Robert Plummer

Reference NSW State Archives shipping list.:

"Ascendant" arrived 1855: Plummer, Robert aged 34, Farm Lab, born Ringland, Norfolk, Wesleyan, could read and write. His wife, Dinah, aged 30, born Rattray, Devonshire, their children George (4) and Sarah (2) both born Tilney, Norfolk. A daughter was born on the voyage.

BDM NSW Death 1902/9608 Kempsey; Plummer, Robert, son of Samuel and Mary.

Macleay Argus (Kempsey) Sat 19 Jul 1902; Death of Mr. R. Plummer, sen

A pioneer of settlement on the Lower Macleay and one of the oldest inhabitants of this district, both in point of age and residence,in the person of Mr. Robert Plummer, sen., passed away at his residence, Smithtown, on the night of Friday, 11th July. Deceased had been ill for some time past and succumbed to an internal disease.

The late Mr. Plummer was the son of a farm superintendent, and was born at Ringland, county Norfolk, England, on July 15th, 1820, so had he lived four days longer be would have attained his 82nd year. In his young days the deceased gentleman travelled over the greater portion of England, working on many of the new railways, and then be crossed over to Germany and assisted in tbe construction of what was then known as the Great Hamburgh Railway.

Returning to England, the late Mr. Plummer in 1847 married his wife, whose maiden name was Miss Dinah Gill. But his passion for travelling was not quelled by marriage, and in the year 1855 Mr. Plummer embarked for Australia in the British ship Ascendant, be acting as special constable on board. Landing in Sydney, be came to the Macleay the same your and resided at Frederickion.

Finally he took up land at Seven Oaks, being the first man to select land on the Lower Macleay under the Robertson Land Act.

Mr. Plummer then settled down for good, and, having a keen eye for land values, he acquired a very considerable amount of property, and at his death was very well off. During his long residence on the Macleay, the deceased took much interest in church work and always proved himself a willing contributor towards charitable objects.

The dairying industry on the Lower Macleay found a warm friend in the late Mr.Plummer — in fact but for his timely help in the black years of 1891-2-3 the Smithtown Factory would have gone the way of other similar concerns in this district, and would not be at the present time one of the most flourishing butter factories on the North Coast.

Deceased leaves a widow, five sons (Messrs. George, Samuel, Robert, Henry and Thomas Plummer)

and three daughters (Mesdames W.J. Wheeldon and R. J. Milligan and Miss F. E Plummer) to mourn their loss. One son and two daughters predeceased him.

The funeral took place at tbe Frederickton Cemetery on Sunday, and was attended by a large concourse from all parts of the district. A short service was held in the church after which the remains were conveyed to tbe cemetery. The Revs. A. R. Martin, B.A., and E. C. Knox conducted the service.