[Index]

Robert HOWE (1795 - 1829)

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
Robert Charles HOWE (1820 - 1875) Robertus Mansfield HOWE (1822 - 1824) Annie Wesley HOWE (1824 - ) Alfred Australia HOWE (1825 - 1837) Mary McLeay HOWE (1827 - 1827)	Robert HOWE (1795 - 1829) + Elizabeth LEE (1802 - 1878) Ann BIRD (1803 - 1842)	George HOWE (1769 - 1821)	Thomas HOWE
		Mary MCLEAY ( - 1800)

b. 30 Jun 1795 at London, Middlesex, England

+. (1) Elizabeth LEE (1802 - 1878)

m. (2) 1821 Ann BIRD (1803 - 1842) at St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW

d. 29 Jan 1829 at Sydney, NSW, Australia aged 33

Near Relatives of Robert HOWE (1795 - 1829)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Grandfather	Thomas HOWE
Father	George HOWE	abt 1769	St Kitts, West Indies	11 May 1821	NSW, Australia	52
Mother	Mary MCLEAY			1800	At sea
Step Mother	Elizabeth (HASTINGS) (HASTEN) EASTON			1828	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Self	Robert HOWE	30 Jun 1795	London, Middlesex, England	29 Jan 1829	Sydney, NSW, Australia	33
Spouse/Partner	Elizabeth LEE	17 Jun 1802	Sydney, NSW, Australia	17 Aug 1878	Sydney, NSW, Australia	76
Wife	Ann BIRD	1803		1842	Sydney, NSW, Australia	39
Son	Robert Charles HOWE	27 Feb 1820	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	14 Jul 1875	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	55
Son	Robertus Mansfield HOWE	12 Nov 1822	Sydney, NSW, Australia	26 Feb 1824	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1
Daughter	Annie Wesley HOWE	1824	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Son	Alfred Australia HOWE	1825		17 Jan 1837	Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia	12
Daughter	Mary McLeay HOWE	21 Apr 1827		20 May 1827		0
Step Sister	Sarah WILLS	23 Apr 1796	England	Dec 1876	St Giles, London, England	80
Step Brother	Thomas WILLS	05 Aug 1800	Sydney, NSW, Australia	29 Jul 1872	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	71
Step Sister	Eliza WILLS	10 Sep 1802	Sydney, NSW, Australia	30 Sep 1858	St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW, Australia	56
Half Brother	Thomas Terry HOWE	02 Apr 1803	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Step Brother	Edward Spencer WILLS	16 Feb 1805	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1830	London, Middlesex, England	25
Half Sister	Mary Ann Risdon HOWE	01 May 1805	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1832	Kawhia, Auckland, New Zealand	27
Half Brother	George Terry HOWE	18 Dec 1806	Sydney, NSW, Australia	06 Apr 1863	Chippendale, NSW, Australia	56
Step Sister	Elizabeth Selina WILLS	30 Nov 1807	Sydney, NSW, Australia	18 Jan 1811	Sydney, NSW, Australia	3
Half Sister	Ann HOWE	06 Feb 1809	Sydney, NSW, Australia	10 May 1811		2
Half Sister	Sarah Risdon HOWE	27 Sep 1810	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1879	Redfern, Sydney, NSW, Australia	69
Step Brother	Horatio Spencer Howe WILLS	05 Oct 1811	Sydney, NSW, Australia	17 Oct 1861	'Cullin-la-ringo', Springsure, Queensland, Australia	50
Half Sister	Jane HOWE	09 Nov 1816	Sydney, NSW, Australia	23 Nov 1880	Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia	64
Step Sister	Elizabeth WINTERS	1821		1901		80
Step Sister	Ann WINTERS	1823		1902		79
Daughter in Law	Sarah BLOODWORTH	1822	NSW, Australia	1891	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	69
Son in Law	John Randall MORRIS
Grandson	Robert HOWE	1841	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	23 Oct 1930	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	89
Granddaughter	Maria Elizabeth HOWE	1843	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	1913	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	70
Grandson	George Alfred HOWE	1845	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	1910	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	65
Granddaughter	Sarah Jane HOWE	17 Jan 1848	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	03 Mar 1922	Kandos, NSW, Australia	74
Granddaughter	Mary Rebecca HOWE	1855	Pj NSW,	1860	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	5
Grandson	Thomas John HOWE	15 Mar 1858	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	1924	Granville, NSW, Australia	66
Granddaughter	Wiliam HOWE	1860	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	1861	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	1
Grandson	James Bloodworth HOWE	1863	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	29 Jun 1908	Queensland, Australia	45
Grandson	Charles HOWE	21 Feb 1866	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	14 Aug 1947	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	81
Granddaughter	Frances E MORRIS	1844
Grandson	John R MORRIS	1846
Nephew	William Lachlan Macquarie REDFERN	1819	Australia	1904	Westminster, London, England	85
Nephew	Joseph Foveaux REDFERN	1823		1830	Sydney, NSW, Australia	7
Niece	Sarah Elizabeth ALEXANDER	1835	Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland	1905	Paddington, London, England	70
