Who is Robert Francis Edwards Born IN Fremantle 1879 Died IN Lismore 1936

NSW. DEATHS 25751/1936 EDWARDS ROBERT FRANCIS ROBERT LOUISA LISMORE

different names, one man.
no birth records in Western Australia

Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) Saturday 3 October 1936
ROBERT FRANCIS EDWARDS
Robert Francis Edwards, of Wardell-street, South Lismore, died in
St. Vincent's Hospital, Lismore, yesterday, after a long illness. The late Mr. Edward's was born in Fremantle
(W.A.) 58 years ago. He had lived
in Lismore for the past 18 years,
was a returned soldier, and went
right through the Boer War. He was
married twice. His first wife died
during the pneumonic influenza
epidemic. He is survived by a widow
and four children, Robert (son of
the first marriage), John, Joseph and
Claire. The funeral will leave St.
Carthage's Cathedral to-day at 2
p.m. for the Roman Catholic portion
of the Lismore cemetery.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW ) Monday 5 October 1936
MR. R. J. EDWARDS
Mr. Robert James Edwards, of
South Lismore, who died in St; Vin
cent's Hospital on Friday after a long
illness,, was buried in the Roman
Catholic portion of the Lismore
cemetery on Saturday. The funeral,
which left St. Carthage's Cathedral
after , a service conducted by Rev. Dr.
Ryan, was largely attended.
Mr. Edwards was a returned soldier,
having seen service throughout the
Boer War, and as a mark of respect
to a deceased comrade, six ex-"dig
gers," G. Lovett, A. Goldsmith, P.
James, C. Fuller, J. Lucas and W.
D. Symonds, were pall-bearers at the
graveside. Pall-bearers at the church
were Messrs. J. McLean, C. O'Brien,
E. Gooley, C. Plummer, W. C. Maher
and W. D. Symonds, members of the
A.H.C.G. Other returned soldiers at
the cathedral included Messrs. T. P.
Winterton (Lismore sub-branch president),
and A.F. Griffiths, who carried
the wreaths. The "Last Post" was
sounded at the graveside by Mr. A.
Hammick.
Dr. Ryan also officiated at the
eraveside, and Mr. James Sweeney, of
Lismore, had charge of the funeral
arrangements

Thank you. The Robert Francis obituary and death index is correct, however I believe the Robert John one is a different person.

After further research, and with assistance from other researchers, I believe that your response is correct, that is, that the 2 obituaries are for the same person. Thank you so much.

The problem I have now is that I don't believe Robert Francis EDWARDS served in the Boer War, but am unable to confidently prove one way or the other. I also believe that he may not have been born in Fremantle, but possibly Middlesex, England to William Robert EDWARDS and Louisa YARDLEY. There are no Australian records to match the Freemantle/Boar War story, but there are records of a potential match in England and that he possibly left England - for South Africa - then Albany WA. Any ideas on how I should progress from here?

I now know that Robert Francis Edwards was born in Middlesex, England in 1874 to Robert (William) Edwards and Louisa Yardley. Last census record possibly has Robert living in Old Mile End Town, London in 1891 when he was 16. After that, nothing confirmed until his first marriage in Glebe, Sydney in 1911. I am hoping to trace Robert's movements from the age of 16 - why and how he left England, his possible migration to Fremantle, Western Australia and how and why he made his way to Sydney, Australia. Robert's life in Lismore, NSW, Australia after his 2nd marriage in 1921 and his death in 1936 is now confirmed. It is the early years that I'm an interested in. Any assistance would be very much appreciated, as extensive research has not produced any confirmed leads to date, just speculation about joining and leaving the British army, and at some point, making his way to Australia.

Well this confirms his parents first names, pity it does not give is age / year of birth:

Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985

Name: Robert Francis Edwards
Death Date: 1936
Death Place: New South Wales
Father's name: Robert
Mother's name: Louisa
Registration Year: 1936
Registration Place: Lismore, New South Wales
Registration Number: 25751

This looks like one of his marriages:

Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950

Name: Robert F Edwards
Spouse Name: Emily Charlwood
Marriage Date: 1911
Marriage Place: New South Wales
Registration Place: Glebe, New South Wales
Registration Year: 1911
Registration Number: 5403

Thank you. The death and marriage details you provided are correct. I now think that the DOB his family assumed is not correct, which only increases the mystery. I believe he was baptised in 10/01/1875 • Haggerston St Mary, England - Church of England (DOB is listed as 31/10/1874). Parent's residence at time of baptism was 60 Weymouth Terrace, Shoreditch. Robert was a student at a Banstead boarding school at about 7, while his mother worked as a house mother, but nothing after that until the census record in 1891. The mystery is driving me crazy as I don't know how someone could not leave a footprint of some kind! Thanks again for your efforts.

You would need the cert to prove who his parents are. I will try and find a christen.

