Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

  The subject of today's blog is a multi-faceted man whose life would seem to have been taken from the script of a movie. Murderer, convict, surgeon, author, politician and philanthropist - this is a story of a man who is not totally forgotten but is deserving of more recognition. WILLIAM BLAND William was born in London on 5th November 1789, the second son of Robert Bland an obstetrician, and his wife Mary. He followed his father into the medical profession and in 1809 qualified for entry into the Royal Navy's medical service as a "surgeon's mate". He was promoted to Naval Surgeon in 1812 and was stationed aboard HMS Hesper on the East Indies Station. On 7th April 1813, Bland shot and killed Robert Case, the Ship's Purser, in a duel on Cross Island in Bombay Harbour. A disagreement had arisen between Case and William Randall, the ship’s First Lieutenant, which Bland tried to stop. Case continued to make remarks about Randall in his absence and was def...

  Many people lie in Rookwood the victims of tragic life ending events. Some died alone, others were one of a significant number who also called time at the same event. There are many who were victims of rail disasters; ironically a public transport system that revolutionized the tyranny of distance and was a boon for people and goods movement. Today I will focus on an event that occurred on the 31st of October 1894. THE REDFERN RAIL DISASTER. On Wednesday October 31, 1894, the train stations along the western Sydney line were full of commuters, mainly males, heading to their places of employment either in the CBD or outer suburbs and trains ran one after the other within minutes. A commuter train from Strathfield that ran through Ashfield on the fast line prior to 9.30am was proceeding along as usual until just as it was reaching the signal-box above Redfern Station when it collided with the Southern train heading for Goulburn departing from platform 6. The suburban train ...

  I noticed recently that a number of musical concerts were to be conducted in The Great Synagogue in Sydney which was built between 1874 and 1878, designed by Thomas Rowe with stone work carved by Aaron Liveridge (I promise a blog about him later...), I had published a blog a few months back about Charlotte Rowe, Thomas' first wife and promised a further "deep dive" into her family connections who were possibly the link between her and Thomas crossing paths. So, with that in mind I bring you the story of her cousins who made a great deal of wealth during Victorian times. THE NEALE FAMILY - JAMES HENRY, THOMAS HENRY JAMES AUSTRALIA, JOHN THOMAS AND SAMUEL. James, was born in 1828 with his brother Thomas, following him in 1830. They were the sons of John, an overseer, butcher and Alderman and his wife, Sarah, of Denham Court near Campbelltown southwest of Sydney. They were two of their thirteen children. Being born only two years apart, the brothers were very close. ...

  Many formidable and inspirational women who forged a way forward call Rookwood "home". There are many who participated in Women's Suffrage and those who were actively leaders of the movement. One I wish to honour today, if not completely forgotten, is a woman we need to be reminded of in regard to the influence she had to be able to bring about real change for the benefit of women. So, in honour of International Women's Day, I hereby bring you. ROSE SCOTT Rose was born in October1847, one of eight children to Helenus Scott and his wife Sarah Anne "Suranna" nee Rusden in the Singleton area. She lived in barracks at Newcastle where her father was the Police Magistrate from 1857. Rose was home-schooled and groomed to marry but she had other ideas. Rose stated that her independent views came about early and were cemented by a reading of Shakespeare's “The Taming of the Shrew”. From then the play shaped her attitudes to men and marriage. She often...