Niece	Alice WILLS	06 May 1823	Camden, NSW, Australia	14 Apr 1824	NSW, Australia	0
Nephew	William Henry WILLS	01 Dec 1827		abt 1828		1
Niece	Catherine Spencer WILLS	24 Nov 1831	Ci, Sydney, NSW	27 Aug 1884	Geelong, Victoria, Australia	52
Niece	Amelia WILLS	1854	Kensington, London, Middlesex, England
Nephew	Arthur WILLS	18 Feb 1857	Hammersmith, Middlesex, England	14 Oct 1932	Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	75
Nephew	Harry Spencer WILLS	13 Sep 1858	Brighton, Sussex, England	1914	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	56
Nephew	Frederick WILLS	19 Jul 1860	St John's Wood, Middlesex, London, England
Nephew	Charles Ernest WILLS	15 Nov 1861	St John's Wood, Middlesex, London, England
Niece	Margaret Campbell ANTILL	27 Jun 1820	Sydney, NSW, Australia	22 Jul 1849	Camden, Oaks, Picton, Stonequarry, NSW	29
Nephew	John Macquarie ANTILL	30 May 1822	Liverpool, NSW, Australia	1900	Picton, NSW, Australia	78
Nephew	Henry Colden ANTILL	07 Apr 1826	Camden, NSW, Australia	1913	Parramatta, Sydney, NSW, Australia	87
Niece	Alice Sophia ANTILL	1827	Liverpool, NSW, Australia	1920	London, Middlesex, England	93
Nephew	William Redfern ANTILL	1828	Campbelltown, NSW, Australia	1905	Picton, NSW, Australia	77
Nephew	Thomas Wills ANTILL	1829	Campbelltown, NSW, Australia	18 May 1865	Nelson, New Zealand	36
Nephew	Edward Spencer ANTILL	20 Jul 1832	Picton, NSW, Australia	1917	Parramatta, Sydney, NSW, Australia	85
Nephew	James Alexander ANTILL	1834	Cobbitty, Narellan, NSW, Australia	1920	Rockdale, Sydney, NSW, Australia	86
Niece	Selina Elizabeth ANTILL	1837	Cobbitty, Narellan, NSW, Australia	1924	Chatswood, NSW, Australia	87
Nephew	Loftus Cliff ANTILL	06 Dec 1839	Stonequarry, Picton, NSW, Australia	1840	Stonequarry, Picton, NSW, Australia	1
Niece	Sarah Eclipse HOWE	1824	At sea	1905	Callan Park, New South Wales, Australia	81
Nephew	George Risden HOWE	1825		01 Jul 1889	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	64
Niece	Mary Ann Cowell HOWE	17 Jun 1827	Sydney, NSW, Australia	20 Feb 1905	NSW, Australia	77
Niece	Marion HOWE	1829
Nephew	John Kiwi HOWE	1830		1860	Kawhia, Auckland, New Zealand	30
Niece	Ann Risden HOWE	1832
Niece	Eliza Frances HOWE	1834		13 Oct 1914		80
Niece	Elizabeth Jane HOWE	1836		15 Dec 1916		80
Niece	Emily HOWE	1840		1880	Sydney, NSW, Australia	40
Niece	Maria Elizabeth LEE			09 Nov 1891
Nephew	Thomas Wentworth WILLS	1836	Molongolo Plains, NSW, Australia	02 May 1880	Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia	44
Niece	Emily Spencer WILLS	25 Dec 1842	'Lexington', Ararat, Victoria, Australia	06 Dec 1925	"Molongolo", Kew, Victoria, Australia	82
Nephew	Cedric Spencer WILLS	01 Dec 1844	'Lexington', Ararat, Victoria, Australia	23 Jan 1914	Springsure, Queensland, Australia	69
Nephew	Horace Spencer WILLS	16 Jun 1847	Lexington, Victoria, Australia	08 Oct 1928	Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	81
Nephew	Egbert Spencer WILLS	11 Nov 1849	Lexington, Victoria, Australia	11 Sep 1931	Kew, Victoria, Australia	81
Niece	Elizabeth Spencer WILLS	07 Jan 1852	'Lexington', Ararat, Victoria, Australia	21 Nov 1930	Prahran, Victoria, Australia	78
Niece	Eugenie (Duckey) Spencer WILLS	28 Jan 1854	Lexington, Victoria, Australia	08 Jul 1937	Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	83
Niece	Minna Spencer WILLS	01 Mar 1856	"Bellevue", Geelong, Victoria, Australia	14 Feb 1943	Toorak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	86
Niece	Hortense Sarah Spencer WILLS	16 Aug 1861	Geelong, Victoria, Australia	02 Jul 1907	Maidenhead, Berkshire, England	45
Nephew	John Arthur HARRISON			1897
Niece	Adela Ann HARRISON	11 Sep 1834		23 Jul 1910	Victoria, Australia	75
Nephew	Henry Colden Antill HARRISON	16 Oct 1836	Cj, NSW, Australia	02 Sep 1929	Kew, Victoria, Australia	92
Nephew	George Alfred HARRISON	1838
Niece	Kate HARRISON	1840		1914	Minto, NSW, Australia	74
Niece	Alice HARRISON	1842
Nephew	Ernest HARRISON	1845
Nephew	Horace Washington HARRISON	1848	Avon, Victoria, Australia	09 Feb 1869	Ballarat, Victoria, Australia	21
Brother in Law	William REDFERN	1774	Canada	17 Jul 1833	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland	59
Brother in Law	James ALEXANDER	1797	Lanarkshire, Scotland	29 Jul 1877		80
Sister in Law	Celia REIBEY	1802	Camden, NSW, Australia	28 Sep 1823	NSW, Australia	21
Sister in Law	Marie Anne BARRY	21 Sep 1801	London, Middlesex, England	19 May 1870		68
Sister in Law	Mary Ann MELLARD	1830	Peckham, Camberwell, London, Surrey, England
Brother in Law	Henry Colden ANTILL	01 May 1779	New York, NY, USA	14 Aug 1852	'Jarvisfield', Picton, NSW, Australia	73
Brother in Law	John COWELL	1786
Sister in Law	Sarah BIRD	1801		1871		70
Sister in Law	Tawariki Te KIWI
Brother in Law	Frederick LEE
Brother in Law	Edward LEE	1807		27 Jun 1842	Lithuania	35
Sister in Law	Elizabeth (MCGUIRE) WYRE	1817	Sydney, NSW, Australia	28 Dec 1907	Geelong, Victoria, Australia	90
Brother in Law	Capt. John HARRISON	1800	Cumberland, England	21 Jul 1869	Williamstown, Victoria, Australia	69

