(1847-1920) Robert Roland Stevenson

Explorer (1872)

We find him next, in July 1872 at Melbourne, busily purchasing supplies for his proposed expedition to search for minerals. He had earlier visited his Morrison aunt at Happy Valley and the Nicholls at nearby Linton. He gave his future wife, then aged 17 years, a brass bound Bible of a size suitable to carry to church. It is now owned by the writer. RRS wrote on the fly leaf: "Presented to Miss Maria Nicholl; as a Remberence [Remembrance] of the giver- June 14th. 1872•" He did not sign his name.

Some of the receipts of the supplies are with the papers of RRS at the Adelaide Archives.

From William Redford, 19 Post Office Place, Melbourne.

(1) can at 2/6 [$0.25]
(1) tea, billy at 9/9 [$0.99]
Total 12/- [$1.23]

James McEwen and Co - dated July 15th. - £10/14/7 - ($21.47) worth of goods which included saws, nails, hammers, 5 picks with handles, a magnet, frying pan, tin dishes, long handled shovels, pair of bellows, 4 iron buckets, adzes, "gimblets", a pit saw and shingling hammer. He later returned for copper nails, boiled oil, ropes and timber.

July 17th. - 5 soup plates, 5 mugs, 5 knives and forks (ditto), 5 spoon and one 2 key padlock for £1/3/2 [$1.32].

July 18th. - groceries - the heaviest expenditure - from Robt. Walker, Provision Merchant, Melbourne.

600 pounds sugar £8/15/0 [$17.50]
40 pounds salt 4/6 [$0.45]
60 pounds jam £1/17/6 [$3-75]
2 pounds pepper 1/9 [$0.19]
12 pounds rice £1/4/0 [$2.40]
4 bottles curry 8/0 [$0.80]
2 pounds hops (for yeast making) 2/8 [$0.28]
2 pounds carb. soda -/8 [$0.8]
2 pounds acid 4/6 [$0.45]
1 pound cayenne pepper (the remains of which until recently
survived in my laundry cupboard) 2/6 [$0.25]
20 pounds soap 5/- [$0.50]
1 gross matches 4/6 [$0.45]
1 box Sp. Candles £1/4/- [$2.40]
1 half chest (40lbs) tea £2/10/- [$5.00]
1 case (3 dozen) ...? £1/6/3 [$2.63]
10 sacks silk drest, flour (200lbs) £16/10/- [$33.00]
1500 pounds preserved meat (in tins) Irish stew, mutton,
tripe, beef & bouilli £31/5/- [$62.50]
_____________________________
Grand total £67/3/10 [$134.40]
Less cash discount of £1/0/4 [$2.04]
_____________________________

A final purchase of luxury items:- 2 dozen tins of sardines at 9/- [90 cents] per dozen and 2 tins of herrings at 3/- [30 cents)] each. They were ready.

The ship they chose was the "Condor" (or perhaps the "Conda", the old hand writing is faded and hard to decipher now). They left from Hobson's quay, Melbourne, on July 30, 1872. How many of the party left Melbourne is not stated and possibly some joined at Darwin. The lading bill for shipping the supplies was £9/15/- ($19.50). No price for the human freight shows in the papers remaining. The voyage was via Sydney and Brisbane and they were two months in reaching Darwin. There, where a township was already in the making and the cable from England and the Overland Telegraph had been connected the previous month (Aug. 22), RRS formed the "Gol Conda" Gold Mining Company. The document is quaint, set out by RRS with his own special brand of spelling.

Port Darwin - September 2, 1872.
All had to agree to a partnership to last not less than 8 months and and not more than 12 after arrival at Palmerston [Darwin].
(1) Parties to share one sixth each in all profits and losses.
(2) Anyone wishing to dispose of his share must give the other partners first opportunity of purchase and 24 hours notice to the Secretary.
(3) Any new partners must be approved by all.
(4) Each had to guarantee £120 [$240] and each must pay £20 [$40] towards expenses immediately.
(5) A Secretary to be appointed at once to take charge of finances. This last was undoubtedly RRS as he did all the purchasing at Darwin.

