Robert James Martin McBRIDE [6053]

  General Notes:

1921 SA Deaths 449/506 MCBRIDE Robert James Martin, Burra
1921 Burra Cemetery Memorial Inscription McBRIDE Robert James Martin 90y

South Australian Register Thursday 21 June 1900
LOCAL COURTS.
ADELAIDE: Wednesday, June 20.
Before His Honor Mr. Commissioner Russell, S.M. and Messrs. W. R. Sando and S. Saunders.
. . .
Albert James McBride v. Robert James Martin McBride. - £64 13s. 1d., balance due on accounts rendered. Mr. J.C. Hamp for plaintiff and the Hon. J.H. Gordon for defendant, who counter claimed £57, which, it was alleged, he had paid in respect of a debt for which he had become plaintiffs surety. The Court entered a verdict for the plaintiff for £57 19s. 1d. in. respect of the claim, and for the defendant for £22 14s. 1d. on the counter-claim, leaving a balance of £35 5s. 10d. in the plaintiff's favour. Each party was ordered to pay his own costs.

Chronicle Saturday 7 July 1900
LOCAL OOURT- ADELAIDE.
Wednesday, July 4. (Before His Honor Mr. J.G. Russell, S.M., and. Messrs. John O'Connell and Alfred M. Simpson, jun.)
Albert James McBride v. Robert James Martin McBride. - Claim for £99 damages for breach of contract. The Plaintiff, who was represented by Mr. J. Moss Solomon, alleged that the defendant (his father) employed him to manage a station during the defendant's pleasure at a salary of £250 per annum, but dismissed him without giving reasonable notice, whereby the plaintiff claimed that he had lost the wages and advantages which he would have derived from the said service. Mr. J.R. Anderson appeared for the defendant, who denied the allegation. The court held that a month's notice would have been reasonable, and awarded judgment for the plaintiff for £28.

The Advertiser Friday 31 January 1913
Chronicle Saturday 8 February 1913
A GENEROUS GIVER.
Mr. McBride and his benefactions.
£3,OOO a year in donations.
Yesterday it was announced in "The Advertiser" that Mr. J.M. McBride,
Burra, had donated £4,000 towards establishing a Chapman-Alexander Bible Institute, to be conducted on similar lines to the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. This handsome gift is but one of a large number of benefactions that Mr. McBride has bestowed for religious and philanthropic purposes. Indeed, those intimately acquainted with him estimate that during the last twenty years he has given away at least £3,000 per annum. One gentleman stated on Thursday, in referring to the liberality of the well-known pastoralist:-"He drops his money all around just where he sees a good cause in need of financial aid, and he does it so unostentatiously that comparatively few people know anything of it. Fewer still realise the full extent of his donations. A hundred pounds here and there, and sometimes a couple of hundreds or more, is quite a common matter with him."
From the Sea to Pastoralist.
Mr. Robert James Martin McBride is a native of Newry, in the North of Ireland, having been born there in 1831. From the age of 14 to 21 he spent most of his time at sea. In 1852 he arrived in Australia, and made for the goldfields. His stay in Victoria was not a long one, and after further time at sea he returned to this continent, reaching Adelaide in 1856. He settled at Burra, spending about twelve months as overseer and storekeeper of the Hillside station, which was owned by Mr. J. W. Tyler. He then engaged in contracting in connection with station fences and buildings and other works. In 1859 Mr. McBride entered into pastoral pursuits on his own behalf, having purchased from Mr. John Broad a large tract of country adjoining the Government Wells and the North-West Bend station. Here be made his home for many years, naming the station The Gums. At a later stage he became proprietor of the Pine Valley, Drayton. Teetulpa, Farawav Hill, Finger Post, Oakleigh, Redcliffe, and Outalpa, and other stations and farms. He has also taken an interest in mining, having been associated with the Broken Hill mines in the early days of the silver discovery, and in the Golden Mile at Kalgoorlie, when that was first discovered. He has a large family, and many grandchildren.
Catholic Sympathies.
Mr. McBride has taken a keen interest in religious and philanthropic matters, and many charities; both South Australian and English, have been assisted by his welcome cheques from time to time. With the Chapman-Alexander missions he showed much sympathy, and it has been estimated that during the two visits of the eminent evangelists he gave not less than £1,500 directly or indirectly to their work. It would, of course, be impossible to publish a full list of his benefactions, which for twenty years have amounted to £3,000 per annum, but some idea of the breadth of his sympathies may be gathered from a few typical gifts. The 'McBride Cottages' at Burra, which he had erected at his own expense three years or so ago, are believed to have cost about £600. They consist of a terrace of five small houses for the accommodation of aged and poor persons. For a considerable time past he has contributed £100 a year for the Ragged Schools in England, and he has been an annual subscriber to Dr. Barnardo's Homes. A few months ago he gladdened the hearts of those connected with the Methodist Central Mission in Adelaide by donating £700 towards the building fund of the social hall movement, his first contribution being £500, which he subsequently augmented by an additional £200. Said the Rev. W.H. Cann, president of the Methodist Conference:-"Every now and again he gives a donation to the mission, and he is always ready to help in cases of urgent need." Quite recently he paid, over £100 to the Port Pirie Methodist Sunday-school kindergarten-building fund, and he has also contributed to the Petersburg Methodist Sunday-school to assist in the erection, of a new building. A little while ago, when Mr. Douglas Green visited Adelaide on behalf of the Mission to Lepers in India and the East, Mr.McBride wrote out a cheque for £400 to help the good work. On further reflection, however, he became so impressed with the value, of the mission that he supplemented the amount with a second cheque, also for £400 making £800 in all. About, the same time the committee of Minda were appealing "for funds, and Mr. McBride, cheerfully contributed £300 to this worthy object. The Brompton Mission was brought under his notice somthing like two years, ago. Funds were needed for the erection of a hall and, having satisfied himself that the work being carried out was of valuable character, including religious services, athletics, Bible Study, instruction in cooking, singing, &c., he handed the trustees, Messrs. Peter Wood, W. Hooper, and H.E.H. Piening, £600, the result being that the McBride Hall was erected. To the Y.W.C.A., within eighteen months has benefited to the extent of £225 and the Boys' Brigade to the amount of £100 each. To the Y.W.C.A. building fund he has contributed two sums of £100 each. The Children's Hospital and many other deserving charities have been cheered by his magnificence, and the Salvation Army has received much practical aid from him. As one evidence of his thoughtfulness, it may be mentioned that some time ago he imported a large number of air cushions, which he distributed amongst the various hospitals of the State for the use of patients, believing that they would add to their comfort.

