1Robert Hay Marr named Kings Meadows

Robert Hay Marr was granted 500 acres in the heart of Kings Meadows and purchased two lots, each of 50 acres. Philip Oakden later owned these three lots, totaling 600 acres. In 1833, Marr had a notice of sale where he called his farm “Kings Meadows”. Looking through local historian John Dent’s file on Kings Meadows, the sale notice was again listed in the Launceston Advertiser on 2 January 1834 and purchased by Philip Oakden, who listed it for rent on 17 April 1834.

When in the Launceston Library about 11am on Thursday 12 August 2021, I viewed what Steve Pearsall searched on Trove to verify the above. Later that day, I received an email from Steve who stated:

Hi Tony, Exciting stuff – we have found that Robert Hay Marr was born in Peebles, Scotland and his residence was given as Kings Meadows. Regards, Steve Pearsall, Library Services Officer, Discovery floor.

I confirmed on Google maps that just south of Peebles in Scotland there is also a Kings Meadows Road. Kings Meadows farm is 1.5 kilometres south of Peebles.

Folklore has it that:

British troops (The Kings Own Regiment) arrived with the settlement in 1806 and remained until withdrawn in 1870. The area became known as the King’s Own Meadow. In time it became Kings Meadows.

What Steve Pearsall discovered has proven this to be a myth.