Jimmy and Billy Holt were the first to live on Little Dog Island.
These photos were found in the another of Lizzie Parkinson’s family albums.
They have all come up a treat. The photo of the Dawn was picked up in a 2007 Examiner clipping and where to find this photo of the Dawn. This will be a treasure for the families of the Willett’s (James (commissioned the build), Holt’s (were the key family on board when she was lost) and Jacks (shipbuilder) & Cutt’s (owner when she was lost)
William Holt with son Claude another on to scan up incredibly well/
This morning a magnificent rainbow on top of Little Dog made me smile as I was packing up to leave after a week of wind and rain. The tanks and dams are at last full, a welcome change from the terrible and prolonged dry spell over the past few seasons. The frogs happy chorus, sweet music to our ears, just like when were kids.
A few 2016 winter pics of Fotheringate
The Robinson’s and Edson’s birding on Little Dog around 1967.
Private collection of RT.
Adaptation of a photo taken around 1960’s, the processing shed, a childhood memory for those of us born in the early 60’s.
The barque Runnymede 284 tons was another blue gum clipper crafted and launched from John Watson’s yard, Battery Point, March 19 1849, christened by Captain Charles Bayley and named after Morrison’s Estate on the East Coast of Tasmania. According to the book Blue Gum Clippers and Whaling boats the Runnymede was highly successful in the whaling industry, under the Bayley Brothers.
John Holt was aboard the Runnymede as a seaman in 1857, signature for allocated rations can be found on REF: MB2/33/1/355 reel, Z267. The men signed up to join Runnymede did so late Jan or early Feb in preparation for sailing on February 10 1857.
John Holt, interests in the fishing industry, sets up around the early 1860’s the Oyster Bar, trading fresh fish from Hobart to sell at his shop the Oyster Bar L’ton. By 1862 is married to Elizabeth and step father to her three young sons.
The fishmonger theme continues and by the mid 60’s John moves to secure Little Dog Island where he would make his fortune in the lucrative mutton bird industry.
I have tried to work the particular Lodge and specifically more about the Lodge uniform, also his age to get an idea of the year.
Interested to find out more of origin of this photo found in the Emita Museum family history.
Mary Dwyer or Elizabeth (Meg) married John Holt and then Thomas Prest/Youl
The attire is Masonic as per information from a first cousin and Lodge member.
John Holt Junior was a member of the Heart of Oak Lodge an entirely different Friendly Society.
The only available history of Druids and Friendly Society’s in Tasmania link
Masonic Lodge of Tasmania link with photo of attire in 1940
History of the UK DRUIDS
This link references the beginning of a Lady’s Lodge called ‘Lady Oak Leaves‘
Museum Victoria
Examiner article 2005
Masonsic Hobart 1902
Monds Golden Wedding at the Launceston Masonic centre 1902
Advertisement poster ball Sept 1901 Boags Beer Ball
Little Dog Island – a stones throw from Big Badger Corner. (open the link and the bay across the water west of Little Dog is Big Badger Corner)
Little Dog is a small island of around 206 acres and has been part of the Robinson/Holt family from the mid 1860’s until around 10 years ago. Great Dog Island is to the East and known as Big Dog. The two islands together are usually called ‘The Dogs’. For instance, Dad will still say he heard the boat (Trading) come in through ‘The Dogs’ during the night.
I have researched and found more early history on John Holt – makes sense about the attraction to Bass Strait.
John Holt’s death certificate states age as 52 when he died in 1878. DOB 1826 if certificate is correct. No documentation of arrival to Tasmania. There are several Mr Holt’s on the arrival indexes to Tasmania.
5 January 1857 there is a John Holt on the whaling Barque ‘Runnymede’ employed as a seaman. John Holt’s signature for payment food and wages. REF: MB2/33/1/355 reel, Z267.
5 May 1860 (second column half way down) advertisement of a stray pigs found in the backyard of John Holt, Canning St Launceston. The last 24 hours TROVE has given up these next five articles.
