Chapter 2

Robert Anthony (1838 - 1896) and Mary Jane Gibson (1842 - 1918)

New Beginnings in Queensland

After arriving in Australia in 1859, Robert Anthony settled in Ipswich with his aunt, Margaret Carson (née Anthony), and her husband, William Carlson. Margaret would have cared for his younger sister, Mary Anthony, who accompanied him to Australia. With a background as a labourer in Ireland, Robert likely undertook various forms of manual labour, such as agriculture, construction, or other odd jobs, to support himself and contribute to the household until he moved to Toowoomba in 1869. He may have sought work with his Uncle, William Anthony, a farmer, who established a cotton farm close to Ipswich.

In 1866, the Anthonys living in Queensland received news of their father’s death in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Given the time it took for letters to travel by ship and overland, the news likely took three to four months to reach them. The loss must have been weighted heavily on Robert and Mary, heightened by the vast distance separating them from their family. Their mother, Mary Smyth Anthony, survived her husband by 26 years and was likely supported by her second son, William Anthony, who worked as a Clerk of Loans Fund.

Robert's path led him to seek more stable and secure work, and he eventually took a position as a warder at Toowoomba Gaol in 1869 at the age of 31. His Uncle William’s experience in law enforcement might have guided Robert towards a career within the penal system. The move to Toowoomba would shape the course of his life and set the foundation for his career and family.

Working at Toowoomba Gaol

Robert was employed as a warder at Toowoomba Gaol in 1869. At age 33, following the death of the gaol’s first Governor, William Murphy, Robert was promoted to turnkey, a prison officer responsible for supervising inmates and maintaining security within the facility, mainly in charge of locking and unlocking prison cells. His responsibilities expanded to managing the warders and enforcing discipline among prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes. This role placed him at the heart of a facility housing individuals who posed significant risks to the local community.

Established in 1864, Toowoomba Gaol marked the town’s growing importance within the Queensland colony, becoming the third town in the region to have an officially proclaimed prison. Initially built to accommodate 46 prisoners, the facility confined 145 inmates during its first full year of operation, with just six being women. By 1870, overcrowding at Brisbane’s prison led to Toowoomba Gaol becoming the primary facility for female prisoners in southeast Queensland. This shift was met with resistance from local residents, who feared the release of female prisoners into the community would lead to moral degradation. Nevertheless, Robert’s responsibilities grew as female inmates increased, requiring him to balance security with a more sympathetic approach.

Toowoomba Gaol also became known for housing notorious criminals, including Goff Lee, a Chinese cook executed for murder in 1869, and John Whitton, an Aboriginal man hanged for child rape that same year. These high-profile cases brought the harshness of colonial justice into the public eye, underlining the severity of Robert’s work environment. By 1871, the prison population had grown to 212, of whom 76 were women, further underscoring the evolving nature of Robert’s duties.

Robert was promoted to Principal Turnkey in 1879. This promotion at age 41 reflects his competence and leadership within the Queensland prison system. This was a senior role involving warders' management and inmates' daily security. Although not the highest rank, it was a position of significant responsibility, indicating that Robert was trusted by his superiors. His promotion suggests he had earned respect for his ability to handle the challenges of overseeing a prison population during a time of expansion in the colony’s penal system.

Russel Street, one of Toowoomba main shopping streets.

Family Tragedies and Later Life

Robert’s later years were marked by profound personal loss and financial strain. In 1884, his brother William Anthony passed away in Ireland at just 38 years old, leaving their mother, Mary Anthony (née Smyth), without close family nearby. Tragically, Mary would outlive all two of her three children, passing away in 1892. Not long after his brother’s death, in 1886, Robert’s sister Mary Anthony also died in Queensland at the age of 40, having endured the loss of two of her seven children in infancy. These family tragedies, compounded by his financial difficulties, must have weighed heavily on Robert in his final years.

In 1896, at the age of 57, Robert died suddenly while waiting for medical attention. He was recorded as a pensioner residing near Smith’s Gate, at the corner of West and Sunny Streets in Toowoomba. His life, shaped by the courage and perseverance of many Irish emigrants, traced a path from Tyrone to Toowoomba—one marked by hardship but also the hope of a new beginning in Australia.

Robert’s wife, Mary Jane, survived him by 22 years and continued to raise their youngest son, who was only 13 at the time of his father’s death. Local advertisements suggest that Mary Jane managed a boarding house at Ulster Cottage on James Street, Toowoomba, which provided her with a source of income after Robert’s passing.

