Roberts LAUNDER (1848-1910) and Mary Burdett SALISBURY (1851-1936)
Family Stories > 4th GENERATION
Roberts Launder (1848 - 1910)
Spouse : Mary Burdett Salisbury (1851 - 1935)
Roberts Launder and Mary Burdett Salisbury were my great-grandparents - 4th Generation
1. Nola Irene Warren
2. .... George Ernest Edward Warren & Iris Ella Ford
3. .... .... Burdett Launder & Leonard Leslie Warren
4. .... .... .... Roberts Launder and Mary Burdett Salisbury
The Launder shop and residence at 720 High Street, Armadale.
I think Roberts Launder is the gentleman leaning against the window.
His son, Robert William Launder is leaning against the brickwork on the right.
Mary Burdett Salisbury
The photo on the left has a Launder relative in the backkground.
The photo on the right was taken in the side-way of the house at 720 High Street, Armadale.
ROBERTS LAUNDER Birith 1848, November 25 at Sevenoaks, Kent, UK Father George William Launder Mother Sarah Roberts / Gardener Marriage 1871, March 4, The Manse, Richmond, Victoria Spouse Mary Burdett Salisbury Death 1910, July 27 at 720 High Street, Armadale, Victoria Age at Death 62 years Cause of Death Lead Paralysis, Heart Failure Burial Section C/E C 3982, Church of England, Boroondara Cemetery, Kew Siblings Eleanor Ann Launder (1834 – 1923) William John Launder (1839 – 1890) George Launder (1838 – 1914) Sarah Launder (1840 – 1925) Thomas Howard Launder (1842 – 1917) Amy Launder (1844 – 1922) Jane Launder (1846 – 1925) Harold James Launder (1852 – 1904) Mary Ann Launder (1853 – 1943) Unnamed Female Launder (1855 – 1855) Residences 1848 Sevenoaks, Kent, UK 1872 Essex Street, Prahran 1879-1883 MacQuarrie Street, Prahran 1888 Hyland Street, South Yarra 1891 Windsor Occupation Painter and Decorator |
MARY BURDETT SALISBURY Birth 1851, April 5 at Horton, Tasmania, Australia Marriage 1871, March 4, The Manse, Richmond, Victoria Spouse Roberts Launder Death 1936, August 23 at home at 720 High Street, Armadale, Victoria Cause of Death Senility, Heart failure Burial In Section C/E C 3982 – Church of England at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew Siblings 1 Ellen Burdett Salisbury (1853 - 2 William Burdett Salisbury (1856 - 1916) Step-Siblings Occupation Milliner (Maker of Ladies’ Hats) Children |
Roberts Launder - His Early Life
1848 - Birth
On June 11 in 1848 in Sevenoaks, Kent, UK, Sarah Launder, nee Roberts / Gardener, wife of George William Launder gave birth to their eighth child whom they named Roberts after Sarah’s natural father, William Roberts who had died in the previous year of 1847. (The reason for Sarah’s double surname is because she was the illegitimate daughter of Sarah Gardener, but her natural father was William Roberts and Sarah chose to assume the Roberts surname as her maiden name sometime after her marriage.)
William Roberts named Sarah in his last will and testament as his natural daughter and left her a considerable inheritance, including a property, annuities, household equipment and money - hence the extra ‘s’ tacked onto the first name of their new baby, Roberts.
Roberts’ birth certificate details -
Registration District Sevenoaks, District of Sevenoaks, County of KentWhen and Where Born Sixth November 1848 SevenoaksName, Sex Roberts, BoyName & Surname of Father George William LaunderName, Surname & Maiden Surname of Mother Sarah Launder formerly GardenerOccupation of Father BrewerInformant S Launder, SevenoaksWhen Registered Twenty-fifth November 1848
1849 - Emigration
Just three years after the birth of baby Roberts Launder, George and Sarah decided on the enormous task of transporting their family of eight young children, of whom Roberts was the youngest, from their home in Kent, England to the far shores of Australia.
George set sail first on board the barque ‘Senator’ in October 1849 to check out the best place to bring his family, first visiting Adelaide, then deciding to venture further onto Melbourne, which was ultimately chosen as the family’s destination.
1851 - Australia
Having settled on Hawthorn as site of his family’s new home, George sent word back to Sarah to bring the rest of the family to Australia.
