winter Beddome, aged 73 years. died on 14 Feb 1889 at his residence in Howard Street, Rosaville, Adelaide, South Australia and he is buried in West Terrace Cemetery. .

Sources

• Passengers in History Database – South Australian Maritime Museum
• South Australian Births – Index of Registrations 1842-1906
• South Australian Marriages – Index of Registrations 1842-1937
• South Australian Deaths – Index of Registrations 1842-1972
• SA Census 1841
• Ratepayer List Willunga & Aldinga Councils 1850-1888
• Family Histories. C. Manuscript folder held by the National Trust (Willunga Branch). Blue folder 40-
• Statton J. (ed) 1986. Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885. Volume 1
• Adelaide Observer 13 Jan 1844:1
• South Australian Register 9 August 1861:2
• South Australian Register 20 March 1850:1
• Adelaide Observer 6 July 1861:1
• South Australian Register 24 February 1862:3
• Adelaide Observer 17 May 1862:15
• South Australian Register 8 September 1863:3

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