The Register Wednesday 10 October 1917
THE LAW COURTS.
SUPREME COURT- IN BANCO.
ADELAIDE: Tuesday, October 9.
[Before the Chief Justice (Sir George Murray), Mr. Justice Gordon, and Mr. Justice Buchanan.] -
. . .
-Appeal Against a Judge's Order.-
Argument was continued, in the appeal made in behalf of Robert James Martin McBride against an order given in Chambers on September 12 by Mr. Justice Buchanan, who dismissed an application, with £3 3/ costs to the defendant, for an order for further and better answers by Caroline Sandland, a daughter of the appellant, to interrogations delivered to her interrogation respecting an impending action at law. An order of the Full Court was sought requiring her to comply with the application. Mr. E.E. Cleland, K.C., with Mr. F.V. Smith, appeared for the appellant, and Sir Josiah Symon, E.C., ?with Mr. W.S. Bright, represented the respondent. Sir Josiah Symon, continuing his argument, submitted that a substantial answer to interrogations was in all cases sufficient to meet the requirements of the law. He contended that Mr. Justice Buchanan had rightly exercised his discretion and that substantial, justice had been done. It would have been impossible for any Judge to have done otherwise than have refused to order further answers in that case. He asked that the appeal should be dismissed, with costs to the respondent. Mr. Smith had not concluded his reply to Sir Josiah's arguments when the Court was, at 4.30 p.m., adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on October 11.