Those who signed were:- (1) W.Collett (2) Antonio Charles (3) John Gunn (4) Richard Robinson (5) Bernard Menghine (6) R.R.Stevenson.

A month later, having made a thorough investigation, they registered their claim. It was described as "near Darwin, and 200 yards by 400 yards near the beach." On October 28, RRS on behalf of the Company, purchased two Timor ponies branded "D" near the shoulder from T.V.J. Weir for £20 [$40]. He paid cash as the receipt (still extant) shows. On November 4 he was at Palmerston and bought 200 pounds of potatoes for 18 shillings [$1.80]. Four days later one of the partners sold out to his fellow share holders. Perhaps he didn't care for potatoes. This was Charles Antonio, or maybe Antonio Charles as he signed both ways.

It was not until the following year, on May 16, 1873, that RRS bought a set of pony harness from Fred Dixon for £5/10/0 Sterling. A couple of ropes must have sufficed meantime. RRS rented a house on allotment No. 649 for three months for £1/2/6 [$2.25] from September 26 and a little later paid a whole years rent of £4/4/- [$8.40] for the same. The Company of five partners was reduced to four when Will Collett died of fever [malaria]. They scrupulously drew up an account of the profits and bought in his tools. On October 23, 1873 the balance sheet of the "Gol Conda" Gold Mining Company showed a profit of £53/6/6 [$106.65]. RRS was to write later that while they did not make a fortune they made a living. But only just, I imagine.

The four partners now remaining left the Darwin area and penetrated south as far as the McDonnell Ranges (Alice Springs Telegraph Office was perhaps sighted) and in that remote and lonely land, Richard Robinson died of fever. They were all ill of fever, but they had discovered a rich deposit of gold, and a fortune was close. However, this was not to be. Hostile natives surrounded their camp and one morning RRS discovered the body of the companion sharing his tent pierced by a spear through the canvas wall as they both slept. Whether this was John Gunn or Bernard Menghine RRS did not say, but he and the only other left of the original six returned to Darwin minus the hoped for riches. Dr. Millner was again consulted and he strongly advised a quick return to the south where fever and scurvy could be cured much quicker with good food and a more equable climate. He also advised at least five months rest.

Railway Worker (1874)

On August 23, 1874 RRS was ready for work again. He was now aged 27 years. On this date he joined the South Australian Public Works Department. He was to have commenced in the Railway Workshops, perhaps he did, but with Fitter Cockran he was sent to work on the original Wonga Shoal Light House, off the suburban beach of Semaphore. According to his sons, RRS had the knowledge that enabled him to set the light and did so. But, considering the earlier experience of RRS - apprentice seaman, cattle station rouse-about, survey work and gold mining, this has a doubtful aspect. The lighthouse no longer exists. It was rebuilt in 1906 only to be rammed and wrecked by a sailing ship, the "Dimsdale". on 17th. November 1912. The two keepers died and the light was replaced by an automatic beacon which in turn, was removed in 1970.

RRS returned to the Railways on May 17,1875, and noted sadly that the locomotive Engineer in Charge reduced him from 8 shillings [80 cents] per day, to 5 shillings and sixpence [55 cents] and sent him to the "running sheds" as a cleaner. RRS naturally regarded Engineer J.H. Clark without affection. Later in this same year (1875) RRS was instrumental in saving the Railway Workshops. When a fire began he organized Fitters Appleby and Cameron and himself into a team, and together they had extinguished the flames and saved the store rooms before the horse drawn fire brigade galloped to the rescue. He had been used to doing fire duty every second Saturday at the railway yards (Adelaide) so was familiar with the equipment.

