I am a Scottish born Welshwoman, married to a colonial, and I live in New Zealand. I guess that sounds somewhat strange. But I can neither change the land of my birth or the country that captured my heart as I grew up there, Wales! or Cartref as we call it in Wales. New Zealand, well, it has given the Latter Day Robinson Family opportunities and a way of life that some would long for I think. We have much to be grateful for as we live in this beautiful land. BUT! I am Welsh to my very core, after living here in New Zealand since 1957 there is not a day when I do not think of 'cartref' or home! I love nothing more than sitting with a bowl of cawl and some crusty bread, and my mind goes back to my childhood - back to Wales.

How does one introduce the story of themselves and their family? I am no writer, and have no real skills in this area. But I do have a passion for finding out about our family. Where did we come from, and what did our ancestors do? Were they satisfied with the lives they lived. There is nothing that makes this family stand out as having any importance, other than the fact that we are who we are! From the militant stonemasons, and trade unionists and political activists of Lancashire in the 1800s – 1900s to the influential, land-owning farmers, of St Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire. The Somerset family where all the men were either carpenters, or employed in an allied building trade, and the women all dressmakers - to the Jewish silversmith, reputed to have come from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and settled in Pembrokeshire, to say nothing of the Hereford and Bassaleg family employed by Lord Tredegar. Then there is the market gardening, hotel running family of Axbridge, Somerset, and Glamorgan. Each have their place in this story, and without just one of them, I should not be here.

At a time when many stayed close to home, some ventured near and far, all in search of a better life; some wanted riches, some wanted to change conditions, while there were others who stayed home, they were happy with their lot in life. There are those who sailed to foreign lands. Like the CHARLES and ROBERT TEMPLAR families in the middle 1850s, who went to make a new life for themselves in America. The SMITH family who went to Canada, and JOSEPH CONSTANTINE who was deported in 1849. While others moved from one county to another. They all have their stories and their reasons why. Most we shall never know, but here are some of the events that have helped shape the ROBINSON/MORGAN family, their lives and those of their descendants.

I was born on 17 November 1942, at 78 Queen Street, Castle Douglas, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. I am named for my deceased grandmother, DOROTHY PHYLLIS MORGAN, nee SMITH. She had died in February that year. My parents are HAROLD ROBINSON and EDNA JOYCE MORGAN, I am the first of their five children, and one of two, not born in Wales. David was next born, 1944, and interestingly the only one born in a Hospital. Carol arrived in 1945, and Peter in 1948, both born in the front room of 11 Fair Oak Terrace. I remember the day Peter was born, Mum was in the front room, and Dad called me in to meet this newest member of the family. Years later Jean was born, in New Zealand in 1957.

But perhaps I should start with how Mum and Dad met. It was 1939, my father has enlisted and was heading off to Belgium [He had started studies as he really wanted to be a draftsman, like so many young men, and women, war intervened and so many lives were changed] He was part of a battalion which was charged with the building of the Marginot Line. Newport was a 'safe' port and many ships left the Newport Docks headed for Europe. The Germans had dropped 'land mines' on Newport, there were a few casualties, but as the Germans found the air currents difficult, they didn't attempt to bomb Newport again. Which is why the docks were a safe place for the vessels departing for Europe. Mum was with her friends, they were standing outside the hospital where she worked one evening, along came a group of soldiers, mum said hello, dad replied hi and the rest is history now. The town was full of soldiers, all waiting to be deployes overseas. Dad left for Belgium, but not before he and mum became engaged. War was looming, time was so different then, he gave mum a ring and his hat badge and off he went. Addresses were given and so the long correspondence was started. Our grandfather Morgan used to say, “I see the British Army is still alive” whenever a letter came from Dad. It was apparently a standing joke in the Morgan household. Mum was working at the Royal Gwent Hospital, then went to work for Atlas Garage in Newport.

WW2 - BELGIUM/DUNKIRK - Harold Robinson, 876873, SERGEANT 88th Battery/14th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery.

