The FOSTER Family

https://www.strong-family.org/foster/chapter_11.html

• Home
• Sitemap
• STRONG
• LANE
• FOSTER
• WEDEMEYER
• PATFIELD
• Gma-EWART
• Photo Galleries

FOSTER of Launceston, Australia, Chapter 11.

The "FOSTER Family" section of this site is divided into 13 chapters and 8 sets of appendices. Please read in sequence by following the links at the bottom of each page or use the "Quick Nav" at top right. If you wish to select individual chapters, please click on the top left link to the Sitemap page.

Contents of this Website are subject to Copyright © by Philip Strong, & allow fair academic use. See here.

Do you have information, opinion or a question relating to either this site’s contents or its copyright? Please use the e-mail link available at the bottom of each page. I look forward to corresponding with you.

Continuing story of the John [Jnr] M^cLEAN children (from Chapter 10).

Why M^cLEANs? The association with the FOSTER family.

Our Thomas FOSTER married Grace M^cNEIL… see chapter 8. Grace was the daughter of John and (Janet) Jessie M^cNEIL (née M^cLEAN)… see the M^cNEIL chapter 9. Chapter 10 describes Jessie’s family… she was born on the Isle of Mull to John M^cLEAN and Grace McINNES. This Chapter describes (Janet) Jessie’s brothers and sisters, and chapter 12 describes her uncle Roderick M^cLEAN and his family… also probable uncle Allan M^cLEAN who emigrated from the Isle of Mull at the same time as Jessie's immediate family.

New Homeland… the Selections.

The photo above is from M^cLean’s Ridges towards Boatharbour, the Wilson River and Bexhill. I found it placed on the "Save M^cLean’s Ridges" website, which is opposing residential subdivision of farmlands in this area. The photographer, Michael Bath, has extensively photographed the area. A beautiful photo!

It is an ideal photo to explain how: "many large cedar, teak, and black bean trees, which were being cut down and either drawn by bullock team to the river at Boatharbour, to be floated downstream to the sawmills or pit-sawn into timber and planks for the building of homes"… unfortunately by my ancestors! Also it is ideal to show why the beauty of the area needs saving, rather than being subdivided for close settlement. I feel that bull-dozing the farms which were left on this fertile land and then building houses, seems like the ultimate indignity and stupidity for what was the "Big Scrub". Note that the ridge in centre view of the photo has been approved for housing!

The above photo is significant for our family history, since it gives a view of the homeland for all of the M^cLEAN siblings in the Richmond River area. The three M^cLEAN siblings with selections in the M^cLean’s Ridges (Wilson’s Ridges) were: Annie (married to Hugh GIBSON), Donald & John M^cLEAN. Two siblings with selections fronting onto Wilson's Creek were: Mary (married to William McKINNON) & Neil M^cLEAN. Their selections are located in the map below.

The Portions shown in red in the 1938 Tuckombil Parish Map are compared with an 1887 version in the table below.

Tuckombil comparison table:

Portion Number	Original owner in 1887 map, type of title, year of selection, sequential CP # & portion survey #. m/vi)	Original owner in 1938 map m/v)	Comment
70	Samuel GIBSON [Snr] CP 71.3593	Hugh GIBSON	Transferred to son Hugh when Samuel [Snr] died in 1883. Total area of 320ac, the maximum permitted under the 1861 Act.
71	JOHN McLEAN CP 71.3354 R 786	John McLEAN	Portions 71-73 shared the same Portion Survey map( R 786). Note also the adjacent CP numbers.
72	JOHN McLEAN ACP 71.3355 R 786	John McLEAN	The ACP notation indicates a subsequent purchase by John McLEAN. Perhaps Donald had made an initial CP of this Portion 72, had not satisfied the conditions, and thus relinquished his lease, in favour of his brother John.
73	JOHN McLEAN ACP 71.3356 R 786	Commercial Banking Coy of Sydney	Just East of Donald McLEAN's Portion in the Parish map of Lismore. m/iv) The ACP notation indicates a subsequent purchase by John McLEAN. Perhaps Donald had made an initial CP of this Portion 73, had not satisfied the conditions, and thus relinquished his lease.
74	William McCARTNEY ACP 71.3357 R 787	David LATIMORE	Just East of Donald McLEAN's Portions 264 & 231 in the Parish map of Lismore. m/iv) Possible that this (Portion 74) was originally selected by Donald in 1871, and the title ACP could indicate a subsequent purchase after Donald's initial CP (see below note).
75	Samuel GIBSON[Jnr] ACP 71.3998 R 788	Robert GIBSON & John McLEAN	Transferred to Samuel [Jnr]'s brother Robert & his brother-in-law John McLEAN after Samuel [Jnr] died in 1875?
255	J. McLEAN CP 81.243 R 2766	Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney	From the CP notation, this was a later acquisition in 1881.
Most of the Selections were probably made about 14 Sep 1871, fb/vii) and the details of the GIBSON / McLEAN expedition to the Richmond is described in Chapter 10. Note that CP means "conditional purchase", and ACP means "additional conditional purchase". Note also that "R" stands for County Rous, and the subsequent number refers to the Portion Survey plan.           See Sect. 21 of the repealed Crown Lands Alienation Act, 1861. (65Kb download).