Events in Robert HOWE (1795 - 1829)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
30 Jun 1795		Robert HOWE was born	London, Middlesex, England		55
1800	5	Death of mother Mary MCLEAY	At sea	Note 1	55
20 Nov 1800	5	Immigration	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 2	55
27 Feb 1820	24	Birth of son Robert Charles HOWE	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	Note 3	52, 55
1821	26	Married Ann BIRD (aged 18)	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	Note 4	52, 55
11 May 1821	25	Death of father George HOWE (aged 52)	NSW, Australia	Note 5	52, 55
12 Nov 1822	27	Birth of son Robertus Mansfield HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Reg No V18221566 162A/1822	52, 55
1824	29	Birth of daughter Annie Wesley HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Reg No V18241567 162/1824	52, 55
26 Feb 1824	28	Death of son Robertus Mansfield HOWE (aged 1)	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Reg No V18241007 8/1824	52, 55
1825	30	Birth of son Alfred Australia HOWE		Note 6	52, 55
21 Apr 1827	31	Birth of daughter Mary McLeay HOWE		Reg No V1827154 11/1827	52, 55
20 May 1827	31	Death of daughter Mary McLeay HOWE			55
1828	33	Death of step mother Elizabeth (HASTINGS) (HASTEN) EASTON	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 7
29 Jan 1829	33	Robert HOWE died	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 8	52