1 April 1865 (end of last column) John Holt Fish Monger and perhaps the earliest clue about the attraction to Bass Strait. In addition: Jimmy Holt used to tell his sons, as a lad he had driven the stage-coach on the way to Hobart. In 1856 Jimmy would have been about 13 and probably did have a crack at driving at some point, or maybe he just sat beside the driver. Stage-coaches the mode of transport in those days.……..Jimmy started his boating career aged 14, the time lines work.
6 February 1867 John Holt returning from Bass Strait on 4 February aboard the Mountaineer.
20 May 1868 (top of second column) John Holt issues a warning to would be trespassers on Little Dog Island.
17 June 1872 Lease of Little Dog Island 200 acres (exclusive of 39 acres purchased by Mr J Holt).
17 December 1875 John Holt owner of 121 acres on Little Dog.
These articles set the scene for the Robinson/Holt history in Bass Strait.
We have a lot of oral history handed down through Jimmy’s children about Great Grandfather Jimmy and his brothers Billy and Johnny.
Most of the Robinson/Holt history is about Jimmy and Billy – not so much about Johnny. One explanation for this is that Johnny resided in Launceston and only lived on Little Dog during the birding season. The birding seasons a time when the three families came together to work, and hard work it was, everything carted on and off the island – including wood. Wood was vital for the commercial aspect of running the three sheds and homes.The social aspect important for the brothers, their wives and of course the 30 + children and the thread to the cousins close friendships. Bishop Montgomery notes in 1891 (two years before Grandfather was born) about the three families on page 6.
The map below gives an idea of the division of land on the island in the early days. Jimmy, Billy and Johnny Holt reefs (named by the locals) worked out when you look map. One of the earlier maps I had Billy’s reef on the lower east when it should have been higher and in line with his land.
The three families continued this tradition and I am unsure when it all started to change, we know from the article below they were still operating commercially in 1913. Alf Holt in 1909 had the misfortune as Master of the Dawn and this involved his four sisters.
Johnny Holt died in 1915, James in 1926 and Billy in 1929.
1913 this link tells us about the Flu epidemic that claimed the life of Billy’s son Albert James Holt. Albert’s grave is next to his first cousin at Badger Corner. James article tells us the three families were all still birding in 1913 as he refers to his brothers and in the first article it seems perhaps a slight mix up, where in fact it should have said the young man died at his fathers camp William not James, then again he may have been in James camp if being nursed by Emily.
After James death the family had to sort out a complication with his Will.
George Robinson (Jimmy’s grandson) bought Johnny’s rookery . Tom Diprose (Jimmy’s son-in-law) bought Billy’s rookery.
When Dad was a child (the 40’s) the families still moved to the island to live and work during the birding seasons……….He has plenty of stories about this, especially how noisy the birds and penguins were at night and again at dawn, not the ideal sleeping conditions! My siblings and I arrived in the 60’s and this annual migration had ceased instead we would do day visits in the Seaplane (boat). I remember the house and birding sheds where my Great Grandparents and grandparents lived and worked. I was still young when Little Dog was set alight and the buildings destroyed, sad losing these connection with our old family history. I remember the fire and looking across to Little Dog, a bright orange glow.
On Johnny’s block there is still a chimney. On Billy’s block there is a holiday home.
This picture taken on an overnight visit to the Island. I was so not disappointed, watching the birds landing with a thud in the rookery then wandering off squawking to find their respective burrows all very noisy and a magnificent display of nature. The early morning racket on scrambling to the rocks to fly off. Its one thing to hear the stories, its something you need to experience to comprehend what it must have been like for our forbears………
The commercial story ended a long time ago and my parents owned Jimmy’s block until about 10 years ago.
