Note: Robert's father died when Robert was only eleven years old; and his mother remarried Francis Aleyn in 1841. Robert worked with his stepfather at the Burra Mines as a carter (which was very demanding work and often damaging to the lungs because of the dust). Then on 11 January 1847 he purchased 80 acres numbered 3833 in the hundred of Macclesfield, County of Hindmarsh for 80 pounds sterling. He was noted as a miner of Mount Barker at that time. He later purchased a further 228 acres in the Hundred of Kanmantoo, county of Sturt, Section No 5320. (From Margaret Watkins from an old handwritten family document which was originally transcribed by the late Bert Moulton.)
In the marriage entry number 12 at St James Church, Blakiston, it states that Robert Bairstow, age 22, bachelor, farmer of Mount Barker District and Margaret Elizabeth Moulton, age 20, spinster of Mount Barker District. Both signed their names. Witnesses were Robert Harvey Moulton and Fanny Barbara Moulton (she made her mark).
Robert was said to have died of burns while fighting a bush fire, but this is not confirmed by the death certificate. Clarice Byrnes believed that Robert collapsed and died after helping to fight a fire. If he were asthmatic or his lungs had been damaged by the work at the Burra Mines, then this could well have been the case.
Robert left his property in trust (if his wife remarried ) to his child or children until they attained 21 years. Executors of his will, Joseph Bairstow and James Pearce, Junior, were also trustees. Probate was granted for his will 24 October 1855 and finally on 26 August 1876 the final terms of the will were carried out with the sale of the land, section 5320 to David Chapman [his brother-in-law] for 735 pounds and section 3833 sold the same day to Thomas Henry Stephenson for 370 pounds, thirty shillings.
Robert is buried in plot H1 with his son David, who died as a baby.
Note: Robert is buried with his mother Sarah Bairstow (nee Garth) and his son David who died aged 12 months. The headstone was donated by the family of Albert William Wade, son of Frederick Joseph Wade and Mona Smith, and father of Debbie Robinson (nee Wade).