Sarah departed England in 1851 on the sailing ship ‘Pestonjee Bomanjee’ with her brood of eight children - Eleanor, aged 17 years, George, 13, William John, 12, Sarah, 11, Thomas 9, Amy, 7, and Jane 5 and baby Roberts, just 3 years old. No doubt Eleanor and Sarah helped with the management of the younger children.
Nevertheless, this is the first indication we have of Sarah’s resilience and determination - embarking on a perilous journey to the other side of the world with her brood of children, but without her husband.
Sarah and her children arrived in Australia via South Australia on February 18, 1851. The family settled on an 8-acre (or perhaps 10-acre) property in Hawthorn, immediately east of the present Town Hall. It became known as ‘Launder’s Paddock. Two streets bisected the land, named Launder Street and Kent Street.
The family initially lived in a tent and an extract from the book ‘Hawthorn Peppercorns’ by Gwen McWilliam reads - “Two of Hawthorn’s women owned tents and rented them out - Sarah Launder up near her street, and Ann Brooks.” More evidence of Sarah’s character that she had business acumen enough to rent out tents to other settlers and to people heading to the gold fields. (Remember, this is 1851 when the Victorian Gold Rush was in its height.)
Roberts, aged about 3 years, and his family settled in the budding township of Hawthorn, an outer suburb of Melbourne.
1855 - Death of Father
Sadly, just a few years after their arrival in Australia, Roberts’ father, George Launder, a hotel keeper, died at only 44 years of age on June 20 in 1855 as a result of an abscess on his left lung. He was buried on June 23 at The New Cemetery, which is the Melbourne General Cemetery.
Roberts’ mother, Sarah, gave birth to her ninth child, a daughter just 13 days after the death of her husband, but the child died soon after birth, unnamed.
Roberts’ father, George, left his entire estate (all my property and other effects now in my possession, viz money, lands, houses, horses, and all other utensils) to his wife, Sarah in a Last Will & Testament dated and signed just hours before his death.
During the five and a half years in which his father, George Launder, had been in Australia, the Launder family had amassed a large fortune in land and property, which left Roberts’ mother, Sarah, with sufficient money to support herself and her children.
Sarah also applied for and was granted a publican’s license in 1856 to enable her to take over the running of Fletcher’s Iron Hotel which her husband George had held prior to his death.
1857 - England
Roberts’ mother, Sarah, decided to take her younger children with her to visit England for a holiday and in order to finance the trip, she sold the Fletcher’s Iron Hotel property as well as an adjoining block of land. Advertisements appeared in “The Argus” newspaper in January 1857 announcing the sale of a ‘valuable building site in the most beautiful part of Hawthorne’.
Thus financed, Sarah and five of her children - Amy, 11, Harold, 5 years, Mary Ann 3 years, Jane 9 years and Roberts 7 years boarded the sailing ship “Essex” and travelled to England in September.
Whilst in England, Roberts older sister, Amy, met George Wells from Brasted in Kent. She would later return to England when she was older to marry him.
1861 - Back to Australia
After a three-year stay in England, Sarah returned to Hawthorn with her children on board the ship ‘Norfolk” in February 1861. By this time, Roberts was 13 years old.
Another extract from ‘Hawthorn Peppercorns’ lists the street directory for Burwood Road, Hawthorn which included Fletcher’s Iron Hotel, then the Town Hall, then the Launder property of about 3 hectares near St. Columb Street, occupied by the Launder family with tenants Robert Riddler, Butcher, John Collings, Grocer and James Bellett, Greengrocer. (Note - John Collings had married Roberts’ sister, Eleanor Ann Launder in 1856 and it was John Collings who was to be at the centre of the legal stoush over the Launder property which began in 1887.)
Records show that the Launder property in Hawthorn was occupied during the 1860’s by Roberts, aged about 13 years, his older brother, George, aged about 23 years) and Roberts’ mother, Sarah, aged about 48 years).
1863 - 1870 - Marriages
Roberts’ brother, William had married in Queensland to Ellen Farmer in 1863. Another brother, George, also married in Queensland to Jane Walker in 1864. In 1865, his sister, Amy, returned to England to marry George Wells in 1866. Also, in 1865, Jane married David Douglas in Collingwood.
Mary Burdett Salisbury – Her Early Years
Her Parents
Mary Burdett Salisbury’s parents were Susan House and Richard Burdett Salisbury.