The NSW 1861 Robertson Land Acts (Crown Lands Alienation Act and the Crown Lands Occupation Act) allowed settlers to select between 40 and 320 acres before survey, register the selection and pay a twenty five percent deposit based on £1 per acre on the estimated acreage. The selector then had to live on the land for three years and make improvements such as fencing or building a house to the value of at least £1 per acre. The selector gained free title to the land when the residence and improvement clauses had been fulfilled and the balance of the money owed was paid to the Crown.

It was quite probable that when the GIBSON / M^cLEAN expedition made their Selections in 1871, Samuel, Donald & John each would have made the maximum Selection available, since they were all in the process of selling their Oxley Island properties. The above map showed that Samuel GIBSON and John M^cLEAN satisfied the conditional purchase arrangement and thus became grantees at least by 1887. On the other hand in the same 1887 map, Donald M^cLEAN was only mentioned as mortgagee for two 40ac Portions (264 & 231 in Lismore Parish).

Where was Donald's land? The school publication "Status Quo" n/xv gave the relative position of Donald's land, Cowlong Road and the local school. The school moved from its original position in a tent to the "home of Mr. Hugh Gibson, who lived about a quarter of a mile to the south"… and then it moved "into the room of a home owned by Mr. Donald M^cLean, further north along Cowlong Road". Then add this to what A.C. M^cLEAN n/xxii) said about the GIBSON / M^cLEAN selection: "They selected three blocks, all adjoining, on what is now known as M^cLean’s Ridges." Thus, when we compare this with the above map… from north to south we would have Donald, then John, then Samuel GIBSON's land. In the above table, the suggestion is made that initially Donald's land may have included Portions 74, 73, 72 in the parish of Tuckombil, relinquishing Portions 73 and 72 to his brother John who acquired them by an ACP, to add to his adjacent Portion 71. Donald later acquired Portions 264 & 231 in the Parish map of Lismore in 1880 and 1879 respectively… also with an ACP, to add to his adjacent block which could have been either Portion 74 or 75. Details can only be worked out by following the paper trail in the State Archives.

What happened to the rest of Donald's land? Perhaps Donald forfeited his lease because the criteria for conditional purchase could not be met due to the poor price he obtained for his Oxley Island property. In this case, land could be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder. The Land Acts also gave rights to the existing crown leaseholders to buy land on their lease which they had improved, rights to order land to be surveyed so that it could be auctioned. In each of these cases, the crown lease sold may have the subsequent purchaser's name entered onto the parish map, since the original conditional purchaser never became a "grantee" and thus achieved freehold.

 

Children of John M^cLEAN and Grace McINNES:

i. Mary M^cLEAN.

Mary M^cLEAN was born about 1830 in the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Mary died in Wollongbar, NSW, on 16 Nov 1901 at the age of 71. She was buried in M^cLean’s Ridges Cemetery. Mary emigrated to the Colony of NSW on 27 Sep 1837 with with her family on the ‘Brilliant’; she was 7. In 1857 when Mary was 26, she married William McLeod McKINNON, son of Malcolm & Euphemia McKINNON. William was born in 1828 in the Isle of Skye, Scotland and died at "Torwood", Bexhill, near Lismore, NSW, on 12 Jan 1886; he was 58. He was buried next to his wife in the M^cLean’s Ridges Cemetery, now the Wollongbar Presbyterian Cemetery. William immigrated on 13 Dec 1837 with his family on the ‘Midlothian’; he was 9.

The M^cLEAN family story in the Manning Valley (see chapter 10) has already told that the first child to leave the area was Mary, with her husband William McKINNON. In 1863, b/v, p34), 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. b/iii, b/v)

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. b/iii, b/v)

Archibald CAMERON’s biography then tells us that in 1878 William travelled from the Clarence River and met Mary McKINNON’s brother Neil M^cLEAN in the Richmond River area when they were both looking for land. fb/iii)

The story is taken up by Mary McKINNON’s 1901 obituary n/iv) : …"she (Mary) married the late Mr William McKinnon, and shortly afterwards went to Maclean on the Clarence River, about 1862, where Mr McKinnon entered into business as a storekeeper on the property subsequently purchased by Mr Alexander Cameron. After some years, spent on the Clarence, Mr McKinnon and family came to the Richmond, selecting Wilson’s Creek about the year 1879, where Mr McKinnon died about 16 years ago (in 1886). The family remained there until the property ("Torwood"), now known as "Mylnefield", was disposed of to Mr J.M. Dunn. Since then Mrs McKinnon has resided with different members of her family. She has had a family of nine children of whom three sons and two daughters survive, one of the latter being Mrs T. Exton [Jnr] Mrs Hugh Gibson of Cowlong Rd is a sister, and Mr John M^cLean J.P. of same place is a brother; and another brother Mr Donald M^cLean of Deep Creek, died last year. Of a very retiring disposition, Mrs McKinnon was only known to a few of the residents of latter times, but all who knew her, as did those of earlier years, valued her friendship, and her sterling character. Like all the pioneers, she had her share of hardships incidental to the early settlers, and she has died as she lived - respected by everyone. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon and her remains being interred, as she herself desired, alongside her husband in the M^cLean’s Ridges Cemetery, in the presence of many a sincere mourner."

