Family Ties and Tragedies.

Robert Finn is the eldest of Elijah and Elizabeth's children. Born in 1815, he married Sophia Swaine on 25 December 1834. George and his brother Stephen Goldup Finn applied for free passage to South Australia. Young married couples with families could gain assistance from the South Australian Company. Four Finn brothers, Robert, Stephen, George and James, all made the journey to South Australia.

Sailing on the barque Resource with 211 other passengers, Robert and Stephen arrived at Port Adelaide on 23 January 1839. There is no certainty in the passenger lists as some miss-spelling of Finn adds to the confusion. However, George arrived in South Australia in 1839.

He wrote a letter to his mother in which he speaks of the sadness he endures. He is silent on the fate of his first wife, Sophia, and possibly she died soon after arrival. Her name is listed in the Government Gazette's list of unclaimed letters at the post office. S.G Finn would be Stephen Goldlip, and Mrs Robert Finn would be Sophia. There is no record of her death.

Robert's letter is full of information about his newfound happiness and a quarrel with his brother George. At the time of his writing, he hopes George will "get a deserving woman as I have got". His wish came true when George married Fanny Finn in 1857.

Robert died in 1869 of "congested lungs". He was a well-respected man in the community. He is listed as a "shepherd on his death certificate. However, he was a manager at Kings Old Station Murray Flats, and he was a much-admired old Pioneer.

George Finn seems to have suffered from depression and despair. It is unknown if he reconciled with his brother. However, after their marriage Fanny and he worked hard to provide for their family. Georges's death was the subject of a coronial inquiry.