Robert Downey

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JD Stubbs on 17th July 2022

Robert Downey Born: around 1816 in Waterford, Ireland. Convicted in Waterford City in 1836 for assault and larceny and sentenced to 7 years transportation. Had a former conviction of 3 months imprisonment and hard labour for stealing a surtout (a man's greatcoat of a similar style to a frock coat) at Abernethy, Waterford. Transported on the St Vincent in 1836 Arrived in NSW 1837 Once in the colony he was assigned to Francis Stephen. Certificate of Freedom granted 20th October 1846 (gives an interesting description of him, including his tattoos). Shortly after receiving his Certificate of Freedom, Robert moved to Victoria where he was engaged in work as a stockman on Spring Creek Station (not far from Purdest/Purdeet Station, where his future wife, Ellen Looney, was employed as a domestic servant/housemaid). Robert married Ellen Looney 20th July 1850 in the Roman Catholic school house at Belfast (now Port Fairy), Victoria, Australia. They had 12 children, three of which would also later in life find themselves in trouble with the law. Robert and Ellen’s oldest children, Susan and Daniel, were often in trouble with the law. During 1895 Susan had spent time in Melbourne Gaol and Melbourne Female Prison being convicted of being drunk and disorderly, using obscene language, and vagrancy. In 1901, Susan was admitted to Yarra Bend Asylum before being transferred to Ballarat Asylum suffering from Religious Mania. Daniel was involved in the land wars and conflicts between squatters and selectors, with horse theft and arson charges against his name also. He spent time in Hawkesdale Lockup, Hamilton Lockup, Koroit Lockup, Belfast Gaol, Geelong Gaol, and Pentridge Prison for 7 years Hard Labour from 1877 to 1884. Their son Robert was tried in Belfast (Port Fairy) on 8th March 1877 for two cases of assault and was locked up in Portland Gaol. This son Robert witnessed his father die in a bullock-dray accident 7 years prior to his conviction. Another one of Robert and Ellen’s children, their daughter Mary married Timothy Doolan, who was a first cousin of the infamous bushranger Jack Doolan, dubbed the Wild Colonial Boy. While their son James Downey later refused to live inside a house and chose instead to live outside in a tent in his daughters backyard (according to the recollections of James’ grandson). Robert died on 29th July 1870 when he was killed instantly in a bullock-dray accident at Rosebrook when he fell underneath the dray. He was buried in Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia and his father is named as Denis on the death certificate (no mother listed). At the time of Robert’s death he was a labourer, storekeeper, and publican of the Traveller’s Rest Hotel at Hawkesdale. His wife, Ellen, was an Irish Famine Orphan who arrived in the colony in 1849 onboard the New Liverpool at age 16 under the Earl Grey’s Famine Orphan Scheme. She was born in Cappoquin, Waterford, Ireland and her parents were John Looney and Honora O’Connor. Ellen was at the Dungarvan Workhouse when she was chosen to come to Australia.

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JD Stubbs on 17th July 2022

Above information regarding death may be incorrect. Most other sources of information and family histories state that Robert Downey actually passed away 29 Jul 1870 at Rosebrook, Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia. Robert died in dray accident.

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Gail Robyn Newman on 24th June 2022

1854 Sep Robert Downey, Event Place: Blackman Creek;, Died: 27 Sep 1854; Date Received: 6 Oct 1854; Verdict: Natural causes Intemperance Coroner: Lane JP; List number: 19236 - Coroners Inquest

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Gail Robyn Newman on 24th June 2022

Certificate of Freedom - Robert Downey, Arrived per Saint Vincent 1837; Licence Number: 46/0981; Dated 20 Oct 1846

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Gail Robyn Newman on 24th June 2022

Ticket of Leave - Ticket of Leave Number: 41/0349 Year: 1841; Allowed to remain in the District of Yass