L 40       January 8th,2010

Hello Trevor

Your interest in Scots who emigrated to Australia was mentioned on the Shetland message board.My Balfour family were from a croft named Houbansetter in South Delting,Shetland,where my great-grandfather was born in 1828.He had a younger brother,John Bryden Balfour,christened 04 October 1835 who went to Australia and settled there.I have been able to find some things about him which I detail below should you be interested (from a historical account I prepared).
"Like his brothers before and after him John became a seaman.He served (1854) with Walter on the "Victor" (Hay and Co's Whaling Ledger).He next appears in a list of crew serving on the 535 ton vessel "Wellington" arriving in Sydney,NSW,Australia 19 April 1859.There is an interesting family story that may relate to this Sydney visit.It seems that one of the Houbansetter Balfours was in Sydney where a local man came to the docks and asked if there were any Shetlanders and specifically Balfours in port.This Balfour lad met with the man who invited him to visit his farm somewhere outside of Sydney.John Bryden Balfour talked it over with his ship mates who counselled him not to go as there were reports of sailors being lured off ships until their ship had sailed.The Balfour lad thus decided not to go.When he returned to Shetland he related the incident to his mother who enquired whether the man had a scar on his left cheek.When this was confirmed she said that the Sydney man had been her brother.
It would be of interest to see if there were indeed an Anderson from Shetland farming near Sydney in the 1850's.
John Bryden Balfour must have been impressed with what he saw of Australia because he later returned,settled and married there.What was possibly a second marriage for him-to Christina Ingram Wallace-took place at Sydney in 1867.She is said to have been born at sea in 1850 (private correspondence with Graham Cotterell,a descendant) and arrived in NSW with her parents aboard the "Emily" 09 September 1850.Her parents were probably William and Janet Wallace from Dunfermline,Scotland.John and Christina's union produced eight children,all born in Young,New South Wales,a gold-mining town 375km west of Sydney.John W (b1867),Alexander (b1869),Robina (b1871),Christina (b1873),James Walker (b1876),Margaret Janet (b17 January 1878),Robert (b1880) and Ethel M. (b1887).Looking at these names it is tempting to assume that John was following Shetland tradition,when his first-born son and second-born daughter would be named for his parents (ie.John and Christina) and his first-born daughter and second-born son after his wife's parents.If that were indeed so then Christina Ingram Wallace would have been a daughter of Alexander and Robina which contradicts that above.
John was an engineer and may have been one of the founding members of the Mechanics Institute in Young.After his wife Christina died John moved 500km further west to Broken Hill where ore deposits were more secure.He died at Broken Hill 31 August 1900 of Bright's disease and was buried in the General Cemetary there.At the time of his death he was an engine driver at a dam site.

Letter kindly submitted by;Walter J.Balfour of Victoria,BC,Canada


L 41            January 17th,2010

Hi

Read your request about Scots who emigrated to Australia.My relative Helen Leitch Anderson was baptised 16.11.1817 in Greenoch Old/West parish,Renfrewshire,daughter of James Anderson and Margaret Bennie.On 14.11.1848 she married James Farish in Largs,Ayrshire.They emigrated in January 1849 and arrived 2 May 1849 in Australia.She died 3.6.1880 at Warrak,Shire of Ararat,Australia.
They had 1. Margaret Anderson 22.7.1849 Melbourne.In 1867 she married Samuel Martin Aldus.They had William James 1868,Helen Anderson 1870,Mary Lee 1872,James Quinton 1875,Emily Matilda 1877,and Maud Margaret 1884.Details from her great-grandson.I am suspicious of the gaps in children.Margaret Anderson Farish or Aldus died in 195? at Ararat,Victoria,Australia.
               2.James Anderson 7.4.1851.He married Mary O'Halloran in 1878,then Jessie Elizabeth Wilson in 1913 and died in 1921 at Ararat,Victoria.From his first marriage he had Helen Margaret Anderson in 1880,Eugene in 1881 and Quinton Patrick Leitch Anderson in 1884,then from the second marriage Stanley James in 1914,John James in 1917 and Ernest Theodore in 1918.James Anderson Farish died in 1921 at Ararat,Victoria.
               3.Robert Turner 23.7.1852,who married Anna Johanna Elizabeth Reyne in 1881.They had Richard James in 1882,Robert Turner in 1889,Isabel Britannia RAd? in 1892 and Albert Naumann in 1896.Robert Turner senior died in 1931 at Fitzroy,Victoria.
               4.Elizabeth born and died 1855
               5.Thomas Hamilton b1856,died 1857
               6.Quinton Richard Anderson b and died 1859
               7.Peter McNally b 11.6.1861 at Sefton,married Louise Waters in 1881.They had Helan Elizabeth 1882,Margaret Jane 1884,James Anderson 1886,Mary Louise 1887,Daisy Maud 1890,Eva May 1892,William Peter 1901,Lillian Pearl 1903 and Ellen Irene 1905.Peter died in 1945 at east Prahan.
I may have information about the ship somewhere,but I am not sure.I suddenly made contact with a descendant of James and Helen Leitch Anderson.The only thing I remember is that they were visited several times by Helen's brother Richard,my direct ancestor,who captained a ship,and died in Madras Harbour,India in 1865,when he was 39.
Helen's brother Quintin Leitch Anderson and sister Elizabeth Wallace Anderson with her husband William McIIwraith emigrated later in life to New Zealand.