The House family, headed by Mary Burdett’s grandfather, John Stagg House, had emigrated from Frampton Cotterell in Gloucestershire in England in 1841 and settled in Stanley, Tasmania when Susan House was only 8 years old. The Stagg family who had done quite well for themselves after their arrival in the coastal settlement of Stanley, also referred to as Horton and Circular Head, owned rental properties, a large farming property and hotels. Many of their descendants still live in Tasmania and in the Stanley area in particular.
At some stage Richard Burdett Salisbury travelled from Lancashire in England and tried his luck in Tasmania where he met Susan House. My research indicates that he worked in some of the hotels in Stanley for the House family, learning the business. He may have also taught school children, but I can find no actual evidence of this, except on his marriage certificate he gave his rank as ‘Schoolmaster’. At a later date, he also signed his name on his second daughter’s birth certificate, adding the suffix ‘B.A.’ which could indicate Bachelor of Arts, but again, I found no evidence of the legitimacy of this.
Mary Burdett Salisbury’s parents, Susan House and Richard Burdett Salisbury were married in the little parish church in Stanley in March 1850.
1851 - Birth
The following year Richard Burdett and Susan’s first baby arrived – the focus of this story - Mary Burdett Salisbury, who was born in Circular Head, Tasmania on February 24, 1851.
Name: Mary Burdett Salisbury
Birth Date: 24 Feb 1851Birth Place: TasmaniaRegistration Year: 1851Registration Place: Horton, Tasmania, AustraliaFather: Richard Albert SalisburyMother: Susan HouseRegistration Number: 238Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
1851-53 – Melbourne
Sometime shortly after the birth of Mary Burdett, her father, Richard, decided to take his young family across Bass Strait to Melbourne. Having had experience in the running of hotels in Tasmania, he was well equipped in 1853 to manage the Crown Hotel at the corner of Queen and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne where the family lived.
Looking east along Lonsdale Street from the Crown Hotel (on the right) and Council Club Hotel (on the left), both on the corner of Queen Street, Melbourne.
Source : American & Australasian Photographic Company (1870).
1853 – Birth of Ellen Burdett Salisbury, Sister for Mary Burdett
The second child and sister to Mary Burdett arrived on September 2, in 1853 whom they named Ellen Burdett. She was born at the Crown Hotel and Richard signed the registration for the birth as ‘R. B. Salisbury, B.A.’ with a flamboyant flourish!
Details on the Birth Registration for Ellen Salisbury are –
When Born - Second September 1853
Where Born - Crown Hotel, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Name, Sex - Ellen, Girl
Name & Surname of Father - Richard Burdett Salisbury
Profession, Birth Place of Father - Hotel Keeper, aged 32, Lancashire, England
When & Where Married - 1849, Circular Head
Previous Issue - Mary, 2 years
Name, Maiden-name, Age of Mother - Susan Salisbury, formerly House
Birth Place of Mother - Gloucestershire, England
Informant of Birth - R.B. Salisbury, B.A., Father, Hotel Keeper, Crown Hotel, Lonsdale Street, MelbourneWhen Registered - Fifteenth October 1853, Register Office, Melbourne
1856 – Residence
After several years at the Crown Hotel, Mary Burdett’s father took over the job as publican of the Cavan Hotel at 44 Queensberry Street, Carlton. Neither the Crown nor the Cavan hotels are standing today. The Cavan Hotel was near the Exhibition Building gardens. The family also lived at the hotel. And quite close by also in Queensberry Street, lived a man by the name of Whiteside McWhinney, who according to the census of that year, was a clerk earning £100 per year.
1856 – Birth of William Burdett Salisbury, Brother for Mary Burdett
Richard and Susan’s third child and brother to Mary Burdett, William Burdett Salisbury, was born in 1856 at the Cavan Hotel.
Name: William Burdett SalisburyBirth Date: Abt 1856Birth Place: Melbourne, VictoriaRegistration Year: 1856Registration Place: Victoria, AustraliaFather: Richard Burdett SalisburyMother: Susan Backhauss (stet)Registration Number: 325Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
1857 – Death of Father
Mary Burdett was just 6 years old when her father, Richard, contracted tetanus and died from the resulting excessive haemorrhage on November 24, 1857. Richard was 36 years old and this left Mary Burdett’s mother, Susan with 3 little children below the age of 6 years. Her father was buried the day after his death on November 25 at the New Cemetery, Melbourne (Melbourne General Cemetery).
