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{{For|the US musician who uses the persona Bob Cock|Adam Gates}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{infobox person
|name = Robert Cock
|image = RobertCock.jpg
|birth_date = {{birth_year|1801}}
|birth_place = Fife, Scotland
|death_date = {{death_date_and_age|1871|03|23|1801|df=yes}}
|death_place = Mount Gambier, South Australia
|parents = Robert Cock ({{birth_date|1876|10|28|df=yes}}<ref name=birth_I>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYVQ-4YF "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (2 January 2015), Robert Cock, 28 Oct 1776; citing , reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,142.]</ref> Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland – {{death_date |1939|12|16|1876|10|28|df=yes}} Adelaide, South Australia) and Christian nee Williamson (1781–1836)
|relations = [[William Owen (Australian politician)|William Owen]] (brother-in-law), Reverend James Benny (son-in-law)<ref>later a prominent Presbyterian minister at [[Morphett Vale]] ({{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163033391 |title=Rev. James Benny's Jubilee. |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |volume=LX |issue=3,233 |date=19 September 1903 |accessdate=4 September 2017 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}})</ref>
|children = <br>with Betty: Betty (Elizabeth) Benny (1824–1852), Christian Chambers (1825–1867), Agnes (Nancy) Kelly (1828–1848), Robert Cock (1828–1884)<br>
with Catherine: [[James Cock]] (1833–1901), Catherine Warren (1835–1881) Jane Squire (1838–1862), John Cock (1840–1914), Ann Cock (1847–1861), unnamed male Cock (1849–1849)
|spouse = Elizabeth (Betty) Wishart (1805–1830) and Catherine Christie (1807–1870)
}}

'''Robert Cock''' (25 May 1801 – 23 March 1871) was one of the first European explorers of the Adelaide region of South Australia following the establishment of the colony in December 1836.

==History==
Robert was born in [[Dysart, Fife]], Scotland in 1801, and arrived in South Australia with his family aboard {{HMS|Buffalo|1813|6}} in December 1836, thus being in the first group of settlers in the new colony. Robert actively set about setting up his business affairs in the new colony. <blockquote>He set up a sort of thatched roof in which he and his wife and 6 children lived while he built a house. The house, when built, was used as a store and saleroom, and the family remained in the primitive shelter whilst he pursued his explorations".<ref>R. G Jameson, ''New Zealand, South Australia and New South Wales; a record of recent travels in these colonies, with especial reference to emigration'', CHAPTER IV (1842)</ref></blockquote> He was appointed SA's first government auctioneer in early 1837, a position he held until November 1838. He was for a time in partnership with fellow ''Buffalo'' passenger [[William Ferguson (Australian pioneer)|William Ferguson]] as auctioneers, and owners of [[Magill, South Australia|Magill]] estate (then spelled Makgill, named for Cock's trustee), which they subdivided.

He conducted explorations of the areas around [[Adelaide]], and the [[Yorke Peninsula|Yorke]] and [[Eyre Peninsula|Eyre]] peninsulas.
In December 1837, Robert led a party of [[William Finlayson (churchman)|William Finlayson]], A. Wyatt and G. Barton to explore the country between [[Adelaide]] and [[Lake Alexandrina (South Australia)|Lake Alexandrina]]. Leaving Adelaide on 25 December, they became the first Europeans to climb [[Mount Barker (South Australia)|Mount Barker]] (although there is a more plausible counter-claim by Sir [[John Morphett]]<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36400104 Out Among the People] ''The Advertiser'' 30 December 1937 accessed 20 July 2011<br>This article also canvasses alternative origins of the name Cox's Creek.</ref>). They crossed and named the Hindmarsh and the [[River Angas|Angas]] rivers, arriving at Lake Alexandrina on 31 December.<ref>''South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register'', Adelaide, Saturday 20 January 1838</ref><ref>Recollections of Old Colonists" (RGSA vol 6), "Reminiscences by Pastor Finlayson" pp 48-49</ref> (The Hindmarsh was subsequently renamed the Bremer). In his journal, Robert noted the suitability of the region for wine growing. (He is occasionally cited as being the first to identify the [[Adelaide Hills]] as suitable for wine growing e.g. Pike). There is a memorial cairn to the explorers in [[Bridgewater, South Australia|Bridgewater]], near the Bridgewater Mill site. [[Cox Creek (South Australia)|Cox's Creek]] (originally Cock's Creek) was named after him.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148111392 |title=Memories of Eighty Years. |newspaper=[[The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser]] |location=SA |date=17 December 1886 |accessdate=7 June 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In June 1838, Robert discovered a carriage route through the [[Adelaide Hills]], which opened up communication between [[Adelaide]] and the [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mt Barker]] region.<ref>''South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register'', dated 16 June 1838</ref>