Letter kindly submitted by; Morag M.Fowler


L 42        January 8th,2010

Dear Trevor

John Newlands (my Paternal Grandfather 1864-1932)
The son of Andrew and Ann Newlands (nee Stivan),he was born at Dallschyle,Parish of Cawdor,in the County of Nairn,Scotland on Aug 4th 1864 and grew up in Dingwall,near Inverness.
At the age of 18 he sailed from Plymouth to Australia as an immigrant arriving in Adelaide on May 28th 1883.The story of this voyage is told in his diary which is amongst the papers we have kept.
His first job was as a bar steward in the South australian Club,and he later worked for the Railways as a lamp cleaner,and then as a sleeping car conductor on the Adelaide to Broken Hill line.At this time his family lived at Terowrie,a town on the line in the Clare Valley.
He became Secretary of the Railwayman's Union and from there moved into politics,first as a member for Burra in the South Australia,Governor and then as a Senator in the Federal Parliament.In recognition of his work in recruiting during World War 1 he was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1920.
At about this time he resigned from the Labour Party over the conscription issue,and joined the National Party (later renamed the United Australia Party) led by the former Prime Minister,Billy Hughes.He was the President of the Senate when the Old Parliament House was opened at Canberra in 1927,and was made a Knight Commander of St.Michael and St.George,his full title then being Senator sir John Newlands (Knight)K.C.M.G.C.B.E.For this occasion he reinstated the "s" at the end of his name by deed poll and was no longer known as "Newland" we too!
A street in Canberra near the Old Parliament House and the Treasury Building is named after him,and a portrait of him as President of the Senate,painted by Charles Wheeler,was hung in the King's Hall in the Old Parliament House.In the New Parliament House the paintings of the Presidents of the Senate are hung downstairs in an area not open to the public,-but can be viewed on request.
When he became engaged to Theresa Glancy,a Scottish immigrant lass,he promised her parents that after they were married he would take her home for a visit within the next few years.They did this in 1893,taking three of their four children with them,-the fourth,Donald James,was not born until 1899.
John Newlands was a tall,heavilly built man with a powerful speaking voice and there was a number of references to him in the National Library at Canberra including some rulings he made as President of the Senate.
He was an active member of the Druids and Massonic Lodges,and his home was at Glenelg,a suburb of Adelaide.
He passed away on May 20th 1932 after a short illness,was given a state funeral and buried in the North Brighton Cemetery,Adelaide.

Letter kindly submitted by; Col Cafferky of Australia


L 43       January 12th,2010

Dear Mr Smurthwaite

I have read your article in our "Examiner" newspaper.My maiden name is Graham a descendant of Montrose.We have some history of our family,but although the Earl of Montrose played quite a part in Scotlands history he does not seem to get much mention.
My older brother has quite a lot of history and I have sent the letter on-I will also give you his address.
In the book written by John Buchanan 1928,the story of Montrose is explained-the book is called "Montrose".
Rosemary Sulcliff also wrote a book called "Bonnie Dundee"-which although a novel is based on history and facts(1983).
Some of the dates etc I have are as follows;
William Graham recieved from King David 1 lands of Abercorn,Dalkeith.
From 13th century Wardens of Forth and Farr
Sir John Graham 1st Primark of Scotland.
1451 The 3rd Lord Graham made Earl of Montrose.Became Chancellor and Viceroy of Scotland.
Robert Bruce gave the house to the family.
Earl Montrose married Magdalene of Kinnaird Castle.
Montrose was a scholar in Latin,Greek and mathmatics.
Montrose's sister married Sir John Colquhaon and lived at Ross Dhu-which surely just by incidence-is the name of the farm my son purchased.
Dukedom awarded in 1707 by King George 1.
James Graham 1st Marquess of Montrose died fighting for King Charles 11 of Scotland.
I know Montrose was involved in much of the fighting-etc,etc.
I read there was a Colonel Graham Claverhouse-I think raised an army to support King James who had fled to Holland.

Our crest is a falcon,beaked killing a stork argent.

Recently there has been a documentry of History of Scotland on I think ABC tv,over five weeks,-we were amazed that the family Montrose who played such a large part (good/bad) in Scotlands History was omitted.

NE OUBLIE-  -Do Not Forget

Letter kindly submitted by;Mary Eadington of Rosevale,Tasmania


L 44        January 15th,2010

Hello Trevor

I have seen your article in "The Land" newspaper regarding the gathering of information of families coming to Australia from Scotland.
My father's family Stuart and Isabella (Guild) Anderson were dairy farmers in Dundee and I believe the dairy stayed in the Guild family until a few years ago.
My Grandfather,Stuart Anderson,was a bread baker in WW1and served in the Gordon Highlanders and Black Watch Units,he served on the Western Front.After WW1 representatives from the NSW Government went to the UK to recruit experienced farmers to farm along side returned Australia men,some who had no agricultural experience but were taking up farmer settler block in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.My Grandfather was promised a farm under the same grants and conditions as the Australian returned men as he was an experienced dairyman,so came out here to take up a farm.Initially he came by himself and left my grandmother to manage the dairy and look after the business in Dundee.
He had to work on an established irrigation farm for some time to get experience in managing irrigation water.