Deaths -On the 24th November, at the Cavan Hotel, Queensbury street, North Melbourne, Mr Richard Burdett Salisbury (native of Anglesea, Wales) aged 36 years.Much respected.Leaving a wife and three children to deplore his loss.Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Wednesday 25 November 1857
I suspect it was not Mary Burdett’s mother who placed the death notice, as Richard’s birthplace was given was Wales, yet Richard had provided Lancashire as his birthplace on the birth registration of his daughter just three years earlier.
Twenty-four-year-old widow, Mary, was in no position to take over the role as publican of the Cavan Hotel, so the licence was transferred to a new applicant on December 1 in 1857.
Life for Mary Burdett Salisbury after the death of her father
1858 – Re-marriage of Mother
It is possible that Susan’s family were all in Tasmania which left her alone in Melbourne, so it is not surprising that she married the Irishman, Whiteside McWhinney, who was by this time running a general store just two or three doors up from the Cavan Hotel in Queensberry Street. Whiteside was about 25 years of at the time of the marriage and it is interesting that Susan used the name of Susan Burdett Salisbury when she re-married, taking the middle name which her husband, Richard had used, as her own.
1859-1870 – Stepfather
Susan, her three young children and their stepfather, Whiteside, continued to live in Melbourne and during the next years added another five children to their family. They were :-
- Margaret Elizabeth McWhinney, born 1859,
- John Alexander McWhinney, born 1862,
- Thomas Louden McWhinney, born 1866,
- Arthur Henry McWhinney, born 1867 and
- Susannah Matilda McWhinney born 1871. Their youngest daughter, Susannah died at about 2 years old in 1873.
Mary Burdett Salisbury lived in many places including Emerald Hill, St. Stephens Street, Richmond and Swan Street, Richmond during the 11 or 12 years of her life prior to her marriage to Roberts Launder. Having so many young siblings in her family and step-family must have given Mary Burdett much experience in raising and caring for small children, a fact which may account for her having only one of her own children fail to reach adulthood.
Roberts Launder & Mary Burdett Salisbury's life together
1871 - Marriage
March 4, Roberts Launder married Mary Burdett SalisburyRoberts was 21 years old, a bachelor.Occupation, PainterResidence, HawthornBP EnglandFather - George Launder, Cabinet MakerMother - Sarah RobertsMary Burdett was 20 years old, a spinster,Occupation, Milliner,Residence, RichmondBP TasmaniaFather - Richard Burdett Salisbury, publicanMother - Susan HouseWitnesses - John Haywood, Harry Launder
Following the marriage of another of Roberts’ siblings, Harold James Launder to Georgiana Barnes in 1874 in Hawthorn, all of George William and Sarah Launders’ children were now married except their youngest daughter, Mary Ann Launder.
Prior to his marriage, Roberts had worked as a painter with his brothers in a business they called ‘Launder and Sons’. I have no hard evidence, but gleaned from various records, it seems the Launder brothers, including Roberts, painted houses inside and out and anything else that needed painting, like fences. Consequently, Roberts was engaged to paint a paling fence for a man by the name of Thomas Davidson.
1872 - Court
Robert Launder v. Thomas Davidson - A claim of £13/18s for work and labour
It seems there was a dispute as to whether the quoted price of four shillings per panel for painting the fence included labour and materials or only labour. Roberts contended it was for labour only.
Several witnesses were called in support of Roberts’ claim for compensation of £13 /18s for work and labour for the job, including one William Salisbury and another George Turner - William was his brother-in-law and George was related to Mary Burdett’s mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Turner.
In spite of the defendant, Davidson, calling a witness declaring Roberts had ‘made a mess of it’, the judge gave his judgement in favour of Roberts to the tune of £5/17s/ 6d which accounted for the cost of Roberts’ labour at 4/- a panel, but Roberts’ had already received for £7 on account, so he had a win.
South Bourke Standard (Vic. : 1861 - 1873), Friday 30 August 1872
1872 - Birth of a Daughter - Sarah Burdett Launder
November 23 in 1872 was the day of the birth of Roberts and Mary Burdett’s first child - a daughter whom they named Sarah Burdett Launder. She was born at home at Essex Street in Prahran.