The above Parish map shows the Portions which William McKINNON originally selected. Subsequent notations on the map show that they were later owned by Jane S.M. DUNN, presumably the wife of J.M. DUNN mentioned in the obituary.m/iv)

Children of Mary and William McLeod McKINNON.

Flora Ann (1858-1896); William Manning (1859-1929); William Allan (1860-1929); John Allan (1862-1940); Phoebe Mary (1864-1935); Donald Hugh (1868-1871); Josiah Albert William (1869-1871); Grace Evangeline (1871-1945); James McCulloch (1876-1882).

ii. John M^cLEAN

John M^cLEAN was born in Aug fb/ii) 1832 r/v) , Isle of Mull. He died at 121 Ballina St., Lismore NSW, in the early morning of 2 Jul 1923 at the age of 90 and was buried on the same day in the Presbyterian Cemetery Wollongbar, NSW. r/ix) John emigrated to the Colony of NSW on 27 Sep 1837 with with his family on the ‘Brilliant’, he was 5. On 7 Apr 1864 when John was 31, he married Mary GIBSON, daughter of Samuel GIBSON & Mary Ann RUSSELL, at Redbank (near Taree), NSW. Mary was born on 15 Oct 1838 at Raymond Terrace, NSW, and died at M^cLean’s Ridges, Wollongbar NSW, on 1 Jul 1905 at the age of 66.

Much of John [Jnr]’s story has been told in the context of his family’s history at the Hunter District, searching for gold, life in the Manning River, and John’s leaving and returning to the Manning River. His biography n/vii) continues from the time he settled in the Richmond River area. His obituary n/ix) copied most of his biography, adding more material to take it up to date and to add more local relevance, as well as changing the language a bit to suit the current newspaper style (and grammar). However, his 1913 biography is directly quoted here as an interesting example of Victorian prose. Now read on:

"Selecting a large block of red soil land contiguous to what is now Alstonville, in the very heart of the "Big Scrub", the "Scot We Know", with the fine courage of his race, set to work to clear his selection, and endured many privations, known alone to the early stout-hearted pioneers. Bags of flour or sugar, and all the stores and necessaries of life were carried on the settlers' backs over weary miles.

… a valuable forest of pine and cedar grew. To utilise this Mr Maclean entered into the timber industry as the readiest method of making money and of clearing his selection. This involved drawing the heavy logs over miles of sodden tracks to the nearest creek so that the next "freshet" or flood would carry them to the main river, where booms and chains secured them.

At this time sugar mills of moderate size and not conducted on modern scientific principles had been erected at various points on the Richmond River. The "Scot We Know" was induced to plant cane, but soon discovered that the cost of carriage was prohibitive. He then planted maize, but the cost of conveying it over miles of un-metalled roads also made its cultivation unremunerative. Some of the South Coast farmers had by this time introduced dairying, and Mr Maclean at once perceived the possibilities, so with his usual energy he at once set about clearing his whole estate on MacLean's Ridges- one of the finest farms in this fertile district. The scarcity and dearness of stock rendered the selection of a herd a work of time and difficulty, but by persistent effort this eventually was accomplished.

No other land in this State produces such a sward of rich luscious grass. At the present day, when the whole country has been cleared of every tree and all the scrub, a person, standing on MacLean's Ridge overlooks an illimitable landscape of richly grassed land, covered about October with a thick sward of clover resembling snow. It is in very truth, a land of promise, of green pastures and languid streams, of fat cattle straying on a thousand knolls, a fair land, one flowing with milk, if not with honey, and yet a district of enormous undeveloped possibilities. The attraction of such a vast area of rich land and generous rainfall ensured rapid settlement. The native vegetation over thousands of acres soon disappeared, and neat farm steadings arose as if by magic. A few of the most enterprising settlers banded together and erected a butter factory at Springhill, near the Wollongbar Model Farm, of which the "Scot We Know" was elected managing director and chairman. The manner in which the business was conducted, and all the details thought out, ensured success, and it only closed down when the large central factories of this amazing district and private separators became general. At the present moment the butter factories of this district pay the suppliers for cream alone, upwards of £2,000,000 of money yearly and this is steadily increasing. The initial difficulties of the early settlers were such that only the finest and most resolute of men could surmount them. Roads began to replace bush racks, villages sprang up; soon to become municipalities. Ballina, Alstonville, Tintenbar, Noorebar, Eltham, Bangalow, Byron Bay and Lismore sprang up, the latter probably the most thriving and up-to-date municipality in this State. For thirty-six years the "Scot We Know" steadily toiled his way to affluence, and with many others of a similar stamp, he became a prosperous and highly trusted and respected man, taking a leading part in all district affairs, and an ardent promoter of works calculated to benefit the community. John MacLean had seen the rise of this exceedingly rich and prospering district and its go-ahead towns, in which an incredible amount of wealth circulates. He can look back on the birth of those wealthy communities. He has seen the present workaday generations born; become adolescent and wedded, and the majority of that brave band of pioneers who plied the axe and held the plough; bore the burden of settlement "called hence". An array of grand men and women with stout hearts, noble and true, the simple-minded giant of a day that is gone "Tae the Land O' the Leal", where there is neither dawning nor gloaming.

