Robert Henderson, later to be known as Robert Geary Henderson, was born at Brisbane Water on October 31, 1832, son of Robert Henderson, farmer, and his wife, Catherine Geary Henderson. (1)
At the time, Robert and Catherine had been married for 15 years; It is not known if there were earlier children stillborn, there are no earlier christenings recorded. Thomas was born in 1838. Young Robert was baptised twice-firstly, on November 25, 1832 by Rev. Thomas Sharpe (or Thorpe) of Parish of Lower Hawkesbury; secondly, on December 5, 1832 at St. Phillip's Church of England, Sydney entry No. 1153, 88. (2)

Robert (snr.) had been acquiring land and small coastal trading vessels and in the mid 1830's, bought the Dove Inn, Sydney and moved his small family there, so that Robert jnr. could take advantage of better educational facilities available in Sydney. The Herald, June 27, 1842, p.3 reported "Master Robert Henderson, jr. Results for arithmetic. College High School Examination". This was followed at the end of the same year by reports in the Herald, Dec. 20, 1842, p.1. "Robert Henderson jr. Erskine Street, for Etymology and Spelling, first prize, senior College High School." (3)
In the Australian Dec. 19, 1842, p.2, "Master Robert Henderson won First Prize, senior class, for etymological spelling and dictionary at the College High School on December, 14th". (4)
The following year, the Herald reported on December, 21, 1843. p.3,; Robert Henderson jr., first class-first prize for spelling at College High School examinations." (5)

On November 3, 1852, Robert Geary Henderson of St. Phillip's Bachelor married Hannah Wallbridge, spinster of St. Phillip's. At that time, Robert Geary Henderson was 20 years of age and Hannah was 23 years of age. The minister was Rev. William Cowper the witnesses were Robert Henderson, father, and Mary Ann Duigan, both of Sydney. (6)
Hannah migrated to Australia in 1850 fro Dorchester, England, and her family followed her.

At this time, Robert snr. had acquired the Clarence Hotel, Erskine and Shelley Streets, and for some time, Robert jr. assisted in its management,as well as his father's numerous other business activities. They had a home at No.26 Erskine Street and Robert snr. lived at No. 5 Erskine Street.

There were three children of the marriage; firstly a daughter, Catherine Hargraves Henderson, daughter of Robert and Hannah Henderson, Erskine Street, publican, born August, 1853., baptised October 31, 1853 by Rev. William Cowper, St. Phillip's. (7)
This daughter died on August 3, 1866 at Erskine Street, Sydney of phthisis, Robert Henderson, father, certified by mother. Dr. Gillard, Erskine Street, Reg. Sydney, born Sydney. (8)
The Hargraves name was probably a complement to Edward H. Hargraves, discoverer of gold at Bathurst, who was a personal friend of Robert snr.

The second child was also a daughter; "Adelaide Mary Geary Henderson, daughter of Robert and Hannah Henderson, Erskine Street, Sydney, mariner, born March 28, 1855, baptised May 27, 1855 by Rev. William Cowper. St. Phillip's Church, Sydney. (9)
There is a note in the Mutch index that this child was christened Madeline Mary Geary Henderson, but another child baptised on the same day was named Adelaide and the names mixed on registering. Certainly, the lady was known on official documents for her whole life as Adelaide, but was always called Madeline.

The third child was a son; "Henderson, Robert Francis Geary, born October 22, 1856 at 26 Erskine Street, Sydney, son of Robert Henderson, licensed victualler, 24, born Gosford and Hannah Wallbridge, 26 of Sydney, married on 30 November, 1852. Catherine Hargraves, 3 and Adelaide Mary Geary, 1 children living, none dead. Certified by Hannah Henderson, mother, 26 Erskine Street, Reg. 12 November, 1856, Sydney." (10)