Note 1: died on the voyage to Australia DEATH OF MARY MCLEAY An article written in the Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 23'd January It is from the Journal of Missionaries from "Portsmouth" on the Royal Admiral which arrived in Sydney 22.11.1800 by the Rev. T Hawes. His entry for July1st stated "Last night died of fever Mrs Howe, a convict's wife her case was peculiarly affecting being far advanced in a state of pregnancy. She left behind her a fine boy about 5 years old whom we took under our care until we arrive at Port Jackson. His father says that he considers it a great favour. Her body was brought upon deck about half past 12 at night. J Youl prayed, then her body was committed to the deep. He exhorted those present, particularly her husband, to consider it as a call from God to prepare to meet death and judgment as he also might shortly be summoned to appear at the bar of God." Brother Youl gave no comfort to anyone. The text for his bleak burial service was Revelations 20.15- "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." A lesser man than George Howe might have joined his wife in the deep. But Howe, a printer who had received a life sentence for shoplifting under the name of George Happy alias Happy George, escaped typhus and later became publisher of Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette.

Note 2: arrived on the 'Rear Admiral' (or 'Royal Admiral'). Came with his father (convict) and mother. She died on the voyage.

Note 3: Reg No V18205043 1B/1820 OR V1820576 6/1820 - Robert Howe and Elizabeth Lee illegitimate son with Elizabeth Lee

Note 4: Reg No V1821184 8/1821 OR V18212846 3B/1821 - St Phillips Church of England, Sydney