Amid this scene of work and thrift and wholesome discipline his family was reared to become patterns of well-doing. By diligence and integrity his sons are among the leading lights of Lismore, foremost in loyalty and patriotism, and his daughters have arisen to call him blessed. Eight years ago his loving wife was called hence, after which the good old man leased his estate and retired with one daughter to Lismore. With the activities of this entirely modern town he has been connected since its inception. He took an active interest in the affairs that appeal to a retired veteran. He it was who sent round the "Crian Tariga" (fiery cross), when a round up of Celts became desirable. He is a supporter of local institutions and of his church, and until the failure of his eyesight, of the local bowling club, than which few finer can be found.

His cup of happiness overflows when some considerate Highlander calls at his happy and hospitable home and to hold conversation with him in his beloved Gaelic.

There is nothing mean or small in John MacLean’s Celtic nature, nor had his mind or temperament been cramped by his long life of honorable and arduous toil. He is beloved by all, especially by young people, who long to hear the life story of this unassuming good man, the difficulties that beset his path and were surmounted, the men and women of a past day, whose sufferings modern society may never know, but whose heroic deeds and works must live for ever.

"With fearless hearts and eager eye,
  They strove a wider world to gain.
What if perhaps their names ma die
  The imprints of their feet remain."
 

He belongs to a sturdy race, whose almost superhuman labors may never be revealed, who in communion with the great solitudes, with pure souls cleaned from the cities' abominations, never for a day neglected their duty to their family or to their God. They were the very salt of this earth, among whom none deserves more honorable mention than John MacLean "The Scot We Know." The Australasian publishes a very fine photo of Mr MacLean." — n/vii)

The above map m/v) and Tuckombil table describe John's Selections. Note also selections with links to John are Portions 347, 372… owned by A. M^cLEAN (John’s son Allan?), and also Portion 374… H. Talbot (school teacher and father-in-law of John’s daughter Grace).

Children of John M^cLEAN and Mary GIBSON.

Mary (1865-1926); John (1867-1905); Samuel (1870-1932); Alexander (1873-1894); Grace (1875-1945); Eliza Jane (1) (1878-1879); Eliza Jane (2) (1881-1945); Alan Donald (1884-1935).

iii. Janet / Jessie M^cLEAN

See chapter 9 for details.

iv. Alexander M^cLEAN

Alexander M^cLEAN was born about Apr 1837 in Tobermory on the isle of Mull. Alexander emigrated to the Colony of NSW on 27 Sep 1837 with with his family on the ‘Brilliant’, at the age of 5 months. This gives us a birth date around April 1837. Alexander died from dropsy at Croki, near Oxley Island in the Manning River district, NSW, on 8 Dec 1871 at the young age of 34. r/viii) His obituary tells us that he was "on board the steamer ‘Fire King’, whilst on his way to Sydney for medical treatment"… and that this was "after a short and painful illness". n/xix)

 

v. Donald Hugh M^cLEAN

Donald Hugh M^cLEAN was born on 22 Feb 1840 at Morpeth Flats, NSW, and baptised on 1 Mar 1840 in the Parish of Middlehope. r/xiii) Donald's descendants have the tradition that he was born on the estate "Dunmore", owned by Andrew LANG, brother of the Rev. Dr. John Dunmore LANG. fb/viii) Donald died at Deep Creek NSW, on 22 Jun 1900 at the age of 60. He was buried on 23 Jun 1900 in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Casino. r/xiv) On 8 Jun 1864 when Donald Hugh was 24, he married Eliza GIBSON, daughter of Samuel GIBSON & Mary Ann RUSSELL, in the Residence of the Bride’s Father Samuel Gibson (Bellfield), Redbank, Manning River, NSW. Eliza was born on 18 Jan 1842 in the Williams River district, NSW and died at Penrith in 1922 at the age of 79. The birth of Donald's son Samuel also tells us… "Residence of Informant: Donald M^cLean, Father, Saintfield Oxley Island." r/iii Donald's parents-in-law were born in Saintfield Co. Down, Ireland… perhaps his property was given this name to please his wife?

The photo on left is a highly probable photo of Eliza & Donald Hugh M^cLEAN. Can someone confirm this identification?