1874 - Birth of a Son - William Burdett Launder
Two years later, a son was to join the family, named Robert William Burdett Launder, probably also born at home at Essex Street, Prahran on November 9, 1874.
1876 - Birth of a Daughter - Susan Burdett Launder
November must have been a good month for the family for another two years and again on November 9, another daughter, named Susan Burdett Launder was born, again at Essex Street, Prahran. Mary Burdett’s mother was Susan House.
1876 - Electoral Roll
Essex Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
1878 - Electoral Roll
8 Essex Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
1878 - Birth of a Daughter - Mary Burdett Launder
This time, the family has moved to a house at 7 McQuarrie Street, Prahran where another daughter was born on May 27, named Mary Burdett Launder.
1879 - 1886 - Electoral Roll
7 MacQuarrie Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
1881 - Birth of Twin Daughters - Gertrude Burwood & Alice Hawthorn Launder
On October 7 in 1881, Mary Burdett gave birth to twin girls, named with regard to Melbourne suburbs, reflecting the increasing community pride in their settlements. One daughter was named Gertrude Burwood Launder and the other Alice Hawthorn Launder, both born at 7 McQuarrie Street in Prahran.
1883 - Death of a Daughter - Alice Hawthorn Launder
Mary Burdett had given birth to six babies in the twelve years since her marriage in 1871 and up until 1883, all had survived. However, one of the little twin daughters, Alice Hawthorn Launder gave up life at the age of just 2 years in 1883.
1883 - Debt
“The Telegraph”, July 14, 1883
Order for amount, with 15s. 6d. costs - James Todd v. Robert Launder, goods £1 17s. - awarded with 5/-d. costs.
1883 - Birth of a Son - Harold Launder
In the same year in which Roberts and Mary Burdett lost their twin daughter, Alice Hawthorn, they welcomed another son, Harold Launder on July 15, again at home in McQuarrie Street, Prahran.
1886 - L.W. & T. - Roberts Launder
Roberts Launder’s Last Will and Testament was dated March 31, 1886 in which he appointed his wife, Mary Burdett as sole executrix and sold beneficiary of his estate. His address was McQuarrie Street, and his occupation was painter. He was aged 38 years.
Take note of his beautifully formed signature and also the witnesses - Frederick Hyland, a Butcher and Charles Morris Duke, a Coach-painter. I wonder what events in 1886 moved Roberts to write his last will and testament? Perhaps the family disputes relating to his father, George Launder’s will and the distribution of his estate.
The transcription of his L.W. & T. reads -
This is the Last Will and Testament of Mr. Roberts Launder of Macquarie Street, Prahran in the Colony of Victoria Painter made this thirty first day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty six.I appoint my wife Mary Burdett Launder sole executrix of this my will.I direct that all my just debts funeral testamentary expenses be paid and subject to this I give devise and bequeath all my property both real and personal of or to which I shall die possessed or entitled to my said wife Mary Burdett Launder absolutely for her separate use free from the debts and control of any husband to whom she may be hereafter married. Lastly I revoke all former wills. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand this day and year first above written.Signed by the said Roberts Launder the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time and in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have herewith subscribed our names as witnesses.Frederick Hyland, Butcher Charles Morris Duke, Coachpainter
1887 - Residence
Roberts moved his family to 32 Hyland Street in South Yarra.
1887 - Court
Roberts’ youngest sister, Mary Ann Launder brought an action against her brother-in-law, John Collings, in relation to the sale of the Launder properties in Hawthorn and disposition of proceeds which were supposed to be distributed amongst the spouse and children of George Launder.
This is the start of an article that appeared in “The Argus” newspaper on July 27, 1887 -
LAUNDERS V. COLLINGS.This was an action by Launder Mary Anne against John Collings, her brother-in-law, seeking accounts of property transactions at Hawthorn of which defendant was trustee for herself and others, and also seeking to set aside a purchase of a portion of the property Collings was said to have made for himself.
The details of this case which are involved are to be found in the notes for George William Launder and Sarah Roberts.
Suffice to say here, that Roberts was involved to the extent that he was a son of George William Launder and should have benefited to a greater degree from the proceeds of the sales. His sister, Mary Ann Launder seems to have been the only one of the siblings that had the courage and tenacity to stand up and demand fair play, although I suspect some of the older siblings were part of the trickery that went on.
