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Mid North Coast Pioneers - Newcastle to Lismore and beyond

William McLeod McKINNON , 1825–1886 (aged 61 years)

Name
William McLeod /McKINNON/
Given names
William McLeod
Surname
McKINNON
Emigration

Departed on board the "Midlothian" from the Isle of Skye with his parents and siblings, for Australia as "Government Assisted Migrant" Immigrants.

Immigration

On board the "Midlothian" with his parents.

ImmigrationView

GOVERNMENT ASSISTED MIGRANTS - "MIDLOTHIAN"

The Midlothian was a barque (three masted ship) of 414 tons.

Under Captain Morrison, left the small port of Uig, in Loch Snizort, Skye, on 8th August, 1837. The surgeon superintendent was Dr Robert Stewart, and the minister Rev William McIntyre.

The ship carried nearly 300 passengers, most of whom were Clearance victims. They were brought to Australia under Rev John Dunmore Lang's Bounty Scheme. 24 persons died on the voyage to Australia, 18 of them children and women.

The deaths were due mainly to dysentery, and a fever which appeared 5 weeks into the voyage. Dr Stewart, in an effort to combat the disease, stopped all animal food, prescribed extra sugar, and doubled the oatmeal ration. No fever cases occurred after November.

The Midlothian put into Jervis Bay on the night of December 11, 1837, and entered Sydney Heads the following day. After being cleared at anchor in Neutral Bay, it disembarked the passengers at Port Jackson on December 13th, when they were taken to the Immigration Building in Bent St. It was the third ship of twenty in the Bounty Scheme. Bounty ships gave assisted passage to 4000 Scots between 1837-40. The second, "William Nicholl," arrived in Sydney a week before the Midlothian.

The Reverend McIntyre held services on board the Midlothian each Sunday, in the morning in Gaelic (which most spoke as their only tongue), and in the evening in English (which a few spoke as their second language). On the Sunday after disembarking, the Midlothian passengers attended the first non-English speaking church service held in Australia (discounting the Latin Roman Mass of course!). It was a Gaelic service in the Scots Church, Sydney.

Shortly after, they became the subject of controversy, as they refused to be split up like the previous two Bounty shiploads, and claimed that the government had promised to settle them as a community with their own minister. The government decided that, although no such undertaking had been given, if any local landholder would be willing to take them as a body, they would be given six months rations from the Queen's stores and free passage to the estate in question at the public expense. John Dunmore Lang's brother Andrew was the only one willing to take them, so a large number of the Midlothian families settled at "Dunmore" near Paterson, thus forming the second ethnic "ghetto" in Australian history! (the first was the English at Port Jackson of course!).

List of passengers arrived Sydney - MIDLOTHIAN - 12th Dec 1837

NOTE: This list was scanned using OCR and may contain errors. It is provided as is. In the case of some adult offspring on the list, there may also be additional information on the original documents that was not recorded in the book I scanned it from, such as occupation. Therefore I suggest that wherever possible you should attempt to view the microfilms of the ships records.

256 passengers disembarked from the Midlothian, most of them residents of Skye - though this may not have been their place of birth.

Abbreviations used below are: SH Shepherd; FW Farm Worker; DM Dairy Maid; HM Housemaid; ST Stockman; R Read W Write; r read a little; Inver - Inverness shire; Snizort, Portree, etc - location of minister, JP, etc who gave character reference. {S} suffering from scurvy on arrival. ALT - engaged by Andrew Lang as a tenant farmer on "Dunmore" near Paterson, north of Maitland in the Hunter Valley. "C. Marsden Penrith 45 R" - name & place of NSW employer, £45 p.a. with rations. "Sydney o.a." - place of self-employment (o.a. = own account)

PASSENGER LIST:

  1. BEATON Angus, 32, SH, Snizort - ALT Marion, 32, FW, {S} Christie 6, Catherine 4.5, Angus 3, Malcolm 15 mths (all children - very delicate health)

  2. CAMERON John, 32, SH, Portree - C. Marsden Penrith, 45 R Marion, 26, HM

  3. CAMPBELL Donald, 35, FW, RW, Skye - ALT Mary, 33, HM, RW Robert 10, Mary 5, John 2.5, Ann 13 (Donald's sister)

  4. COWAN William, 38, SH, o'seer, RW, Vaternish - McLaren Hunter River, 75 R Alexandrina, 35, RW Isabella 17, Norman 16, Elizabeth 14.5, William 12, John 10, Donald 3 [Mrs Lillian Wells of McLean NSW reports that this family went to Dumeresque Station, Armidale, then to Grafton on the Clarence in 1841. He opened a store in Sth Grafton in 1843, where Cowan St and Cowan's Creek commemorate this family.]

