Halbert James Edgar 1823-1869

THE FAMILY OF HALBERT JAMES EDGAR

Halbert James Edgar, born 30 May 1823, at Moffat. and baptised June 1823 at Harthope. Emigrated to Australia. married on 30 December 1844, Margaret Burgess (born 20 November 1823; died at Euabalong, New South Wales on 6 September 1887)and daughter of John Burgess (Bergers according to her death certificate). Margaret was born at Moffat, Scotland and had been in New South Wales 36 years at the time of her death. Margaret and Halbert (Herbert so says her death certificate) were married in Scotland 30.12.1844 when she was 20 years of age. Halbert Edgar, shoemaker in Moffat and Margaret Burgess were proclaimed for the last time and married on the 30th current at Moffat.

He died at Portland, Victoria. 29 November 1869.

They emigrated to Australia during 1853 or early 1854 and were accompanied by their five young sons; John (8), William (6), Archibald (5), Robert (3) and Halbert (1). Coming as free settlers they were undoubtedly encouraged to do so by Halbert's elder brother David. It is also most probable that David helped the family upon arrival as he had large landed interests in Western Victoria.

David Edgar had arrived in Geelong in 1838 at the age of 26. His first job was as a shepherd near Werribee. Soon after he became station manager for the Forlonge Brothers on their 25,000 acre property near Hamilton. He was earning 100 pounds a year which was indeed a most satisfactory wage for those times. Soon after he purchased a bush inn near Heywood where he stayed for 7 years. In 1849 he swapped his Inn for a partnership in the Mullagh sheep station near Harrow. Soon after he and his partner (Mr Bermingham) leased Pine Hills Station which they eventually bought. When his partner died, David Edgar became sole owner of Pine Hills whilst Mr Bermingham's wife and daughters received Mullagh. So by 1852 David Edgar was a wealthy pastoral gentleman. No wonder he encouraged his brothers and sisters to emigrate as he had jobs waiting for them at Harrow. As he expanded his pastoral interests more family members arrived in Australia to manage his properties; Bogolara, Tallangour, Longlands West, Kadnook and Drumborg which were all situated in the Harrow area. (In 1888 David Edgar owned 11,670 acreas in the Western District of Victoria).

On his arrival at Port Phillip in 1853/4 Halbert Edgar made his way to Portland, either overland , by coach or by boat. It is believed that he first worked for a shoemaker when he arrived in Portland. Very soon he made his way to Pine Hills station situated on the Glenelg River, just 6 miles from Harrow. Mary, his first daughter, was only a baby when he bought 2 allotments in Harrow in 1855. It is also believed that he had also acquired his property "Minstrel Haugh" by this time as the obituaries of the first two children born in Australia (1854 and 1856) state that they were born at "Minstrel Haugh".

In November 1857 he opened his first business in the town. it was a Boot and Shoemaking store. During 1859 he had the Spur Inn built on this same land and he stayed in the hotel business for a futher 10 years, whilst at the same time running the station at Tarrayoukan. Before 1852 when Harrow was officially named, the area had been called "The Upper Glenelg". Official naming of the town followed the surveying of the township and the subsequent sale of town allotments. Halbert's hotel joined two others in the town at that time. They were called "The Plough and Harrow" and the "Hermitage", the latter which also boasted a store within its doors.

The hotel was sold in 1869. Newspaper advertisements of the time show that it was taken over by Charles Shrive who boasted of "good accommodation at moderate charges". Halbert could now devote his full attention to "Minstrel Haugh" which was seven miles south of Harrow and contained 1,542 acres. The sheep property had been cleared and otherwise improved with the addition of a wool shed, press, stables and stock and drafting yards. The homestead had 9 rooms, a cellar and of course a garden. Halbert did not live long enough to enjoy his property as he died (in Portland) on 29 November 1869. He had just celebrated his 46th birthday. His death was noted in the newspapers with the simple words "Halbert Edgar, brother of Mr D Edgar, also died on the 29th. So we tumle off the stage one after another". Halbert is buried in Portland Cemetery near his sister Isabella and her husband Andrew Gray. His monument is inscribed with the words from Titus 2 Chapter 13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

During his years at Harrow, Halbert bacame quite involved in local affairs and especially in the development of a local school. On the 21 May 1855 Halbert was present at a public meeting held to discuss ways of providing a school for the children in the area, and at another meeting on 30 December 1862 Halbert and his brother David were among the gentlemen chosen to supervise the affairs of the village school, known as Harrow Common School. The school was conducted in the Harrow Presbyterian Church, a brick building with a corrugated iron roof, by Mr William Bruce Ross. There were 40 children enrolled at the school. Halbert's children Isabella, Mary, David and Robert Edgar would definately have been some of his first pupils. As this was prior to the Free Education Act of 1873, Halbert would have paid regular tuition fees for his children's education. These fees formed the basis of the teacher's salary.

The family, by now consisting of 5 sons (Robert died 1866) and 5 daughters stayed on the property for a further 7 years following Halbert's death.

