The eldest son of Sarah Hone and Jacob Henry Burn, Robert Burn was born in the United Kingdom around 1825. He is not listed as having attended his grandfather William Hone's funeral - only his brothers Henry and Allan are mentioned.
Robert Burn married Janet Nielson in 1851. Janet (aka Jessie) was the daughter of James and Isabella Nielson. Her father owned Woodcot Park, the history and restoration of which you can view here. Janet died at Tarraville, Victoria in 1865, possibly in childbirth. She was 30.
In 1856 Robert is listed as owning the Royal Hotel in Tarraville. The hotel was built by Janet/Jessie's father James Neilson in the 1840s. Remains of the site still exist and it has been heritage listed by the Victorian Government. Also in 1856 Robert can be seen advertising a range of items including blasting powder and sawn timber from his hotel.
In the same year Robert placed an advertisement for a Thomas Oldham to remove his horse from his paddock. Not an unusual event for the family, Robert held a 'Candidate's Dinner' in honour of local politicians winning an election. Interestingly Joseph Hone, Robert's uncle who lived in Tasmania, owned property in Tarraville and is mentioned in a court case in November 1856.
An 1857 article sees Robert bring a court case against two men. Another article refers to a reward for a stolen horse. Robert was also listed as the Secretary of the Gippsland Cricket Club that year.
In 1859 Robert sold a cottage he owned in Tarraville with his wife's brother. In the same year he is listed as the Port Albert Races Secretary. In a November 1859 news article, Robert was charged with not having his lamp on between 10pm and 11pm. The ensuing court case revealed that someone had tampered with the lamp, emptying it of oil.
In August 1861, Robert listed a large array of household items for sale by auction. These included "a complete set of very superior dinner and dessert service" as well as "several head of quiet milking cows, admirably suited for private families". He also transferred the license for his Hotel to Thomas Long.
Robert appears to have come across hard times as he is listed as insolvent in an 1864 article. At the same time he is listed as the Rate Collector for the local Shire Council. An 1866 newspaper article lists Robert as being in poverty. He is mentioned in the 1867 Bairnsdale/Gippsland Times. Robert applied to be a candidate on the Gippsland Mining Board. He was also mentioned again in February 1868.
At this stage, I have not been able to find any further information about Robert. His daughter Emma Burn, later Grimes, said that Robert had deserted her and her brother Robert Alfred around 1870. Apparently he had taken them to Melbourne, possibly to live with their grandmother Sarah Burn.
There is no record of Robert's death in Australia. I have found that a Robert Burn departed for London in April 1869 on the Anglesey. This seems to fit the profile as Robert's father Jacob Henry Burn died in February 1869 and its likely Robert went back to deal with the Estate. I do know that on his mother, Sarah's death certificate, all of her sons are listed as deceased. Sarah died in August 1883.
Daughter Emma was charged with child desertion and sentenced to 12 months hard labor in 1875. It is not known what became of the baby she left in a park (see below), George Christopher Burn. Emma later married George Christopher Grimes (more than likely the father of the abandoned baby).
Emma was living with her grandmother Sarah Burn in Melbourne, when she became pregnant. She appears to have had the baby and then left him with a wet nurse. The arrangement did not work and the wet nurse was able to track down Emma. After returning the baby to Emma, the next day Emma was said to have abandoned the boy in a park. Police were able to trace the baby to Emma and she was arrested and stood trial for desertion. There are many articles on the story to read. Emma lived to be 83 and died in 1936.
At some stage Robert junior returned to Orbost/Bairnsdale, married and raised his family there. We can read about the Engagement of Robert Burn's granddaughter Evelyn to Thomas Campbell of Bairnsdale.
Robert and Janet had the following children in Tarraville.
1. Female (1853 - 1853)
2. Emma Matilda (1855 - 1936) married George Christopher Grimes and had at least one child, a male born in 1875.
3. Male (1856 - 1856)
4. Robert Alfred (1857 - 1947) married 1. Susan Bennett and 2. Edith Hocking.
5. William Henry Burn (1858 - 1858)
6. Ellen (1859 - 1859)
Robert's grandson, Alfred John Burn was killed in World War 1.
You can view Alfred John Burn's listing on the Australian War Memorial
