St Mary’s Parish Church, in Woodkirk, Yorkshire, England by Mick Melvin. License: CC BY-SA 2.0; click image to see his original photograph.
4th Great-grandmother – Maternal father’s line of Johnston Family
Charlotte Robinson was born in 1775 in Yorkshire, the daughter of Hannah and John. She was married three times and had six children. She died on 13 November 1821 in Parramatta, New South Wales, at the age of 46, and was buried there.
Charlotte Robinson was born in 1775 in Woodkirk, Yorkshire to Hannah Robinson and John Robinson. On 17 January 1777, aged two, she was baptised at St Mary’s Parish Church, in Woodkirk, Yorkshire, England.
Photo by Mick Melvin. License: CC BY-SA 2.0; click image to see his original photograph.
First Marriage to Francis Flower
Charlotte Robinson married Francis Flower in St Bartholomew the Great, London, on 10 October 1791 when she was 16 years old. The marriage was conducted by Owen Perrot Edwardes, Rector of the Priory Church in the presence of Mathew and Rebecca Howes. Charlotte and Francis had three children during their marriage, two sons and one daughter. Refer to descendant chart below for more information.
Photo of St Bartholomew the Great, London, by David Iliff. License: CC BY-SA 3.0, click image to see original photograph.
Information about Charlotte’s first husband is scant. It is known that he was baptised in Middlesex, England on 3 May 1772 and married Charlotte on 10 October 1791. Following the birth of their third daughter Emma, in 1785, it is surmised that he probably died sometime before Charlotte left for Australia in 1807.
Arrival in Australia
Charlotte Flower arrived aboard the ship “Brothers” on 4 April 1807. Her status on arrival to the Colony of New South Wales was as a “Free” passenger. Also aboard the ship “Brothers” was William Rutter. Charlotte was the governess of the Blaxland children and William worked for the Blaxland’s managing the procurement of salt.
Second Marriage to William Rutter
Charlotte Flower (nee Robinson) was 32 years old when she married William Rutter on 21 November 1807 in St Philip’s Church at Church Hill in what is now Lang Park.
St Philips at Church Hill, Sydney 1798-1856
At the time of their marriage Charlotte and William lived on John Blaxland’s Brush Farm near Parramatta. In addition to selling salt, William and Charlotte raised cattle and horses and had tenements at Parramatta.
Charlotte and William had three daughters during their marriage. Our direct ancestor Cecilia Sophia Rutter was born on 15 June 1808 in Parramatta, New South Wales. Refer to descendant chart below for more information.
Descendants of Charlotte Robinson
Death of Husband
Her husband William, aged 46, passed away on 31 December 1812 in Parramatta, New South Wales. They had been married for five years; William was buried in the Parish of St John, Parramatta on 2 January 1813.
Town of Parramatta c1812
According to a memorial from Charlotte to Governor Macquarie: ‘William was eminent in his profession of a salt-boiler which he brought to great perfection and rendered particularly useful to the inhabitants of the colony altho’ by his unwearied pursuits in that line, he sacrificed his health and eventually his life’. William Rutter 1766–1812
Following William’s death, Charlotte met and became a friend of John O’Meara.
John O’Meara Convict
John O’Meara was a convict who had been tried in Tipperary County in 1815 for sheep stealing. He was transported to New South Wales for 7 years. John, then aged 45, arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney Cove), New South Wales, Australia on 8 April 1816 aboard the ship “Guildford”.
Ship Guildford c.1816
Born in 1771, John was a Roman Catholic and his trade was Shoemaker. John had no former convictions and was described as being 5’5½“ tall with a ‘Ruddy’ complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. He was well behaved and received a “Conditional Pardon” on 4 June 1819.
Third Marriage to John O’Meara
Samuel Marsden, Senior Chaplain, St John Parish at Parramatta wrote to the Governor on 1 September 1817 praying His Excellency’s permission to have the names of John O’Meara, convict of the ship Guildford and Charlotte Rutter, Free, published in the Saint Johns Parramatta Banns. The Colonial Secretary advised, on the same day, that His Excellency, the Governor approved of the Banns being published between the parties as specified. Signed I.J. Campbell, Secretary.
Charlotte Rutter (nee Robinson) was 42 years old when she married John O’Meara in St. John’s Church of England, Parramatta, New South Wales, on 30 September 1817. No children were born of the marriage.
Charlotte O’Meara (nee Robinson) died on 13 November 1821 in Parramatta, New South Wales, when she was 46 years old. She was buried at St John’s Anglican Church, Cumberland on 14 November 1821.
John O’Meara died on 11 March 1841 and was buried in Plot 1499 at St Patrick’s Cemetery, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. His inscription reads “Parramatta, Free”.