  5. FERGUSON Fergus, 40, Schoolmaster RW, Vaternish -Sydney o.a. Anne, 32, Seamstress, R

  6. GILLIES Donald, 37, cooper, FW, RW, Portree - ALT Margaret, 48, DM, Jane 18, Donald, Malcolm (twins) 16, Ann 14, Catherine 8, Christie 5

  7. GILLIES John, 35, SH, RW, Portree - "deceased in quarters" Christina, 33, DM, Inver Ann 14, Mary 11, Catherine 8, Christina 6, Mary (2) 3.5, John 1

  8. GILLIES John, 28, shopkeeper, RW, Skye - Liverpool o.a. Isabella, 25, {S} Hector 1.5

  9. GRANT Laughlan, 29, F.o'seer, RW, Skye - c.McIntyre, Hunter River, 40 R Catherine, 29, RW

  10. LINDSAY Samuel, 18, Footman, Bahamas - Sydney 20 r

  11. LOCH Thomas, 26, SH Louiseden?, Midlothian - 1 McLaren, Hunter River, 40 R Christina, 21, Dressmaker, Cohtin? Inver

  12. McAULAY Alex, 35, FW (widower) Snizort - ALT wife - died on voyage. Donald 11, - later killed & cannibalized by aboriginals at Mulgrave River near Cairns, QLD. Anne 9, Flora 7, Mary 3, Roderick 1. Both Mary & Roderick died at Parramatta soon after arrival.

  13. McAULAY Donald, 34, FW, R, Skye - ALT Euphemia, 33, (McRae widow), DM John 15, Alexander 7, Roderick 5.

  14. McAULAY John, 35, ST, Duirnish Skye - ALT Margaret, 28. Roderick 8, John 6, Christina 5&1/2

  15. McDONALD Angus, 50, cattle dealer, Snizort - ALT Flora (Stewart), 50, Health - fair but weak Anne 21, Christina 19, Euphemia 15.

  16. McDONALD Angus, 27, ST, (widower) - ALT Flora (or Graham) 12, Murdoch 9, Catherine 9 months

  17. McDONALD Duncan, 37, SH, Fort William, Inver - AC - Semphill, Hunter River 35 R Catherine, 32. Roderick 10, Samuel 6, Catherine 4, Mary 2.

  18. McDONALD Hector, 34, SH (widower), Brackaden, Skye - Sydney 12 R Anne 11, Catherine 8&1/2, Peggy 7, Donald 5, Hugh 3, Catherine (2) 2.

  19. McDONALD John, 35, ST - ALT (or McQUEEN?) Margaret, 35 Roderick 16, Rachel 14, William & John (twins) 10, Mary 8, Anne 3.

  20. McDONALD Neil, 23, SH Margaret, 22, HM Donald 29 - brother of Neil - Gardener, RW - ALT Betty 18 - sister of Neil -Gilchrist(Bathurst) 15 R

  21. McINTOSH John, 30, FW, RW, Snizort - ALT Ann, 33. Donald 10, John 5, Mary 3

  22. McKAY John, 26, RW (widower) - ALT child, 1.

  23. McKINNON John, 30 FW, R - ALT wife died on voyage Ann 2, John Catherine 13, sister of John (father)

  24. McKINNON Malcolm, 35, FW, Carp. Piper - ALT Marion 24?, Myngarnah (?) Mary 15, Donald 13, William 12, Flora 9, Neil 6, Roderick 4, Euphemia 2.

  25. McKINNON Mary, 21, unmarried Skye - Miss Howell, Sydney 15 R

  26. McKINNON Neil, 35, SH, Alistar? - ALT Flora, 34, {S}, R. Charles 3, Mary 1

  27. McLAREN Colin, 36, SH, RW, Strathaird - Cowper, Cowpastures, 30 R Mary, 32 - delicate* Ethie (Effy?) 13, Lachlan 10, Roderick 7&1/2, Malcolm 4.

