Beautiful gardens are all that remain at Kailzie (pronounced Kay-Lee), Peebles-shire, birth place of Richmond Armstrong Hope, the third son and sixth child of Thomas and Alice Hope on 12 August 1844. Kailzie, in central Peeblesshire, Scotland, was once the centre of a community of families, its history dating back to the 13th century. [1]

According to Scottish Naming Tradition, the third-born son was named after his father but Thomas and Alice already had a son called Thomas, named after his maternal grandfather (Thomas Armstrong). So what to name this little boy? And so the research continues as to who was Richmond and what was he to Thomas and Alice. Or maybe "Richmond" was a last name of an ancestor - the Richmond family but who were they? Or was a he favourite Uncle? If you have come across why this little boy was named Richmond, then do please let me know.

UPDATE: While we may never know after whom our RA Hope was named, my brother Keith has been scratching around the tree and associated documents and he's come up with a theory, Now, we both know he might be way off the mark but until something else emerges which will better answer the "who or why" question, then we're happy to go with his theory - I've explained it under his father's page Thomas Hope, if you're interested to know.

The 1851 Census Return, recorded Richmond' as a "scholar" aged 7 and living with his family at 83 Castle Street (AKA Castlegate), Jedburgh.

After his arrival in Australia, Richmond spent much of his time working on the Hynam Estate for his Uncle, Adam Smith until 24 July 1877 when he married Isabella Edgar at the Menzie's Hotel, Melbourne. Witnesses at their wedding were Richmond's first cousin John Richmond Smith, (son of Robert and Jane Smith) and Richmond's sister, Maggie Armstrong Hope.

Although Isabella had been brought up in Harrow, Western Victoria, the family moved to the Riverina, New South Wales, after the death of her father Halbert James Edgar. The Edgar's were a wealthy family but it appears that Isabella received a raw deal; being sent out to work as a farm or daily help to other properties from the age of 16. One of Isabella's sisters, Mary had married John James Badams prior to the death of their father and they had settled near Harrow. As Richmond and Isabella settled in Western Victoria after their marriage, the two sisters were once again living near one another, although even by this time it would have taken them several days to travel between their homes.

Isabella Edgar was born 25 April 1856 at Harrow, Victoria and died 26 November 1936 at Casterton.

Richmond Armstrong Hope married Isabella Edgar on 24 Jult 1877 at the Menzies Hotel, Melbourne. At the time of the marriage all of Isabella's family, except Mary, had moved to New South Wales following the death of her father, Halbert James Edgar. Isabella was a domestic servant, at this time, in Riverina. They would have met in Western Victoria when both were resident there. So Isabella once again came to live close to her sister Many who by now was married to John James Badams, and living near Harrow. [8]

Richmond Hope was a farmer and spent some of his time working near Apsley. He and his family then moved to Powers Creek, 19km south of Edenhope. In his spare time he made and played the violin. In 1890, at the time of his mother's death he described himself as a grazier at Bogolara. At the age of 70, Richmond 'retired' and moved to "Kyluma" their home on the Bahgallah Road just out of Casterton, (c) 1910. [8]

Although Richmond and Isabella settled in Western Victoria, it was not at just one location but rather several at the same time. I wonder about the stories that pieces of "official" papers actually hide. Take for instance birth, wedding and death certificates. When I set the certificates out for Richmond and his family, they take you on a trail around Western Victoria but rather than in a sequential manner, they are forever back tracking. To complicate the story more, I laid out the certificates for his brother William's family and made some interesting discoveries that were supported and verified by other documents and anecdotal information.

Richmond and William with their respective families, as well as their brothers, David and John lived in shared accommodation, but they had several locations at the same time. Their lives are like a jigsaw puzzle and unfortunately time is against me collecting all the pieces to complete the full picture but I will share with you what I have. The brothers Hope lived near Apsley at Powers Creek but mention is made specifically of Powers Creek and Apsley as well as Boikerbert and Bogalara in their individual lives, it seems as though the homes were either seasonal or they came together as family groups often. Their mother Alice, was present at the birth of all the children of Richmond and William until her death in August 1890. It seems that after Alice died, the brothers went their seperate ways with Richmond and Isabella moving closer to Casterton, living at Kyluma on the Bahgallah Road until their respective deaths. They are both buried at the Casterton Cemetery. Richmond was a self taught violinist, and made his own instruments. By occupation he was a Grazier. (See Appendix 4-7 for more information on the Edgar families.)

Bahgallah House

The Bahgallah house [5] was quite small, as can be seen on the attached floor plan [6]. To accommodate everyone there were 2 permanent tents (annexes) in the back yard. Everyone had their own bed at one stage or other and at other times, when all the family was home, they slept 2 in a bed. For example, Freda slept with Granny and Dad [7] slept in the double bed with your Edgar. Dad said he sometimes slept inside whilst at other times he was in the tent. Jessie was always in the tent. Dad said to remember that this was when grandfather was very aged and most of his Aunts and Uncles were either married or working. As can be seen on the plan Grandfather slept in the "back room" as it was called because he was quite sick. He spent most of his latter years in this room, smoking and playing draughts with himself (probably a case of his right hand knowing what his left hand was doing).

