Robert Nelson

   Another name for Robert was Robert Nelson Freeman.

  General Notes:

It seems very likely that Robert was actually born Robert Nelson Freeman 6 March 1880 in Corowa NSW to parents David Freeman and Julia nee Hangan. Nelson/Freeman was an habitual criminal with a long rap sheet stretching over the period 1901-1926 and spanning across Melbourne, the Ovens Valley, Albury/Corowa and the Riverina. He variously used the names Robert Nelson, Robert Freeman, Robert Nelson Freeman and Denis Ryan.

He served in WW1, as Robert Nelson, Service number 3784. Having signed up in 1917 he had a number of AWOL charges, and a charge (not pursued) of stealing 2 horses. He was hospitalised several times including after being severely gassed in France. His enlistment papers state that he was married but his wife had deserted him. Her next of kin details were subsequently crossed out and replaced with details of a friend, Martin Barry of Wagga Wagga. He was not recorded on his wife's death certificate as his details were unknown, but at any rate he was in prison at that time. It is not known what became of him after he was released from prison.

Robert married Gladys May Sullivan, daughter of Unknown Unknown and Catherine Agnes Sullivan, on 4 Apr 1912 in St Patricks Church, Albury, New South Wales, Australia. (Gladys May Sullivan was born on 9 Aug 1890 in Spencer St, Albury, New South Wales, Australia, died on 12 Nov 1927 in District Hospital, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia and was buried in Nov 1927 in Monumental Cemetery, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.)