Dad had been in Belgium with the British Army building the Marginot Line when WW2 broke out, he would tell us a few of his escapes as he and the men with him made their way to Dunkirk. Here they were on the beach for 48 hours, constant bombing made life scary, to say the very least. He said that the soldiers would try to hide when they heard the German planes coming closer, they would say, 'A bomb wouldn't land in the same place twice,' so they ran to the many bomb craters that ran along the beach, only to be among the next group that died as the bombs did land in the same place, again and again. Dad said that he was one of the lucky one as he was picked up by a small boat from the beach at Dunkirk. He said once that 'the men played soccer on the beach to while away the time, and in between the German planes bombing the beach. Between 1939 and 1942 he was stationed in and around England. 1942 saw him being sent to Lockerbie, of course these days it is remembered more for the Pan Am Air accident some years ago, when a plane crashed, killing not only those on board, but others on the ground. The Lockerbie Cemetery is a chilling reminder of that fateful day. We were there in 2000, and will never forget the atmosphere, so still and so cold it has an eeriness that defies explanation. Dad was a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, and in Lockerbie he was preparing to go to North Africa. He and other soldiers were on manoeuvres and waiting to be shipped out.

Mum, heavily pregnant with me, had gone from Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales to Castle Douglas, so as to be closer to Dad. She rented a small first floor flat on Queen Street. It was around the back of a row of terraced houses that fronted onto Queen Street, there were some external steps leading to a door and inside a small landing, there were more steps to the two flats No 78 was the one on the right. Mum also took Peter with her, Peter had been my grandmother Morgan’s dog, when she died mum took over the care of ‘The old dog’ as he was called. Mum tells me that the people who owned the Queen St flats were a Mr and Mrs Sam Colvin. They were very friendly people. Mrs Colvin was very helpful to mum, who was due to give birth, shortly after she arrived there. There was a mid-wife in attendance when I was born, mum called her Georgina, it was not her real name, just something that Mum decided she liked, a bit of a giggle I guess, and one that even ‘Georgina’ liked. Dad was duly rung and told that I had arrived, and was given special leave. He caught the bus from Lockerbie, eager to see Mum. She told me years later that he greeted her, and then sat holding me for the whole afternoon. Mum told me that as dad held me he fell in love with his wee daughter. It must have been hard for him, knowing that he was going to have to leave for North Africa. I guess that he thought he might not ever see us again. A thought uppermost in many peoples minds in those days. For Mum a future with a baby, and no home was a scary prospect too. The days they had in Scotland were as halcyon ones. Cold, as it was the Northern winter, but warm because of the happiness they had there.

In 2000 Len and I went back to Britain, and were in Castle Douglas. We found the house and the flat, and went up the steps, I should love to have seen inside, but the occupants were not home. As I stood on the small concrete landing and looked out over Castle Douglas, I knew that my mother had seen this sight many times before, I could imagine the pleasure she had looking over the roofs of Castle Douglas, keeping her own home and expecting me and then caring for me War must have seemed far away sometimes. As I stood and saw the same view as my mother and loved that I could see it too. On December 27, 1942 I was christened at the Canal St Unitarian Church, Stalybridge, Cheshire. It was a cold, dark and empty looking building when I saw it last. Mum and Dad had gone down there to spend Christmas with his parents. The time for him to go overseas was fast approaching. When dad went off to North Africa, we went down to stay with my grandparents. GEORGE BOND ROBINSON and FLORENCE ELIZA ROBINSON [WARHURST] and there we stayed until mum had news that my father had been wounded.