Archibald CAMERON’s biography tells us about Donald leaving home: "a number of the settlers left (the Manning River district) and came to the Richmond river, the earliest to do so being the late Samuel Gibson, and Messrs John and Donald M^cLean all of whom settled on properties in the locality of M^cLean’s Ridges." fb/iii) John [Jnr]’s family bible says that they arrived at the Richmond River in Sept 1871. fb/ii)

A letter from A.C. M^cLEAN to the Editor of the Northern Star in 1953 gave some more precise details. It stated:

"Mr. Samuel Gibson had sold his farm on Oxley Island for £500 and left with his family for the Richmond. His family consisted of their three boys, Robert, Sam and Hugh, all single, and two daughters and their husbands, John and Donald M^cLean. The date was June 4, 1873. They selected three blocks, all adjoining, on what is now known as M^cLean’s Ridges. First they set out to cut the marketable timber; there was nothing else they could do as It was dense bush. They shot the logs down the big hills for rafting in the creeks; with the aid of bullocks, of course, as there were generally flats between the hills and the creeks. The logs then rolled in and rafted. They did not all float some would sink and others would sink at one end, with the other end bobbing above the water."— n/xxii)

However… June 4, 1873 is an error, since a contemporary newspaper said on 12 Aug 1871:

"Property Sold - Mr Samuel Gibson's homestead upon Oxley Island has passed into other hands - it having been sold by auction to Mr James Murray, late of Mondrook, for a fraction over £500, which is equal to over £12 10s per acre. We believe Mr Gibson, with his sons and sons-in-law are all bound for the Richmond River. Thus it is said that the Manning River is constantly sending its most substantial citizens to add to the population of less crowded districts, and this accounts for the fact that we make so little progress on our own". n/xxiv)

Donald’s move was not without problems. His Oxley Island property was advertised for sale in 1871 without success. n/xxvi) A July 1873 advertisement from "Donald M^cLEAN of the Richmond River" describes the farm: "This farm contains 88 acres, 20 of which are felled, cleared and fenced. There is also a substantial six-roomed house upon it. The price is low and the terms liberal." By Sept 1873 he had sold his 88 ac farm for £89. n/xxv) At £1 per acre, this was a disappointing price compared with his father-in-law Samuel GIBSON’s 1871 price of £12 10s per acre, and represented a return to a land-only 1855 Selection value, placing no value on the improvements!

The history of the M^cLean’s Ridges school tells us that shortly after Aug 1882, "the school moved into the room of a home owned by Mr. Donald M^cLean, along Cowlong Road," and that the school was named after Donald’s family. n/xv) It would appear that the locality name of M^cLean’s Ridges arose in turn from the name for the school? The obituary of Mary M^cKENZIE (Donald’s daughter) said: "Born at Taree, Mrs M^cKENZIE came to the Richmond River with her parents the late Mr and Mrs Donald M^cLEAN, and settled at what is now known as M^cLeans Ridges, that centre being named after her Father." n/xvi)

A.C. M^cLEAN’s letter n/xxii) says, with precision: "Donald sold his portion in 1889 and moved to Deep Creek, near Casino where he died in 1901 (actually 1900)." Donald’s obituary n/iii) also says that "he remained in the Richmond River area for 30 years and then moved to Deep Creek."

Donald’s 26 Jun 1900 obituary said:

"Death: Mr Donald Hugh M^cLEAN died at his residence, Deep Creek, on Friday morning last at 5 o’clock aged 59 years. He was a native of the Hunter River District, and in earlier life went from there to Maclean where he married Miss Eliza Gibson. From there he went to Lismore, and afterwards came to Deep Creek. He had been a resident of the Richmond River for 30 years, and always followed farming pursuits. A strong hearty man all through life, he never had any illness to speak of, and was in his usual state of health until a week or so before his death. He contracted a cold, and on the previous Sunday complained of feeling unwell, his impression being that he had influenza. On the Tuesday Dr. Stewart was called in, and he pronounced it pneumonia, and had little hope of the patient’s recovery. Everything possible was done to relieve the patient’s suffering, but he rapidly grew weaker and died at the hour stated on the following morning. The suddenness of the illness, and fatal termination naturally caused much grief in the family, and sympathy, and anxiety among a very large circle of friends. Deceased has left a widow, and a family of eight children, all grown up. The eldest is Mrs George Lee (Casino) then Mr Allan M^cLean (Deep Creek), Samuel M^cLean (in the police force at Emu Plains), Mrs J. McKenzie, Mrs S. Blanch, J.A. M^cLean, Robert and Eliza (Deep Creek). Mr John M^cLean JP of Lismore was the deceased’s only brother in this colony, but he had two brothers in Qld, Neil and Roderick. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, and the cortege was one of the longest ever seen in Casino. The remains were interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Casino cemetery, at which the Rev. J. Strang conducted the burial service. The funeral arrangements, in the hands of James Page, were carried out most satisfactorily."— n/iii)

What happened to Donald’s M^cLean’s Ridges property? See the beginning of this chapter for data & discussion relating to Donald's property.