1888 - Birth of a Son - Ernest Edward Launder
Roberts and Mary Burdett’s last-born son arrived on June 6 in 1888 at home at Hyland Street, South Yarra. They named the baby Ernest Edward (also known as Dick) Launder.
1891 - Birth of a Daughter - Burdett Launder
Another November baby! On November 13, Burdett Launder, a daughter, and their last-born child, arrived at home at 7 Cyril Street, Windsor. This baby was to become my grandmother.
1894 - Residence
Another house move - this time to 5 Mount Street, Prahran.
1895 - Residence
Then another move to 11 Cyril Street, Prahran where the family lived until about 1907 when they moved to 1 Bowen Street, Prahran.
1896 -1903 - Electoral Roll
5 Cyril Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
Occupation - Painter
1907 - Electoral Roll
2 Bowen Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
Occupation - Painter
1908 - Where is Harold?
The following notice appeared in The Age newspaper on Saturday 3 October 1908 -
HAROLD Launder- Send your Address to your mother or write to M. B. Launder.
And again, on October 31, 1908 in The Age newspaper -
HAROLD Launder - Anyone knowing his address, send to 720 High Street, Armadale - and oblige.
Harold married in 1909 to Elsie Bridget Lee-Archer from Tasmania. Perhaps he was travelling in Tasmania whilst his mother was looking for him?
1909 - Daughter, Gertrude in Trouble
Roberts and Mary Burdett’s daughter Gertrude Burwood Launder was unmarried, epileptic, rather simple-minded, and 28 years old at the time of her pregnancy. She had already given birth to two other babies and this was her third pregnancy. The baby was named Herbert Launder born in 1909.
SUPPORT OF A CHILD - MOTHER'S CLAIM DISMISSEDAt the Malvern Court today, before Mr, P. Cohen, P.M., and Messrs Dunlop, Weller, McMIIIan and Holmes, J.P., a young man Named Bert Peagram, of Northcote Road, Armadale was charged by Gertrude Launder of High Street, Armadale, with having left a child without means of support.Mr Sonnenberg appeared for complainant, and Mr Claude J. Lowe for defendant, who denied the charge.Complainant said that she was a single woman. She first met defendant on the night of August 26 last. Intimacy took place on that night, and the child was born in a private hospital on Empire Day. Defendant was the father of the child.To Mr Lowe - She was sure It was not on the night of September 9 that she met defendant. Defendant forced her, but she did not call out.Mary Launder, mother of the witness, said that defendant had admitted to her that he was responsible for her daughter's condition. Her daughter was an epileptic and was half-witted.Jane Launder, residing with her mother, said that It was on August 26 that she and her sister met defendant. It was three days afterwards that her sister told her what had happened.Defendant, on oath, said that he met complainant and her sister first on September 9 last. No Intimacy took place, and he was not the father of the child.To Mr. Sonnenberg: The statements made by all the witnesses were untrue. He had never had anything to do with the girl.George Swindon said that he was with the defendant when he was Introduced to the complainant. He was positive that the date was September 9.The complaint was dismissed.Source : Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Monday 19 July 1909
Another newspaper report on Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 20 July 1909
MAINTENANCE CASE FAILS.A case distinguished by hard swearing on the part of one or other of the parties concerned occupied the attention of the Malvern bench (Mr. Cohen, P.M. chairman) yesterday, when Herbert Peagram was proceeded against by Gertrude Launder for the support of her illegitimate child.Complainant was represented by Mr. Sonnenberg, and defendant by Mr. C. Lowe.Gertrude Launder, a single woman of feeble intellect, residing at High-street. Armadale stated that on the night of 26thAugust she and her sister met an acquaintance named Geo. Swindon, near Armadale railway gates. Swindon was with a friend, who was introduced to them as Clive Pettigrew.They paired off, Pettigrew accompanying witness. A child was born on 24th May this year. Her mother had paid the confinement expensed. She discovered afterwards that the man's real name was Peagram.Mary Launder, mother of informant, gave evidence regarding an interview at her residence between the members of her family, defendant, and defendant's father. When charged with being the father of the child, defendant said, "I am the Man! I did it."Her daughter was half witted and subject to epileptic fits.Jane Launder, sister of informant, was next called. Her evidence was mainly corroborative. She comported herself with melodramatic assertiveness and much of the time was engaged in verbal conflict with the solicitors. Asked whether defendant was the person who had walked with her sister on 26th August, she exclaimed, "Yes that's the man; he wants shooting."Herbert Peagram, the defendant, swore that it was 9th September when he met informant. When they were introduced no name was mentioned, and he and complainant were never further than ten yards from the others at any time during the walk.He denied that anything improper had occurred, or that he was the father of the child. He had never admitted paternity.After George Swindon and William Peagram, father, of defendant had given evidence, the bench decided that the evidence was inadequate to prove the child's paternity and dismissed the case.