"Minstrel Haugh" was put up for auction in October 1875. By now the property also boasted a newly erected four roomed cottage, which was probably lived in by John, the eldest son, who had by now married. The property was passed in at the first auction so the family tried another auction in June 1876. Once again it did not sell. As the family had bought property in New South Wales they were anxious for a sale and so it was sold privately in 1876. Like many of the Scottish pioneers of the Western District of Victoria, the Edgars settled in New South Wales. This emigration was caused by a combination of successive droughts and the land selection law which encroached on the grazier's land. New South Wales held opportunities for much larger holdings tan did Victoria. The new properties were close to Euabalong and were called "Errebendary' and "Bulloak". Sadley, in the words of Jessie Roper in a letter in 1973, "the droughts ruined them".

Mary was the only one of the family who did not go to New South Wales (Archibald did before the move). She was married to John James Badams and living in the Harrow area. Her sister, Isabella was a domestic servant in the Riverina until her marriage, in Melbourne 1877, to Richmond Armstrong Hope. She moved back to the Western District of Victoria and settled first at Apsley where she raised her family. The two Edgar sisters, Mary and Isabella, stayed in the area for the rest of their lives, until they both "retired" to live in Casterton. Eventually family ties were further strengthened by the marriage of Mary's daughter, Edith May Badams, to Isabella's son, Richmond Armstrong Hope.

John, William and David were farmers like their father before them, however, David eventually moved to Western Australia. Halbert became a hotel owner in Deniliquin. Margaret, Elizabeth and Christina all married; Margaret and Christina to farmers and Elizabeth to a hotel owner at Dubbo. Their mother Margaret Edgar (nee Burgess) died at Errebendery Station on the 6 September 1887. She was aged 63 years.

"The Spur Inn, Harrow, owned by Halbert Edgar. One of 3 Hotels in Harrow at the time. Built 1859 on land Halbert had bought in 1855. Hotel sold in 1869. It was demolished in the late 1950's, although delicenced in 1922. After Halbert sold it the name was changed to the "Harrow Hotel"

The family also owned Bulloak Station as well as Errebendary.

Halbert is buried at Portland (1.12.1869) in the Presbyterian section Grave/Book Bo.25. His headstone has passage from Titus 2:13 inscribed on it as well as Minstrel Haugh.

Halbert's Will:

Halbert Edgar late of Minstrel Haugh, County of Dundas. Gentleman Deceased

This is the last Will and Testament of me Halbert Edgar of Minstrel Haugh in the County of Dundas; Gentleman.

I leave and bequeath all my real and personal estate to my wife Margaret Edgar for her sole use and benefit absolutely and I appoint her sole executor of this my will and guardian of my infant children ... my hand this twentieth day of November one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine...

Signed in the presence of Phillip Scott, Solicitor and Andrew, Law Clerk both of Portland.

Probate granted on the Second day of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy three to Margaret Edgar of Minstrel Haugh in the County of Dundas. Colony of Victoria. Widow of the said Deceased.

Date of Death 29th November 1869

Property valued to 202 pounds (even)

Issued 6th May 1873

(A) John Edgar, born 21 April 1845, in Scotland. Farmer. He married at Harrow, Victoria. Alice Thomas (born 15 June 1851). He died at Condoblin, New South Wales and is survived by his widow.

(B) William Edgar, born 27 January 1847, in Scotland. Landowner and married Maryan Barnes

(E) Robert Edgar, born 13 February 1850, in Scotland. he died when aged only 16 years.

(D) Halbert James Edgar, born 6 December 1852, in Scotland. Hotel Owner. married at Deniliquin, New South Wales, Elizabeth Rundell. he died in Sydney in March 1937.

(F) Mary Edgar, born 27 May 1854, at Harrow, Victoria married John James Badams, born 13.11.1834 and died at Casterton, Victoria. They had issue two sons and five daughters. John James Badams came to Australia in 1853 from Birmingham England with his brother. He and Mary were married at "Mistral Haugh" in 1873

(G) Isabella Edgar, born 25 April 1856, at Harrow, Victoria married Richmond Armstrong Hope, farmer, and died at Casterton, Victoria.

(H) David Edgar, born 24 December 1857, at Harrow, Victoria. Farmer. He married on 8 February 1888, at Euablong, New South Wales., Annie Mary Taplin. They lived in Perth, Western Australi

(I) Margaret Tredwell Edgar, born 28 December 1859, at Harrow, Victoria married on 18 February 1880 at Euabalong, New South Wales to Edward Townsend, farmer (died 1 October 1931 at West Wyalong, New South Wales).

(J) Elizabeth Edgar, born 29 September 1861 at Harrow, Victoria. married at Euabalong, New South Wales, Robert McLean, Hotel Owner of Dubbo, New South Wales.

(K) Christina Edgar, born 29 June 1863, at Harrow, Victoria. married at Euabalong, New South Wales to William Frederick Orr, farmer (died at Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales).