ROBERT SCHUCK
Robert Schuck of Ash Island
Article by Cherylanne Bailey
BIRTH
Witnesses at Robert’s birth on 3 May 1863 were Hannah Ivers (nee Ingram) and the Nurse “Elizabeth Partridge”. As he grew, he became known as “Bob”. He died in 1959
FARM
Robert’s mother Elisabeth sold the goodwill of the Schuck Ash Island farm to him (evidenced by the partpayment receipts for “Goodwill” (1888 and 1889 receipts written at Whitton Park (Mayfield)), having moved there in the late 1880s together with her son Thomas and his wife Ellen. Thomas had quickly set up a market garden on the corner of William Street and Industrial Drive, Mayfield, the corner on which Wests Mayfield now resides.
MARKET GARDENER
In evidence he gave at a Coroner’s Inquest, reported on 28th April 1879, he deposed “I am son of Francis SCHUCK, farmer, residing at Ash Island; I live with (sic) my parents, and am in the habit of coming down to the Market Wharf twice a week with farm produce.”
ROB AND HIS BROTHER LEO, SCULLERS
Towns and Schuck Sculling Racing 25 JANUARY 1884 – Leo and Robert SCHUCK of Ash Island regularly competed against the Towns and other Island men in sculling regattas on the Hunter River. “REGATTA AND AQUATIC SPORTS AT WEST MAITLAND – The double sculls brothers Schuck laboured under some disadvantage…” from:- The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843- 1893), Tuesday 29 January 1884
MARRIAGE
Registrar’s Office, Lambton on 9 June 1888 Robert Schuck, Farmer, living at Ash Island, Bachelor and Elfrida Hughes, Domestic residing at North Waratah, Spinster. Witnesses: …. Hughes and Annie L Hughes¹
ROBERT FISHER – ORIGINAL LANDOWNER of ASH ISLAND’S “SCHUCK FARM”
“Dr James Scott Mitchell (Colonial Surgeon) established in 1840, at Stockton, Newcastle, a tweed factory of proved efficiency. Dr Mitchell, the father of David Scott Mitchell, founder and donor of the Mitchell Library in Sydney, was the original owner of the Burwood Estate and the Quigley Estate at Teralba and Stockton… In 1841 Robert Fisher and G Donaldson acquired Dr Mitchell’s interest in the tweed mill, and soon gained a reputation for the high standard quality of the tweed manufactured therein. During 1850, so thoroughly established were trade relations with the warehousemen of Sydney that the factory output reached the formidable figure for the year of 70,000 yards of tweed and 800 yards of flannelling. At this period of operation over 200 mill hands were in regular employment at the factory, 40 pairs of looms were working at full capacity, while two highpressured steam engines were installed in order to drive the necessary shafting of the mill machinery.i On 28 January 1854, nearly 3 years after Stockton’s Tweed Factory fire, Robert Fisher was granted two separate Crown Land allotments on Ash Island, identified on Parish Map Plan no. 2482 as Allotments 12 and 13 but in 1893, when the majority of the Island went up for public auction, listed as Lots 63 and 64.
This was one of the first land grants on the Island which Franz Josef Schuck leased by private lease arrangement from late 1865/early 1866 etching out an existence growing vegetables and fruit in his market garden and selling at the Newcastle Market Street Wharf. A 17 April 1862 Moscheto Island map evidences “R Fisher” as owning Franz’s farm. In 1878 Robert’s father Franz Schuck was naturalized, a necessary requirement for the purchase the land in New South Wales, he and his young sons having improved with the building of a slab cottage, farm, shed, stables, a well and river mooring. However, fate intervened when in February 1883 Franz drowned in the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace. Following the family tragedy, purchasing Robert Fisher’s land, on which the farm stood, Schuck land fell to Franz’s son, Robert Francis Schuck, the conveyance from Robert to Robert dated 19 September 1890.
SCHUCK PURCHASE OF FARM LAND
Transcription of Certificate of Title Volume 905 Folio 178 (Cancelled Registration Book Vol 986 Folio 173) identifies that the land, also identified on Old Parish Plan number 2482 titled Allotments 12 and 13, was originally granted to Robert Fisher, being two separate Crown Grants both dated 28th January 1854. The map detailed on the CT shows the property as Lots 63 and 64 (namely 51 acres 1 rood) with mangroves at the back of Lot 64 and a creek running in the 3rd last portion of that lot and thereafter across Lot 93 (corner block) and out into the Hunter River.
RESIDENCES
1891 CENSUS The 1891 Census of Fullerton Cove and Island lists 718 people inhabiting Ash Island, comprising 40 families being 127 males and 108 females [children not being listed]. –
1902 “In 1902 Ash Island had 43 families and nearly as many farms”, the entire population of this island must largely exceed 200.²
1908 – 1909 Robert purchased land and relocated his family to Love Street, Mt Pleasant, Cessnock (being Lot 109 in the Parish of Allandale). They often told people when asked why they left the Island “going to higher ground”, walking away as sick and tired of it being continually under flood. According to Cessnock City Council, back in mid late 1800’s Mount Pleasant was a bigger town than Cessnock is today in terms of population and business, etc. ” In June 2004 Robert’s granddaughter recalled that the property on which the land was situated was named “London’s Road/Lane”. Robert’s son Ible is found residing at 35 Love Street Cessnock in 1949, evidenced by National Archives of Australia held drawings, prepared for Ibel Schuck of 35 Love St. Cessnock, of a house at Lot 24 Salamander Bay, Port Stephens, Naval Base, dated 24th March 1949. The Salamander Bay land was owned by the Defence Dept who were leasing to Ibel Schuck a parcel Port Stephens Naval Base Land. NAA # SP 857/4 Item PD/276 Title: Salamander, Tenancy No. 121. Copy of plan in Ibel’s scrapbook. The original owner of the Cessnock land was wealthy pioneer landowner Charles King and by 2008 McWilliam Wines. 2 NMH, Saturday, 2 August 1902
AWARD-WINNING. HIGH PRICED GRAPES – CUTTINGS FIRST CULTIVATED ON ASH ISLAND FARM
At the local union sale last Friday the record wholesale price for grapes sold at Cessnock was realised. The grapes brought no less than 1/5 ½ a lb. The grapes were of fine quality and were grown by Mr Schuck.
RECORD PRICES
The record prices for fruit obtained at the local Unions this season show that there are few Markets which can compare with Cessnock, Mr JH Palmer has received 2/9 a dozen for peaches, Mr. K. Schuck 1/5 ½ a lb for grapes³, W.E. Chatterton 2/11 dozen for lemons, and Mr Boy Ekert 3/6 each for melons. It is doubtful if better prices have been realised in the State.⁴
¹The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843- 1893), Tuesday 29 January 1884 1929, ² NMH, Saturday, 2 August 1902, ³The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder), Friday 13 January 1922, page 6, ⁴The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 – 1954), Friday 3 February 1922, page 3