Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

Last weekend I watched the reinternment of Matthews Flinders in the church in Donnington, Lincolnshire, England, his hometown, over 200 years after his death and original burial in north London. How could there be a connection with Rookwood you may ask, well that is the subject of this week's blog; it begins with this man.... CAPTAIN GAVIN (GUY) HAMILTON Gavin or Guy as he was colloquially known was born on the 5th of October 1760 in Kilbride, Lanark, Scotland to John Hamilton and Elizabeth (nee Anderson). He was the second son of their union. His early details are a little sketchy but we know he married Betsey prior to 1794 and was in India as his son, John Guy, was born in Calcutta. I am surmising that Gavin was in the Navy at the time posted to that continent. The fledgling colony was having great difficulty from the time of the First Fleet in 1788 to provide food and provisions for all. Most of the time, those in charge anxiously awaited the next fleet of convict ship...

  On many occasions where a family is financially prosperous, a scandal is never far from the surface. Today's blog comes to you with scandals galore and an attempted murder.... I guess I have your interest... CHARLES CAMPBELL, HIS FATHER ROBERT CAMPBELL JUNIOR, HIS HALF BROTHER ROBERT TERTIUS CAMPBELL AND HIS NIECE FLORENCE BRAVO Charles Campbell was born on the 8 th of March 1843 the fourth child to Robert Campbell Junior and his common law wife, Isabella McDonald nee Donnell and was baptised at St Scots Church Sydney with his mother’s married surname. I couldn’t find a great deal of information about Charles but can confirm he was a builder and had served three times as Mayor of Paddington in the years from 1878-1888 and when not serving the community in that capacity he took an active part in the development of that district. He married Betsy Higham in 1867 and they went on to have nine children. He died at his home in Paddington on the 18th of November 1915 and w...