Robert and Mary Ann Easton boarded the Lady Egida, bound for Otago, in 1860, with their baby Janet, just over a year old. They had married the year before.
It was not a happy voyage for them. In December Janet died of diahorrea and, two weeks later, Mary gave birth to Ann, who lived just more than another two week before succumbing to bronchitis. They arrived, the two of them, on January 26, 1861.
Almost exactly a year later, Robert went into partnership with a William Gow as lathers and plasterers. In early 1865 the had a third child, Robert Don Easton, who lived to the age of two years and seven months and died of scarlet fever.
MAYOR’S COURT.
This Day. (Before his Worship the Mayor and the Hon. A. Buchanan, J. P.)
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
Robert Easton was charged by Andrew Hislop with this offence. The complainant deposed that the defendant had accosted him in the street, by saying, “Well, elder, how is your soul” and used other abusive language. The defendant tacitly admitted having used the words quoted, but denied the other language imputed to him. He was fined 40s, with the alternative of three days’ imprisonment. -Evening Star, 1/5/1872.
One can only imagine, unfortunately, what the "other language" was. Also mysterious is:
MISSING FRIENDS.
JAS. GOODLET, late of the Shetland Isles will hear something to your advantage by sending address to
ROBERT EASTON,
Mornington, Dunedin. -Dunstan Times, 8/5/1874.
In 1880 Robert became a Councillor for the Borough of Mornington, at a time when there were many separate Boroughs within the City of Dunedin. He continued working as a plasterer and, sadly, in 1881, was declared bankrupt. It wasn';t a rare occurence in those days but it stil must have been a humiliating experience to attend Court to have one's finances examined.
New Insolvents.
The following debtors have filed notices of insolvency during the past week: —
John Miller Ramage, Mornington, carpenter. — Debts, L63 9s l0d; assets, L20.
James Gebbie, jun., Dunedin, florist, — Particulars not filed.
Donald McLaren, Green Island, settler. — Particulars not filed.
Robert Easton, Dunedin, plasterer. — Debts, L616 2s; assets, L63 1s 6d.
The notice of insolvency filed by James Forrester, of Darley, on the 18th July, has lapsed. -Otago Witness, 6/8/1881.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of Mr Robert Easton are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his late Wife, which will leave his residence, Paterson street, Mornington, for the Southern Cemetery, TO-MORROW (Friday) the 27th inst., at 2.30 p.m.
HUGH GOURLEY, UNDERTAKERS.
Clarke and Maclaggan streets. -Evening Star, 26/6/1890.
Applications for letters patent have been made by Robert Easton, of Mornington, for "Easton's Transverse Flax-dresser"; Thomas and William Bennet, of Dunedin, for improvements in mangles, entitled "Bennet's Improved Mangle"; and William Ward, of Otago, goldminer, for improvements in wire-strainers, to be known as '' The Dot Wire-strainer." -Otago Daily Times, 12/12/1893.
THE FLAX INDUSTRY.
IO THE EDITOR.
Sir, — It is upwards of thirty-five years since people began to experiment on the native flax in New Zealand, and so far without success; but I believe it is better late than never. In this latter remark I mean you to understand that in my opinion Mr Robert Easton, of this town, has solved the mystery of dressing flax in a manner that would astonish any of the flax experts. In fact, you would take it to be silk; it is so beautifully fine and glossy. And I mean to say he ought to be assisted by the Government with means to procure a shed and power to drive a machine in a suitable locality. He has already spent some years over the experimenting, besides a considerable sum of money, and such a man, I mean to say, deserves recognition by the Government. If this most important industry once got a fair start in New Zealand there would be work for thousands of boys and girls of all sizes, and even old men and women who are past hard work. I hope Mr Easton will be considered by the Government at an early date. The flax he can turn out by his method of preparation is worth £40 per ton.
— I am, etc., Advance New Zealand.
Roslyn, January 11. -Evening Star, 11/1/1898.
Robert Easton was the author and subject of many letters regarding the flax industry, and it seems he was an experimenter in the mechanical and chemical sides of the preparation of the native plant which had been a major industry in the days of sail and great demand for canvass and cordage.
And then he disappears from the published record. He died in Christchurch and was buried there in 1930. The identity of his daughter is also a mystery. He must either have remarried or he and Mary Ann must have had a fourth child.
DEATHS
EASTON. — On April 17, at 470, Madras Street, St Albans, Robert Easton, beloved father of Mrs L. J. Lewis; aged ninety-eight years. -Star, 17/4/1930.
Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.
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