Casterton

The first building to be erected in Casterton was the Glenelg Inn in 1846, on the site of the present Glenelg Hotel. During the 1840’s the first bridge over the Glenelg River was built in line with the road through the town. Up till then, people crossed the river by means of a ballasted tub and rope.

The town site of Casterton was lightly timbered, but very sandy. Other buildings were built during the fifties and mostly built of palings and shingle or bark roofs.

In the early days of settlement it took 3 weeks to reach Casterton from Geelong and 2 weeks from Portland - on foot, as this was the only means of transport available to the pioneers. Casterton was practically a tent settlement although the second store was an up-to-date edifice consisting of strips of stringy bark, with a front of hessian. From then on, buildings were made of wattle and daub ". [2]

In 1938 it was recorded of Casterton "that few deaths recorded are under 75, occasionally one in the fifties. The infant mortality is extremely low, being less than one quarter of the average for the State. The placid life of ease and comfort in a town which can boast of little or no unemployment, its beautiful surroundings, with the green slopes of Toorak Hill overlooking the main thoroughfare, may account to some extent for the low mortality and high expectancy rate." [3]

Powers Creek

The Hope property at Powers Creek, 4 miles from Apsley, was bought by Newlands Estate[4], an extra large property which had been there since the 1800's. Newlands' bought the property from the Hopes around 1900 and the adjoining Munn property was bought by them also, about 1920.

No buildings have been on either property since then and the workmen for the Estate still call the land either Hope's or Munn's. According to Mrs Irene Gray [nee Munn], the Newlands Estate had changed hands 3 or so times since those early days. She went on to add "I knew about the 2 properties but it was confirmed by my nephew in Apsley who sometimes works for Newlands Estate."

When recollecting memories, one of their granddaughters, Freda, recalled that Isabella and Richmond were "well off" during their early years of marriage. For the first 5 babies, Isabella just looked after them and sewed. She had a girl to wash, a woman to cook and another to clean house. Then things got tough about the time of the 1890's bank crash. Richmond gambled and took to drinking, and Isabella was the main-stay of the family. She sold eggs, milk, butter, cream, etc. and grew all their own vegies, etc. Another of Freda's memories was of Isabella saying that "once the beds were made in the house, no one was allowed to sit, or rest on them until bedtime". Of course all the bedspreads were white!

I heard a story from one of the "locals" that Richmond was known to have regularly used one pound notes with which to light his pipe. The family was very wealthy and just squandered their money. In addition, he and his brothers used to sit in the pub at Apsley and load shot of rolled one pound notes into their guns.

Casterton News (CN)

CN: October 27, 1924 - Death: Mr Richmond Hope

It is with deep regret we announce the death of Mr Richmond Hope of Bahgallah who passed away yesterday morning following on a paralytic stroke sustained the previous Sunday. Casterton has been deprived of one of the old generation as Mr Hope was 82 years of age. Funeral this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

CN: October 30, 1924 - Death: Mr Richmond Hope

By the death of Mr R. Hope, senior of Bahgallah Road the district loses one of its pioneers. He set out in the 50's (1850's) with his parents from Jedburgh, Scotland where he was born in 1843 (sic). His first home was at Apsley and he lived for some time in this district before removing to Powers Creek, then to Bahgallah Road where he has lived for the last 12 years - married in 1877 to Isabella Edgar and had the deceased lived another 3 years he would have celebrated his golden wedding.

Had 11 children - 7 girls and 4 boys - 2 girls and 1 boy predeceased their father. Of this living children:

Mrs McClure (Murray Bridge); Mrs Munn (Apsley); Tom (Koonongwootong); Richmond, Junior (Hamilton); Jessie; Molly; Edgar (Murray Bridge); Freda.

He suffered a paralytic stroke a week before his death and passed away on Sunday. It is only a few weeks back that the family suffered a sad bereavement in the loss of a daughter, Mrs Julian Harris of Murray Bridge. Funeral on Monday last at Casterton New Cemetery, Rev Jas. G Scarfe; Mortuary arrangements: Mr W J Peden.

CN: Monday November 30, 1936 - Death: Mrs Isabella Hope

AGED 80: Mrs Isabella Hope, a member of the well known pioneering family of the Harrow district died at her residence on the Bahgallah Road at 110.30 on Thursday evening, has surviving her 5 daughters and 2 sons.

Daughter of Mr and Mrs H Edgar of Minstrel Haugh, where she was born, spent her early life in that district and came with her husband and family from Power's Creek to the Bahgallah Road 26 years ago and of a family of 13, 2 sons and 5 daughter living.

Mr Richmond Hope (Melbourne); Mr Edgar W. Hope (Murray Bridge); Mrs McClure (Murray Bridge); Mrs Munn (Apsley); Mrs Frank Roper (Morningside); Mrs Lochhead (Mildura); daughter, Miss Molly Hope, a schoolteacher, Miss Isobel Matheson. Survived by one brother, Mr D Edgar of Western Australia and two sisters; Mrs William Orr of Lake Cargellico and Mrs Townsend, Sydney.

