RootsChat.Com

A couple of  questions?

Does anyone know what happened to Mercian?  He hasn't been on RootsChat since February 2015. Second: DavidG02 I see by the flag under your name you live in Australia as I do.  Which part?  It is amazing how many Gibbins' came out to Australia.  I even found one buried just miles from me at Yan Yean Cemetery.  She had married a William Bodycoat and came to Victoria in 1844.  Now for that small world bit.  The Bodycoats live only at Wollert just few miles from me and one of them taught school where and when my children attended it.  So you can see it is a small world

My family history you can read on page 5 of this forum.

Robert Gibbins

Hi My name is Robert Gibbins and I live in Epping; a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.  I have been following your conversations on the 'Elusive Gibbins'. 

My forbears Henry (B 3.11.1801) and Ann (nee Phillips B 1814 Weldon Northhampton, England)) came to Victoria, Australia on the Duke of Richmond sailing from London October 20th 1852.  Before then they had lived in the Tugby, Keythorpe area of Leicestershire, England.  Henry had been working at Keythorpe Park as a farm labourer. Before sailing for Australia the 1851 Census records that they were living at the Fox and Hound just out of Tugby.  The place is still there.

Henry's parents were Wlliam (b. 31.3.1771) and Elizabeth (nee Brewster b. 1772 and died in 1843 aged 71. She was buried in Tugby)  who resided in the County of Medbourne, Leicestershire, England.  I am taking all this information from a Family History Book by Melva Gibbins: 'They Came From Leicestershire' 1988.

William was the son of Thomas Gibbins and Jane Freestone (daughter of a John Freestone) who were married at Tugby on 12 November 1766. That seems to be as far as my book go back.  How does any of this fit with what you have uncovered?

The family story handed down states that Henry had a falling out with his brothers/family, packed his bags and left for Australia.  I can not confirm that the family had a falling out however, Henry and his family did part Britain and landed in Belfast (now Port Fairy) Victoria in March 1853.  From the above book: 

"Off shore from Belfast Henry and Ann, William, Francis, Mary, Edward and Jane and their luggage were sent ashore in small boats.  They carried the younger children and their possessions through the surf to the mainland and set up a small camp on the cliff.  Henry kept watch overnight while the others gained what sleep they could. All were afraid of what the new land held in store for them and what manner of wild animal might be in the vicinity.

Henry and William were engaged by Jacob Bull to work 2 pounds 2 shillings per week without rations.  Jacob Bull was a Gunsmith but rarely followed ths profession.  He operated a carrying business, but no information is available as to the type of work henry and Willaim were employed for during their 12 months period with Jacob Bull.

The following year Henry worked as a Limeburner.

On January 8th 1855, just two years after arriving in Australia Henry died at Belfast....

Ann and family live in Balfast until 1863 in Cross Street , now Union Street. They owned a weatherboard house of four rooms, with a wood stove, a seperate wash house and stables standing on 1/2 acre of ground. This property was valued at 45 pounds...."

In the 1870s the Victorian Colonial Government opened up land previously rented by large land holders.  The Henry's children all applied for grants of land for farming.

William Gibbins applied and obtained land at Byaduk in south west Victoria. There is a Web Page named 'Byaduk Pioneers: Parish & Township on Scott's Creek, south of Hamilton in South-Western Victoria.  There is a photograph of the pioneers with William Gibbins standing in the back row. 

Francis Gibbins and his brother applied for and obtained land grants at Kalkee, just north of Horsham Victoria. Francis remained on his land until he sold it to his brother Edward 1882.  Francis then moved to Jung where he ran the local Railway Hotel.

Edward remained on the farm until his son Robert Henry took over.  He was my Grandfather.  He married a Mary Ann Button and had six children.  Just as an aside, Mary Ann was considered a shot and wonderful horse woman.  Ideal for the pioneering life style they now found themselves in.  The six children were Mary Elizabeth Ann b 1878: Mabel Frances b. 1879, Robert Henry b. 1881, Maud b. 26 Aug 1886, Ada b. 1888 and Alice b. 1890.

Just to confirm a source of information for you: yes the TROVE or The Australian National Libraries digital newspaper collection is both free and great.  In the Horsham papers the Gibbins Family receive quite a few entries.

Hope this is of some interest. If you have any further information I'd love to hear from you

Robert Gibbins