Mabel May WARREN (1881-1970)
Family Stories > 4th GENERATION > Charles Warren's Family
Mabel May Warren (1881 - 1970)
Spouse : Robert Darlington Buckley (1870 - 1948)
1. Nola Irene Warren
2. .... George Ernest Edward Warren & Iris Ella Ford
3. .... .... Leonard Leslie Warren & Burdett Launder
4. .... .... ... Charles James Warren and Elizabeth (Agnes) McNay
... Children - 1. Mabel May Warren & Robert Darlington Buckley
2. Myrtle May Warren3. Clifford James Warren4. Charles Victor Warren5. Linden Melville Warren6. Leonard Leslie Warren7. Ivy Olive Warren8. Carol Vera (Catherine) Warren9. Lloyd Loch Warren10. Vera Loveday Warren
MABEL MAY WARREN Birth 1881, May 20 at Hindmarsh, Adelaide, SA Marriage 1899, Lawloit, Victoria Spouse Robert Darlington Buckley, Jnr. Death 1970 at Allambe Retirements Units, Dimboola Hospital, Victoria Age at Death 88 years Cause of Death Fell breaking her hip, and died shortly thereafter Residences Hindmarsh, Adelaide, SA Kaniva, Victoria Nhill, Victoria Dimboola, Victoria Children |
ROBERT DARLINGTON BUCKLEY (JNR) Birth 1870, June 19 Merino Downs, Victoria Father Robert Darlington Buckley Snr Born 1833 in Ireland Died June 22, 1919 at Lawloit, aged 86 years He had lived in the district since 1880Obituary reads “He was a fine type of man, splendid judge of cattle, and an excellent agriculturist.” His Will dated March 6, 1917 left estate of £2,487 to his children Mother Mary Elizabeth Hicks Robert Darlington Buckley Snr and Mary Hicks married 1856, July 10 in Portland,Victoria Death 1948 (77 years) Warrnambool, Victoria Siblings 1857-…. Francis Buckley married Sarah Martin 1859-…. John Buckley married Cath Cecelia Bruder 1860-…. Ellen Buckley married John Grey 1862-…. Benjamin (AKA Alfred) Buckley married Susan White, married Louisa Gange 1866-…. Mary Jane (aka Polly) Buckley married Jack Justin 1869-…. Catherine (aka Kate) Buckley married William Parkin |
Introduction to the Buckley Family
The summary of the Buckley Family is taken from research compiled by Wendy Ganly, great-grand-daughter of Robert Darlington Buckley, Jnr. and Mabel May Warren.
Robert Darlington Buckley was born around 1833 in Parknasilla, County Wicklow in Ireland, the son of Francis Buckley and Eliza Darlington.
The Irish potato famine that crippled Ireland between the years 1845 and 1849 could have been an incentive for Robert to leave Ireland as well as the opportunity to travel in the company of friends Mary and Robert Hicks (children of John and Ellen Dalton.) So it was that Robert Buckley along with Mary and Robert Hicks and their seven children joined immigrants who sailed from Plymouth, England on board the ship Cairngorm, arriving at Portland, Victoria, Australia on September 5, 1855.
Most these immigrants hoped to be hired as agricultural labourers and domestic servants within a few days of their arrive, but a few, like Robert could afford to have a good look around before deciding on their next move. Robert had paid his own passage and probably had a few extra pounds to tide him over. He eventually found work as an agricultural labourer on a large property called Rifle Downs. The southern boundary being the Crawford River, then east through Digby and some of the land north of the Stoked River.
When Robert married the first-born-child of his friends Mary and Robert Hicks – Mary Elizabeth Hicks – they became the first couple to be married at St. Stephens Church, Portland in Victoria on July 10, 1856 by the Reverend Yelverton Wilson. It must have a prestigious event as Governor Henry and his family attended and gave a cruet set as a wedding gift which remains as a Buckley family heirloom.
Robert Buckley and his bride Mary had their first three children at Rifle Downs between 1857 and 1860 and by 1862 Robert had ”selected” 268 acres for a farm in the Parish of Grassdale, near Merino which he used for grazing. “Selecting” land was a government incentive to get farmers to clear and utilize bush blocks. It was a ‘hit and miss’ affair as land thought to good land in good years, turned out to be infertile in less than good years. Also, most bush blocks were covered in native forests which took years to clear. There were no proper roads, only bush tracks which became very boggy during the wet seasons. Lack of medical help also contributed to early and untimely deaths.
Consequently, Robert and Mary’s first few years were back breaking. Their land had to be cleared of trees and scrub, whilst at the same time fences and a house needed to be built as well as storage for water supplies. Mary had to double as a wife and mother, cooking, cleaning and caring for children as well as helping with clearing, and building.
In early 1879, Robert Buckley and his friend Robert Hicks rode on horse-back about 268 kilometres or 166 miles to Lawloit to ‘look over the place.’ By July 25, 1879, Robert placed posts or stones on the corner of his allotment – No. 25 in the Parish of Lawloit. He was only able to select up to 60 acres at this time, but he still had his 268 acres at Grassdale. Once his posts were in place, he had to rush off to the nearest Lands Office and make formal application for a three-year licence and have the land surveyed. This was done between July 25 and October 23, 1879. The licence was granted in November 1879 which gave him twelve months to settle his affairs at Grassdale and take up residence on the Lawloit property. Under the licence, he had three years to make improvements of at least £1 (one pound, equal to $2) per acre of the land, whilst paying two shillings per acre to the Crown (government).
