Robert Dewell 1802-1872
Robert Dewell was born 1802 at Woodnesborough, Kent, England. He came to South Australia arriving in January 1855 with 28 other family members after landing at Melbourne on the ship Carntyne with his wife, Ann nee Phillis, and family, and then travelling on ship Havilah to Adelaide, South Australia, when James Phillis returned to England to purchase stock and grain for his farming pursuits and found his family members wishing to return to South Australia with him. Wife Ann was a sister of James Phillis. The Dewells settled on land near the Torrens River, to the north of Mount Pleasant. Robert died 1872; Ann in 1863. John, the only son, bought land on the South Rhine watershed from his uncle, William Phillis, and established Marley Farm. Following John's early death in 1887, his widow, the former Miss Jemima French married her first husband's cousin, William Kemp, and raised two families at Marley Farm. John's sister, Mary Ann Dewell, also married her first cousin, Alfred Phillis. Another sister, Charlotte, developed that fine property, Dew Vale, with her son Franklin, on the main road between Mount Pleasant and Tungkillo. Apart from the Dew Vale family, who became Presbyterians, the Dewells remained loyal supporters of St John's Anglican Church, Mount Pleasant. Further detail regarding Charlotte Dewell and her son, Franklin, can be found here...
Robert and Ann Dewell had the following children
Frances b. 1829 Kent England d. 1862 Mount Pleasant SA
John b. 1831 Kent England d. 1883 Mount Pleasant SA
Charlotte b. 1832 Surrey England d. 1915 Mount Pleasant SA
Mary Ann b. 1836 Surrey England d. 1891 Pinda SA
Pleasant b. 1838 Kent England d. 1923 Albury NSW
Susannah b. 1840 Kent England d. 1906 Tamworth NSW
Caroline Elizabeth b. 1842 Kent England d. 1909 Germantown NSW
Wife, Ann Dewell nee Phillis died on 19 July 1863, and is buried in the St John Anglican Cemetery.
South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), Wednesday 22 July 1863, page 2
MOUNT PLEASANT.
[From our own Correspondent.] July 20.
An inquest was held to-day before J. Bennett, Esq., J.P., on the body of Ann Dewell, at her late residence. Deceased was the mother of a numerous family, and was highly respected by a large circle of relations and friends. It appears from the evidence that on Sunday morning, between 8 and 9 o'clock, after breakfast her son noticed something very strange in her appearance. He had noticed her drink something out of a basin. They looked at each other a few minutes, when she said, "Oh! dear John, it is too late; send to a neighbour and get a doctor." He did so, and when he came back he missed some poison (strychnine) that was kept to poison mice. He then found the remains of the poison in the basin. Deceased said that she had taken but little, and would soon be better. She was in great pain. Her friends used some remedies, such as salt and water, which made her sick, but their efforts were of no use, for she died in about half an hour from taking the poison. Before she died she said she was sorry for what she had done, and asked them to pray for her. It came out in evidence that for three or four weeks past deceased had acted strangely, and had said strange things, and had shown many signs of mental derangement; that she had lost a daughter and sister lately, and there were other family matters weighing upon her mind. The Jury, a most respectable and intelligent one, were not quite satisfied, and adjourned for two hours, to meet again at the Totness Inn, Mount Pleasant. Additional evidence was brought, which proved most clearly that deceased had for some time past been in a deranged state of mind, and had shown evident signs of insanity. The evidence of Alfred Phillis and Susannah Fulwood was quite clear on this point. The Jury then conferred together, and were unanimous as to the following verdict:—"That the deceased came to her end by administering poison to herself while suffering from hysterical derangement, and in a fit of temporary insanity." I omitted to state that Dr. Vonnida stated in evidence that from all the significations there could be no doubt that strychnine was the cause of death.
Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912)Thursday 1 August 1872 - Page 2
DEWELL.—On the 22nd July, at his residence, Marley Farm, South Rhine, Robert Dewell, in his 70th year.
References
The Quiet Waters By: the Mount Pleasant District 1843-1993, by Reg Butler
Newspapers via TROVE