Robert Burfield

Robert Burfield

Robert arrived in South Australia on the "Somersetshire" in 1839. He pioneered the Blackwood Belair Coromandel Valley area or as stated Upper Mitcham. Mitcham is a suburb on the flat, the Old Belair road winds up from Mitcham/Torrens Park to Belair, through Glenalta/Blackwood and into Corromandel Valley.

The photo was taken on 28th December 1871, by Mr, Duryea at the function held by Mr Emanuel Solomon for 460 men and 460 women who were pioneers of the State. You could say it was South Australias' "Mayflower" banquet. This was, as observing, the beginning of what was to be called, the "Adelaide Establishment".

Robert does not appear on the short list published in the newspaper but the photograph is proof on his attendance.

DEATH OF MR. BURFIELD, OF BELAIR.

An inquest was held by the City Coroner (Mr. T. Ward, J. P.) on Saturday, October 26, at the Blackwood Inn, Belair, on the body of Robert Burfield, an old settler in the neighbourhood, who was found dead under his cart in a creek the previous day. Mr. E. Shepley was Foreman of the Jury. At the place where the accident occurred there was a wooden bridge over the creek, on which there was only space for one vehicle to pass, a post-and-rail fence being on each side. From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Burfield on Friday afternoon left home at about a quarter to 5 o'clock with the object of getting a cask of water from the creek for household purposes. Shortly after wards Mrs. Samson, who lived near the creek, heard Mr. Burfield calling to his horse to stop, and looking towards the bridge she saw the horse and cart which be was driving fall over the side of the bridge. She ran to the spot, and saw deceased lying with his face in the water. She procured assistance, and some of the neighbours lifted deceased's head out of the water, when they heard a sound in his throat. The splashboard of the dray was upon him, and he lay in about two feet of water.

The horse was freed, the cart removed, and the body conveyed to the Blackwood Inn, when it was found that life was extinct. The fall from the bridge to the creek was about 10 feet, and it was supposed that the accident occurred by deceased trying to turn his cart where there was not room. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was caused by accidental suffocation and from injuries received by the fall. Mr. Burfield was a colonist of forty years' standing, and about sixty years of age.

DEATH OF MR. BURFIELD, OF BELAIR. (1878, November 2). Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), p. 21. Retrieved June 12, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160115014''

MARRIED. BARNET—BURFIELD.—On the 9th instant, at Blackwood Farm, Upper Mitcham, by the Rev. Robert Haining. William Barnet, bookseller, Gawler Town, to Miss Hannah Burfield, daughter of Mr. Robert Burfield.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page18140''

BURFIELD Robert, Mercy POTTER, Sarah, Ruth arrived in SA 1839-08-24 aboard Somersetshire from London

http://www.familyhistorysa.org//shipping/passengerlists.html

Other arrivals on the Somersetshire

• BURFIELD Harriet arrived in SA 1839-08-24 aboard Somersetshire from London
• BURFIELD Samuel, Martha MITCHELL, Eliz arrived in SA 1839-08-24 aboard Somersetshire from London
• GASTON Charles, Rebecca BURFIELD, Ann arrived in SA 1839-08-24 aboard Somersetshire from London
• HERSEY James (d aft arr), Barbara BURFIELD, Eliz, Crln, Em, Louisa, Ellen, Sarah (d aft arr) arrived in SA 1839-08-24 aboard Somersetshire from London

and a year later

EXCELL John Wickens, Elizabeth BURFIELD, child, Eliz (12,2) arrived in SA 1840-08-11 aboard Lalla Rookh from London 40-04-26

MyHeritage Family Trees Les Williams family tree - 2010-02-26 10-43-52 in Les Williams family tree Web Site, managed by Les Williams (Contact)

• Birth: Circa 1812 - Lewes, Sussex, England
• Death: Oct 25 1878 - Belair, South Australia, Australia
• Parents: Samuel Burfield, Mary Burfield (born Colwill)
• Siblings: James Burfield, Mary Burfield, Benjamin Burfield, Barbary [barbara] Hearsey (born Burfield), Elizabeth Burfield, Martha Burfield, Samuel Burfield, Rebecca Mary Gasston (born Burfield), Naomi Davey (born Burfield), Harriet Burfield
• Wife: Mary Burfield (born Potter)
• Children: Ruth Miller (born Burfield), Mary Jane Burfield, Hannah Burfield, Mercy Burfield, Mary Ann Burfield, Mercy Hall Hall Dick (born Burfield)
• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Oct 12 2017, 4:21:56 UTC