In 1882 Canon Brownrigg gives a very accurate description as follows (I don’t think he was all that taken with birding)
‘The next day, leaving the Franklin at Badger Corner, I took a passage over to Big Dog Island in the Rosebud, as the navigation among the numerous sandbanks was well known to Edward Smith and Fred Collis, who offered me the passage in that boat. After visiting Mr Taylor at Big Dog we proceeded to Little Dog Island as Smith and Collis wanted to procure a few mutton birds for home use. Though there was no resident on the island I landed and accompanied Smith and Collis to their “birding.” The rookery the birds inhabit resembles rabbit warren. The soft ground is burrowed out in all directions among the tussocks of grass and the thin, covering over these holes often gives way-as it did frequently in my own experience and lets one down knee deep. The mode of birding is very simple, but by no means free from danger, arising from snakes, which are occasionally found in the same hole with the bird. To procure the bird the arm is first bared, and then thrust in sometimes quite up to the armpit into the hole, and the bird is laid hold of. The young birds offer no resistance, but the old, bird does not hesitate to defend itself, and makes its presence felt by sharply driving its beak into the hand or arm of the capturer, and drawing blood. When dragged from its hole a jerk of the hand speedily kills the bird by breaking its neck. As the birds are collected they are fastened upon a pointed stick called a “spit”, which is pushed through their beaks and thirty birds makes a fair load to carry.Within a short time Collis and Smith had collected sixty, birds, and with the spoils returned to the boat, and sailed over to Badger Corner. At family prayer in the evening I baptised the infant child of Mr. W. Robinson making the ninth-time of administering that rite among the islands during this visit.’ 1882
In Uncle Fred’s 1905 diary wrote of his helping J Holt manage a fire in the New Year and taking some of the children with them – he went back during the birding season and spent a few day on Little Dog and I love how he writes…… Nephew Walter borrowed his boat to pop across to Little Green Island – this was the norm in those days, socializing between the islands – even the communications were amazing all by fires etc, no phones or mobiles in those days.
Settlement Point has a little rookery where visitors to Flinders can go along and watch the birds returning to their burrows a natural spectacle. For the best part of the year the rookeries lay dormant awaiting the noisy return of the residents – the remarkable Short Tail Shearwater.
The Furneaux Museum – visitors can experience a replica of a working mutton bird shed.
Photo of the Dawn in the Weekly Courier April 29 insert 4 and donated by Jacks Ship builder shortly after the Dawn was wrecked of George Town.
Last year discovering Fanny and James Willett and how they fitted into our family history along with Dad’s recalling of the Dawn handed down to him thought it a good story to research. Dad said his father and uncles had many boating stories they often shared as he and his cousins were learning their boating skills in the Strait’s, naturally many lessons from their own father – Jimmy Holt.
Dad recalls the Dawn was wrecked of a notorious reef just outside Georgetown, all on board were his father (Horace) first cousins including female cousins, referred to as the ‘girls’ and the Dawn was returning to Launceston from Flinders. He remembers hearing the girls suffered terribly from this experience, he thought they were strapped to the mast to keep safe whilst bedding and other flammable gathered then set on fire, alerting the rescue from the Low Head Pilot Station.
James Willett’s wife Fanny was elder sister to Jimmy Holt or James Robinson’s wife Emily.
Alfred (Fred) and Henry Collis – Fanny’s younger brothers also lived at Settlement Point. The Collis family settled in the Straits in 1873
The following is a blend of research about the Dawn the night she was wrecked from Dad, the Willett and Collis history (Museum at Emita), TROVE newspaper articles and Walch’s Tasmanian Almanac.
The Ketch Dawn was built at Jack’s shipyard on the Tamar River, Launceston. Owner and Master, James Willett. Application of load line to the Launceston Marine Board registered on 24 March 1906, James Willett paid 10 pound to register the Dawn with at tonnage of 33.7.
The Dawn’s maiden trip to Settlement Point was 20/5/1906 with cargo and four passengers: Mr and Mrs Jimmy Woods with children Iola and Landon.
The Willett’s lived on Flinders Island for many years and in these articles James tells us 109 years later (his words) about his boating history. Examiner article 1. Examiner article 2.
