Adolf Halberstädter, aged 26, arrived in Sydney NSW, 22nd July 1858 aboard the Brig ‘Woodlark’.
He had been working as a steward. The 'Woodlark' had departed from Manila 1st May 1858 with a crew of 8 besides the master (Captain J Taylor) - there was one passenger from Manila to Sydney on this voyage. The brig was carrying a cargo of sugar and coffee.
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The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) - Thursday 5 August 1858
"CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. WEDNESDAY.
Second Court. Before the Chief Justice.
ROBBERY ON THE HIGH SEAS.
Four seamen, named William Smith, Richard Scatterley, Nicholas Whately, and William Murray, belonging to the barque Woodlark, were charged with having, on the 28th April, on the high seas, stolen various articles of wearing apparel, the property of Adolph Halberstater (not Halberbocken), steward of that vessel.
The prisoners pleaded not guilty, and were defended by Mr. Butler. The Solicitor-General prosecuted.
It appeared that upon leaving Manila the goods alleged to be stolen were packed in a box in the steward's cabin. The prisoners were seen by him moving the boxes, and shortly afterward the goods were missed. Two witnesses swore that they saw the prisoners four times in possession of some of the va- rious articles; This testimony was however contradictory, and to some extent disclosed suspicion of con- spiracy against the prisoners.
The jury, without hearing any defence from Mr. Butler, returned a verdict of acquittal.
The Court adjourned sine die."
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Apparently naturalised twice...
20-Jan-1862 (age 31) and 21-Jul-1868 (age 37)
Arrived in Qld about 1859, aged about 27 from Silesia, Prussia.
After arriving in Australia at Sydney, he apparently travelled to Calliungal Station (in Banana Shire) in the late 1850s and onto Rocky about 1858, although death cert says about 48 years in Qld (i.e. arrived about 1851)
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The following is an extract from "The Halberstater Reunion - 1991 - edited by Betty Halberstater (nee Young)
ADOLF HALBERSTAEDTER.
As Adolf died well before his children married, there was no traditional "handing down" of his history, so I have included only established facts. Anything else would be pure speculation. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.
Adolf Halberstaedter, was born in Silesia, Prussia in 1831. He was a Jew and one of three sons of a merchant, Louis Halberstadt, and the former Ann Landsberg. Adolf's brothers were August and Ludwig.
The date and place of his arrival in this country is (was) unknown. His Death Certificate, issued in 1897, states he had been in Australia ABOUT 48 years, so it appears that he arrived in the mid 19th century as a very young man.
In 1849-50 hundreds of young Germans immigrated to Australia to forego military conscription in their own country. Many went to Victoria and South Australia. In 1851, the gold rushes of New South Wales and Victoria increased the flow of migrants to the Colony.
A Government settlement was established in Gladstone on Port Curtis, Northern Australia, in 1854. Pastoralists were pushing north through the inland from the southern districts with the Archer Brothers settled at Gracemere in 1854. The village of Rockhampton was not officially gazetted until 1858.
About the same time, thousands of miners arrived from the south following reports of the discovery of gold at Canoona about 65 kms north. However, the claims had been exaggerated and many left the area within a few months. Others stayed, took up land or started businesses in the steadily growing town.
At an auction of Crown Land Sales On 22nd January 1861, Adolf Halberstaedter of Kalka purchased 18 acres of land on Allotment No.18, Lot No.4, County of Livingston, Parish of Archer. The upset price was ₤1 ($2) per acre, the Deed fee was ₤1 and he paid deposit of ₤l/16/-. ($3.60).
On 20th January, 1862 he was naturalized. His age is listed as 31 years and his occupation was Farmer. Judging the beautiful signature, he must have been well educated.
His son Maurice Halberstaedter was born at his father's residence at Mt Brewer on 16th May 1863. The mother's name is given as Ann "Carmichael". A second son, Louis, was born two years later. On 20th April 1867, aged 36, he married Ann "Feran" at his house at Mt Brewer. His occupation was given as Gardener.
Adolf was well and truly a British subject. He signed a second Oath of Allegiance on 2nd July 1868. He was 37, still at Mt Brewer and a Gardener.
The couple's first daughter, Anna, was born in 1868 and another daughter, Leah, was born on 31st May 1870.
Adolf was divorced from Ann Halberstaedter in 1887
After his marriage broke-up, Adolf had further children with
Laura Jane STEWART (nee Jones)...
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) - Wednesday 30 October 1895 - Rockhampton Police Court...
"AFFILIATION.
Laura Jane Stewart charged Adolph Halberstaedter with deserting his two illegitimate female children aged two (Gwendoline STEWART) and four years (Gladys Edith STEWART), and leaving them without means of support.
In answer to the Acting Police Magistrate defendant said he had cause to show why an order should not be made out against him.
After hearing the evidence of the plaintiff, the Acting Police Magistrate adjourned the case till ten o'clock to-morrow (this) morning."
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) - Thursday 31 October 1895 - Rockhampton Police Court...
"At the Police Court yesterday, before the Acting Police Magistrate, Adolph Halberstaedter, Bushley, on remand, was charged by Laura Jane Stewart, with deserting his two illegitimate female children, aged two and four years, and leaving them without means of support. The plaintiff continued her evidence, and the defendant went into the box and gave a lengthy defence. After hearing the evidence the Acting Police Magistrate made an order for defendant to pay 5s. a week for each child to the Clerk of Petty Sessions in monthly instalments, the first payment to be made on the 1st of November."
Adolf was still a Gardener when he died, aged 66, at Bushley Playfair, Westwood District on 8th March 1897. He is buried in the Anglican Section of South Rockhampton Cemetery.
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