I have been putting off researching Robert Henderson because there is so much material to wade through. But the time has come, so I started to delve into the mire this week.
I keep finding references that describe Robert differently, such as:
- early settler
- farmer
- constable
- ship owner
- ship builder
- innkeeper
- councillor
- trustee
- landowner
- 'Bob the smuggler'
- 'the portly host of the Dove Inn'.
I have been thinking a lot about how to write this chapter of the family story. If I write it chronologically, it could become hard to follow as the different parts of Robert's life intertwine. It may be better to write a section on each occupation, although they may also be difficult to tease out.
Another thing that I am wary about is making the whole family story about the men. The women often get scant attention in family histories because so much of the documentation was done in the man's name. In reality, the women often played an equal role to their husbands in the pioneering families. They worked just as hard as the men, and regularly produced and raised children at the same time.
Skimming through Robert Henderson's story, his wife Catherine Geary must have been an active partner in his business. How else could he have run a farm, built ships and started a successful hotel at the same time! Yes he had employees, but I am sure he relied heavily on his life partner as well.
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