Trying to find when James and Fanny moved from Flinders to Launceston remains elusive. The 1904 Walch’s Almanac has James listed as the Post and Telegraph Officer at Settlement Point (also licensed to deal money orders and the savings Bank). In the 1905 edition, his brother-in-law Henry was listed as the registered Post and Telegraph Officer.
Fred Collis noted in his 1908 diary this entry: ‘May 3 F Boyes called going home he brought us a bottle of magnesia from Mr H Walker I went to my snares and got one kangaroo took a bag of skins out and put them in the shed cut three pieces of oak for J Willett and went along the line’
August 29 Sabbath Done nothing The Dawn came into Whitemark F Boyes Emily Huitfeld and Mrs Ferguson called in on her way home Bubs got a Doll and ball from her Aunt Fan……….Fred notes in his diaries the arrival and departures of the trading boats to Settlement Point, the Dawn was a regular trader.
As we were not sure of the year she was wrecked I decided to see if I could find any hints on TROVE. I found more than I bargained for. I was gob smacked when reading the articles, ah ha here was the history twist. It was not Emily’s (Willett) family on board, instead it was her husband’s family, his Nephew Alf Holt – still Horace’s first cousin but on his father’s side. Horace would have been about 14 when the Dawn was wrecked.
Alf Holt was Master and Mr Cutts the owner of the Dawn when wrecked in April 1909. Alf and his crew were transporting cargo (barrels of mutton birds), also Alf’s four youngest sisters back to Launceston from Little Dog Island. The girls were returning home from their annual migration to Little Dog Island as late April signals the end of birding season. Little Dog Island was owned/leased by the three original Robinson (Holt) brothers – every year at the start of birding season Jimmy, William and John and families would move to Little Dog to work the 12 weeks or so. The three families had a combined total of 30+ children. Every year Little Dog would become a small community of extended family and tells us a little more of why these cousins were all so close.
EXTRACT from Fred Collis 1909 diary; ‘May 2 I sowed Melotte clearing about home J Woods called coming from Whitemark. Heard sad news The Dawn being wrecked I felt sorry for Alf Holt.’
Alf Holt in the Examiner indicates had they abandoned the ‘Dawn’ in the dingy they surely would have perished. Reading the articles gives perspective of the trauma the girls must have endured. I wonder if they ever went back to Little Dog. What an ordeal for parents John and Mary, involving 5 of their 13 children having already lost son Albert Holt a few years earlier in 1906 aged 25.
Dad was spot on with the story.
‘Mision to the Islands’ was published in 1979 by Stephen Murray Smith. Smith collated all of Canon Marcus Blake Brownriggs publications written for the Examiner on returning to Launceston after his annual visit to the Furneaux Group 1872 – 1875. Mission to the Islands’ includes the entire publication of Brownriggs book ‘Cruise of the Freak’. Smith also presents his researched preamble expanding information about the local identities Canon Brownrigg refers in his travels. The last chapter is about Ralph Plaice’s murder, as Tommy Rue’s mentioned in the Narratives.
I read the book when it was first published, and aware James Holt and Collis families were part of our history – what’s interesting reading again after so many years and the recent family research, is I am able to recognise a lot more in the ‘Narratives’ allowing me to thread together more than just names.
Smith’s preamble on James Holt, concludes as I do, that James was born in 1852.
The first reference to our family history is 1875 – Brownrigg was not keen on the smells of the ‘birding industry’. Those born and raised in the Straits and lucky enough to experience ‘birding’, will relate to this extract with a smile………..it is unique!! The smell of the rookeries in my opinion, is predominantly ‘earthy’ and yet in a good way, subtly pungent. The production side is certainly not for the faint hearted, as you will glean in the following extract. Would love to hear others descriptions, please feel free to comment in box below.
‘Our first anchorage was at Little Dog Island; we brought up in a sandy bay about a hundred yards from Mr Holt’s huts. Here “birding” operations were in full swing, and, despite a breach of good manners, we were compelled on landing to hold our handkerchiefs closely to our noses, for an aroma inconceivably intolerable and indescribable assailed us, and at first made breathing a semi-suffocative proceeding. Doubt less use is second nature, and those concerned in ” birding” become indifferent to the unavoidable perfumes attending it, but, to say the least, it tries a visitor, and we ourselves were not a-little tried. However, by keeping somewhat to wind ward of the establishment we experienced a sense of relief, and were then able to converse with our friends.’
