The Randell and Robbins Family Photo Album: But Who Are They?
It was sometime last year that I discovered an amazing family heirloom and have been wanting to share it all with you for ages, and have decided that now is the time.
There’s no doubt that family historians get excited over old family photos, but can you imagine the excitement of finding a whole photo album of family photos? Well that’s what I found in my dad’s stash of family heirlooms. And trust me I was happy dancing!! Page after page of beautiful old photos – probably from around the 1850s-1860s. But one question. Who are they? I did recognise a few of them – but that’s all. The rest remain unnamed. So that’s partly why I’m writing this, in the hope that others might be able to add some names to these photo.
But back to the album. It belonged to my great great grandma Phebe Randell (nee Robbins) who was the second wife of William Beavis Randell (Randle back in England), both of who lived at Gumeracha, in the Adelaide Hills. And it has been handed down through the family.
the Randell and Robbins photo album
a page of the Randell and Robbins family photo album
I’ve written before about both William Beavis Randell and Phebe, so rather than repeat their history will link to previous posts, and have included a mini chart of both the Randell and Robbins family. Though I know the Robbins one is incomplete – it’s a family I’m still working on, but hopefully it’s enough for someone to make a connection if there is one.
– Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge: B is for [Family] Bible
– Diaries, and the Stories They Can Tell!
– Finding Hidden Gems!
– William Beavis Randell: The Man Who Created a Town
– Arriving on the “Rajah” in 1849
– ‘Tis the Season for Christmas Cards
Now I do usually put their heirlooms on my other blog – Memorabilia House, but as this one has a wider reach have chosen to for this this one.
I’ve put all 46 photos here as thumbnails. So if you click on any of them, they will enlarge, so you can see it better.
I have put the photos here in the exact order they appear in the photo album. I do believe most of the photos are Randell’s, with some at the end being Robbins’. I’ve numbered each below, so if you are able to name any, please simply note the number and either send me an email, contact me via social media, or leave a comment below. I’m really hoping that through the power of theinternet and social media I can get these (or at least some) named.
1. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
2. William Beavis Randell, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
3. Mary Ann Randell (nee Beare) first wife of William Beavis Randell, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
4. Frank Randell?, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
5. Sarah (nee Nickels)?, Frank’s wife, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
6. Mill Cottage, Gumeracha, South Australia
7. Kenton Park, Gumeracha, South Australia
8. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
9. unnamed
10. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
11. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
12. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
13. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
14. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
15. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
16. unnamed
17. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
18. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
19. unnamed
20. unnamed
21. St John’s Church, Christchurch, New Zealand
22. West side of Central Range, River Taupo, New Zealand
23. East side of Central Range, Craigieburn, New Zealand
24. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
25. the New Independent Church, Collins Street, Melbourne
26. Melbourne GPO on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne
27. Katie Randell?, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
28. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
29. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
30. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
31. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
32. unnamed
33. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
34. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
35. unnamed
36. Alfred Howard Beeton is written on the back of the photo, taken at Kapunda, South Australia
37. William John Beavis is written on the back, taken at Kapunda, South Australia
38. unnamed, taken at Maryborough, Victoria
39. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
40. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
41. unnamed, taken in Adelaide, South Australia
42. unnamed, taken in Maryborough, Victoria
43. unnamed. taken at Kapunda, South Australia
44. Phebe Randell (nee Robbins)
45. Christmas card with the name John Randell on the back
46. unnamed
So that’s my little treasure album. And now that I’ve shared it I do hope that if any of you find any familiar faces, you will let me know so I can find out who these amazing looking people are. You you need to contact me you can do so by a comment below, an email, or a message via Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
8 Responses to “The Randell and Robbins Family Photo Album: But Who Are They?”
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Best of luck Alona. They are beautiful photos and I hope you get to put names to faces. There is nothing better than to say “hello……..it is wonderful to know who you are!”
What a beaut collection of such very clear images. I can’t help you, Alona, but wish you luck as you try to identify them.
What a wonderful treasure. Good luck with your search
Oh my goodness what an amazing treasure. I wish you every good luck in finding names Alona.
Hi Alona
my thoughts on the photos taken at Maryborough are that these are possibly Phebe’s nephews. Maria one of her elder sisters married Abraham Melton in Adelaide and they seem to have left for the gold rush immediately after. other photos her look vaguely familiar I will keep looking as I think it is possible that some are Hollands and some are Robbins. which would make a lot of sense I would think.
Kapunda photos might be members of the John Robbins family, because they lived at Stockport. Naomi Robbins who Phebe records in her bible is her sister in law Eunice Naomi Buckby. you possibly already have all this. however just thought I would share some of the info I have found for my husband who like you is a descendent of George Robbins and Mary Houghton,
Hello Margaret, I too am descended from George Robbins. From Mary Ann who married Richard Holland. My grandmother was a Holland.
another find is that William Beavis is a Robbins son of John and Naomi Robbins and Alfred Howard Beeton Robbins is his younger brother