Family background
Robert Ellison was born 10 March 1819 in Bath, Somerset, England, the son of Adam Ellison and Thelia Bence.
On 26 October 1837 in Somerset Bath Court Martial, Ellison was indicted for picking pockets. He was found guilty and given a life sentence. Ellison was transported to the Colony of NSW and arrived in Sydney on 8 August 1838 on the ship Lord Lyndoch. He received a Conditional Pardon on 3 September 1850.
Ellison married Jane Coulson (1820-1864) in Sydney in 1850 and they had a daughter, Ophelia, in 1853. The family lived at Bullanaming Street, Redfern.
Ellison died at his residence in Redfern on 2 April 1868, aged 50, and was buried in the Old Church of England Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He left a will and his estate and assets were assessed at £350.
Occupation & interests
At the time of his conviction in Bath, England, Robert Ellison was three and a half years into his apprenticeship as a cabinet and chair carver. After receiving a pardon in 1850 he became a successful timber merchant leaving an estate of £350. Robert Ellison was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters – Court Sydney and the Loyal Love of Liberty Lodge.
Local government service
Robert Ellison was an alderman on Redfern Council in 1866.
References
‘Suburban Municipalities’, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 1865, p.10, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13102117