Augusta Robinson
foundHeadstones #done
Died 30 October 1863
Augusta Robinson (29A)
Headstone
Fragments of Augusta Robinson's headstone discovered in a Toowong Cemetery Archaeological Dig in 2012
- Erected: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Episcopalian section. After 30 October 1863
- Moved to: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Reserved Area. ca. 1914. Recorded as Agusta Robinson
- Demolished and disposed of in: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A. ca. 1930
- Discovered: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A near Section 72. ca. May 2012
Inscription
In memory of
Augusta
wife of
Frederick John Robinson F.R.C.S.
…land
Daughter of
Francis W. Pye Rector of Blisland
Cornwall England
and
Jemima his wife
Who was drowned with four others
by the capsizing of a…
…
Learn more
Death registration: Augusta Robinson
Death date: 30/10/1863
Mother's name: Jemaima Lean
Father/parent's name: Francis Woolcock Pye
Registration details: 1863/B/1402
THE LATE BOAT ACCIDENT.
The Coroner, Dr. K. Cannan held an inquest on Saturday, at eleven o'clock, at the Sawyers' Arms, George street, on the body of Augusta Robinson, the wife of Dr. Robinson, of the ship Sunda, who came by her death on the previous day through the upsetting of a boat. After viewing the body which was lying at the morgue, the following evidence was taken:-
Frederick John Robinson deposed that he was a member of the R. C. S. E., and came to the colony as Surgeon-Superintendant of the ship Sunda ; Captain Bragg being commander. The body on view was that of his wife. On the previous afternoon he and others proceeded from Harris' wharf, in Captain Bragg's yacht the Waterwitch, and were going to the bay ; there was very little wind at starting, and they had to have recourse to the oars ; as they went past the shipping office they observed a gentleman like Captain Bragg situated on the hill, and he made some noise, which was interpreted to mean that they had to put in at Raff's wharf; they had to tack twice or three times to get alongside of Raff's wharf, but they ultimately got alongside and found that they had to take two casks aboard, one containing ale, and the other sherry. The casks were lowered into the boat by the officer on the wharf, who told how the casks were to be stowed, one was stowed on the larboard side on the top of some pig-iron which bit well, and held the cask. On the other side there was an irregular roll of some metal which prevented the other cask fitting well; he drew the attention of Mr. Pritchard - the second officer of the Saldanha - to the second cask, but he said it would ride very well; they had a moderate breeze, and no gusts of wind, down the river; they tacked down, and when they arrived at Breakfast Creek, they came close under the bank, and Mr. Brummidge, who had charge of the boat, weared her round; all sail was set, and the main sheet was fast - pulled tight; as the boat weared round, the cask from the starboard fell over to the opposite side; then the leeside, with great violence, and the boat filled quickly and went down ; they were at the time about five-and-twenty yards from shore; when he rose to the surface of the water some one caught hold of his coat, and he jerked the hold off; he saw Mr. Pritchard clinging to the top of the main-mast, which suddenly snapped, and Pritchard fell into the water, and he never saw any more of him; he swam to the shore exhausted; a little lighter called the Driver was within sixty yards of the place where the accident occurred, but the people aboard did not see it; he called to her for help, when she came up, and there was a boat sent ashore instantly; the boat picked up a box, a boat-hook, and an oar; the parties aboard were — Mrs. Robinson, Maria Brown, the stewardess, Mr. Pritchard, chief officer of the Saldanha, Mr. Brummidge, a second cabin passenger, an able-seaman belonging to the Saldanha, whose name he did not know, and himself; the upset was purely an accident, and he would state that Mr. Brummidge and Mr. Pritchard were perfectly steady ; the accident would not have occurred but for the breaking away of the cask from the starboard side; the cask contained 28 gallons of sherry and was marked and addressed to the captain of the Star of England, the yacht did not turn over, but sunk; all on board were perfectly sober; he went up to Mr. Brown's house, and Mr. Brown kindly sent his servant in to the police-office to report the accident, and Mr. Brown and himself went down to the water's edge to try if they could discover something ; but they never saw anything.
To a Juror: The yacht was capable of carrying much more cargo, and would have carried twenty souls with perfect safety.
Martin Adisson deposed that he was in the lighter trade; he was going down the river in the Driver on the previous day, and saw the Waterwitch going down the river at the same time; it was ahead of the Driver; his cutter got fouled, and he lost sight of the Waterwitch, as it took him some time to get clear; he afterwards tacked, and saw the last witness standing on the bank hailing him ; he saw nothing of the Waterwitch ; he and another man got into a boat and they picked up the articles mentioned; they pulled about for some time, and afterwards picked up the two casks; there was not much wind at the time.
John Matheson deposed that he was a ferryman at Bulimba, and that on the previous day, at half-past four, he saw something floating in the river; he pulled towards it, and found it was the body of a woman; he hauled her close to the stern of the boat, fastened a rope round her, and towed the body up to Giles's wharf; he heard that a boat had capsized, and he afterwards picked up the two casks, a large chest, and some hats; he did not see the accident.
Captain Bragg, R.N.R., here stated that he did not hail the boat, nor had he authorised anyone to send the casks down ; the yacht, otherwise, was perfectly secure, and properly ballasted; he did not know who sent the casks by his yacht; he confirmed the statement on oath.
Verdict— "Accidentally drowned by the sinking of the yacht, the accident being caused by the careless stowing of the casks taken on board at Raff's wharf."
brisbane-city-panorama-1865.jpg
Part of an early panorama of the city of Brisbane 1865 - State Library of Queensland. Some buildings viewed across the Brisbane River including Raff's Wharf.