Where was DNA testing when they needed it? Gertrude Launder was remembered by my father, George Ernest Edward Warren, who was a cousin to Gertrude and he described her as ‘simple-minded and an epileptic’. She never married and was to have at least three children by unknown fathers.
1910 - Death of Roberts Launder
By 1910 the family were living behind and above a shop at 720 High Street, Armadale from which they ran their painting and decorating business. The eldest son, Robert William Launder, also helped run the business. They mixed paints and other substances in their shop, many of which contained lead. So, it is no wonder that when Roberts Launder died on July 27 in 1910, aged 62 years, it was as a result of lead paralysis and heart failure which he suffered for the previous three years.
As Roberts worked with paints, kalsomines and colouring agents, which in his time contained lead, it is no wonder that he ended up with lead poisoning leading to paralysis a definition of which is - localised paralysis caused by lead poisoning especially of the extensor muscles of the forearm resulting in wrist-drop. The condition could also cause loss of brain activity and heart function.
The Death Certificate gave the following information -
Deaths in the District of ArmadaleWhen and Where Died 27th July 1910 720 High Street, Armadale, County of HawthornName, Profession Roberts Launder, Painter, Old Age PensionerSex and Age Male, 64 yearsCause of Death Lead Paralysis. Heart failureDuration of Illness 3 yearsQualified Practitioner Jas W. MottLast Saw Deceased 27th July 1910Father, Profession George Launder, Cabinet MakerMother Sarah Launder, formerly RobertsInformant, Address H. Launder, Son, 25 Packson Street, WindsorRegistration 28th July 1910, ArmadaleWhen, Where Buried 29th July 1910, Boroondara CemeteryWhere Born Sevenoaks, Kent, EnglandHow long in Australia About 40 yearsWhere Married Richmond, VictoriaAge at Marriage 23To whom Married Mary Burdett SalisburyIssue and Age Sarah, 38 years
Robert William, 36 yearsSusan Burdett, 34 yearsMary Burdett, 32 yearsGertrude Burdett, 28 yearsAlice (twin) deceasedHarold, 27 yearsErnest Edward, 22 yearsBurdett, 17 years
1910 - Funeral Roberts Launder
LAUNDER - Friends of the late. Mr ROBERTS LAUNDER-are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment the Boroondara Cemetery Kew. The funeral will move from his residence at No. 720 High Street, Armadale on Friday, 29th at 2.30 pm.HERBERT KING and SONS- Undertakers, Williams-road, Toorak.Source :“The Age”, Melbourne, July 28, 1910
Roberts was buried in the Boroondara Cemetery in Kew and remembered by his loving wife one year later in 1911.
1936 - Death of Mary Burdett SalisburyLAUNDER - In sad and loving remembrance of my dear husband Robert Launder, who passed away at 720 High-street, Armadale on 27th July. 1910.Blessed are they that die in the Lord.Inserted by his wife and children, K. L., H. L., E. R, Launder, J. W & G. L.Source : “The Age”, Melbourne, July 27, 1911
She was buried alongside her husband at the Boroondara Cemetery in Kew.
Other interments in the same grave location - 3
Date Service Name Age29-Jul-1910 Burial LAUNDER, ROBERT 6404-Jan-1974 Burial WARREN, BURDETT 8222-Nov-1982 Placement Warren, Leonard LeslieNOTES : Thomas and Emily Launder are buried in the Kew (Boroondara) Cemetery, as are Henry and Georgina Launder.
Headstone
In loving memory of my dear wife and our loving mother BURDETTDied 3 January 1974, 82 yearsalso beloved parents of above ROBERT and MARY LAUNDERandLEONARD LESLIE WARREN dearly beloved husband of Burdett 6 November 1982, 92 years
Both Roberts Launder and his wife Mary Burdett Launder, nee Salisbury were buried in the Church of England section No. 3982, Compartment C, at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew. The burial right had been purchased by Mary Burdett Launder at the time of Roberts demise in 1910.