Robert’s improvements included –
· 7-room dwelling 30 feet square, lined and sealed with a galvanised iron roof – Value - £200
· Water storage – scooped hole, 15 yards by 30 yards by 9 feet deep - Value - £20· Reservoir, 25 feet long by 12 feet wide by 14 feet deep, timber lined - Value - £20
· Fencing, Post, Rail and Wire – 86 chains long - Value - £43
· Cultivation 46 acres in wheat - Value - £46Although Robert was restricted to selecting 60 acres, his sons, Frank, John and Benjamin and his daughter Ellen also selected land adjoining Robert’s selection, making a total of 1,011 acres to be worked as one farm. The land was heavily timbered and had to be cleared before they could even attempt to cultivate any of it, however, the timber was utilized for fences, housing, stables etc.
Money for the improvements and living expenses, as well as the two shillings per acre rent must have been a heavy drain on Robert’s funds ad on March 17, 1884, he wrote to the Land Board requesting for a week’s grace in paying the rents. He wrote –
Being heavily timbered Selections, we have had a lot to contend with before getting any return this Harvest being the first return of any consequence. The price of wheat being so low this season makes it still hard for some selections – 2/6d. per bushel in this district.
He wrote again on August 20, 1885 –
Wishing your honour, if it please you to grant us time until after the coming harvest, to pay our rents. Our licence expires on December 31 coming. There is now two rents due on two and one rent each on the other two. We are assisting each other by working together therefore all is behind time, the low price ruling for wheat in this district these last seasons and having heavily timbered land to grub and clear had kept us behind time.
The rents were due on July 1, 1885 and must have been paid because Robert applied for a new lease on January 18, 1886 saying he had resided on the property for five years and six months. Robert eventually became owner of his land in 1901. The land is still in the ownership of family members. A visit to the land today would reveal an orchard that was on Frank’s block and trees on Alfred’s block. The house was called “Pycnostyle” after Robert’s birthplace. The chimney that once stood in Robert’s house is now used to surround Bill and Cynthia Hicks’ stove at their property “Pleasant Hills’ just over the road from the Buckley land.
Mary died in 1906, aged 73 years. She is buried at the Nhill Cemetery.
After her death, Robert spent his later years with his youngest son, Robert Darlington Buckley, Jnr. One day after shooting parrots in the orchard Robert returned to the kitchen with his loaded gun, and leaning on the barrel, chatted to members of his family. His youngest grandson, Robert Lesley Buckley, accidently pulled the trigger on the gun. Robert suffered severe injuries to his hand which was practically useless afterwards and Mabel May, nee Warren, Robert Jnr’s wife, spent many hours changing the dressing.
Robert died in 1919 at 86 years and is buried alongside his wife, Mary, in the Nhill Cemetery. He left 7 children, 32 grandchildren and many more great-grand-children.
1919 – Obituary for Robert Darlington Buckley Snr.
Robert Darlington Buckley, sen., farmer, of Lawloit, who died on 22nd June, by his will of 6th March, 1917, left £2487 personal estate to is children.
Source : 1919 – Personal Notices, August,12, 1919
Mabel May Warren & Robert Darlington Buckley Jnr. – Their Lives
1870 – Birth Robert Darlington Buckley Jnr.
Name: Robert Darlington BuckleyBirth Date: Abt 1870Birth Place: Merino Downs, VictoriaRegistration Year: 1870Registration Place: Victoria, AustraliaFather: Robert BuckleyMother: Mary HicksRegistration Number: 17824Source: Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
1881 – Birth Mabel May Warren
Birth Date: 20 May 1881
Birth Place: HindmarshRegistration Place: Hindmarsh, South Australia, AustraliaFather: Charles WarrenMother: Agnes McnayPage Number: 496 Volume Number: 261Source : Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
1899 – Marriage Mabel May Warren & Robert Darlington Buckley Jnr.
Name: Robt Darlington Buckley
Gender : MaleMarriage Registration Year: 1899Marriage Registration Place: Victoria, AustraliaSpouse: Mabel May WarrenReference Number: 67Source : The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1934 – Electoral Roll Robert Darlington Buckley Jnr
Source : Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
1948 - Death Robert Darlington Buckley Jnr.
Name: Robert Darlington Buckley
Death Registration Year: 1948Death Registration Place: Victoria, AustraliaFather: Robert Darlington BuckleyMother Maiden Name: HicksReference Number: 1938Source : The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1970 - Death of Mabel May Warren
Name: Mabel May Buckley
Death Place Dimboola, VictoriaAge 88Father’s Name Charles WarrenMother’s Name Aagnes McnayRegistration Year: 1970Registration Place: VictoriaRegistration number 4319Estimated Birth Year Abt 1882Source : Ancestry.co.uk – Australian Death Index, 1787-1985
