Felicity Abbot, an amateur genealogy researcher in south east Queensland, was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Prime Minister Tony Abbot’s great-great uncle, Arthur Abbot, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Melbourne in 1889. Both Felicity and Tony Abbot share this common ancestor. The only known photograph of Arthur shows him standing on the gallows at the Melbourne Gaol. On the back of the picture Felicity obtained during her research is this inscription:Arthur Abbot horse thief, sent to Melbourne Gaol 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Melbourne-Geelong train six times. Caught by Victoria Police Force, convicted and hanged in 1889. So Felicity recently e-mailed Prime Minister Tony Abbot for information about their great-great uncle, Arthur Abbot. Believe it or not, Tony Abbots staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research: Arthur Abbot was famous in Victoria during the mid to late 1800s. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Melbourne-Geelong Railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the Victoria Police Force. In 1889, Arthur passed away during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 23:42:38 +0000
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