Note 5: Reg No V18215068 2B/1821 - George Howe - age 51 ******************** Johnson, Keith A. Comp. Gravestone inscriptions, N.S.W. Volume 1. Sydney burial ground : Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets "The Sandhills' (Monuments relocated at Bunnerong) / compiled by Keith A. Johnson and Malcolm R. Sainty. n.p., the compilers, 1973 Text: Mr Edward WILLS died 14th May 1811 aged 32 years Also George HOWE a Creole of St. Kitt's born 1769 died 11th May 1821 aged 52 years He introduced into Australia the art of Printing instigating the 'Sydney Gazette' and was the first Government Printer (fourth oldest stone at Bunnerong). ***************************************** OBITUARY of George Howe in Sydney Gazette SYDNEY GAZETTE. IT HATH at length fallen to the task of surviving friendship to announce, in a Column of the SYDNEY GAZETTE, the Death of its Printer, Mr. GEORGE HOWE ; which lamented event took place in the forenoon of Friday last, the 11th instant, at his house in George-street ; and in the sorrowing testimony of affectionate relatives, and sympathising acquaintances, we have traced the sincere regard and respect due to departed worth, and to the memory of an upright, liberal, and benevolent Member of Society. That such are the faithful attributes of the Character to which this humble tribute applies, will, we trust, be universally acknowledged ; and particularly in those circles where his philanthropy and urbanity were displayed; and which, retiring from public notice, ministered, unwitnessed and in private, the consolatory balm to indigence and affliction» Mr. HOWE was a native of St. Kitt's, in the West Indies, where his Father and Brother conducted for many years the Government Press, which is still continued by his Family in that Island. As a Printer, Mr. HOWE is said to have attained distinguished preeminence in England, and was for a long time employed on some of the most respectable Journals in London. As the original Printer of this Gazette, he had to struggle, in the outset, with many difficulties incidental to such an undertaking, in a remote Colony ; but by perseverance, attention, and the liberal encouragement of the present Government, he at length surmounted them. Mr. HOWE was in his 52nd year. ************************** http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/howe-george-1600 Australian Dictionary of Biography George Howe (1769-1821), printer, editor, publisher and poet, was born on the island of St Kitts in the West Indies, the son of Thomas Howe, government printer at Basseterre on St Christopher's Island. George and his brother were both apprenticed to the printing trade. His later work indicates that his education was thorough along the classical lines of the eighteenth century, and that he was well read in European literature. In 1790 Howe went to London and worked on The Times and other newspapers. He married and his son Robert was born in 1795. In March 1799, together with a companion, Thomas Jones, and under the name of 'George Happy alias Happy George', he was tried at the Warwick Assizes for shoplifting at Alcester; he was sentenced to death but this was commuted to transportation for life. Robert Howe later referred to Alexander McLeay as 'the benefactor of myself and my poor mother', and it was probably McLeay who enabled Howe's family to embark with him in the Royal Admiral. He arrived at Sydney in November 1800, but his wife died on the voyage. Howe himself recovered from a serious illness in 1801 and attributed his survival to D'Arcy Wentworth. Almost immediately Howe became government printer, and the range of his printing far exceeded the broadsheets and orders of his predecessor, George Hughes. In 1802 he issued the first book printed in Australia, New South Wales General Standing Orders, comprising Government and General Orders issued between 1791 and 1802. On 5 March 1803 he began the publication of the first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. Robert helped in the printing office when the paper began and 'had the honour, even in those infant days, of gaining the smile and eliciting the astonishment of the King's Representative when he saw us perched on a stool'. According to Robert the old printing press was worth only £2 and they had to manage with a mere 20 lbs. (9 kg) of type; but Howe was an 'ingenious man' and managed in spite of the inadequate press, a chronic shortage of ink and paper, and the refusal or inability of many of his subscribers to pay their debts. He was conditionally pardoned in 1803, and fully emancipated in 1806. Howe formed an irregular alliance with Elizabeth Easton and between 1803 and 1810 she bore him five children, one of whom, George Terry Howe, later became the first newspaper editor in Launceston. To add to his income he opened a stationery shop and became a private tutor. He offered to teach reading, writing and mensuration and 'the Grammar of the English tongue upon the principles of Drs Lowth, Johnson, Priestly and other celebrated writers who have united their efforts in improving the Grammatical structure of their own beautiful and comprehensive language, which every Englishman ought to be acquainted with, but few attain that have not had the advantage of a classical education'. Howe's shop and his tutoring enabled him to survive between 30 August 