Rosewood History. Qld.
Rosewood Pioneeers
Robert BOUGHEN
© Jane Schy 2026
Occupation: Shepherd; Carter; Farmer
Birth: 26th March 1831, Tompson/Thompson Village, Breckland Borough, Norfolk, England
Baptism: 1st May 1831, Tompson St. Martin, Norfolk, England
Immigration: 30th May 1857, the Hastings arrived Moreton Bay, Queensland. She left Birkenhead, on the west bank of the River Mersey, on 24th February.
Death: 7th August 1916, Rosewood, Queensland aged 85 years
Burial: 8th August 1916, Tallegalla Pioneer Cemetery (Plot: T4/11/15)
Father: William BOUGHEN (Horse Driver; Labourer)
Mother: Mary STARR
Spouse 1st: Susan DOE
Birth: 1834, Illington, Norfolk, England
Baptism: 16th March 1834, Illington, Norfolk, England
Residence: 1851, 86 Church Street, Great Ellingham, Norfolk. Servant to James and Maria Chaplin – Farmer & Dealer
Death: 27th January 1871, Churchill, Ipswich, Queensland aged 37 years
Burial: 29th January, 1871, Ipswich General Cemetery (Church of England B)
Father: William DOE (Labourer)
Mother: Sarah BATES
Marriage: 8th November 1856, Illington, Norfolk, England
Children: 6
George BOUGHEN (1856-1925) = Kate FORD née TANNER (1848-1928)
William BOUGHEN (1860-1949) = Rosina PONTING (1864-1909)
Edward BOUGHEN (1863-1946) = Elizabeth HEINER (1865-1906)
Albert BOUGHEN (1866-1953) = Annie ZABEL (1872-1948)
Arthur BOUGHEN (1868-1951) = Hanora MOLLOY (1865-1917)
Charles BOUGHEN (1870-1871)
Spouse 2nd: Elizabeth/Eliza WARD
Born: c.1838, England
Death: 13th March 1873, Rosewood, Queensland aged 35 years
Burial: 14th March 1873, Ipswich General Cemetery (Church of England B)
Father: William WARD
Marriage: 28th April 1872, Ipswich, Queensland
Children: 1
Eliza BOUGHEN (1873-1873)
Spouse 3rd : Mary Joan NICHOL
Born: Tenterfield, New South Wales
Baptised: 1849, Ipswich, Stanley, New South Wales, Australia. (Registration No. and Church Code: 2114/1850 V18502114 68 VH)
Note: Mary’s obituary says she was born in Tenterfield. The record I found for her baptism is from the early church records of colonial New South Wales, which are held by the New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Queensland was not declared a separate crown colony to New South Wales until 6th June 1859.
Death: 21st September 1928, at the residence of her daughter Mrs Alfred Smith, Rosewood, aged 79 years.
Burial: 22nd September 1928, Tallegalla Pioneer Cemetery (Plot: T4/11/15)
Father: Peter NICHOL/NICOL (Confectioner; Chemist; Druggist) (d. 1858 Tenterfield)
Mother: Frances JONES (d. 1907 Ipswich aged 85 years)
Marriage: 8th September 1873, St Paul’s Church of England, Ipswich, Queensland
Children: 8
Robert BOUGHEN (1874-1953) = Susan Alice WYATT (1881-1964)
Harriet BOUGHEN (Twin) (1877-1878)
John BOUGHEN (Twin) (1877-1950) = Frances FORDE (1882-1973)
Mary Ann BOUGHEN (1879-1964) = Charles Alfred SMITH (1876-1960)
James BOUGHEN (1881-1882)
James BOUGHEN (1883-1953) = Florence Gibbons MABBOTT (1882-1946)
Frances BOUGHEN (1886-1916) = Ernest SORRELL (1872-1959)
Henry BOUGHEN (1889-1957) = Edith BEST (1889-1966)
The Hastings, which carried Robert (25) and Susan (23) and their infant son George to Queensland, was captained by Alexander Newlands. Captain Newlands is well documented as holding the record for 130 years for racing a ship, Champion of the Seas from Liverpool to Melbourne: 24 hours, 465 nautical miles (861 km) noon to noon 
December 10th-11th, 1854.
The voyage of the Hastings was trouble free, apart from encountering heavy gales and a storm on the Australian coast, and an incident that occurred when passing through the shipping channel in Moreton Bay. The vessel, under charge of the pilot, Mr. Watson, grounded on a sand-spit off Comboyuro Point and remained fast for about fifteen minutes, which must have caused some excitement amongst the passengers. Captain Newlands thought that the incident happened because of the absence of buoys which should have marked the channel into the bay. It was hazy that day and the river was muddy. Buoys were frequently washed away by the power of the waves, and recovering and replacing them was much easier said than done. No damage seemed to have been done to the ship.