Daily Herald (Adelaide) Saturday 15 October 1921
NONAGENARIAN'S DEMISE ,
Mr. R.J.M. McBride
Well-known Philanthropist Crosses the Divide.
The death occurred shortly before midnight on Thursday of Mr. Robert James Martin McBride, the well-known pastoralist and philanthropist of Burra Mr. McBride was 91 years of age and was born at Newry in the North of Ireland, in January, 1831, the son of an officer in the British army. At the age of 14 he left school and he spent the greater part of the succeeding seven years at sea. In 1852 he arrived in Australia and went direct to the goldfields of Victoria. His love for the sea drew him back to that calling. But Australia also possessed an even greater fascination, and within four years 'he was back,' and when in 1856 he reached Adelaide it was with a determination that this country should be his home. Of the famous copper mines at Burra he had already heard, and he made the journey to the mining centre in quest of work on foot. There he readily found employment, and he followed mining pursuits for some time. Then he undertook fencing and other contracts, and accepted employment on the stations in the district. A year spent as overseer and storekeeper at the Hillside station, owned by Mr. J.W. Tyler, had a great effect in determining his choice of a career. The life of a pastoralist had begun to exercise a charm, and he felt that his future must be largely devoted to the sheep industry. In 1859 Mr. McBride purchased from Mr. John Broad about 200 square miles adjoining the Government Wells and the Nor' West Bend station. Here he made his home for many years, naming the station The Gums. At a later stage he became proprietor of the Pine Valley, Drayton Teetulpa, Faraway Hill, Finger Post Oakleigh, Redcliffe, and Outalpa stations, which comprised 900 square miles, and the Oulnina stations and farms.
-A Versatile Character.-
He was a many-sided man. His energies could not be confined to any one kind of enterprise. In addition to his great pastoral concerns he played an important part in connection with the development of mining interests in this and other States. He was associated with the Broken Hill mines, and with "The Golden Mile" at Kalgoorlie in the early days of those discoveries, and he
rendered considerable financial assistance to mining in this State.
At Burra especially he had long been a familiar figure. Unassuming, a man of iron physique, and with remarkable strength of will, he possessed a kindly disposition of which only those who were intimately acquainted with him were fully aware. One side of his character was illustrated in his many benefactions. The wide range of the objects on which his bounty was exercised discloses the catholicity of the man. He gave £1000 to the Methodist Memorial Hospital, and several donations of £50 each to the Methodist Aboriginal Mission. He had also generously supported the Methodist Sunday school department, and had conducted a Sunday morning class for 25 years. He had long been a trustee of the Burra Methodist Church. Although an ardent Methodist his own had no preference in his sympathies when he was allocating his princely gifts.
-Subscribes to Patriotic Funds.-
The needs arising out of the great war made an especially strong appeal to his sympathy, and he poured out money lavishly to the many patriotic funds which were called into existence. A glance at the records of contributions to these funds reveal that in the first 20 months of hostilities be gave over £13,000 to different organisations. Even during this period of heavy demand on his liberality he did not forget the claims of philanthropic causes not directly associated with the war. Several years ago it was estimated that he had distributed about £103,000, and since then his generosity has been exercised in a systematic and thoughtful manner.
-The Family.-
Mr. McBride leaves a widow and five sons and six daughters-Messrs. W. J., R.M., A. J., T., and N. H. McBride; and Mesdames J.C. Sandland, W. G. Hawkes, B. A. Bohme, K. Keynes, and S. Alker, and E. Evans. Three of his grandsons were killed at the front. Mr. McBride's first wife died several years ago and in 1903 he married Mrs. Robertson, the widow of Mr. R. Robertson, of Broken Hill.
-The Funeral.-
The funeral will take place at Kooringa Cemetery to-morrow morning.