In August 1838, Robert Cock along with [[Edward John Eyre|Edward Eyre]] and [[Thomas Bewes Strangways|Bewes Strangways]] travelled back to Mount Barker to meet the celebrated explorer [[Charles Sturt]], who had driven stock from [[New South Wales]] to [[Adelaide]]<ref>''South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register'', 25 August 1838</ref>

In December 1838, Robert and the surgeon, R. G. Jameson, conducted a survey of the east coast of [[Yorke Peninsula]]. They concluded "if we could have found a fresh water river, we would have found it a good country for the maintenance of flocks and herds. From the numerous native population it is obvious that there is no scarcity of fresh water, although we could not find it."<ref>''South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register'', 8 December 1838</ref>

In May 1839, Robert explored the [[Port Vincent, South Australia|Port Vincent]] area in conjunction with James Hughes.

In June 1839, Robert led a party on the schooner ''Victoria'', captained by Captain Hutchinson. They explored [[Spencer Gulf]], following the western shores of the [[Yorke Peninsula]] and the coast of the [[Eyre Peninsula]] as far as [[Port Lincoln]]. "Water can be had at from ten to twenty feet from the surface. In all probability the peninsula will in time be a great agricultural district."<ref>''South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register'', Saturday, 15 June 1839</ref>

Robert also demonstrated concern for the welfare of the aboriginal population: <blockquote>... Robert Cock was deeply disturbed to find that local authorities still had no intention of honouring a commitment made while still in Britain to set aside one fifth of all land to provide a fund for aboriginal welfare. Having bought land in Adelaide he felt morally obliged to pay interest on one-fifth of the purchase price. 'I felt it my duty', he informed the local Protector of Aborigines in 1838, 'to pay to the proper authorities for the use of the natives this yearly rent'. He denied that the money was a donation but 'a just claim that the natives of this district have on me as an occupier of those lands'.<ref>Henry Reynolds, ''The Whispering in our hearts'', quoting Aboriginal Protection Society Report, 5, 1839, p137</ref></blockquote>

On another occasion he intervened in a dispute between the aborigines and the settlers to prevent violence, reminding the settlers that the law was for protection of all.<ref>James Backhouse, ''A Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies''</ref>

After several years as a land agent, Robert took up farming, first at [[Balhannah, South Australia|Balhannah]] in the Adelaide hills and by 1853<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77919519 |title=The Days Before Yesterday |newspaper=[[The Border Watch]] |volume=77 |issue=8257 |location=South Australia |date=1 January 1938 |accessdate=28 November 2020 |page=3 |via=Trove }}</ref> in [[Mount Gambier, South Australia|Mount Gambier]], where he was one of the original residents. Later on, he opened up a brewery in Mount Gambier.

Robert died in Mount Gambier in 1871, where he is buried in the Pioneers cemetery. A son, [[James Cock]] (1833–1901) was [[South Australian House of Assembly|MHA]] for [[Electoral district of Victoria|Victoria]] from 1890 to 1899.

==Family==
Robert Cock married Elizabeth 'Betty' Wishart (1805–1830) on 15 Jan 1823 in Kilmany, Fife, Scotland.<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTPL-BJG "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (8 December 2014), Robert Cock and Betty Wishart, 15 Jan 1823; citing Kilmany, Fife, Scotland, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,166.]</ref> He married again, to Catherine Christie (23 March 1807 – 18 Apr 1870) on 28 May 1832 in [[Abdie]], Fife, Scotland;<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTGR-P5Q "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (8 December 2014), Robert Cock and Catherine Christie, 28 May 1832; citing Abdie,Fife,Scotland, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,144.]</ref>