Like Mary Jane, widows in late 19th-century Australia faced significant social and economic challenges. While remarriage was often a path to financial stability, but it was not always viable, particularly for women with children. Many widows turned to running boarding houses, taking on domestic work, or relying on family for support. Mary Jane’s decision to run a boarding house was a practical response to her circumstances, taking advantage of Toowoomba’s growth and the increasing demand for accommodation. She may also have received a 50-pound pension for Robert’s service as a gaoler, though this remains uncertain.

Mary Jane Anthony passed away at the age of 79, survived by her two sons and a daughter, all of whom were married by the time of her death. Like many Irish immigrants, her life reflected a period of great change in Queensland and the resilience required to build a new life in the colonies. Despite the limited opportunities available to women then, Mary Jane’s resourcefulness enabled her to provide for her family and navigate the challenges of widowhood in colonial Australia.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1869, at the age of 30, Robert married 27-year-old Mary Jane Gibson. Having just started his career as a warder, this newfound stability likely provided the foundation for their marriage. The ceremony took place on January 6 in Ipswich, in the home of Robert’s aunt Margaret Carlson (née Anthony) and her husband, William Carson. This union marked the beginning of my paternal family’s establishment in Australia. Shortly after, Robert and Mary moved to Toowoomba to begin their life together.

Their first child, William Alexander Anthony—my grandfather—was born on October 10, 1869. Life in the developing town of Toowoomba presented many challenges, particularly when raising children. The birth of their second son, Robert Anthony, on March 17, 1871, brought more joy, but tragedy soon followed when young Robert passed away on October 6, 1873, at just two years old. Such losses were devastating for many families of the time, and Robert and Mary were not spared from these hardships.

The couple welcomed more children, including Elizabeth Mary Anthony, born on January 12, 1876, and Alice Maud Anthony, born on January 20, 1879. Sadly, Alice Maud also died in infancy, passing away on February 29, 1880. Despite these painful losses, Robert and Mary remained resilient. In 1883, they welcomed another son, Walter Norman Anthony, born on September 8, offering renewed hope as they continued to build their family amidst the challenges of colonial life.

Toowoomba Gaol plan, 1868.

Transition to Grocer and Economic Challenges

In the mid-1880s, Robert made a significant career change, transitioning from his role at Toowoomba Gaol to becoming a grocer. This decision might have been inspired by his brother-in-law, Angus MacDonald, who was married to Robert's younger sister Mary Anthony. Angus had successfully established himself as a grocer, and his example may have spurred Robert to pursue a similar path, viewing it as an opportunity to achieve greater financial independence. However, managing a grocery business would have presented considerable challenges, particularly for someone without prior experience.

In 1886, at age 48, Robert faced financial difficulties and was declared insolvent. The transition from being a principal turnkey to running a grocery store was a drastic change, and it appears that economic conditions, along with inexperience in retail, contributed to the business's failure. It is possible that broader economic downturns in Toowoomba also played a role in Robert's insolvency, impacting the success of small businesses during this period.

In the same year, Robert retired from his position at Her Majesty's Gaol, receiving a pension of 50 pounds. This pension provided some support as Robert transitioned away from his long career in law enforcement.

Brisbane Courier Mail 2nd December 1901

Toowoomba Chronicle (Qld. : 1917 - 1922), Saturday 6 July 1918, page 6

Reflections

The story of Robert Anthony and Mary Jane Gibson reflects both the opportunities and the challenges faced by Irish emigrants in 19th-century Australia. Their journey from Tyrone to Queensland was driven by economic hardship and the desire for a better future—a path shared by many of their contemporaries. Family connections, such as the pioneering efforts of Margaret and William Anthony, played a vital role in facilitating their migration, highlighting the importance of kinship networks in establishing new lives in the colonies.

As Robert settled into life in Toowoomba, his career in the penal system provided some stability for his family, yet personal tragedies, including the loss of siblings and children, underscored the fragility of life during this era. The social and economic challenges faced by Mary Jane following Robert’s death in 1896 reflect the broader struggles of widows in colonial Australia. Her decision to run a boarding house demonstrate her strength and adaptability—traits that ensured her family’s survival during difficult times. Ultimately, their legacy is one of courage and determination, qualities passed down to future generations of the Anthony family.