1921 - McBRIDE, Robert James Martin
Burra Record (SA : 1878-1954) Wednesday 19 October 1921
Death of Mr. R. J. M. McBride.
Mr. R.J.M. McBride, whose death occurred at his residence on Thursday night, was one of the oldest and most notable residents of Burra. He was also a pioneer pastoralist of the State and his name will ever be associated with the industry. His last illness extended over only these days. He contracted a cold on the previous Monday which at his great age quickly developed into pneumonia with other complications and he passed away as stated. The deceased pastoralist was born at Newry, north of Ireland, on January 13th, 1831, and at the age of 14 years went to sea. In the course of several voyages in the next seven years, he visited nearly every part of the world, and twice doubled the Horn. He arrived in Australia in 1852, and immediately "tried his luck" at the Victorian goldfields. The sea, however, soon called him from that life, and it was four years later that he landed in South Australia, without friends and with only 5s in his pockets. The Burra district was then booming, and Mr. McBride, being an adventurous young man of about 26 summers, determined to go there, even if it meant walking every step of the way. Eventually he arrived at the northern town ship and experienced no difficulty in obtaining employment as a miner on the famous copper property. He was after wards engaged in carrying from Burra to Adelaide and back, and later under took fencing and other contracts on the neighbouring sheep stations. He was able to launch out as a full-fledged squatter in 1859. He first established The Gums, a large tract of country out from Mount Mary, and gradually acquired other extensive properties. During the ensuing years he owned the Pine Valley, Drayton, Teetulpa, Faraway Hill, Finger Post, Oakleigh, Redcliffe, Outalpa, and Oulnina stations. Mining always had a strong appeal for Mr. McBride, and he was one of the first to realize the possibilities of the Barrier mining field. He invested in 100 of the £10 shares in the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, and subsequently disposed of some of them at £14,000 each. The late pastoralist married first Miss Bessie Dunn, who came out to Australia on the vessel on which he was a sailor. She died on June 18, 1902. Mr. McBride afterwards married Mrs. Robinson, of Broken Hill. The surviving family consists of Messrs William McBride, Aberdeen, pastoralist; Robert Martin McBride, Toorak, pastoralist; Albert James McBride, Glen Osmond, pastoralist; Thomas McBride, Torrensville, pastoralist; and Norman Harold McBride, Glenelg. pastoralist; Mrs. Elizabeth Alkar, St. Peters; Mrs. Caroline Sandland, Kooringa; Mrs. Isabella Hawkes, Koonoona; Mrs. Mary Keynes, Leighton; Mrs. Jane Boehme, Ucolta; and Mrs. Alice Evans, St. Peters. There are 56 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Since 1912 the late Mr McBride had given over £57,000 to charitable institutions and patriotic and war funds, including the following: -Angas College, £1,210; City Methodists Mission, £945; Northern Territory Mission, £2,450; Salvation Army (South Australia), £5, 875; Blind Institution, £1,925; Home for Incurables, £362; Minda Home, £300; Methodist Church, Kooringa, £1,SS6; Home and Foreign Missions and Bible Societies. £2,350; Salvation Army (London), £2,355; Dr. Barnardo's Home, £1,150; Muller's Orphanage, Brisbane, £1,100; Dr. Kirk's Children's Home, London, £450; Light House Literature, Belfast, £210. An estimate of the amounts which he contributed to the various war funds was considerably over £7,000. Other notable gifts were donations of £4,000 towards the cost of establishing the Australian Bible Institute at Wayville. In Burra Mr McBride was ever ready to assist in all cases of distress and charity and will be remembered by many for his great generosity. The funeral took place at the Kooringa cemetery on Saturday morning and was attended by a large and representative number of residents and visitors, including Colonel Sharp, the head of the South Australian Division of the Salvation Army and Mr A.E. Fryar, who represented Messrs Elder Smith & Co., Adelaide, and who also represented Mr Peter Waite, who is probably the oldest friend that the late Mr McBride has left. The cortege was a lengthy one and immediately following the hearse was his well known horse, 'Jim,' attached to the phaeton Mr McBride always used, driven by his coachman. The chief mourners were the widow, six sons, and four daughters and a large number of grandsons. His eldest daughter Mrs Alkar, was unable to be present. The services at the residence and grave were conducted by the Revs. G.K. Haslam, A.J. Finch and E.M. Ingamells. The Rev. Finch delivering a very fine address at the graveside. The bearers were, - Messrs E.W. Crewes, S.M. Lane, Clem Pearce, A.S. Martin, W.R. Chambers and W.J.C. Ewins. A large number of beautiful wreaths were received and were conveyed in a cab to the cemetery. Included in these, were emblems from the Railway employees of South Australia, the Salvation Army, Rescue Home and the McBride Maternity Hospital. Among the many messages of sympathy received was one from the Governor's Private Secretary to Mrs McBride and family which read as follows - "His Excellency and Lady Weigall express their deep sympathy in your great loss.' Mr W.J. Young, the general manager of Elder Smith & Co., also sent the following wire to Mr Fryar, trustee, "Please convey to the members of the family of the late Mr McBride the deep sympathy of our company who feel that they have lost a very old and honoured friend." Many other messages were received from influential people and friends of the family. It seems a coincidence that the deceased gentleman was born on the 13th and also died on the 13th and the figures of the year of his birth (1831) also make 13. The coffin was of polished oak and almost perfectly plain, the only ornament being a massive silver anchor - an emblem of his early life.
1831 adds up to 13; so does 1921.

Robert married Elizabeth DUNN [6054] [MRIN: 2049], daughter of John DUNN [11087] and Unknown, on 26 Jan 1856 in Pirie Street Chapel, Adelaide, South Australia. (Elizabeth DUNN [6054] was born in 1833 in Dublin, Ireland and died in 1902.)

  Marriage Notes:

1856 SA Marriages 25/246 MACBRIDE Robert James DUNN Elizabeth, Adelaide

South Australian Register Monday 28 January 1856
Marriage Notice:
On the 26th inst., in the Pirie-street Chapel, by licence, by the Rev. Joseph Dare, Mr. Robert James McBride, of Hillside, to Miss Elizabeth Dunne, of this city.

Robert next married Frances Elizabeth Jane PRICE [11089] [MRIN: 4066] in 1903 in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia.