ROBERTS, Laura

Name – ROBERTS, Laura
Born – 10/1880
Died – 1/06/1946
Location – Number 80 Anglican Section
Mother – Emma Gillard
Father – John Pritchett

Notes – Laura was born to Emma (nee Gillard) and John Pritchett in Birmingham, England in 1880. Her father was a Jewller in the 1881 census and her siblings were then aged between 17 to 5. In order of their ages Emma was a domestic servent aged 17, Benjamin was 15, Elizabeth was a lacquerer, Rebecca, Florence and Edith were all schollars and George was only 5. Laura was one year old.

They lived at 254 Camden St, Birrimingham. She had one older sister called Alice. She was the oldest. In the 1891 Census, Her father was a goldsmith and Jewller. They lived at 69 Heingeston St, Birrimingham. Elizabeth was then cutting linen to cover buttons, Rebecca was a penholder Rounder and Florence a simillar job, Edith was a steel press maker (workhouse) George was a fruiterer and Laura was at school.

Her parents died in 1901 and 1902. Laura immigrted to Austalia in 1903 on a ship called Moravian. Laura’s oldest sister Alice had immigrated to Australia in 1882 and was married the following year to Henry Rann. She lived at Casino with her family, Laura must have come to her after her parents had both died.

Laura has a variety of census records 1881 Birmingham, England with her parents and siblings, 1891 Birmingham, England, 1913 at Happy Valley Westbrook and 1925 to 1943 at Culgaroo, Undulla Creek with Charles.

Laura was married to Charles Roberts in 1904. Her only child Thorbun was born in 1910.Laura was tragically killed by Charles who then took his own life, after suffering from nerves for a time prior to the event.

Thorburn had to go to court to prove that his mother had died before his father so he could get the thousand pounds that his mother wanted him to have. How sad is that?

Laura shares her resting place with Charles. Her headstone reads – In loving memory of Laura Roberts, Died Jun 2nd, 1946. Aged 66 Years.

Newspaper Article – Read here.

War Service File  –

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.