The obituary of Donald’s son Samuel (1868-1950) n/xxiii) shows that the family was a bit fanciful about the M^cLean's Ridges property when matched against details of property on the Parish maps. The obituary says:

His …parents were pioneers of that district (M^cLean’s Ridges) and their property is now the possession of the fourth generation. As a young man deceased took up a property at Deep Creek, near Casino. He was there for six years but successive floods were a discouraging experience and he came to Sydney and joined the mounted police. … n/xxiii)

Then, when we look at Samuel and Deep Creek, the figures from obituaries, newspaper reports and police service record do not seem to match. Details from Samuel’s police record fb/vii) show that he joined the police service on 20 Feb 1891 at the age of 22, and that he was a labourer and a storehand before enlistment. If Samuel was farming at Deep Creek for 6 years before he enlisted in the police force, then he commenced running a Deep Creek property as a 16 year old, and was in that area for 4 years before his father arrived at Deep Creek in 1889. These figures do not count his time as a labourer and a storehand! Samuel was finally transferred to Emu Plains in 1899 and remained there for the rest of his police service, when he retired in 1921.

We are still left with the question… where was Donald’s Deep Creek property? I initially thought it was just south of Mallanganee and 45km west of Casino NSW (on the upper edge of the Ogilvie Parish), since the Geographical Names Board listed this as the only Deep Creek near Casino. However, A.C. (Archibald Cameron?) M^cLEAN had described Donald's Deep Creek as "near Casino" n/xxii), as did Samuel M^cLEANs obituary n/xxiii). In horse & buggy travelling times 45 km past Mallanganee was too far! Other possibilities needed exploring.

Archibald M^cLEAN n/xxii) mentioned above, was Neil M^cLEAN's son who lived at Greenridge, near Casino. Greenridge is just north of Shannon Brook, which in a 1900 Parish map was called Deep Creek! By the 1950's the official name was Shannon Brook, though the locals fb/ix) still called it Deep Creek. This Deep Creek is the most likely place… it is only a horse & buggy distance of 12km from Casino PO and its position accounts for the marriage of Donald's son Alan to Sarah M^cLEAN (Neil's daughter from Greenridge), Donald's daughter Grace Evelyn to Stephen BLANCH (Alfred BLANCH's son from Greenridge).

After Donald's death, Eliza lived with her youngest child Ellie when she married Norman Augustus HUNTER on 18 Nov 1903 at Casino. Ellie had four children in Wauchope and Eliza helped with the care of the children… see the photo of their Wauchope store above. The family, with Eliza, then moved fb/vi) to "Yodalla", Emu Plains, NSW in 1914. At that time, Eliza’s son Samuel was Senior Constable at Emu Plains. fb/vii) Norman was listed in the 1948 “Western Districts” phone book as: NA Hunter Orchardist, Yodalla, Emu Plains. Eliza M^cLEAN died at Penrith in 1922 at the age of 79, and her daughter Ellie died at Penrith in 1957. "Yodalla" house & garden at 28 Nepean Street, Emu Plains is on the Penrith Heritage List, r/xx) and the house was originally associated with a large orchard that extended to the Nepean River. An adjacent street is named Hunter St.

Children of DONALD HUGH M^cLEAN and Eliza GIBSON.

Anne Jane (1865-1954); Allen (Allan, Alan) (1866-1941); Samuel (1868-1950); Mary (1871-1946); Grace (1873-1954); John Alexander (1875-1948); Robert (1879-1953); Eliza (Ellie) (1883-1957).

vi. Neil M^cLEAN

Neil M^cLEAN was born abt 1841 r/x), r/xii). Neil named his birth place Williams Town, NSW (Williamtown) when he registered his son's birth in 1876 (see below)r/xii). Registration of Neil's own birth has not survived. Perhaps Neil was born on his uncle Roderick McLEAN's property "Drumphin" near Williamtown? Neil died in Brisbane General Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, on 7 Mar 1918; he was 76 r/x), which confirms his DOB of abt 1841. On 24 Oct 1867 when Neil was 21, he married Harriet CAMERON, daughter of Archibald CAMERON (abt 1807-29 Mar 1889) & Jane McLACHLAN (abt 1807-), at the Free Church, Redbank, near Taree, NSW r/xi). Harriet was born on 17 Jul 1849 r/xxviii) in the Hunter River district, NSW r/xii). Christened on 21 Apr 1850 in Manning River, NSW r/xxviii). Harriet died in Casino, NSW, in 1894; she was 44 r/xxiii), w/ii).

‡ Notes on photo: It was found in belongings of Neil McLEAN 's son Alexander Allan when he died in 1964 fb/x). The photo has the note on its back “Neil McLean father of Alex McLean” fb/x), and on the front of its cardboard frame is the photographer's embossed logo "Angus McNeil Murwillumbah". It is suggested that the man standing in the photo is Neil's son. The only one of Neil's children with a known association with Murwillumbah is his eldest son John Neil McLEAN (b. 1870, d. 8 Jun 1919), who married (1894) to Kate STACK, & had daughters Harriett (b. 1897) and Myrl (b.1906). Assuming that John, Kate & a daughter are in this photo, and that their daughter (Harriet or Myrl) was about 10 years old, the date of the photo could have been about 1907 in Murwillumbah, perhaps when John was the licensee of the Junction Inn North Tumbulgum (just north of Murwillumbah), or about 1916 when John was the licensee of the Royal Hotel, South Murwillumbah. My guess is that the date was 1916, when Neil was about 75, 2 years before his death, and also 3 years before John's death.