1885 Margaret RobertsonOn March 3, 1376 he was sent to Port Wakefield, north of the city. This first of several such moves to country depots was also the time when his mother in New York was taking her initial step toward direct contact with RRS. The hypocritical James Clarks of Paisley, who wrote so regularly to "Dear, dear Aunt (or sister)", were not the means by which Margaret Burns found her son. That they could have obliged many years before is clear, and that they deliberately held back from doing so, is equally clear. Margaret's original enquiry to Henry Davies of Adelaide has not survived, but the reply has.

Leigh Street, Adelaide,
July 4, 1876.
Dear Madam,
In answer to your letter I consider it was no liberty of you writing to my Father, it being the wish of a Mother to know about her SON. Your son, I believe he is your son, Robert Rowland Stevenson. He is at present driving an Engine on the Railway line. He is enjoying good health. He often writes to us. Any information I can give you I will with pleasure. With this letter I will send you his portrait in his Highland costume. This R.R. Stevenson has got a peculiar mark on his ear that I would swear to wherever I seen him. When I was but a youth I recollect seeing him sign his name R.R. Stevenson Burns. You write a letter to him and Direct it to R.R. Stevenson care of Henry Davies, Cooper, Leigh St., Adelaide. As I have answered your kind letter would you be so kind as to write to me and tell me where you got your information about his letter being addressed in care of us, by doing so you will greatly oblige. Hoping this will find you enjoying good health, wealth and prosperity, I remain,
Henry Davies.

Margaret Burns replied promptly:-

New York,
Sept. 25, 1876.
Dear Sir,
I received your kind and welcome letter and portrait which I believe to be my son from strong likeness to our family, but it being 24 years ago since I saw him I cannot remember his features. In regard to the mark on his ear that you speak of, I cannot bring it to my mind, but by the portrait I fully believe it is him. In regard to where I got my information about his letters being addressed to you, I got it from a letter dated back six years ago that he sent to his cousin Mrs. Risk in Paisley, Scotland. So you see by that I wrote just by Chance, not knowing if ever it would find you or not. I could not express to you how thankful I am to you for writing in Return. Hoping this will find you all in good health, I remain,
Yours,
Margaret Stevenson Burns.
Address:
Mr. John Burns,
Care Mitchell Higgens Carpet Factory,
East 43rd. Street, New York, America.

John Burns senior had died long since. This John was the eldest of the three half brothers of RRS. He never ever contacted RRS though the other two corresponded spasmodically after their mother's death in 1888. The first letters that RRS and Margaret Burns exchanged are lost, but she must have written to him at the same time as she answered Henry Davies.

Marriage (1877)

In South Australia RRS was preparing for his marriage. Nothing remains of the correspondence between him and Maria Nicholls during their courting days. The one concrete memento is the previously mentioned inscription in the brass bound Bible, his gift to her in 1872. They could not have known each other very well or met more than a few times as the railway to the east went only as far as Nairne in the Adelaide Hills. The Parliamentary Act to continue the line to the Victorian border was not passed until 1882. Travellers from Adelaide used either the sea route or went by road with Cobb & Co. coaches although those in no hurry sometimes took a Murray River paddle steamer up to one of the Victorian towns and thereafter went by coach to Melbourne or the desired Victorian destination.

That RRS took leave to visit Linton in the mid 1870s and asked Maria to be his wife, is certain. The engagement ring was of turquoise and pearl stones and eventually went to their eldest grand-daughter, Kathleen Schulte, on her 21st. birthday.
The marriage certificate (now owned by the writer) and a newspaper cutting of the announcement give the details of the wedding. The two witnesses were Clara Nicholls (Mrs. John Inglis) and Edmund Nicholls, sister and brother of the bride. She so disliked her name that she answered only to Viola, usually shortened to "Vi". Her son Stuart never called her anything else although the remainder of the family called her by the more dignified "Mater".