1876 ……when I read the following extract all those years ago I was not aware Jimmy Holt owned the Elizabeth, I certainly do now!! The Pearl is also part of our history, and owned by Jimmy’s younger brother Johnny. I am not sure if he owned her in 1876, (need to check marine board records) Jimmy was helping out the ‘Pearl’ possibly his 20-year-old brother in a pickle……..the Pearl did a lifetime of work in the Straits with her owner Johnny Holt, trading out of Launceston. There are many stories about the ‘Pearl’ from Dad we are lucky to have the most magnificent photo of the ‘Coogee and Pearl’ when I get to the Holt brothers page.
‘One of the first objects that met our view on making the harbour was the unfortunate cutter Pearl as a wreck on the rocks. To us, the special interest attaching to this vessel was the circumstance that she had been built expressly for the Furneaux Mission, though, so far as I know to the contrary, never actually employed on that behalf. However, there she lay remarkably poised on a rock and likely to give some trouble before she can be got off and repaired. About two hours after anchoring at Cape Portland we were surprised by a hard blow from the eastward. The grassy bottom proved insecure holding for our anchor, hence we dragged; and so to prevent a stern board on to the reef under our lee we quickly lowered the dingy and laid out another anchor to windward, which held us fast. At noon, taking advantage of a lull we got in our anchors, and sailed the cutter into the inner harbour, where we found the cutter Elizabeth;’
The second extract from this year; (there are several but in particular) references Bishop Bromley staying overnight with Collis family.
‘Arrangements having been kindly made by Mr and Mrs Collis for the Bishop, his Lordship remained ashore allnight, and was rejoined by us in the morning (Sunday) in time for service.’
1881 Click on this link and you can read the entire article – for those not familiar with TROVE – double click on the actual article to enlarge. I corrected some of the text but it was going to take forever. I usually enjoy text correcting when hanging around airports, a job I can do rather than sitting around waiting, helps pass the time (quite quickly) in the ‘unlikely’ event of delays!!! This article references the Collis family on CBI, and also William Robinson/Holt in his boat the ‘Rosebud’ along with his BIL John Smith. William and John must have decided Brownrigg’s activity was a high risk and as gentlemen, acted accordingly. Also reference to James Holt in the ‘Elizabeth’, Cannon Brownrigg fails to mention that shortly after being dropped back at G’town …..James returned with his beloved Emily and he married them at St Johns.
1882 (part1)
The following extract refers to James Willett and William Brown, both renowned boat builders in the Straits who assisted to fix the leaking ‘Franklin’. James Willett was Emily Holts BIL, he was married to her eldest sister. The Holts and Willetts were not only related but the greatest of friends. When James died his funeral left the home of James and Fanny Willett. Dad recalls his parents were also the greatest of friends with the Willett’s, his cousins.
‘An opportunity was now open to us of placing the Franklin on the beach , to ascertain and stop the cause of the her leakage. This was soon effected, in part by Mr Brown, and in part also by Mr J Willett, who kindly gave their time and labour free to our service. The benefit of their labour we have since enjoyed, and now thankfully acknowledge.’
1882 (part 2)
The following extract refers to Alfred Collis (abt 18) and younger brother to Emily (Edith her first child was born prematurely a few months after this visit), James and Emily had William and Ellen and their four children (William, Jessie, James and Phillip) staying with them, also Ellen’s ?brother Edward. Phillip Daniel ‘Boob’ Robinson was the infant baptised. I suspect they hadn’ been living at Badger Corner that long as Emily and her family were still living on Cape Barren when they married in 1881. Edie was born on Cape Barren as well. It’s these notes allowing us a glimpse of a close family – from other diaries I have read, James and Emily always had lots of visitors to their home. Interesting that Canon Brownrigg uses J. Robinson instead of Holt as he usually did, this was probably because he was aware of the correct name Robinson when he married James and Emily in 1881.