Neil’s son Archibald Cameron M^cLEAN was born r/xii) on 16 May 1876 at Oxley Island. Neil, as informant, said he lived at Redbank, and also gave his age as 35, with a birthplace of Williams Town (sic) NSW. This confirms the DOB abt 1841, suggests he was living on his own farm at Redbank and gives a reliable place of birth. Neil M^cLEAN’s farm advertisement on 17 May 1873 n/xx) confirms the Redbank farm suggestion. Neil advertised his 30 acre Redbank farm for sale at £100… the success of the sale is not known.

In 1878, Neil (32 yrs) travelled to the Richmond River to make a land selection. He was accompanied by his wife’s brother, Hugh CAMERON (47 yrs), Hugh’s son Archibald (16 yrs), and their families. Archibald gives the account of their trip in his autobiography ^fb/iii): We travelled "from the Manning to Sydney by the ‘SS Diamintina’‡, staying in Sydney for a number of days, and then travelling per ‘S.S. Platypus’ to Lismore arriving there on a Sunday, 23 of June 1878. On the following day friends conveyed us by bullock team and drays to M^cLean’s Ridges where we were fortunate to obtain accommodation until the men folk had a look about the district in search of suitable sites on which to settle."^fb/iii) Hugh did not mention that Neil's wife was pregnant and gave birth to Alexander Allan McLEAN two months after their arrival on 25 Aug 1878 at Wollongbar ^r/xxix)… presumably at their accommodation at McLean's Ridges with one of his brothers John or Donald or sister Annie.

‡ Correct name ‘Diamantia’. This was an iron paddle steamer of 239 tons with 2 masts, carrying passengers & cargo on a regular basis from Taree to Sydney. Regular meant "weather permitting" and the condition of the Manning Bar… through the surf at high tide only! The trip to Sydney took 24 hours. Ramsland quotes a vivid description of the dangers encountered as the ‘Diamantia’ crossed the Bar. This says in part: "of all the bad river entrances on the coast the Manning is considered the worst, bad in the best of seasons, with a list of wrecks really formidable." b/vi), pp60-65.

They were met by Neil’s brother-in-law William McKinnon (50yrs) who was leaving his investments in Rocky Mouth (Maclean on the Clarence River), b/iii) who "travelled over from the Clarence River, also in search of land. After making an extensive inspection of land in various parts of the district; they finally decided to settle on Wilson’s Creek near Boatharbour, Neil M^cLean being the first to mark out his holding- This was done by blazing 3 trees on the bank of the creek, and Neil M^cLean applied for 200 acres starting from the blazed tree and extending towards Boatharbour. Now shown on map Parish of Lismore, Portions 210 and 158. W. McKinnon was the second to apply and he took his starting point from Neil M^cLean’s southern boundary of 300 acres shown on map as Portions 159, 160, 232. My father Hugh Cameron applied for 400 acres, taking his starting point from the western boundary of W. McKinnon’s area, but owing to the Bexhill village reserve which embraced an area on both sides of Wilsons Creek, and their boundaries of which were defined, my father could only obtain an area of 157 acres."^fb/iii)

The above Parish map m/iv)(current in 1903) matches Archibald CAMERON's account, and shows Portions 158 (200ac selected at the Casino Land Office on 4 Jul 1878) and 210 (100ac selected at the same time) which Neil McLEAN originally selected, as well as Neil's brother-in-law Hugh CAMERON's Portion 161. Subsequent notations on the map show that Portions 158, 210 were later owned by John GOLLAN (Jnr), and Portion 161 reverted to the Bank of NSW. This map shows Neil's later selections of Portions 254 to 259, an additional total of 364ac, taken up at the Lismore Land Office on 22 Apr 1882.

The GOLLAN and the McLEAN families had an interesting relationship. Neil tried to shoot John Gollan in 1887 n/xxxiv), and later John Gollan Jnr owned some of Neil's properties m/iv):

Neil McLean was charged with intent to shoot John Gollan, at Bexhill, on the 22nd Instant. Defendant pleaded guilty, and said he did not mean any harm.
By Constable Brown deposed to arresting the defendant, by virtue of a warrant (produced) ; the defendant in reply said, " I do not remember anything about it' ; I then confined him in the Lismore lock-up the same day.
By Sergeant. Sharp : Defendant , appeared to be under the influence of liquor at the time of arrest; he did not seem quarrelsome or deranged ; I do not think him a fit person' to have charge of a gun.
J. Gollan said be did not wish to press the charge against defendant.
The Bench then ordered defendant to keep the peace for six months, two sureties of £25 each, and self at £50; or in default three months in Casino gaol. n/xxxiv)

Neil's defence in this case was excessive drinking, and a Neil McLEAN also appeared before the courts on drinking charges in 1884, 1886 and 1903, though in these cases an address was not given, and Neil McLEAN is not an uncommon name n/xxxiv).