The day before the ship anchored in Moreton Bay, Robert Boughen and 175 of the 388 passengers, signed addresses to Captain Newlands and Doctor Tunmur, thanking them for bringing them safely to the land of their adoption across the seas. Other Rosewood pioneers, Martin and Zillah Beavis were also on board the Hastings.
Two of the crew deserted ship and headed for the mainland using a wooden stage that was being used by a carpenter making repairs to the bow. They were found on an island 15 miles (24km) from the Pilot Station, exhausted and starved for food for several days.
The passengers were brought up to the immigration depot by the paddle steamer Breadalbane on Wednesday afternoon, 3rd June. Hiring commenced on Thursday morning at eleven, and continued throughout Friday. Of the 132 single men who arrived, 31 were engaged; 64 had their rations cut off for refusing to hire at the rate £30 to £35 per annum to go into the bush as shepherds for twelve months, and 30 still remained. Of the 66 married couples, only 14 had been engaged. Of the 24 single women, 18 had been engaged. The 30 single men who remained were all mechanics (carpenters, blacksmiths, masons etc).
Robert’s obituary in 1916 gives us information about his life in Queensland. I have transcribed it from Queensland Times, Saturday, 9 September 1916, page 10.
THE LATE MR. R. BOUGHEN, OF ROSEWOOD.
Another old pioneer passed away on the 7th of August in the person of Mr. Robert Boughen at the age of 87 years. He was born at Norfolk, England, on the the 10th of March, 1830. (sic.) Mr. Boughen, his wife, and eight-months child (Mr. G. Boughen) arrived in Moreton Bay by the sailing ship Hastings after a voyage of over three months, landing in Brisbane in the early part of 1857. A few days after he was engaged by the late Mr. James England to proceed to Buaraba Station where he was employed as a shepherd for some time. Subsequent to leaving Mr. James England’s employ he came to Ipswich, where he was engaged by the late Mr. Pollett Cardew, father of the late Mr. P. L. Cardew, the well known solicitor, to go on to his station on the Dawson. He worked there for a period, and then returned to Ipswich, and during his residence at Churchill, was employed by the following business people:- Messrs. William Hendren and D. Mitchell. Subsequently he accepted an engagement with the late Mr. F. C. Parr, who was carrying on butchering in East-street, and whose slaughtering premises were situated near the old racecourse on the property of the late Mr. James Ivory. The deceased became a member of the Western Star Lodge about that period, some 46 years ago. While in Mr. Parr’s employ he took up land in the neighbourhood of Rosewood, and in 1869 he removed from Ipswich to his new home near the present Rosewood Township, where he resided, more or less, up to the time of his demise.
He assisted materially in the advancement of Rosewood, and helped to promote the Rosewood Farmers’ Club, having been one of the early committee men of the last named institution. He was greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He was married three times, and leaves five sons by his first wife (who died during their residence at Churchill), one by his second wife, who died after 11 months marriage, and four sons and a daughter by his third wife, who survives him. His family of 10 are all grown up and married. There are 45 grand children and four great grand children.
The remains were interred in the Tallegalla cemetery on Tuesday, the Rev. G. Weal, of St Luke’s Church of England, conducting the service.
The men who employed Robert in the first 12 years after he arrived in Queensland have interesting histories in their own right, and if anyone cares to look further, you’ll be provided with an insight into the happenings and conditions that would have been Robert’s experience. Besides Buaraba Station (near Gatton), James England also owned Bundanba Station and Tarampa Station before returning to Somerset, England where he died in 1895. He left bequests of £150 each to the Ipswich Hospital, St Paul’s Anglican Church and the Wesleyan Church in Ipswich. Pollett Cardew owned Mount Flinders Station with the Hon. Walter Horatio Wilson in 1853 before buying Eurombah Station (near Taroom), which was a risky and dangerous place to live at times. William Hendren had a large grocery and drapery store in East Street, Ipswich, opposite the National School. He was also an auctioneer, stock, station, land and produce agent, a Territorial Magistrate and a trustee of the Ipswich Savings Bank. David Mitchell also had large stores in East Street. William Hendren sold the whole of David’s stock for him in 1867 before he left Ipswich and bought a store in Sydney. He left his shop buildings in the hands of William Hendren to rent out. The premises consisted of a seven roomed, two-storied brick residence with a detached kitchen, a large, brick, two-storied principal store with a large double store at the back, stables, and everything necessary for any extensive business. Frederick Charles Parr was a butcher in East Street. He died in 1878 aged 39 years of “paralysis of the brain”.
