Robert William Brewer - emigrated to Australia?

[ElizabethHerts]

I have this lad, who was the son of my 2x-great-grandmother by her first marriage:

Robert William Brewer
born 10th March 1848 Chelsea, Middlesex
baptised 27th January 1850 at St Luke, Chelsea.

His father, James Penfold Brewer, died in August 1854 from Cholera.

He lived with his mother and stepfather for a while.
In 1871 he is an assistant hairdresser at 185 Gt College St St Pancras Marylebone. He then disappears.

I have found this:

Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923 about Robt Wm Brewer
Name: Robt Wm Brewer
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849
Age: 24
Arrival Date: 30 Jan 1873
Arrival Port: Melbourne, Australia
Departure Port: Gravesend

Can anyone find any sightings of him in Australia, please?

(Excuse me if I have asked this before. I don't think I have!)

[kiterunner]

What was his mother's name?

[kiterunner]

There is a Robert William Brewer death on the New Zealand BMD index, 1874, age 27.

[ElizabethHerts]

His mother's name was Eliza Jeffcoat, who married James Penfold Brewer.

Thanks for the death, Kate.

[kiterunner]

There is also a marriage on the NZ BMD - Robert William Brewer / Matilda O'Dea, 1874.

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks, Kate. They don't appear to have had time to have had any children.

[kiterunner]

I haven't managed to figure out what happened to Matilda yet.

[ElizabethHerts]

I couldn't find any trace of her after Robert's death.

I suppose I should get the marriage certificate to discover if it is the correct man.
I got rather excited when I found an Old Bailey case for the 1870s in the same name, but it wasn't him as it named his step-father, who wasn't the correct chap.

[Janet]

http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u533/pix4janet/MatilaODea_zps37889228.jpg

???

[kiterunner]

Wouldn't Matilda's surname when she died be Brewer? (or a subsequent husband's name) There is a Michael Odea / Matilda Dibley marriage in NSW in 1881 and a birth for Matilda Dibley in 1860 with parents' names Jesse and Sarah, which match the parents' names on that Matilda O'Dea death.

[Janet]

Wouldn't Matilda's surname when she died be Brewer? (or a subsequent husband's name) There is a Michael Odea / Matilda Dibley marriage in NSW in 1881 and a birth for Matilda Dibley in 1860 with parents' names Jesse and Sarah, which match the parents' names on that Matilda O'Dea death.

Sorry, yes, that looks more likely. I was thinking that if they were married in 1874 and he died in 1875 and there were no children, she could have reverted to her former name or the marriage could even have been annulled. The fact of children and grandchildren could have been because she already had a family from a previous marriage. Apologies for the red herring!

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks, Janet and Kate, more for me to look at.
This family (the Brewers) has kept me busy for most of the day and out of the heat.

[ElizabethHerts]

UPDATE

I contacted a Brewer descendant in Australia about this, as her family are descended from Robert's brother, James, who went to Australia and settled there.

She kindly sent for both certificates.

The information is very sparse, and not very helpful:

Marriage: 13.6.1874 at St Paul's Church, Dunedin

Robert William Brewer to Matilda O'Dea, no age or parents recorded, no previous names or place of birth for either.

Her occupation is not recorded but does say she is 'Spinster'. His occupation is given as 'Hair Dresser'. Status 'Bachelor'.


The Death cert is even more frustrating.

Date of death 7.12.1874 at Napier.
Cause of death ' Phthisis Pulmonalis' (TB)
Sex Male
Age 27 years


However, I'm sure it's my Robert as this is him in the 1871 Census:

1871 Census
PANCRAS, London, Middlesex
RG10 piece 232 folio 62 page 30
185 Gt College St St Pancras Marylebone
Elizabeth Howe Head Unm 52 Dressmaker Middlesex St Pancras
Elizabeth Smith Boarder Mar 29 Debs Potton
Bessie Smith Boarder 3 Middlesex
Robert W Brewer Lodger Unm 23 Hairdressers Assistant Middlesex Chelsea
Jane Burford Lodger Mar 32 Middlesex London


The occupation of "assistant hairdresser" and "hairdresser" seem to indicate the same man, together with the tallying of ages.

Now I know why Eliza, his mother, didn't mention either of her sons in her will. Both predeceased her. James Brewer died in 1889 at Echuca, Victoria.