Robert and Catherine emigrated to South Australia in 1836 aboard {{HMS|Buffalo|1813|6}} with the children of both wives:
*Betty Cock (27 March 1824 Abdie, Fife, Scotland<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XBX3-KHX "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (2 January 2015), Betty Cock, 27 Mar 1824; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,144.]</ref> – 24 December 1852 Adelaide, South Australia) married the Reverend James Benny<ref>later a prominent Presbyterian minister at [[Morphett Vale]] ({{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163033391 |title=Rev. James Benny's Jubilee. |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |volume=LX |issue=3,233 |date=19 September 1903 |accessdate=4 September 2017 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}})</ref> of [[Balhannah, South Australia|Balhannah]] on 11 December 1846, James Benny went on to marry Frances Maria Robertson Just née Yeates
*Christian Cock (1825 – 7 December 1867) married Dr. Henry Chambers (1816 – 10 July 1881) of [[Nairne, South Australia|Nairne]] on 15 March 1847. Chambers was a nephew of Capt. [[Matthew Flinders]]. (His mother Henrietta Chambers, née Flinders, (29 January 1791 – 1838) married James Chambers on 14 Apr 1814).
:*Elizabeth Christian Chambers (c. 1850 – 6 August 1911) married Arthur Greenway Pollitt (1 May 1842 – c. 26 January 1917), son of [[James Pollitt (priest)|James Pollitt]] in 1878.
*Agnes (Nancy) Cock (15 August 1828<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XBX3-R61 "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (2 January 2015), Agnes Cock, 15 Aug 1828; citing , reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,144.]</ref> – 23 November 1848) married John Kelly (1819–1892) of Cumberland Farm, [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]] on 9 November 1847
:*their daughter Agnes Cock (1848–1932) married Alexander Cumming Falconer (c. 1841 – 10 June 1885)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208377114 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=[[The Express and Telegraph]] |volume=IX |issue=2,589 |location=South Australia |date=17 June 1872 |accessdate=4 September 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Robert Cock (c. 1828 – 16 December 1884) brewer of Balhannah, then [[Kyneton, Victoria]]
*[[James Cock]] (1833–1901) married Magdalene Williams (1842 – 24 July 1923) on 4 October 1861
:their children were:
:*Anne Cock (1862– ) married William Henry Collins ( – ) on 6 January 1886, lived at Mount Gambier
:*Mary Cock (c. 1865 – 27 July 1899) married W. H. Kilsby ( – ) lived at Mount Gambier
:*Catherine Cock (1867–) married Alfred Ernest Tozer ( – ) of [[Port Wakefield, South Australia|Port Wakefield]] on 3 October 1900; they lived at [[Scott Creek, South Australia|Scott Creek]]
:*Jane Rosetta "Jean" Cock (1869 – 14 September 1936)
:*Magdalene Cock (1872–) married George Arthur Hill in 1904
:*Andrew Owen Cock (1875–) of Broken Hill
:*David Gambier Cock (1881–) of Mount Barker
*Catherine Cock (c. 1835 – 14 October 1881) married William Warren ( – ) on 30 June 1855
*Jane Cock (1838 – 23 February 1862) married Edward Squire ( – )
*John Cock (c. 1840 – 29 December 1913)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45267017 |title=Personal |newspaper=[[The Barrier Miner]] |location=Broken Hill, NSW |date=7 January 1914 |accessdate=1 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> married Sarah Jones ( – ) in 1863
*Ann Cock (c. January 1847 – 29 September 1861)


Robert Cock's father, also named Robert Cock (c. 1776 – 16 December 1839)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71685700 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=[[Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=19 December 1839 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> arrived in South Australia on the ''Catherine Jamieson'' in December 1838.

Two brothers and a sister arrived in November 1838 on the ''Rajasthan'', chartered by Robert Cock;:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31750187 |title=First Importation from Scotland |newspaper=[[South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=20 October 1838 |accessdate=2 October 2015 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Alexander Cock (c. 1809 – 10 July 1872) and his wife Mary Cock, née Thomson (1807 – 6 December 1885)
*James Cock ( – ) and his wife Christina Cock ( – ) (same person as Elizabeth Cock (c. 1802 – 31 January 1846)?)
*Christina Owen, née Cock ( – 4 May 1848), and her husband [[William Owen (Australian politician)|William Owen]]

Another brother, William Cock ( – ) arrived on ''Waterloo'' in June 1840.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pioneerssa.org.au/files/23%20Cock%20APPROVED.pdf|title=Robert Cock (1801-1871)|author=Mussared, Peter|publisher=The Pioneers Association of SA Inc.|accessdate=2 October 2015}} It seems there were two William Cocks on that boat, both with families – further information would be helpful.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cock, Robert}}
[[Category:Settlers of South Australia]]
[[Category:Explorers of South Australia]]
[[Category:Australian auctioneers]]
[[Category:1801 births]]
[[Category:1871 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Dysart, Fife]]
[[Category:19th-century Australian businesspeople]]

Robert Cock - Revision history

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