He drew a farm 1439 at Murrami (between Leeton and Griffith) in 1922 with no improvements whatsoever,only corner pegs to mark out the allotted area.Isabella and 4 girls,Christina,Margaret,Robina and Isabel arrived out here in January 1923 on the "Esperance Bay".What a shock it must have been for them arriving in the heat of summer to live in a tin shack.Apparently they must have been quite comfortable in Scotland but there must have been some rift with renewing the dairy lease off my Grandmother's family,so all the cows were sold,and they used these funds to set up a dairy,shedding,fencing etc,out here.Unfortunately he never received the grants promised to him by the NSW representatives in Scotland.He even had an audience with the Premier when he came down to visit this area to complain that promises were broken.They lived in the tin shack for 10 years until they could afford to buy a house and have it dragged here from a close by area.The AIF men received grants for houses and improvements.A few years ago at the Pioneer Park in Griffith I saw the ads referred to,inviting people to this area to farm.
This has all been documented as the the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area was fully controlled by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission.Everything you did to improve your farm,grow crops etc,needed approval by the WC &IC,so I spent several days researching there archives.He ended up being one of the pioneers of the rice industry growing rice for the first time in 1926.The dairy was wound up in the 1930's and they went into rice,chaff and lamb production and became very successful farmers.
My father,also Stuart was the first and only son born in Australia,then 3 more girls Beatrice,Ellen and Winifred.Isabella was a foundation member of the Presbyterian Ladies Guild (their first meeting was held at her home),Golf,Cricket and Tennis Clubs and was active in petitioning to get a school out here which began in 1925.Until then the older girls used to travel about 5 miles morning and night by sulky.They really had some tough times,but remained very close and there was always lots of mischief,fun and laughter in the family.
My father farmed until his death and now my husband and myself are on the same property "Craigie Lee" (named by my Grandmother).

Letter kindly submitted by; Libby Bailey (nee Anderson) of Murrami,NSW



L 45        January,2010

Dear Mr.Smurthwaite

I was reading our local paper and noticed that you are directly related to Robert the Bruce.Its a small world indeed because I am also related to Robert the Bruce.
My great grandfather came from Peebleshire,Scotland to live here in Adelaide.His family previously owned the Peebles Castle which was sold to the Balfour family.They came to Australia when my Grandfather was severn years of age and he didn't lose his Scottish accent.
I am also related to Noel Coward,Ann Wills,William the Conqueror,the wicked King Henry the 8th,Keith Michel the singer and actor,the Black Knight of Lorne and Prince Frederick of Denmark.
My Grandfather's brother Stephen Veitch owned many oil wells in Texas and had Rockefeller working for him.He left zillions of dollars in his will to his brothers and his sister who was married to Robert A.C.Castle,a lawyer.Stephen Veitch died in the San Francisco earthquake in 1906.
A cup of gold sovereigns was sent to each of the brothers so that they could use it to go back to Scotland and claim their inheritance,but they commissioned their brother in law Robert Castle to collect their money and bring it out here to Australia for them.Robert Castle collected the moneyhowever,he committed fraud and he diddled them out of every bit of it. He collected the money and brought up picture theatres,petrol stations in Adelaide and had a castle built at Edwardstown on a good sized portion of land,all with their money.The castle has since gone and now a shopping centre stands in its place called Castle Plazza.When the brothers tried to get their money,Robert Castle was no where to be found,but I have heard that he had a son by the same name who would be related to us by his mother Mary Castle (nee Veitch).My Grandfather,Charles Geaorge Brown Veitch married Maria Ellen Jane Nolan whose parents came from the Shetland Isle.
My great Grandfather built many of the old buildings in Adelaide that have since been replaced by "so called" modern concrete slabe buildings,and he built the wall along King William Street,around the Adelaide Zoo and around Government House,and he also built the Prince Alfred College or the St.Peter's College,I'm not sure which one.
My mother's cousin,Jack Veitch who lived in Port Lincoln had his photograph in the paper at one time because he caught the biggest shark ever caught there.
My great Grandfather had a bet with the other builders that he could carry two hods of bricks up to the top of the building,and in so doing,the load being so heavy,he went blind and my Grandfather then had to take him around to work on a cart.He became a chimney sweeper because he could no longer build.
My Grandfather owned a large portion of land on the corner of King William Street and Hindley Street in the City of Adelaide and he sold it for "a cow".He used to bring his sheep along King William Street,first going through North Adelaide,through a sheep dip and into the city to sell them:he showed me the sheep dip.I think that the house was later sold with the sheep dip described as a swimming pool.One day,one of his sheep got away and ran through Elders Building on North Terrace.He used to send twelve sheep into the building led by a goat.The sheep would be kept and the goat was sent back out.

Letter kindly submitted by; Valerie Gebert of Happy Valley,South Australia