Robert Hopwood

Robert Hopwood, the son of Charles and Ann, born in Ickleton, UK, in 1850, was a family man. He didn’t marry young. He waited until his heart was won by the very prim and proper 22 year old Miss Victoria Rosina Pettigrove [1] . They were wed by a Wesleyan Minister at Macorna, Victoria on 10/9/1885 at the home of Victoria’s father, Mr John Pettigrove, in Greenbower West. Robert was 35 years old although his marriage certificate states his age as 32 years.
Robert came to the Riverina District separately from his brothers, Joseph and Charles. He was close to, and generous with, his children. He gave them a sense of fun and no doubt was a great tease [2] .
Robert did not enjoy the best of health, possibly due to the hardship he experienced as a young boy at sea, although he lived until he was 70 years old. He suffered from Gastroenteritis for 6 days and eventually died on 11th January 1920 at “Wilga”. Sadly his son Robert Joseph died on the 27th December 1919, just 2 weeks beforehand, aged 23. Family history has it that he drank water from a poisoned waterhole and became sick. However it has also been said that father and son drank from the same waterhole and developed typhoid.
This double loss must have hit poor Victoria very hard. However she was a strictly religious woman who probably sought solace in her Christian faith. She insisted on the observance of the Sabbath not only with her children but with her children’s children. Any breach of this would result in terrifying tails from her such as “undoing stitches in hell with your teeth” if you were caught doing embroidery on the Sabbath. She was also an ardent monarchist. If she heard the National Anthem played on the radio in her later years she would insist that everyone stand, even at home.

The children of Robert and Victoria Rosina Hopwood (née Pettigrove):
· Rosina Victoria B. 1888 (D. 8/10/1976, Sydney) M. 1912 at Narrandera to Frederick Slender
· Lilly B. 1890 (D.1952 or 1982 at Wollongong NSW. Possibly buried at Narrandera) M. in 1913 at Narrandera to George Andrew Bartley 2nd
· Jane B. 1892 (D.1982) M. 1916 at Narrandera to Charles Britten Chitts
· Charles (Farmer) B 15/5/1894 (D. 1936) M. 15/4/1919 at Narrandera to Alice Chitts B. 1/9/189? Hillston NSW Parents: John Chitts and Martha Rebecca Bennett (deceased) from marriage certificate of Alice and Charles
· Robert B. 1896 (D. 1919)
· Frederick B.1900 (D.1978) M. 1924 at Narrandera to Edith E Tonkin
· Amelia B. 1902 (D. ) M. Andrew Ryan
· Victor 1907 (D. ) M. Ivy Ecles

[1] Victoria Pettigrove, daughter of John Pettigrove and Rhoda Rosina Cook , was born at Tylden Victoria in 1863.John and Rhoda Pettigrove came to Australia about 1850 with one child, Arthur. Their other children were:
· Millie B. Australia
· Rhoda B. Australia
· Rosina B. Australia and died at 6 months
· Albert B. Australia
· Freddie B. Australia and died at about 10 or 12 years
· Theo B. Australia
· Ron B. Australia and died at about 2 years
The family property was at Macorna, Victoria. When it was sold the site was developed for the township. . The Pettigrove family and their descendents were declared “Pioneers of Australia”. The certificate as presented to Theo’s son Walter,
[2] Certainly Rosina his eldest acquired these traits from one of her parents and it was unlikely to have been her mother! She teased, tormented and joked with her own children and grandchildren (and probably her younger brothers and sisters)!