Robert Geary Henderson was said to be a man of unreliable temperament, who drank heavilly and neglected his children, a fact which seems borne out by the provisions of his father's will. The family story is that before Madeline was six years old, Robert had left Hannah and the children to live in a de facto relationship with Elizabeth Catherine Williams, also knwn as Delaney, at Broadwater near Gosford. This created some tension and ill-feeling with his father, who was, by then, a District Councillor for Brisbane Water. The following entry in the Mutch Index tends to confirm the story.
Henderson, Robert Frederick, born October 18, 1860 at Broadwater near Gosford, son of Robert Geary Henderson, settler, 28, born Brisbane Water and Elizabeth Catherine Williams, 21, not married; Certified by Robert Geary Henderson, father, Broadwater, near Gosford. Nurse Mrs. McCallum. Reg. Gosford 27 Nov. 1860. (11)
So now Robert Geary Henderson had two sons named Robert, the legitimate Robert Francis and the illegitimate Robert Frederick-they even had the same initial for their second christian names. Robert Frederick did not marry. He left the Brisbane Water district after the settlement of the court case involving his grandfather's will, and lived for some time on the South Coast. I can well remember my aunty Amy telling me of the tremendous fuss generated in the family by the announced arrival by train from the south coast of a body for burial at Veteran Hall cemetery. At that time, the cemetery had been closed, the only remaining plot had been reserved for my grandmother Madeline Ward. The family had to have special Council permission to open the cemetery. Naturally, I asked who the person was and why the body could not be buried at St. Paul's Kincumber, or elsewhere. I was told that no one knew who the body was and instructions had been left in a will for its burial at Veteran Hall, all of which I swallowed without question. The body had to be buried on top of another coffin, which was one of the reasons there was no tombstone: This was Robert Frederick Henderson.

Robert and Elizabeth Williams then had a daughter; "Henderson, Letitia Catherine, born December 24, 1862 at Woy Woy, Daughter of Robert Geary Henderson and Elizabeth Catherine Williams, 23, born at Port Macquarie. Certified by Robert Henderson, father, Woy Woy, Nurse Mrs. Parks". (12)
There was a subsequent daughter; "Henderson, Florence Madeline (illegitimate), born August 9, 1865 at Woy Woy. Daughter of Robert Geary Henderson and Elizabeth Catherine Delaney, 25, born Port Macquarie. Certified by Robert Henderson, father, Woy Woy.P.T. Auld M.D., Nurse Mrs. Parks Reg. Gosford". (13)
The first two of these entries show the mother's name as Williams, the last one as Delaney (which was her maiden surname).

A year later, Robert's eldest child, Catherine Hargraves Henderson, died of phthisis on August 3, 1866, aged 13½, and was buried at Veteran Hall cemetery (14)
Shortly after Robert had left Hannah, Robert snr. transferred the licence of the Clarence Hotel to Hannah for the support of herself and the children. (15)
Following her daughter's death, Hannah herself was ill and could not carry on the hotel. Again Robert snr. came to the rescue and in a memorandum of agreement dated September 17, 1867, made her a weekly allowance.(16)
Hannah moved to Veteran Hall.

Following an attack of diphtheria, Robert's two little illegitimate daughters died, on;y three days apart- Letitia, 5 years 2 months, on April 20, 1868 and Florence, 3 years 14 days on April 23, 1868 and were both buried at Veteran Hall Cemetery. (17)

After a four year illness, Hannah died, also of phthisis, at Kincumber on July 16, 1868. Her certificate stated that Dr. Auld attended, she was the daughter of Luke Wallbridge, farmer's labourer and Sarah Wallbridge, formerly shepard. Hannah also was buried at Veteran Hall Cemetery. (18)

Six weeks later, Robert re-married. From certificate 405:
"I, William Francis Xavier Bailey, L.L.B., being minister of the Free Church of England, do hereby certify that I have this day at 41 Burton Street, South Head Road, Sydney, duly celebrated marriage between Robert Geary Henderson, gentleman, Brisbane Water, Widower, and Elizabeth Catherine Delaney, lady, Brisbane Water, spinster, after declaration duly made by law as required. Dated 1st September, 1868. Witnesses: D. Donovan, Anne Roberts.(19)

Robert's mother, Catherine, died three months later on December 29, 1868 (20)
Robert jnr. may have reconciled with his father, because following Robert snr's death on November 11, 1869, in his will, Robert snr. made provision for Robert Frederick and Patrick Binn Henderson. (Another son of Elizabeth Williams, born 19.3.1868).

In the Henderson box, the historian who classified the documents sketched a family tree showing the childen of Robert Geary Henderson's three marriages thus: