Robert Edward Blake was born in Bothwell on 20 October 1847, the son of Robert Blake and Mary Bowden, and baptised there early the following year. He spent his life in the district, working variously as a labourer. His name appears frequently in local reports, often connected with municipal matters, inquests, and occasional misfortunes, including a shooting accident in 1868 in which he was accidentally wounded by his brother while kangarooing. Robert married twice. His first marriage took place on 1 September 1879 at St Paul’s Church, Glenorchy, to Sarah Ann Triffett, born in Bothwell in 1851 to Edward Triffett and Mary Taylor. Robert and Sarah had three children - Robert Oswald (1880), Sydney Claude (1881), and Elodie Mary (1883) - before Sarah’s untimely death in March 1889 at only 37 years of age. After several years widowed, Robert married again on 25 February 1897 in Hobart. His second wife was Mary Ann Elizabeth Arnett, born in 1858 to Simon Arnett and Mary Ann Whiteway and previously the widow of George Frederick Hallett. The couple settled in Bothwell, where Robert owned small properties in High Street. Together, they had two children: Phyllis May (1898) and Darrell Wilfred (1900). Robert remained a familiar figure in Bothwell throughout his long life. He served on inquest juries, appeared in civic petitions, and endured continuing hardships, including the loss of a horse when his cart overturned in 1896. He died at his home in Bothwell on 29 May 1928, aged 80, and was buried in the Bothwell Public Cemetery beside Sarah. Mary Ann survived him by several years, passing away in Hobart on 28 August 1935, and was buried in the public cemetery.

ROBERT EDWARD BLAKE, son of Robert Blake and Mary Bowden.

Born: 20 Oct 1847, Bothwell.
Census: 1 Jan 1848, [30] Patrick St, Bothwell, male, aged under 2, born in the colony, Wesleyan Methodist.
Baptised: 2 Jan 1848, Bothwell.
Article: 5 Dec 1866, named under "Bothwell" at the inquest of William Whittaker.
Married (1): 1 Sep 1879, Sarah Ann Triffett, St Paul's Church, Glenorchy.
Article: 13 Apr 1868, named under "A Sad Accident."
Article: 23 Jun 1883, named under "Bothwell" Thomas E. J. Steele.
Juror: 9 Jan 1885, Police Office, Bothwell, inquest of Andrew O'Hearns.
Residence: 16 Feb 1886, [15] Elizabeth St, Bothwell, Mrs Rebecca Blake (owner), house, annual rateable value £15.
Residence: 14 Jan 1890, [15] Elizabeth St, Bothwell, Mrs Rebecca Blake (owner), house, annual rateable value £15.
Conveyed: 1 Jan 1891, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, 1r 5½p from John Hale.
Conveyed: 21 Jul 1894, [K8] High St, Bothwell, 2r 14½p from Claude Wade Midwood for £15.
Article: 5 Sep 1896, named under "Bothwell" - Cart capsized.
Married (2): 25 Feb 1897, Mary Ann Elizabeth Arnett, Hobart.
Residence: 28 Mar 1899, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, owner, cottage, capital value £250, annual rateable value £13.
Land: 28 Mar 1899, [K8] High St, Bothwell, owner, allotment, capital value £15, annual rateable value £1.
Conveyed: 27 Apr 1912, [J1] High St, Bothwell, 1r 33p from Charles William Craig for £15.
Conveyed: 15 May 1912, [J2] High St, Bothwell, 1r 33p from Charles William Craig.
Electoral Roll: 1914, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, carter.
Residence: 3 Nov 1914, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, owner, cottage, annual rateable value £13.
Land: 3 Nov 1914, [H3] High St, Bothwell, Frederick Synnot's Estate (owners), paddock, annual rateable value £1.
Land: 3 Nov 1914, [I9.1] High St, Bothwell, Mrs Sarah Jane Triffett (owner), annual rateable value £2.
Land: 3 Nov 1914, [J1] High St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2; includes [J2].
Land: 3 Nov 1914, [J2] High St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2; includes [J1].
Land: 3 Nov 1914, [K8] High St, Bothwell, owner, allotment, annual rateable value £1.
Electoral Roll: 1919, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, carter.
Residence: 4 Mar 1919, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, owner, cottage, annual rateable value £13.
Land: 4 Mar 1919, [I9.1] High St, Bothwell, Mrs Sarah Jane Triffett (owner), annual rateable value £2.
Land: 4 Mar 1919, [J1] High St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2; includes [J2.
Land: 4 Mar 1919, [J2] High St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2; includes [J1].
Land: 4 Mar 1919, [K8] High St, Bothwell, owner, allotment, annual rateable value £1.
Died: 29 May 1928, Bothwell, aged 80.
Buried: 31 May 1928, Bothwell Public Cemetery.

Spouse (1) - SARAH ANN TRIFFETT, daughter of Edward Triffett and Mary Taylor.

Born: 3 Oct 1851, Bothwell.
Baptised: 16 Nov 1851, Bothwell.
Married: 1 Sep 1879, Robert Edward Blake, St Paul's Church, Glenorchy.
Died: 22 Mar 1889, Bothwell, aged 37, liver abscess and consumption.
Buried: 24 Mar 1889, Bothwell Public Cemetery.

