| The South African part of my story starts in 1821 when my 3rd great grandfather Robert Henry RUBIDGE aged 41 set sail on the brig Cyrus from Gravesend with wife Hannah and their four children: Anna Margaret ( 1815 -1879), Eleaor Dixie (1817 -1879), Charles (1818 -1889) and Richard Nathaniel (1820 -1869). Three children born before 1821 had died as young children. Hannah Payne JONES and Robert Henry RUBIDGE had married on the 26th January 1811 at St Mary Bermondsey. The wedding was doubtess attended by Robert's father, also Robert and possibly Robert's second wife Eeanor Lark PAYNE although she was heavily pregnant with Alfred at this time; possibly some of Robert Henry's half-brothers and half-sister Eleanor Frances; Hannah's mother Hannah JONES (sister of Eleanor Lark PAYNE) and other Payne, Jones and Rubidge relatives. Robert Henry's mother Margaret GILMOUR died in 1800 when he was just 14 and his brother Charles 13. His aunt Elizabeth GILMOUR had married Captain Nathaniel PORTLOCK in 1781 and this couple took the boys under their wings and for a time the boys went to school in Gosport, Hampshire where the Portlocks had their home.I have always wondered why they did not stay with their father Robert except that he re-married in November 1800 and perhaps his new wife did not want to be encumbered with two adolescent boys.In the event, both Robert Henry and his brother Charles were sponsored into the Royal Navy by their uncle Portlock. Robert's seagoing career began at 13 in 1799 when he entered as A.B. under Captain David Gilmour, a cousin of his mother. He also served under Captain Portlock. One of his voyages was to the Cape of Good Hope returning via New South Wales so it is possible that this visit to the Cape was a factor in his later destination. He passed for Lieutenant in 1806. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, many thousands of naval men were out of work and Robert Henry retired on half-pay in 1814. By this time, he was the father of two children: Henry Richard born 1812 in Portsea, Hampshire and Francis Erskine Loch born 1813 in Wales, probably Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, where Robert Henry had settled on the farm, 'Gletwyn'. Francis Erskine Loch was a R.N.Captain under whom Robert Henry had served in 1812 and 1813. These two children died in 1818 in Oystermouth, Swansea, as did a son of Robert's brother Charles, also named Henry. For details of Charles RUBIDGE R.N. see Jeff Rubidge's website.http://rubidge.googlepages.com/genealogy |