STEVENSON – NICHOLLS
On the 5th, of January 1877, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. J.B.Smith (Wesleyan), Robert Rowland second son of the late Walter Stevenson of Renfrewshire, Scotland, to Maria, youngest daughter of Henry Nicholls of "Sutton Grange", Linton, Victoria.

There is no indication as to which newspaper carried this announcement. Three days later RRS and his bride were at Ballarat where they were photographed. A copy was later sent to Mrs.Burns and the writer also has one. The bride stands beside the seated bridegroom. He wears a light summer suit in the fashion of the time and holds a bowler hat. His brown hair has begun to recede and he has both beard and moustache. She leans on the back of his chair wearing a checked gown with bustle and frills on the skirt, the sleeves are full length and a white muslin bertha drapes the shoulders. Her small hat is of the "pork pie" variety with lily of the valley flowers as decoration within folds of ribbon. Her gold tassel ear rings were made into brooches for two of her daughters many years later. One has been altered again and is now used as a pendant by the writer who also now owns the gold locket on a fine gold chain which RRS gave Maria as a wedding gift.

Their pictured heads were set in this locket, but in after years Maria took so strong a dislike to the lily of the valley hat that she removed hers. RRS is still in place. The photo is of course in black and white so does not show that her eyes were a vivid forgetmenot blue which were to be unfaded at 80 and that her soft brown curls had a hint of gold. At her death there was no gray in her hair. She was very small and slight and remained so even after the births of nine children.

Maria's parents had emigrated from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, where Henry Nicholls had managed a carpet factory owned by his father-in-law John Bill Downes (born 1798). Henry (1820-1888) and his wife Marian (1821-1903) travelled by the ship "James T. Ford" with their young family, one of whom died on the voyage. They arrived at Port Lonsdale, Victoria on December 22, 1852. He tried farming but was too inexperienced to succeed. He did a little better at gold mining and better still at storekeeping and as an orchardist. Maria was born at Inverleigh on January 28, 1855, the first of the Nicholls children born in Australia. They were afterwards at Snake Valley, then at Orchard where the house was burnt down before they could move in, and later at Linton where again their house was burnt in a bush fire, but they rebuilt. Henry's diary is included with the Nicholls history.

On reaching Adelaide, RRS took Maria to rooms at the house of his friends Mr. and Mrs. R.W.Winter at Finniss Street, North Adelaide. They were a childless couple who remained lifelong friends. Harriett, the wife, was known to the Stevenson children as Aunty Winter. She died in the early 1900s and left her opal jewellery to Maria. The writer has some of it now.

On the marriage certificate the place of residence of RRS is shown as Hoyleton, S.A, but this was no more than a railway siding though an important one for the railing of wheat. Whether there were railway cottages at this siding 80 miles north of Adelaide on the Gladstone line, or whether they first set up house together at the northern depot at Port Wakefield, is no longer known, but RRS still gave Hoyleton as his address at the end of that year when he wrote his second letter to New York.