Children of Robert Edward Blake and Sarah Ann Triffett:

1. Robert Oswald Blake.

   Born: 4 Mar 1880, Bothwell.
   Baptised: 25 Apr 1880, Bothwell.
   Married: 16 Jun 1914, Cornelia Geraldine Campbell, Queenstown.
   Died: 25 Jun 1943, Canterbury, Victoria, aged 63.
   Buried: aft 25 Jun 1943, General Cemetery, Box Hill, Victoria.)

   Spouse - Cornelia Geraldine Campbell, daughter of William Campbell and Caroline Woodford.

   Born: 3 Jan 1891, Brighton.
   Married: 16 Jun 1914, Robert Oswald Blake, Queenstown.)
   Died: 2 Oct 1926, Melbourne, Victoria, aged 35.
   Buried: aft 2 Oct 1926, General Cemetery, Box Hill, Victoria.

2. Sydney Claude Blake.

   Born: 3 Oct 1881, Bothwell.
   Baptised: 2 Nov 1881, Bothwell.
   Conveyed: 5 Sep 1910, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, 2r 20p from the Estate of George Goddard.
   Certificate of Title: 13 Sep 1910, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, registered, builder.
   Married: 28 Oct 1911, Catherine Ellenor Griffiths, St John's Church, New Town.
   Conveyed: 13 Nov 1913, [J6-J9 part] Franklin St, Bothwell, 1a 2r 14¼p from Charles William Craig for £40.
   Electoral Roll: 1914, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, builder.
   Residence: 3 Nov 1914, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, owner, cottage, carpenter's shop, annual rateable value £12.
   Land: 3 Nov 1914, [J6-J9 part] Franklin St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2.
   Electoral Roll: 1919, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, builder.
   Residence: 4 Mar 1919, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, owner, cottage, carpenter's shop, annual rateable value £16.
   Land: 4 Mar 1919, [J6-J9 part] Franklin St, Bothwell, owner, annual rateable value £2.
   Died: 15 Nov 1951, Tasmania, aged 70.
   Buried: 17 Nov 1951, Bothwell Public Cemetery.

   Spouse - Catherine Ellenor Griffiths, daughter of Thomas Griffiths and Sarah Jones.

   Born: 1884, Talbot, Victoria.
   Married: 28 Oct 1911, Sydney Claude Blake, St John's Church, New Town.
   Electoral Roll: 1914, Alexander St, domestic duties.
   Electoral Roll: 1919, [H1.1, H15] High St, Bothwell, domestic duties.
   Died: Apr 1962, Tasmania, aged 78.
   Cremated: 21 Apr 1962, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.

3. Elodie Mary Blake.

   Born: 17 Sep 1883, Bothwell.
   Baptised: 3 Feb 1884, Bothwell.
   Married: 10 Jul 1909, John Richard Clark, Hobart.
   Died: Aug 1965, Tasmania, aged 81.
   Cremated: 9 Aug 1965, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.

   Spouse - John Richard Clark, son of John Clark and Mary Skinner.

   Born: 23 Aug 1884, Port Cygnet.
   Married: 10 Jul 1909, Elodie Mary Blake, Hobart.
   Died: Mar 1970, Tasmania, aged 85.
   Cremated: 1 Apr 1970, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.
   

Spouse (2) - MARY ANN ELIZABETH ARNETT, daughter of Simon Arnett and Mary Ann Whiteway.

Born: 17 Jun 1858, Bothwell.
Baptised: 22 Aug 1858, Bothwell.
Married (1): 26 Jul 1883, George Frederick Hallett, Glen Quion, Hollow Tree.
Married (2): 25 Feb 1897, Robert Edward Blake, Hobart.
Electoral Roll: 1914, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, domestic duties.
Electoral Roll: 1919, [I8.1] High St, Bothwell, domestic duties.
Died: 28 Aug 1935, Hobart, aged 77.
Buried: 29 Aug 1935, Bothwell Public Cemetery.

Children of Robert Edward Blake and Mary Ann Elizabeth Arnett:

1. Phyllis May Blake.

   Born: 2 Mar 1898, Bothwell.
   Baptised: 19 Mar 1898, Bothwell.
   Married: 1944, Arthur John Wells, Victoria.
   Died: 16 Jan 1974, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, aged 75.
   Buried: aft 16 Jan 1974, General Cemetery, Maddingley, Victoria.

   Spouse - Arthur John Wells, son of John Gray Wells and Annie McIntosh.

   Born: 1891, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.
   Married: 1944, Phyllis May Blake, Victoria.
   Died: 15 Oct 1956, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, aged 65.
   Buried: aft 15 Oct 1956, General Cemetery, Maddingley, Victoria.

2. Darrell Wilfred Blake.

   Born: 28 May 1900, Bothwell.
   Conveyed: 14 May 1920, [I9.1] High St, Bothwell, 1r 18p from Sarah Jane (Whiteway) Triffett.
   Died: 30 Dec 1982, Bothwell, aged 82.
   Buried: aft 30 Dec 1982, Bothwell Public Cemetery.