who was robert taylor?
Robert Taylor height 5'4", Brown hair, hazel
eyes was a convict who Arrived in Sydney on 27 January 1820 on board the
convict ship "Prince Regent"
He was transported for 7 years, convicted
on 20 March 1819 at age 26. He was tried at the Lancaster Assizes. His
crime was larceny.
Native Place - Wigan /occupation at time
of sentence "weaver"
1821 Sep 8,. On list of all persons
victualled from H.M. Magazines. the Colonial Secretary Index shows
occupation as Brickmaker
the Muster of 1822 shows Robert Taylor,
Prince Regent, working in Sydney - Govt. Brickmaker.
The Muster of 1823, 1824, 1825 shows him
in Government Employ at Liverpool.
1825 - On return of men & boys belonging
to Carters Barracks who have been exempted from the Treadwheel by the Acting
Engineer
Certificate of Freedom no. 89/5061 dated
23 March 1826 - had occupation at time of sentence as "weaver". Wigan in
Lancashire was a "Mill Town" - very large cotton mills.
Robert Taylor owned a large amount of land
at Taylor's Square Sydney. It was bounded by Oxford Street, then called
South Head Road, Botany Road and Sydney Common - approx 2 acres and 47
roods. He owned the buildings as well and rented them out.
Robert married a Margaret Hough in Wigan,
Lancastershire, in 1814 and had three children The eldest daughter Ann
Taylor born 1814 in Wigan came to Sydney with her husband, John Higham in
c1837 and they had six children
1828 Census shows Robert Taylor living at
South Head Road, Occupation Brickmaker, age 40. His " wife" was Hannah
Taylor, Ticket of Leave - her ship was Mary Ann 2. She arrived in 1815
with a 14 year sentence. Her age was also listed as 40. There were six
other males - all brickmakers living at the same address.
January 1833 Sketch of Part of South Head
Road showing the situation of the Well now sinking by Taylor, alongside of
Mr Busby's Bore for the supply of Sydney with Water. This sketch
accompanied the letter to Major Mitchell Surveyor General.
Busby v. Taylor
Supreme Court of New South Wales
Dowling and Burton JJ, 1 March 1833
22 October 1842 - SMH - Ten Pound Reward
offered by Robert Taylor for information re the shooting of his guard dog.
27 April 1843 - SMH - A Petition was read
from Robert Taylor re loss of income from his properties on South Head Road
caused by the Council when road building caused water to run off and his
tenants to leave.
Electoral Rolls - Cooks Ward 1842-3 -
Robert Taylor, House, Surry Hills
1845/6, freehold, South Head Road.
30 December 1854, John
Taylor, leased to Mary Ann Kelly a property in Taylors Lane, Old South Head
Road (book 35 No. 271)
Fifteen parcels of land
were conveyed in November 1868 to the Higham grandchildren, William Lynch,
Licensed Victualler, lately a Grocer and John Roberts of Botany Street
Surrey Hills Drayman, trustees of the marriage settlement of Eli Daw and
Mary Daw formerly Mary Higham Spinster of the first part, Charles Campbell
of Sydney aforesaid Gentleman and Betsey his wife formerly Betsey Higham of
the second part, Robert Higham of Taylor Street Sydney aforesaid Drayman of
the third part, James Terrey of the South Head Road in Sydney aforesaid Land
Owner and Grocer and John Richard Baker of the South Head Road Road
aforesaid Pawnbroker Trustees of the Marriage Settlement of William Jones
and Margaret Jones formerly Margaret Higham spinster of the fourth part,
James Anderson of Sydney aforesaid Chief Clerk in the office of the Master
in Equity and the Trustee appointed in the hereinafter referred to to
convey the Estate and interest o fht Infant Defendants as hereinafter
mentioned of the fifth part and John Roberts Junior of Paddington near
Sydney aforesaid Carter of the sixth part whereas by a Decree of the Supreme
Coart of New South Wales in its Equitable Jurisdiction dated the twenty
third day of April one thousand eight hundred and sixty one made in a cause
wherein the said Eli Daw, Mary Daw, Betsey Higham and Margaret Higham and
John Higham were plaintiffs and William Hellyer and William Jones were
Defendants it was declared that under the trusts of the Will of Robert
Taylor the Testator named in the pleadings in the said cause the plaintiffs
Mary Daw Betsey Higham Robert Higham Margaret Higham and John Higham being
the children of John Higham and Anne Higham named in the said Will of the
said Testator were entitled equallyh during the lifetime of th Widow of John
Taylor the Nephew of the said Testator in the said Will of the said Testator
etc.
the building depicted
below was demolished when road widening took place
it was on the north west corner of the
taylor estate.