Locomotive Department,
Hoyleton, South Australia,
November 24th. 1877.
My Dear Mother,
Your letter of August came to hand after a great deal of knocking about. I was very glad to hear that you were well and I am glad to say that this leaves us the same at present. I was very much pleased when I read yours as it has explained to me that which I never knew before. You seem to think that my last letter to you was Both unfeeling and slanderous. I only told you what Father told me when he was alive.
Grandmother died when I was very young and as for my Aunts they seldom did ever mention your name. When my Father died I was cast upon the world then to do for myself. After Father died I went to work for Aunt [Janet] Gray, but her family and me could not agree, so I went then to work for the farmers and used to go to School at night and get what larning-I could, this I did for about 2 years after father died. My Aunt Mary [Millar] was the only one that used to give me clothes when I was in need of them, both Sunday and working ones untill I could earn enough to keep myself. 15 years ago I left Scotland and came out to Australia and here I have been ever since. I am something like Yourself Mother, I had a good deal of hardship to contend with for the first five years I was in Australia. I was so ill with Disentrey for 7 months that the Doctors gave me up for to die. But I got the turn for the better and recovered although it was very, very slowly.
I was two months before I could walk by myself but that is ten years ago and I have enjoyed very good health ever since. I have struggled very hard here to place myself in a position to be my own master but fortune seems to frown on me as I cannot get above a working man. There was one thing that was greatly against me out here, that was my Education, if I had had a fair Education when I arrived in this country I might have been in a position now that would have made me my own master and independent, but I have had to work hard for the last 20 years and I suppose I will do so to the end of Existence in this world, but as long as God grants me my health I shall not complain but work on to the last. The pay that I am in receipt of at present for Stoking on the Railways here is 2 dollars and 4 cents per day, but I hope to get more wages as I get older in the Servises of the railway Department.
I have been at all kinds of work in this country and likewise all over Australia. At one time I thought of leaving this Colony and going to the Unighted States, I wrote home to Scotland and asked my Uncal James Clark to send me your address but he replied saying he did not know if you was dead or alive so I gave up the Idea of comming to America from Australia and as for Scotland I suppose that I will not See it again without fortune smiles on me sweeter in future than it has done in the past.
As you do not say, Mother, in your letter, if you are in comfortable circumstances or not in America but I hope you are - perhaps you think I do not wish or desire to see you again. It is the fondest wish of my heart to see my Dear Mother whom I never saw, that I never knew, but still is ever as Dear to me as if I had been under her care from childhood. Many and Many a time have I thought and wondered if I would ever see her or if ever wee would meet one another in this world again, but if wee never meet in this world I hope that we will meet again in the next world.
Perhaps you think that my childhood days were happy ones because they were spent with my Father, but for years my Father drank very, very heavy, and when I had the sense to Speak to him and ask him why he drank so he used to tell me it was to drown his grief and his sorrow till he left this world.
You seem thinking that my letter to you was a very cold and hard one - but I assure you that though it may seem hard and cold to you it was not meant as such. I could not write otherwise than I did for I had written to Scotland several times to ask them if they knew anything of my Mother or my Brother Malcolm, but the answeare I always got was that they had not heard of you for years and did not know if you was dead or alive.
About three or four years ago I found out my Uncal [Daniel] and Aunt [Christina] Morrison and his Familey which consists of six sons namely Robert, Daniel, John, Walter, James and David & there was or 5 girls in the family but they all died before they was many years old. I did not stay at my Uncal's place very long when I first found them out, but I have seen them about twelve months ago and they were all well then.
I suppose you will want to know about my own familey, well Dear Mother, I have got Know familey yet. I was married last new years day to a young lady whose parents live close to my Uncal's place. She is the daughter of a farmer, her maiden name is Maria Nicholls. I had to go from Adelaide to Victoria for to get married which is a distence of 500 miles - her parents are English but she was born in Australia. I also send you a photograph of my wife and myself which was taken three days after we were married. There is one thing I would ask you for and that is your photograph - you are 54 so getting old now and I would like very much to get a photograph of you in case wee might never meet again in this world.
Maria says She would like very much to see you and she says as wee cannot come to America just yet to see you that surely you will send us your photograph. I send you the Envelope of your letter just to show you all the places it had been fore I got it, or I should have replied to it before this date.
I hope that this will find you well and that you will write to us soon and let us know how you are, and Allow us to remain your Loving Childern,
R. and M. Stevenson.
Please Address to R.R. Stevenson
c/- of R.W. Winter,
Finniss Street,
North Adelaide, South Australia.

As it will have been noted RRS could now manage a letter much less awkwardly than in earlier years but his spelling was to remain distinctive for the rest of his life. He was aged 30 years when he wrote this letter. Maria was 22. The photograph arrived from New York in due course and RRS had an expensive and greatly enlarged portrait reproduced on glass as was the fashion last century. It still exists and shows a severe lady in a plain bonnet with a somewhat sunken mouth, no doubt caused by loss of teeth.