‘The heavy weather continuing all that day detained us at Long Beach, and induced us to find a refuge in the school-room for the night. I would here grate-fully acknowledge the kind and assiduous attention we received from Mr and Mrs Collis.’
‘Wednesday morning opened to us the desired prospect of a run down the Sound. The wind was westerly and light, and at about 10 a.m. we got under way for Little Badger Corner. Previously, however to starting, I visited the public school, and was satisfied with the result. The attendance also during the past year showed a decided improvement. Not with standing the advantages of improvement and tide, our passage through the Sound was not so satisfactory as it might have been, but this was owing to detention upon a sand-bank over which the depth of water was less than we had expected. We arrived, however just before ‘dark, and in the evening I had family prayer in the cottage occupied by Mr J. Robinson. The next day, leaving the Franklin at Badger Corner, I took a passage over to Big Dog Island in the Rosebud, as the navigation among the numerous sandbanks was well known to Edward Smith and Fred Collis, who offered me the passage in that boat. After visiting Mr Taylor at Big Dog we proceeded to Little Dog Island as Smith and Collis wanted to procure a few mutton birds for home use. Though there was no resident on the island I landed and accompanied Smith and Collis to their “birding.” The rookery the birds inhabit resembles rabbit warren. The soft ground is burrowed out in all directions among the tussocks of grass and the thin, covering over these holes often gives way-as it did frequently in my own experience and lets one down knee deep. The mode of birding is very simple, but by no means free from danger, arising from snakes, which are occasionally found in the same hole with the bird. To procure the bird the arm is first bared, and then thrust in sometimes quite up to the armpit into the hole, and the bird is laid hold of. The young birds offer no resistance, but the old, bird does not hesitate to defend itself, and makes its presence felt by sharply driving its beak into the hand or arm of the capturer, and drawing blood. When dagged from its hole a jerk of the hand speedily kills the bird by breaking its neck. As the birds are collected they are fastened upon a pointed stick called a “spit”, which is pushed through their beaks and thirty birds makes a fair load to carry.Within a short time Collis and Smith had collected sixty, birds, and with the spoils returned to the boat, and sailed over to Badger Corner. At family prayer in the evening I baptised the infant child of Mr. W. Robinson making the ninth-time of administering that rite among the islands during this visit.’
1884 – this article my very favourite, describing a characteristic of Edie. I wish Brownrigg had mentioned her name but after re reading this article so many years later with a better understanding our family history, quickly identified the child as Edie, she was born prematurely and lucky to have survived, albeit she and her family had to adjust to life around her disability. You can read Edie’s story on her page under the heading Emily and Adeline. Emily had twins Tuck and King a few months after this visit.
‘At 2.30 p.m we started against a strongebb tide for Little Badger Corner, where we anchored for the night, and spent part of the evening ashore in the cottage of Mr.James Holt. It was here I witnessed the very novel performance of an infant, about fifteen months old, rocking itself to sleep in its own cradle. In the following manner was the deed performed. The little legs left free to act, the right one was first raised and thrown from side to side,whereby an oscillatory motion was imparted to the cradle. That limb being fatigued the left leg was then raised and moved in like manner, sustaining the motion which had thus been imparted to the cradle. Both limbs being tired, the feet were placed down, and the side to side action continued by the knees. All this the child managed for itself and then dropped off to sleep. My reference to this domestic incident will, I am sure, be pardoned, for this infantile proceeding is here looked upon as one of the phenomona of the islands. I doubt not, indeed, that many mothers elsewhere would be well pleased could their infants, in similar fashion, relieve them of the sometimes monotonous duty of cradle-rocking.’
1885 – reference to James Willett in the ‘Clarence’ and W Davey in the ‘Syren’, which would later be owned by William Robinson Holt.