30 April 1943, mum was notified that Dad had been injured in North Africa. The incident took place on 13 April 1943. Dad said that his position had been shelled by the German; this was at Medez-el-Bab. Some of his men had been hit and he went to assist them, finding that he was unable to walk he dropped to the ground. His right leg was almost hanging off, it was so badly damaged. He was taken to the Bouji Hospital 69th General, Algiers, his injuries were severe enough that he was unable to be moved until May when he was brought back to England onboard the Canadian Hospital Ship, The Lady Nelson, [August 1943,] and landed at Havermouth, Bristol. Dad spent a while in the following hospitals before being discharged from the Army January, 1944. Nettley Hospital at Southhampton, and the Royal Wyrick at Warrington. Mum was back in Newport by this time and renting a flat until dad was able to look for work and then find and buy a house. However when he came home he needed months of physiotherapy, he had to go to Cardiff for that, work was not on the horizon for a while. When he was fit ofr work he decided to retrain as an electrician, and eventually worked at the Rogerstone steel works, and later Monsanto Chemicals, both in Newport Mon.

Our house was the big one in Fair Oak Terrace, it was on the corner with four rooms up and four down, while most of the other houses had just two up and down. If you stand outside you can see where there had been another window. A tax on windows was introduced in 1696-1851, although some sources say it was done away with in the 1700s. People did not have the money to pay such a tax and they bricked up extra windows. I guess that dates the house from pre 1851, I would have thought it older, with its deep stone walls and slate floors. We knew little of the history of the house though I recall mum saying once that it had been a butchers shop and before that a Registry or council office for Maindee. There was a small room behind the main living room, which was where the clothes were aired as it was always warm when the coal range was going. Mum’s diaries it was obvious that we were a noisy lot of children, and often needed to be separated, she had a brave wave, well it was for her, but in the 1953 diary she has written P-LS, D- K and C- FR, for the uninitiated this means, Phyllis cleans the landing and stairs, David the kitchen and Carol the front room. Jobs were rotated often and no-one ever did a bad job, or we did it again. One would have thought we would have learned to behave and be quieter, but no, we were children and life was all about us! They were happy days, we were not well off, and from reading my late mother’s diaries she was constantly writing that she had no money for meat, and other essentials. There were the bills and trying to clothe four growing children.

Dad:
BIRTH Sep 1917 Robinson Harold Warhurst Ashton 8d 714
Dad was b in Wakefield Street, Stalybridge, Cheshire.
The son of GEORGE BOND ROBINSON [b Balby, Yorkshire d Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire] and FLORENCE ELIZA WARHURST [b Hyde, Cheshire d Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire]
DEATH: Harold ROBINSON aged 85 years Male
DoD: 4/12/2002
Born: 1917 Cremated: 9/12/2002
Funeral Director: Valley Funeral Service *
Last Address: C/- Ohinemuri Hosp Shaw Ave Paeroa NZ
Location: Hamilton Park Cemetery [Returned Services Section.]

MARRIAGE Dec 1941
Morgan Edna J Robinson Newport 11a 523
ROBINSON Harold Morgan Newport 11a 523
Witnesses were H.R.Morgan and V.G.T.Morgan.
Officient was Rev R Thomas.


MUM:
*BIRTH Dec 1922 Morgan Edna J Smith Newport M. 11a 356 Mum was born at 7 Woodland Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. The home of her grandparents, ROBERT HARRY SMITH [b Gloucestershire and d Newport, Mon., Wales]and KATE LYDIA TEMPLAR [b Axbridge, Somerset and d Newport Mon., Wales] The daughter of HERBERT REGINALD MORGAN [b/d Newport Mon, Wales] and DOROTHY PHYLLIS SMITH [b Upton St Leonard, Gloucestershire d Newport Mon., Wales]
*MARRIAGES Dec 1941
Morgan Edna J Robinson Newport 11a 523
Mum and Dad were married on the 8 November 1941,
St Matthews Church. Church Road, Newport, Mon, Wales.
The witnesses were HERBERT REGINALD MORGAN and VERNON GLYN TEMPLAR Morgan [mum's father and brother]
Officiant was Rev R Thomas.
*DEATH: Edna Joyce ROBINSON aged 86 years
Female
DoD: 15/08/2009
Cremated: 18/08/2009
Funeral Director: Simply Cremations
Last Address: Ohinemuri Home & Hospital 24 Keepa Avenue, Paeroa
Location: Hamilton Park Cemetery [Returned Services Section, with Dad]

