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Voices of the Hunter

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Jack Delaney

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Voices of the Hunter

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Wollombi, NSW

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Eric Roberts (1906-2003) - History of Paynes Crossing & Wollombi. Recorded 20 May 1978. Part 1/2.

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SummaryEric Roberts
Recorded 20 May 1978
Part 1 of 2

*The quality of this recording is very poor*

0:26
Neddy Payne settled at Payne's Crossing in 1837. Edward "Ned" Payne was Eric’s grandfather’s uncle. His name was Rocket Roberts. Eric was born in a slack house at Stockyard Creek in 1906. His father was Joseph Henry "Harry" Roberts. His mother was Alvina Mary "Sis" Clark. His brother is Hilton Roberts, and his grandfather is Robert Roberts. Talk of the land Eric now owns. His eldest brother Hilton was a school teacher, and his younger brother now works for Historical Conservation.

3:25
His grandfather (father’s side) Robert Roberts was born at Stroud in Kent 1830, and his grandmother in 1833 in Buckinghamshire, and they came to Australia in 1852. The story of his grandparents. They came out for the Gold Rush. Mother’s people came to Cedar Creek and his father’s people went to Stockdale Creek. When Robert and his wife landed in Sydney the railway was just starting from Sydney to Brisbane, and Robert was a plate layer and was offered work, eight bob a day, but he turned it down. They came to Neddy Payne’s (Robert’s uncle) place at Payne’s Crossing Bridge. Payne had a thousand acres, discussing the property acquired by Edward Payne, at this time the main crop grown was wheat, and it was a shilling to three shillings a bushel of wheat. They stopped growing wheat crops because the rust beat them, same with the grapes, the downy mildew beat them.

8:16
William Singleton was a convict sent out here for stealing a roll of cloth. Talk of the land in the 17th century, and convicts. Ben Singleton is William’s son who found Singleton. Talk of what was done with the land, leaving of wills and the trustee’s failure to do their duty, the church council sold the glebe lands to build the rectory. Anne Marie Singleton, Benjamin Singleton’s sister married John Clarke who had a son named John Clark who was Eric’s mother’s grandfather, and he married a McMullen.

12:49
Clarks originally came from Staffordshire and when the lords enclosed the land they were forced to London. Talk of urchins being set up to be sent to Australia. Treatment of workers by those with money. Eric’s grandmother was a Coleman from Bucket. She was the only Coleman who came to Australia, and her brother died of heat stroke in India. Eric’s grandfather died in 1918. (Hard to hear due to tape damage).

20:09
One of Eric’s dad’s brothers bought halfway up between Wollombi and Maitland and the elder brother loaned him sixty pound that was never paid back. There were seven boys in his dad’s family, Edward Roberts, John Roberts, George Roberts, Jim Roberts, Willy Roberts, Bob Roberts, and Harry Roberts. And four girls, Maria Roberts who married Pat Reagan, Mary-Anne Roberts married Harry Roser, Eliza Roberts and Ada Roberts. Talking about original land deed of William Moore in 1852. This is the property John Roberts (Eric’s uncle) bought, and he had a bullock team, and the path he took, started when he was 14 years old and died in 1937. Talk of the grandparents (Maria Coleman grandmother) wedding certificate they are looking at. Talking of birth certificate from 1862 of Robert Williams (Eric’s uncle) and wedding certificates

26:35
End (Tape 231/Side A) Part 1 of 2 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectWollombi (N.S.W.) -- HistoryPaynes Crossing (N.S.W.) -- HistoryRoberts, Eric Robert John, 1906-2003 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorRoberts, Eric Robert John, 1906-2003Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PlaceWollombi, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created20th May 1978Location^[1]Paynes Crossing, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Wollombi, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier231A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Job Identifier231A

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