England and Wales Birth Registration Index
Name Robert Francis Edwards
Event Type Birth Registration
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year 1884
Registration District Bethnal Green
County London
Event Place Bethnal Green, London, England
Volume 1C
Page 212
Line Number 287

Sorry the above could be wrong:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915

Name: Robert Francis Edwards
Estimated birth year: abt 1884
Registration Year: 1885
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 1
Registration district: Bethnal Green
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1c
Page: 153

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Robert Edwards
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 10 Jan 1875
Father's name: William Robert Edwards **
Mother's name: Louisa Eliza Edwards
Parish or Poor Law Union: Haggerston St Mary
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

** Not same fathers name as on death index

Female EDWARDS Deaths in W.A during the 1919 flu epidemic:-
Edwards Emily E Female Swan 55 1919
Edwards Jean F Female Perth 623 1919
Edwards Lillian I Female Fremantle 35 1919 (9 years old)
Edwards Lily Female Fremantle 401 1919
Edwards Olive M Female Greenough 2 1919

Hi again
The following is correct for Robert Francis. His father's name is also correct. Emily, Robert's first wife, died of influenza in Sydney as Robert moved there from WA at some point.

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Robert Edwards
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 10 Jan 1875
Father's name: William Robert Edwards **
Mother's name: Louisa Eliza Edwards
Parish or Poor Law Union: Haggerston St Mary
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

** Not same fathers name as on death index

These look some of Robert's siblings:

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Marian Louisa Edwards
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 19 Aug 1860
Father's name: William Edwards
Mother's name: Louisa Edwards
Parish or Poor Law Union: Haggerston St Mary
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Alfred Walter George Edwards
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 10 Nov 1872
Father's name: William Robert Edwards
Mother's name: Luisa Eliza Edwards
Parish or Poor Law Union: Haggerston St Mary
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Marian Louisa Edwards
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 19 Aug 1860
Father's name: William Edwards
Mother's name: Louisa Edwards
Parish or Poor Law Union: Haggerston St Mary
Borough: Hackney
Register Type: Parish Registers

1871 England Census

Name: Louisa Edwards
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1836
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William Edwards
Gender: Female
Where born: Cape of Eood Hope Cape Town **
Civil Parish: St Matthew Bethnal Green
Ecclesiastical parish: St James The Less
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Bethnal Green
Sub-registration district: Bethnal Green

William Edwards 36
Louisa Edwards 35
William Edwards 13
Marian Edwards 11
Helena Edwards 3
Alice Edwards 1

** Roberts mother if from South Africa so he may have stopped off there to visit / stop with relatives on is way to Australia.

1891 England Census

Name: Robert Edward
Age: 16
Estimated birth year: abt 1875
Relation: Son
Mother's name: Louisa Edward
Gender: Male
Where born: London, England
Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town
Ecclesiastical parish: St Phillips
Town: London
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street address: 31 Varden Street

Louisa Edward 53 Cape of Eood Hope Cape Town, South Africa
Alfred Edward 18
Robert Edward 16

Louisa Yardley
England and Wales Census, 1851
Name Louisa Yardley
Event Type Census
Event Date 1851
Event Place Saint Luke Chelsea, Middlesex, England
Registration District Chelsea
Residence Note Ottery Cottages
Gender Female
Age 15
Marital Status Unmarried
Occupation Laundress
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated) 1836
Birthplace Cape Of Good Hope, **

Richard Yardley Head M 42 London, Middlesex
Harriet Yardley Wife F 38 Birmingham, Warwickshire
Louisa Yardley Daught F 15 Cape Of Good Hope,
Walter Yardley Son M 9 St Pancras, Middlesex
William Yardley Son M 6 Kensington, Middlesex
Hannah Yardley Daught F 4 Kensington, Middlesex
Henry Yardley Son M 0 Chelsea,

Both parents were born in the UK so maybe no family in South Africa

Thank you so much, great research! This information I already have, but nothing to show Robert Francis' movements after 16 years old. I'm looking to find out what he did after the 1891 census when he was living with his mother and brother in Old Mile End Town, London where I believe his occupation was bookmaker. He could have enlisted (Boar War), deserted/discharged and then made his way to Western Australia, but I have no evidence. BTW, his sister Marian immigrated to Western Australia and his mother Louisa visited, so I'm thinking that he may have joined them around the 1900's and then made his way to Sydney where he married his first wife.
I have found a record for a Robert Edwards that shows him signing on as an ABS in Cape Town, then jumping ship in Western Australia at a time that matches, but again, no evidence to prove that the records are a match. There is also anecdotal evidence that he lived in Bullstock, Western Australia for a while. It's very frustrating that there is no trail to confirm his movements from 1891 to 1911! Any ideas how to track this period in his life?

I have tried all the channels that I know of. Military records and Immigration & Travel, Workhouses, Prisons. Not sure about getting records from South Africa

Just found This:

Fremantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963

Name: Mr R Edwards
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1876
Departure Place: London, United Kingdom
Arrival Date: 3 Dec 1908
Arrival Place: Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Age on Arrival: 32
Vessel: Omrah

I am not related to this family and live in the UK. I don't think there is anymore help I can give you. Good luck with your research.

Thank you so much again, your wonderful help has confirmed my research. Kind regards.