THE ROBINSON/WARHURST FAMILY -

Dad’s parents were, GEORGE BOND ROBINSON and FLORENCE ELIZA [WARHURST] ROBINSON -
*BIRTH Jun 1883
ROBINSON George Bond Doncaster 9c 708
birth was registered on 29 May 1883, by his father, Tom Robinson.
He was then a Railway Laborer
*DEATH - Mar 1962
ROBINSON George B 78 Ashton 10b 166
*MARRIAGES 9th February 1904.
ROBINSON George Bond Ashton 8d 645
WARHURST Florence Eliza Ashton 8d 645
The Old Chapel, Dukinfield
Officiant: Hugon S. Taylor
Witnesses: David Robinson; Clara Warhurst.

Florence was the daughter of JOHN WARHURST and ELIZA JESSOP.
*Births Jun 1883
WARHURST- Florence Eliza Stockport 8a 10
Birth registered the same day as the birth.
*Deaths Jun 1955
ROBINSON Florence E 72 Ashton 10b 138 aged 72

Times must have very hard for the family as they worked to keep their family together. Life was hard up in the North of England. Grey skies echoed the greyness of the streets and houses. The skyline of most towns a backdrop for the numerous chimneys of the cotton and paper mills that kept most in employment. Granddad worked in the 'paper mills'. he did talk about migrating to New Zealand when he and grandma were younger. There was talk of him working at the large paper mill at Kinleith, Tokoroa, NZ. But I only learned of this shortly before dad passed away, so was able to substaniate it. Florence Eliza ROBINSON [WARHURST] was a hard working woman, and it seemed that all her life she was working for either her children or someone else in need. I remember her worn hands, and very frail, slender body, and the best lancashire hotpot ever! During the war years she would provide workers from a nearby factory their lunches. It was a scheme started so that people had a cooked lunch without having to go home and get it themselves. Five or six ladies would come daily and have their lunch, paying for it of course. Florence, FLORRIE, to her family, was the second daughter of JOHN WARHURST and ELIZA JESSOP.

Dad's family attended the Stalybridge Unitarian Church, in Canal Street. Dad talked often about the concerts they held in the church hall. His childhood was a happy one, Dad said that they did not have much, but oodles of love there was in abundance. He spoke often of the firm, but gentle love of his parents. His mother he was particularly fond of. There were seven children born to my grandparents. I have tried to sort them by age, but with only a few dates this is what I have come up with thus far. The old church on Canal St looked dark and very forboding when we went to see it in 2000.

ALMA may have been the first child; she was b 1905, I used to ring her, she lived on the Isle of Man. d 1995 on the IOM
CLARA, 1907. who we saw in 2000 D 2007, a few months short of her 100th birthday
CHARLES -1906 -1907
JOHN WARHURST, There is a record [indicating that John Warhurst was b July-Sept qtr of 1904. St Paul’s Church records show that
Grave No R.22.G 109.7.08 - infant Robinson, had been buried. This may have been John, though why his name is not given, this is open to speculation.
ALICE b Jan-March quarter of 1912, she died in 1914, then came
TOM, b 1915. d in Queensland Australia
HAROLD, my father was born in 1917.
GEORGE was born in 1921 d 1996 Tameside Hospital, Cheshire
I have no knowledge of the birth of David, but this record which shows that he too is buried in the same grave as John, and our Grandmother Robinson.
ST PAUL'S GRAVEYARD.
STALYBRIDGE, CHESHIRE.
Grave No R.22.G 10
9.7.08 - infant Robinson.....might be John
16.6.1955 Florence Eliza Robinson.
22.12.1928 David Robinson.

My great grandparents.
JOHN WARHURST and ELIZA JESSOP
TOM ROBINSON and ALMA MARY ELIZABETH bOND

JOHN WARHURST. [1836 - 11 July 1904]
He was b in 1836. I have not been able to find a christening for him however. His parents were SAMUEL WARHURST and MARTHA TAYLOR
*Deaths Sep 1904
Warhurst John 69 Ashton 8d 405
He had a number of occupation, from a Baker and Druggist to being a Coal Merchant. He was a liberal and at one stage was a Liberal Councillor for the Stalybridge Council. My father said that he was a very wealthy man, owning whole streets of houses, but that he also drank a lot and drank away everything he owned, when reading his obituary one gets a different picture of John altogether though.

