Robert Cartwright (1771–1856) was a Church of England clergyman who played an active part in the early religious life of the Colony of New South Wales.

The selection of these was entrusted to his own judgment, with the result that, in a letter dated from Cambridge, 1 August 1809, and written just prior to his return to Sydney, he was confident "that his mission had been answered beyond his expectations".

[3] As a result of the visit to England of Samuel Marsden, two clergymen were induced to come out to New South Wales in the ship Ann(e), which arrived on 27 February 1810.

[1] The corner stone laid by the Governor two days previously had been removed by thieves, who stole the coins deposited underneath it.

The same year he was also appointed, along with James Mileham and William Cox, to sit in Windsor as one of the weekly bench of magistrates to hear cases from the whole district.

He is listed as a life member in every report, from 1841 till the year of his death in December 1856, long after he left the district, he being the last survivor of the originators of the Society.

[1] Cartwright remained in Windsor until December 1819, being appointed in that year, largely through the influence of the Governor, resident chaplain at Liverpool.

[4] In 1836, there being a vacancy in St. James's, Sydney, Cartwright was removed to that historic church, succeeding Richard Hill as rector, and remained there until 1838.

For some years he travelled over 25,000 miles, ministering to the spiritual needs of the settlers in the southern parts of the colony, until old age compelled him to restrict his labours to the district around Collector (Gunning).

His friends and the clergy of the Church of England are informed that his remains will be interred in the family vault at Liverpool on Saturday, the 20th instant.

James Samuel Hassall says that about the year 1850 two of Cartwright's sons were settled on a property "Windellema", in the Bungonia parish near Goulburn.

[1] In an old letter in the Mitchell Library, dated Liverpool, 20 September 1830, Cartwright is of the opinion that a better site might have been procured for St. Matthew's Church, and for which a legal title might have been obtained.

As there was no parsonage house or glebe available for him, he mentions that he had to purchase a farm of 100 acres at Richmond in 1813, which was his principal establishment till he left Windsor in 1820.

[1] Cartwright's letters were preserved enough for James S. Hassall, a descendant of Samuel Marsden, to record them in his book In Old Australia as example common documents of the time.

Dear sir,—I am much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken about the wool, &c., &c. I must request you will likewise see the present load weighed and entered to my account with Mr. Birnie.