1807 and 15 May 1808, when because of the quarrel between Governor William Bligh and his enemies the Gazette ceased publication. The reason given was lack of paper, but Robert Howe later revealed that the government stores had large stocks of paper. After Bligh's arrest Howe had to threaten to publish the names of his debtors unless they paid him within a fortnight. In 1810 Howe's printing office was almost destroyed by lightning, but the newly-arrived Governor Lachlan Macquarie renewed his appointment as government printer, and next year granted him a salary of £60. Howe's economic position improved still further when in 1812 he married Sarah, the widow of Edward Wills, who had inherited a profitable store from her husband. Of her five existing children, Sarah married Dr William Redfern in 1811 and Eliza married Major Henry Antill in 1818; a son, Horatio Spencer Wills, became editor of the Gazette and published the first paper edited by a native-born Australian, The Currency Lad, which first appeared in August 1832. After his marriage Howe became more active in commerce. In 1813 he joined Mrs Mary Reibey in a speculation in sandalwood. In 1817 he became one of the fourteen foundation subscribers to the Bank of New South Wales. In 1813 he published the first natural history and art book printed in the colony, Birds of New South Wales with their Natural History, a collection of eighteen coloured plates of Australian birds with short descriptions of their habits and environment. The artist was John Lewin. In 1819 First Fruits of Australian Poetry, containing two poems by Barron Field, the first book of poetry published in Australia, came from his press. Howe was preparing to publish the first periodical magazine when he died on 11 May 1821. He left property worth £4000. Robert Howe was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. He joined the group of Methodists who were working in Sydney and their influence, particularly that of Rev. Ralph Mansfield, was apparent when he published The Australian Magazine; or, Compendium of Religious, Literary, and Miscellaneous Intelligence, the first periodical to appear in Australia. The first number appeared in May 1821 and the publication continued until September 1822. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life. Although his education had not been thorough, Robert Howe continued to edit the Gazette which he had helped his father to publish, but the tone of the paper changed completely. Morality and religion became its main themes. Howe considered that to be 'Printer to Immanuel' was more important than being government printer. A plan to establish another press devoted exclusively to the aims of the Wesleyan mission did not eventuate; but the Gazette reflected Howe's conviction that religion was the only possible means of progress in Australia and the only way to rescue the colony from the 'depths of awful depravity to Righteousness in the Son of God'. This outlook, together with the Gazette's traditional policy of supporting the government, made it impossible for Howe to join the struggle for the freedom of the press between 1826 and 1829. Added to this was the fact that Alexander McLeay, his old benefactor, had become colonial secretary. Despite criticism, the Gazette prospered and for a short time in 1827 became the first daily newspaper in the colony. Robert Howe also continued his father's tradition as a publisher. In addition to religious tracts, in 1826 he published Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel, the first book of poems written by a colonial-born poet, Charles Tompson, whose work had already appeared in the Gazette. Howe's own personal life was never really happy. On the night of 15 June 1822 he was attacked while returning from a meeting at the Methodist chapel. He could not avoid a number of libel actions arising from the strong denunciation of those who opposed his policy, and in 1827 Redfern publicly horse-whipped him. He wrote that he was 'debilitated through excessive fatigue, mental anxiety and unprecedented and unexpected domestic disquietude and grief to which I have for years submitted'. In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette; but on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut and his widow became the proprietor of the paper. George and Robert Howe had performed important work. To have a newspaper as early as 1803 was of inestimable benefit to both government and settlers. A series of the New South Wales Pocket Almanack, issued in conjunction with the Gazette from 1806, supplemented the dissemination of news and knowledge throughout the colony. The Gazette kept the settlers in touch with home. News from England and excerpts from English literature kept loyalty to England alive. From the beginning George Howe encouraged education and published material calculated to aid both teachers and pupils. He also fostered literature and before 1810 printed more than forty poems, many of which he wrote himself. During Macquarie's administration he printed a further seventy poems including the patriotic odes of Michael Robinson. He has, therefore, a strong claim to the title of 'Father of Australian Literature'. The main difference between George and Robert was that, whereas George Howe advocated reason and common sense, Robert fostered religion.