Funeral on Friday afternoon at Casterton New Cemetery, service by Rev N T McDonald, Minister of Scots Church Casterton and mortuary arrangements by Mr C A Anderson."

Letters from Kith and Kin

Mrs McLean's first letter dated 2 August 1985 recalled:

In a letter from Mrs Mary McLean of Casterton, dated 2 August 1985 (at the time of writing this letter Mrs McLean was past 81 years of age): "Yes, I knew some of the Hope's as my parents and grandparents before me did. There were 3 brothers Richmond, William and I cannot remember the third brother's name but he lived at Powers Creek with Richmond's family. Mrs R Hope nee Isabella Edgar was a really lovely lady. I remember one of my Uncle's saying when he was a young man and as some boys feel the world is passing them by, he would call at Hope's and after talking with Mrs Hope who had some family his age he would then set off for home feeling ever so enlightened and the world a nice place to live in.

"All the Richmond Hope's family have passed on, as I guess the William Hope's have also. Apparently the Hope brothers had seen better days and were well educated. If you will pardon me, I think Billy Hope was a ne'er do well, but also highly respected. Although he was clever it was cleverness lost. I remember his beautiful writing as my mother had rolls of his poetry and sad to say they are now lost.

"My mother had his eldest daughter Elsie for a long time till she chose a job with a childless couple but apparently that did not work out and they took her home to her father. Later on Mr Hope came and asked my parents to take her back which they did. After a few years Elsie moved on and later married a man named Tom Denton. They have both been dead for many years."

Letters from Mrs McLean

Mrs McLean's second letter dated 19 September 1985 recalled:

"I remember Mr and Mrs Laidlaw [Catherine Euphemia Hope and her husband Thomas Francis Laidlaw] and they did live on their property which they selected in the year 1887 and named Prospect Hill. As far as I know Mrs Laidlaw was no relation to the Laidlaw's from "Newlands". The late Mr Laidlaw was regarded as a good citizen and an ardent Presbyterian. He was a committee member when the Dergholm Presbyterian Church was built and opened in 1898.

"Apparently you have visited the Casterton cemetery, did you take note of the lovely monument with an angel atop on Isabel Harris's grave. The grave had been neglected for many years and the angel used to rock with the wind and my children and I used to push pennies and half pennies under it to try and stabilise it - that was thirty odd years ago but I am delighted to say her daughter Freda and a distant relative John Jordan have had it all renewed and it looks so nice now. A few months ago, I noticed fresh flowers on the Hope's graves. I couldn't think of who could be so kind as there are no relatives in this area.

"I was well acquainted with the Hope family. There is a grand-daughter of the Richmond Hope's living in Edenhope. Mrs Jessie Robertson, nee Munn. She was married to "Spiff" Robertson who passed away some years ago.

"A son of Elsie Hope, Tom Denton and his wife once lived in Casterton, but sad to relate have both passed away. I asked Tom about his background and he said he knew very little and I feel he was contented to leave it that way."

After 1921 Isabelle Matheson was also staying in the home. She was only a tiny tot and was there because her mum (Effie) had died. Dad said that Auntie Mollie practically reared Isabelle from a young age and doted on her. In fact Molly paid for Isabelle to do a hairdressing course in Melbourne when Isabelle was around 16. Mum and Dad were just married and Isabelle boarded with them while she did the course.

Dad's memory of furniture in the house is very hazy (when he was doing the plan his memory only stretched to beds and of course the potties underneath!). I know there was a piano (Freda played it as she took lessons in Casterton). and a gramaphone, Granny loved the old Scottish traditionals, and of course Harry Lauder of "I Love a Lassie" and "Roamin' in the Gloamin" fame.

There was a creek at the back of the house which had a spring in it and was the main collection point for household water. It seems the tanks often had wrigglers in them and the girls in the family did not appreciate the fact very much and who could blame them?

Richmond & Isabella had 10 children, they being (with LINKS):

• Alice Burgess Hope
• Halbert Edgar Hope
• Maggie Armstrong Hope
• Thomas Hope
• Isabella Edgar Hope
• Richmond Armstrong Hope
• Euphemia Grace Hope
• Jessie Euphemia Hope
• Mary Christian Hope
• Edgar William Hope

NOTE: see the page "Arrival at Hynam" for information about the land that Richmond & his brothers bought &/or lived on, as it appears that often they bought parcels of land between them.

[1] unknown [tba]

[2] Back to Casterton Celebrations 1938

[3] Back to Casterton Celebrations 1938

[4] letter from Mrs Irene Gray (nee Munn)

[5] research by Marilyn Fordred

[6] Maggie: see plan of house at end of letter of 16.8.84 - to upload!

[7] Halbert Hope

[8] Marilyn Fordred

Link to Home Page

Thomas Hope (father)