‘At about 3.55 a.m. (March 1st) we got under way for the Heads. The morning was very cold, due principally to the keen fresh S.S.E . wind. During the previous few hours the sea had gone down very much, and as we approached the Tasmanian shore we entered calm water. Throughout the day the wind was light and unsteady. When about 22 miles from the Heads we met the cutter Clarence, bound for Flinders. Her master, Mr. J. Willett, sailed close alongside of us, and threw a parcel of letters and papers aboard. Later on we passed the Syren cutter, under the care of W. Davey, bound for Barren Island. While glad to report the sighting of these vessels, we felt that by their means the progress we had made would be conveyed to the friends we had left among the islands.’
James Robinson or Jimmy Holt, either/or……..the same person, our Grandfather and Great Grandfather! He is well-known by the two names and I often use both. Dad only ever uses Jimmy Holt as this is the history handed down to him by his father Horace also known as Horace Holt for a fair period of his life. We only ever heard stories about Jimmy Holt and his mother was always Meg Youl. A decision to photo copy James Masters Mariners Ticket – along with a few other documents as Christmas gifts last year, evolved into our family research and hasn’t stopped since!!
The tricky subject of James birthdate – what’s written on his Masters ticket and Masters application doesn’t fit with the 1858 birth certificate. 
Naturally I thought this was Jimmy’s original ticket – all became clear in the Hobart History Room, finding it was a duplicate and reissued in 1891 and has fold marks, probably kept in his wallet. (The original (and duplicate) application and examination was signed by James Riddle, great-uncle of Bill Riddle Senior who bought the Robinson home at Badger Corner in 1930’s.) 
References for these documents – certificate No 52.
This information is direct from Jimmy Holt himself……… birth date, place and address…… Little Dog Island in Badger Strait. (Interesting…… Badger Strait) The specifications of the Elizabeth (built by William Brown, Cape Barren Island) the other boats he had been employed on.
Thank you Jimmy for this information. When I first read like others before me, a son had been born in Georgetown 24/9/1858 to Samuel Robinson and Mary Devine, thought it possible the registrar (registered 6/10/1858) may have mis heard Dwyer and why we see Devine.
The baptism certificate for this same child on November 3rd 1858 states the child’s name was ‘David’ parents named as Samuel and Mary Robinson, no reference to maiden name. As the dates fitted this would suggest the child was James Robinson.
However when I was examining his Home Trade Ticket, the glaring inconsistency was DOB, 1851, the dates didn’t fit with his parents history. Was James was the eldest of the brothers not the youngest. Did Samuel Robinson have another son in Georgetown with another woman called Mary and possibly the crux of his sudden departure in January 1859.
A trip to Carr Villa to photograph the headstone.
James died in February he hadn’t turned 75, taking this into account he was born in 1851. 
Elizabeth Prest’s Will names James first, although William and John are around the wrong way. Again James marriage certificate – states in 1881 he was 29 years of age, again 1851. There is a variable of 7 years working on 1851 and 1858. James applied for his Home Trade Ticket in January 1875 – James Holt states he started working on the ‘Blackbird’ in 1866, making him 15 or 16 as a boy and worked for 8 years in the trade, bringing his age to 23. James and his mother Elizabeth Holt owned the ‘Elizabeth’. If he had been born in 1858 – he would have started working at 8 and applied for his masters ticket at the age of 16. In this case he would have become the Master of the ‘Blackbird’ when he was 10. My youngest nephew has just turned 10…… ludicrous to consider he could be employed as a Master or even as a boy at this age, (no offence, Will, I think your parents would agree). The book Mission to the Islands published by Stephen Murray Smith also supports the 1852 theory – Smith researched and presents information about the local identities from Cannon Brownrigg’s work.
The answer I suspect is with Meg his mother who arrived in the Colony in 1853. I wonder if James chose his brothers, did Meg leave 2 boys at the orphanage and 12 months later leave with 3 boys. Would love to hear other ideas about this……..
Flinders Island: Badger Corner and Samphire River 