Stalybridge Reporter, 16 July 1904, page 5
Ex Councillor J. Warhurst
We regret to record the death of Mr. John Warhurst which sad event took place on Monday night at his residence No. 1, Newton-street Stalybridge, the deceased gentleman being in his 70th year of age. Mr. Warhurst, who
up to recent years, was a coal merchant in the borough, was of a quiet, unassuming nature, and was held in great esteem by a large circle of friends. In politics he was a staunch liberal, but in municipal matters his sole
aim was progress with efficiency, irrespective of politics, and during the three years he sat on the Town Council he frequently gave testimony to this trait of character. He was a much respected member of the Lancashire
Ward and Cobden Liberal clubs, whose members recognize that by the death of Mr. Warhurst they lose a good leader. The deceased gentleman was pressed to offer himself for re-election to the Town Council last
November but failing health prevented his doing so, and the seat was captured by the Conservatives. On New Year's Day, Mr. Warhurst had a stroke and never since then has he been able to go about as was his wont.
Still, he had of late not been confined to bed and the end came somewhat suddenly. Deceased leaves a wife and three children (two of whom are married) to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father.

When he died his funeral was quite a large one. He was buried in Dukinfield Cemetery with the following people. I am assuming that he bought the grave when his son Samuel Edward Warhurst died'
Dukinfield Cemetery, grave no. 635 holds the following.....
1Nov 1867..........Samuel Edward Warhurst, aged 7yrs, at Tame valley, Dukinfield.
1 Dec 1875.........Joseph Taylor, aged 58. 1 Park Rd., Dukinfield, Spinner. John's stepfather]
8 Apr 1886..........Martha Taylor, aged 76, Widow. Union Workhouse, Ashton-under-Lynne - [his mother, she remarried after John's father died in 1839].
14 Jul 1904........John Warhurst, aged 69, Gentleman,62 Wakefield Rd., Stalybridge.
5 Mar 1923.........Eliza Warhurst, aged 77,widower. 62 Wakefield Rd., Stalybridge.
Wills 1904. Warhurst John of 1 Newton-street Stalybridge Lancs died 11 July 1904. Probate LONDON 27 July to Eliza Warhurst widow. Effects 'a3763-18s-6d


His first wife was JANE HOLEGATE.
Marriages Mar 1858
Warhurst John Stockport 8a 19
Holegate Jane Stockport 8a 19

John and Jane, had one child, a son b ca 1859, SAMUEL EDWARD, and died 1867, aged 7 yrs, and buried at the Dukinfield Cemetery, grave no. 635.
JANE HOLEGATE b 3 Aug 1834, bap 27 June 1837.
Deaths Mar 1867
Warhurst Jane 24 Ashton 8d 379
Jane's parents were: - Father JAMES HOLEGATE and Mother ANN FELL.

He then married ELIZA JESSOP
It was a first marriage for her, but a second one for him.
Marriages Jun 1881
Hyde Chapel, Stockport.
JESSOP Eliza Stockport 8a 152
Warhurst John Stockport 8a 152
Officiant: Johnetain Smith
Witnesses: Christopher Jessop X and Sarah Knowles

John and Eliza had the daughters.
1] BERTHA JESSOP WARHURST [UKBMDs Births Dec 1870 - ?] was the eldest, and although I have no proof, I believe her to be the illegitimate daughter of Eliza Jessop. She was probably adopted by John Warhurst
when he and Eliza married in 1881 at Stockport.
2] FLORENCE ELIZA WARHURST [UKBMDs Births Jun 1883 - Deaths Jun 1955 Ashton 10b 138 aged 72]
3] CLARA WARHURST [Births Mar 1887 Ashton 8d 570 - ?]