Robert Adamson Rodd - Settler
Map 5
Robert Adamson Rodd was born at Barnstaple, Devon in 1808. He arrived in Hobart in 1822 on the Tiger with his father John Tremayne Rodd and brothers John and Brent Clements Rodd. They sailed to Sydney on the Castle Forbes later that year.
Land Grant
Robert Adamson Rodd was granted 300 acres of land by Sir Thomas Brisbane in November 1825. His selection was made at Broke on Wollombi Brook nearby John Blaxland and George Blaxland. This selection adjoined the estate of J. H. Townsend.In March 1830 he was granted an additional 700 acres at Broke. (Bottom right on the map below)
Assigned Convict Servants
Some of the convict servants assigned to Robert Adamson Rodd in 1828 :James Charington who arrived on the Malabar in 1819,
Christopher Welsh on the Asia,
Thomas Westwood on the Neptune,
John White on the Castle Forbes,
William Shepherd on the Norfolk and
Samuel Smith on the Hercules.
Court Case
In 1832 Rodd was involved in an extraordinary altercation with his nearby neighbour J. H. Townsend, culminating in his being indicted for maliciously shooting at Townsend with a pistol loaded with powder and ball with intent to murder.It began on the 21st November 1832 when Townsend was disturbed from his bed at 10 o'clock by a noise in the house. Upon investigation he observed two of his female servants leave together. Townsend stealthily dressed and followed the young women who proceeded across a creek and towards Rodd's house where they then met Rodd under his verandah. The three then proceeded towards Townsend, one of the servants arm in arm with Rodd. Upon reaching him Rodd cocked, presented and fired his pistol in the' most cool and reckless manner' at Townsend, saying as he did 'you are a dead man'. Townsend was not hit and came forward out of the cover of darkness, stating his name. They had words and then both returned to their homes.
Townsend was furious and a few days later Rodd received notice that he was to appear before the Bench to answer the charge. The case was heard in the Supreme Court in February 1833 and fortunately for Rodd, several Magistrates including Thomas Icely who had known him for 12 years and was ship board with him; and James Mudie who had known him 10 years; William Ogilvie who had known him for five years and Dr. Bland who had known him for 10 years all testified that he was a mild tempered, amiable young man and he was then acquitted of the charge [1].
Marriage
In 1840 he married Amelia Marshall, daughter of Sampson Marshall, and in 1845 at Tremayne, Wollombi, Amelia gave birth to a son, Dudley.Hubert followed in 1847, Evelin in 1852, Travers in 1854, Bertran in 1855 and Florentina in 1857.Death
Robert Adamson Rodd died at Tremayne House, Randwick in December 1876.References
[1] Sydney Monitor 9 February 1833↑