Following are some extra bits and pieces I have gathered about Robert Boughen.
On Saturday, 21st November 1868, Robert was involved in an accident at North Ipswich which was reported in the newspaper. The three year old son of John Macleay was run over by a “butcher’s cart”, and his thigh was broken. The accident was caused by the horse shying at the child’s mother as she shouted to the boy and rushed forward to get a hold on him. Her other child was on the other side of the road. The woman was struck by the shaft, but wasn’t injured. The boy was taken to Dr. Lossberg’s surgery, and eventually healed well. Though he was not named, Robert felt compelled to write to the Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser on 28th November.
Robert selected 86 acres of pastoral land at Rosewood for £15/2/6 on 8th November 1869. [Selection 889, Portion 339, County of Churchill, Parish of Walloon.]
See the Land Purchase here.
Ipswich Observer and West Moreton Advocate (Qld), Monday 12 May 1879, page 2
From Our Travelling Reporter
<snip> The farm of Mr. R. Boughen is situated near the line, and a short distance from the Gate. The owner is at present engaged carting stone to the railway line for ballast, and I had the opportunity of seeing his draught stallion, “Sir Charles” at work. He is a splendid young animal, works well in harness, and is just the stamp of a horse the farmers require. Mr. Boughen cultivates 30 acres maize, the greater part of which is looking well. <snip>
Roberts donated prize money for exhibits, and was an exhibitor himself at the Rosewood Shows. Some examples of this are:
1880 – Best bale of Oaten Hay (not less than 2001b.). First prize, £1; second prize, 10s.- Joseph Hudson, 1; R. Boughen, 2.
Best Coaching Stallion. – First class certificate. – R. Boughen, “Sir Charles”.
Best Foal got by “Sir Charles” (special prize by Robert Boughen). First prize £1; second prize, certificate:- August Kleve, 1; Frederick Staatz, 2.
Best pair light Waggon Horses, to be tried in waggon (special prize by Walter Gosling). First prize £1; second prize, 10s.- R. Boughen, 1; August Kleve, 2
Best pair Plough Horses, to he tried on the ground (special prize by Messrs. J. J. Moore & Co.). Prize, £1 1s. – R. Boughen
1884 – Bale Lucerne Hay – R. Boughen.
1886 – Bale of Lucerne Chaff (£1 by Mr. R. Boughen). First prize, £1; second, 10s. W. Arndt, 1; W. Arndt, 2.
After watching a demonstration of an American ‘Sulky’ plough at James Moran’s farm in September 1884, Robert was so pleased with the performance of the plough that he ordered one for £16. It was so constructed that the ploughman could ride while at work. The plough was mounted on a light carriage with a seat for the driver in front. By moving a lever he could raise or lower the plough, according to the nature of the work required to be done. It was claimed that with three horses attached, three and a half acres a day could easily be turned over. It could plough ten to twelve inches deep, and throw a slice sixteen inches in width.
Robert was the at the first meeting when the Rosewood Cooperative Dairy Co. was formed, and he was one of the principal Directors 1897-1903. He was also a member of the Success of Rosewood Lodge, No. 22, P.A.F.S.O.A. (1894 on)
On 31st August 1893, a meeting of farmers and others interested in the expansion of the sugar industry in West Moreton was held in the Farmers’ Hall, Rosewood.
Mr. Robert Boughen pointed out that, many years ago, he brought three small bundles of plants from Ipswich, and subsequently he planted an acre with the produce of it, with the result that it had grown 15ft. high. What he did not eat the wallabies did. (Laughter.)
Robert enjoyed good health until a few weeks before he died in 1916. Mary survived him by 12 years.
Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Thursday 4 October 1928, page 10
Obituary.—The death occurred suddenly on September 28 (sic) of Mrs. Mary Boughen at the home of her daughter (Mrs. Alf. Smith, Walloon-road, Rosewood). The death of the deceased was due to heart seizure. Born at Tenterfield, the late Mrs. Boughen was in her 78th year, and since the death of her husband who died in 1916, she had resided with her daughter (Mrs. Smith). She is survived by one daughter, four sons: Messrs. James and John Boughen (Rosewood), Robert Boughen (Calvert) and H. Boughen (Sandgate). There were 27 grandchildren. The funeral took place to the Tallegalla cemetery, Rev A. W. Gilbert (C. of E.) officiating at the graveside.
References:
Norfolk, England, Bishop’s Transcripts, 1579-1935
Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940
1851 English Census
New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
Fabulous detail – a lot of research been done here – well one Jane
Oops I meant WELL DONE !!!!!!!!