Robert Roxby (songwriter)

Robert Roxby (1767 – 30 July 1846) was an English clerk by profession, and angler, songwriter and poet by inclination.

Robert Roxby was born in 1767 at Needless Hall, the name of the farm (grid reference NZ112864) about 1 mile east of Hartburn, and 6 miles west of Morpeth. In 1828 it was occupied by Thomas Brice and in 1855 by William Howey.

His father died when he was very young, and he was put into the trusteeship of local farmer Gabriel Goulburn of Redesdale, to be trained in agriculture.

He remained there until about 1792, when, unfortunately, the Goulburn’s business failed and the sum of money left in trust by his father was all lost. At this point in his life Robert Roxby had to turn to commerce and business to earn his livelihood. He worked as a clerk firstly at the bank of Sir William Loraine of Kirkhale, 6th Baronet, (Sir William Loraine & Co), which (again, unfortunately) failed, leaving Roxby without an income. Luckily he quickly found a similar position with another bank; that of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Baronet (Sir Matthew White Ridley & Co.), also of Newcastle at which company, he eventually rose to the position of chief clerk.

He died 30 July 1846, at the age of seventy-nine years, and was buried at St Paul's (now disused) burial ground, in Westgate Hill General Cemetery, Arthur's Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne.

He became very friendly with Thomas Doubleday and they eventually became almost inseparable, despite their differences in age (Roxby was by far the elder). The pair of them spent a considerable time fishing on the River Coquet, Rede and other beautiful Northumberland rivers. .

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