Note 6: Reg No V18161022 148/1816 - this seems to be the wrong year, far too early - more likely 1826

Note 7: NSW bmd - WINTERS ELIZABETH. 1002/1828 V18281002 12 AGE 43

Note 8: Reg No V18298310 2C Australian Dictionary of Biography - on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut

Personal Notes:

Colonial Times (Hobart)13 Feb 1829 Death of Mr. Robert Howe. The arrivals this week from the sister Colony of New South Wales have conveyed to us the melancholy news of the death of the Editor and Proprietor of the Sydney Gazette, on the evening of the 29th of January last, Mr. ROBERT HOWE, eldest son of the late GEORGE HOWE, Esq. the Australian Franklin. We, more than the generality of his friends and the Public, have to deplore his untimely fate, by DROWNING (in the exercise of paternal tenderness, in attempting to rescue his infant child from a watery grave.) On the announcement, so sudden and unexpected, and scarcely to be credited, occasioned, from our long intimacy and private friendship (although for the last few years strong public controversionists) more deeply felt and grieved for—recalling to our minds, with painful regret that the awful estrangement of acquaintance should have happened, without a reconciliation of political ideas, that in a great measure so varied and disunited those ties of friendship which for many years subsisted between us. The unfeigned tear of sorrow and regret is all that is now left us to offer as tributary and appeasing to his memory. His sudden death was occasioned by attempting to save his infant from drowning. It appears, the child being indisposed, he was recommended to try sea-bathing, as an effectual remedy of the little one's disorder. He had adopted the plan of towing the infant in a wicker basket alongside his pleasure boat. By some accident the rope that was attached to the basket broke, upon which the deceased jumped overboard, to rescue the babe, and it is supposed, on rising from his sudden immersion, his head must have struck the keel of the boat, or his person become entangled with the ropes (which must have been the case, having been a very excellent swimmer), for he rose no more ! This unhappy accident having been witnessed by the second officer of a vessel in the harbour, he immediately plunged into the water, and rescued the infant from its wretched father's fate. The deceased was in the prime and vigor of his life, between 30 and 40 years of age ; and was possessed of a refined and animated understanding—the chief essentials of an Editor, As such, he was most zealous, active, and indefatigable, in an eminent degree, and, as a relaxation of his arduous and unwearying professional and editorial duties, he purchased the boat, only a few days previ- ously, strange does it appear, that the friendly joke of his acquaintance was but too truly verified, when quizzing him on his purchase, that " He had bought his own Coffin !" With most heartfelt grief, do we condole his amiable relict and young family on this sad, unexpected, and heart-breaking loss. Let us trust, the molifying hand of time will sooth her sorrows, and recall to her mind to the imperative and double duties claimed by her rising offspring. We know not what offers of condolence to address to his sorrowing relations, at this sad catastrophe, but to rest their feelings upon the soothing help upon the powerful omolyents of religious and Christian fortitude. The soothing hand of time softens all anguish. Time, then, must be their anodoyne. In alluding to the sad loss the Sydney Gazette Establishment must for a while feel, by this paralyzing misfortune, we trust that all the inconveniencies will be obviated, and the zealous energy of his relative, Mr. GEORGE TERRY HOWE, and his co-adjutor, the Rev. RALPH MANSFIELD, will continue to publish the Journal in the same name—handing down to posterity the proof of an Australian and St. Kitt's, (a Leeward Island) FRANKLIN. The body was picked up, and the Funeral was to take place on the 2d instant. AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY ROBERT HOWE was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. He joined the group of Methodists who were working in Sydney and their influence, particularly that of Rev. Ralph Mansfield, was apparent when he published The Australian Magazine; or, Compendium of Religious, Literary, and Miscellaneous Intelligence, the first periodical to appear in Australia. The first number appeared in May 1821 and the publication continued until September 1822. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life. Although his education had not been thorough, Robert Howe continued to edit the Gazette which he had helped his father to publish, but the tone of the paper changed completely. Morality and religion became its main themes. Howe considered that to be 'Printer to Immanuel' was more important than being government printer. A plan to establish another press devoted exclusively to the aims of the Wesleyan mission did not eventuate; but the Gazette reflected Howe's conviction that religion was the only possible means of progress in Australia and the only way to rescue the colony from the 'depths of awful depravity to Righteousness in the Son of God'. This outlook, together with the Gazette's traditional policy of supporting the government, made it impossible for Howe to join the struggle for the freedom of the press between 1826 and 1829. Added to this was the fact that Alexander McLeay, his old benefactor, had become colonial secretary. Despite criticism, the Gazette prospered and for a short time in 1827 became the first daily newspaper in the colony. Robert Howe also continued his father's tradition as a publisher. In addition to religious tracts, in 1826 he published Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel, the first book of poems written by a colonial-born poet, Charles Tompson, whose work had already appeared in the Gazette. Howe's own personal life was never really happy. On the night of 15 June 1822 he was attacked while returning from a meeting at the Methodist chapel. He could not avoid a number of libel actions arising from the strong denunciation of those who opposed his policy, and in 1827 Redfern publicly horse-whipped him. He wrote that he was 'debilitated through excessive fatigue, mental anxiety and unprecedented and unexpected domestic disquietude and grief to which I have for years submitted'. In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette; but on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut and his widow became the proprietor of the paper. George and Robert Howe had performed important work. To have a newspaper as early as 1803 was of inestimable benefit to both government and settlers. A series of the New South Wales Pocket Almanack, issued in conjunction with the Gazette from 1806, supplemented the dissemination of news and knowledge throughout the colony. The Gazette kept the settlers in touch with home. News from England and excerpts from English literature kept loyalty to England alive. From the beginning George Howe encouraged education and published material calculated to aid both teachers and pupils. He also fostered literature and before 1810 printed more than forty poems, many of which he wrote himself. During Macquarie's administration he printed a further seventy poems including the patriotic odes of Michael Robinson. He has, therefore, a strong claim to the title of 'Father of Australian Literature'. The main difference between George and Robert was that, whereas George Howe advocated reason and common sense, Robert fostered religion. Ancestry - Currey Family Tree Robert Howe was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life. In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette; but on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut and his widow became the proprietor of the paper.

Source References:

52. Type: Australia Birth Marriage Death Index 1787 - 1985 Record

- Reference = (Marriage)

- Reference = (Death)

55. Type: Book, Abbr: Edward Wills Family and Descendants, Title: Ancestor Treasure Hunt; The Edward Wills Family and Descendants in Australia 1797 - 1976, Auth: R.V. Pockley, Publ: Wentworth Books - Sydney, Date: 1976

- Reference = (Marriage)

- Reference = (Birth)

- Reference = (Name, Notes)

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