    • a child born at sea.

  1. McLEAN Donald 23, SH, RW, - S McAlister, Argyle - (Sydney?) 25 R Catherine 24, HM, Glengarry.[This family apparently also included 2yr old David, not shown on this list. They settled in the Hunter Valley for a time and then on the Clarence River in northern New South Wales. For further information about this family, contact Jacqui Kirkman by email at jacqui.kirkman@bigfoot.com ]

  2. McLEAN John, 30, ST, RW, Ross - (Snizort) - Cowper, Cowpastures, 30 R Marion, 23, {S} John 16, Kilmuir, RW Marion 8, George 4&1/2, Alex 2&1/2, Donald 9 months

  3. McLEAN Malcolm, 32, SH, RW, Orbost, - S.McAlister, Argyle, 25 R Margaret 38, Talishov?, Skye Alexander 6, Eliza 4, Margaret 2.

  4. McLEAN Euphemia, 20, with McLeod family

  5. McLEAN Marion, 24, {S} with H.McDonald, 18 - R.Jones 12 R.

  6. McLENNON Duncan, 38 SH, Edinbain? - A.C.Semphill, Hunter River 40 R Mary, 48, - Ross. Janet 17, child 15.

  7. McLENNON John 30, ST, RW, Ross, - Poolie?, Yass, 25 R Isabella, 23, DM, RW Anne 7, Norman 4, John 1.

  8. McLEOD Alex, 24, FW, RW, - ALT Catherine, 23, RW Donald 3, John 1&1/2

  9. McLEOD Anne, 50, midwife (widow) Duirinosh - Liverpool, o.a. Janet 24, Margaret 13, Thomas 12.

  10. McLEOD Donald, 22, FW, R, J.A. Alister, Govt Barracks?

  11. McLEOD Norman, 20, RW, (brother?) J.A. Alister, Govt Barracks?

  12. McLEOD Donald, 30, Wheelwright, RW, Noitcare? - Liverpool, o.a. [later Jamberoo, then Victoria ca 1845] Catharine, 30, HM, Kintyre, Argyll Marion 8 - 6?, Roderick 3 1/2

  13. McLEOD Donald, 30, Tailor, RW, Noitcare? - Liverpool, o.a. Anne, 31, FW Neil 3 - (2 children died on the voyage)

  14. McLEOD Donald, ploughman, RW, Kilmuir, Skye - Hardy, Paterson, 50 R. Ann, 35, HM Norman 16, Angus 14, Donald 10, John 8, Christie 6.

  15. McLEOD John, 26, FW, Noctonith? Skye - ALT Margaret, 25, FW Elizabeth 3.

  16. McLEOD William, 22, SH, Dunvegan, Skye - Hosking, Liverpool, 30 R. Marion, 22, Duirnish?

  17. McMILLAN Donald, 29, ST, RW, Skye - ALT Janet (McDonald), 26, RW Duncan 5, Alex.

  18. McNAUGHTON Donald, 33, stonemason, RW, Argyll - Sydney Govt 5/6 day. Margaret, DM, Kilmuir - delicate health Donald 9, Mary 8, Margery 7

  19. McPHERSON John, 35, ploughman, RW - Weston, Liverpool, 35 R. Ann, 30, HM {S} Flora 3, Malcolm 1 1/2 with them McPhee, Christina 19, - Edmond, 12 R.

  20. McREA Alex, 28, ST, RW, Strathaird (Locharron) - ALT Mary, 28, HM Malcolm 5, William 3 1/2

  21. McRUNNON* Kenneth, 25, Blacksmith, RW, Vaternish - Hickey, Hunter RIVER, 45 R. Catherine, 22, RW Mary Ann 2

  • (or McCrimmon?)

  1. McSWAN Angus, 30, FW, RW, Snizort - ALT Ann, 25, HM

  2. McSWAN Donald, 26, SH, Snizort - ALT Dorcas, 24, HM, R

  3. McSWAN John, 29, sawyer, Snizort - ALT Ann, 31, DM Angus 4, James 2 1/2

  4. McQUEEN Arch, 27, ST, Portree - ALT Christina, 30, DM, {S} Mary 4, Neil 2

  5. MARK James, 30, SH, Isowick? Rodklomony?, RW - A.C.Wightman, Hunter River, 40 R. Mary, 27, cook *delicate, RW, Eskdale, Dumfrieshire George 6, William 4, John 1 1/2

    • one child died on voyage [it seems they did not stay long on the Hunter, went North, and a further tragedy occurred later]

  1. MUNRO Donald, 36, Sutherlandshire, RW - ALT Ellen, 29, Sutherlandshire, R Marion 12, Christina 10, Janet 8, Angus 6, Alex 3 [ Ellen is elsewhere called Helen or Helena. Donald died in 1858. Angus and Alex moved to Woodford Island near Maclean ca 1862. For further information on this family & their descendants, contact Greg Munro, email gsm@acay.com.au ]

  2. NICHOLSON Findlay, 36, ST, Duirnish - Sydney o.a. Janet, 35, HM, R Archibald 6 months

  3. ROSS Marion, 21 (with Donald McLeod 40.) - Radford (Sydney?) 12 R

  4. SHAW Alexander, 26, SH, RW, - H. Wales? Murrumbidgee, 30 R. Christina, 26 Anne 5, Christina 3, Margaret 1

  5. SHAW Donald, 33, SH, - A.Gilchrist, Bathurst, 30 R. Anne, 33, weaver, Tynsdale, Skye Mary 5

  6. SHAW John, 34, Dyer, Snizort, RW, - Sydney o.a. Catherine, 30, Hat-bonnet maker, Argyll Alexander 2

  7. STEWART John, 24, Tailor, RW, Skye - Liverpool o.a.

  8. STEWART Marion? - Kilmuir (cousin J. McKay 22.) to A.Lang - 12. Ellen, 29, Sutherlandshire, R Marion 12, Christina 10, Janet 8, Angus 6, Alex 3 [ Ellen is elsewhere called Helen or Helena. Donald died in 1858. Angus and Alex moved to Woodford Island near Maclean ca 1862. For further information on this family & their descendants, contact Greg Munro, email gsm@acay.com.au ] Anne, 33, weaver, Tynsdale, Skye Mary 5

  9. SHAW John, 34, Dyer, Snizort, RW, - Sydney o.a. Catherine, 30, Hat-bonnet maker, Argyll Alexander 2

  10. STEWART John, 24, Tailor, RW, Skye - Liverpool o.a.

  11. STEWART Marion? - Kilmuir (cousin J. McKay 22.) to A.Lang - 12. Ellen, 29, Sutherlandshire, R Marion 12, Christina 10, Janet 8, Angus 6, Alex 3 [ Ellen is elsewhere called Helen or Helena. Donald died in 1858. Angus and Alex moved to Woodford Island near Maclean ca 1862. For further information on this family & their descendants, contact Greg Munro, email gsm@acay.com.au ]

Occupation

Had a business established under the name 'Balmoral House' . Impressive printed dockets were being used and several made out to his brother Donald are extant.

Land

About 1854 the family start moving North to the Manning River. William attended land sales held in Port Macquarie on February 1st.1854,and purchased 55 acres at Yaypo Brush (the Bight near Wingham). He paid £64.8.0 for the block. In April of the same year William also purchased seven town blocks in town of Tinonee for these he paid various prices between $8.20 [sic] and $20 [sic]. We have no knowledge that William ever built on any of these blocks. He sold the farm to William Bird.

Death

The Pre 1860 Pioneer Register has his DOD as 12 December 1886.

Note

In 1863, they moved to Rocky Mouth (or Maclean on the Clarence River, northern NSW.) Here they set up another general store, also called "Balmoral House". In May 1865, William was advertising the sale of his business. Later, the “Clarence River Examiner” (CRE) on 24 Oct 1865 advertised the auction of his business. It was described as "a well furnished store and dwelling containing a shop with counter and fixtures’, and standing on a block of 19 metre (62 foot) frontage to the river". With no purchaser found William sold his stock to Alexander Cameron, his opponent in business.

Subsequently, William then acted variously as a commission agent selling maize in Sydney, then back at Rocky Mouth as an auctioneer & broker; land, shipping and general commission agent; rent collector; corn buyer.

Archibald CAMERON's biography then tells us that in 1878 William travelled from the Clarence River and met Mary McKINNON's brother Neil McLEAN in the Richmond River area when they were both looking for land.