Neil advertised his main holdings just south of Bexhill and moved to a locality near Casino called "Greenridge". n/xiv) See his advertisement below n/xxxv):

                                  Great Land Sale.
                         4th July-Wednesday 4th July (1888). 
          FRY AND HENDERSON have received instructions from Neil McLean, Esq', 
                      to sell at their Rooms, Woodlark-street, 
                     on WEDNESDAY, 4th July, at 2 o'clock sharp, 
            His Magnificent FARMING PROPERTY, situated on the Bexhill Road, 
      about 4 miles from Lismore. This splendid property contains 100 acres of rich scrub land,
            half of which has been felled and cleared, and is under grass, 
whilst the remainder is rich chocolate soil, with standing scrub containing much valuable timber.
    The main road to Bexhill runs through this property, which has frontage of about a mile, 
            to Wilson's Creek, and is permanently watered otherwise.
            The improvements made are too numerous to be particularised here. 
                     All the conditions have been fulfilled.

The advertised Bexhill property would refer to portions 254 to 259, taken up by Neil at the Lismore Land Office on 22 Apr 1882. This property fulfils the criteria of about 4 miles from Lismore (presumably from the PO) and with a road frontage of one mile. If you wish to visit this area, look at the current satellite map (Google), and compare with the old Parish maps on my website (see here). You will see that this property is easily found from the shape of the meanders of the Wilson river, which have maintained their shape over time... unlike rivers such as the Hunter river The distances can be checked from the distance scale in the bottom R corner of the satellite view.

Greenridge is 5-6 miles East out of Casino on the Casino-Coraki road, before Tatham. In 1923 there was a reference to a Greenridge Public School, and in 1912 there was the St Columba's Church of England at Greenridge. In 1913 they were attempting to establish a creamery, and there was also a wine shop.... all at Greenridge. Today, 2012, there is nothing, apart from a few farm houses.

When did Neil move to Greenridge? We could establish a change of address from Bexhill to Greenridge after 1888, by the following certificates: birth of son Charles, registered Lismore (1888), and a subsequent child Janet, registered Casino (1893). also, his daughter Grace married Samuel Blanch, registered Casino (1893), and finally the death of his wife Harriet, registered Casino (1894). The obituary of Samuel BLANCH said: "Deceased married (1893) Miss Grace McLean a daughter of Mr. Neil McLean of Greenridge (one time of the Lismore district)." n/xxxvi), b/xxi).
… perhaps a few more certificates must be bought… when do you stop?

Where was Neil's Greenridge farm? A search of the old parish maps did not show Neil's name. Correspondence with Neil's descendants has not yet been productive. The Richmond Valley Council archived rate books, derived from Council amalgamations, might tell us the portion number which would key to the parish map. However, was Neil a rate payer and owner, or a share farmer or farm hand?

However… the following 1889 advertisement answered this question, but raised others!

                              UNRESERVED LAND SALE
          Monday, 28th October, at 2 o'clock, at Parkers Hotel, Casino.
          C.P. of 210 acres, 3 miles from Casino, fronting Deep Creek,
  Consisting of 140 acres rich Scrub Land, with large frontage to Deep Creek, originally selected 
  by Charles Benger.  30 acres of which are cleared ready for the plough, with comfortable Cottage 
  and Outhouses erected thereon, and 70 acres rich grazing land, heavily timbered with valuable timbers.
        The whole to be sold in one Block, and ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVE.
  D. Henderson has received instructions from Mr. Neil McLEAN, to sell by public auction, 
       at Parker's Hotel, Casino, on Monday, the 28th October, at 2 o'clock,
             The whole of his splendid FARM of 210 acres, as above.
  The auctioneer, in drawing the attention of Speculators, Farmers, Graziers, and others to this sale, 
       would impress on them that this is an opportunity not to be missed.
          The property is one of the best in the district, and will positively be sold.
                                     TERMS CASH
                       REMEMBER THE DATE. INSPECTION INVITED. n/xxxvii)

Compare this advertisement and the map below. You will see that the combined acreage of Lots 67 & 68 in East Casino Parish is 210ac, and the lots face Deep Creek or Shannon Brook as it was called later.... which matches the information in the Northern Star advertisement. You will see that William Fanning & Frederick Fanning now own this land in 1900 (actual date of the map). We know that Neil lived in Greenridge and lots 67 & 68 are within the Greenridge area of Deep Creek. It had been thought that Neil had sold his Bexhill property, then bought Greenridge. However, this advertisement suggests that Neil must have held Bexhill and Greenridge properties simultaneously at some stage, sold his home farm at Bexhill, offered Greenridge for sale, changed his mind and then made Greenridge his principal residence.

This section is still being researched... More was gained from the Parish Maps referring to Richmond Parish and Neil's brother, Donald. Directly on the opposite bank of Deep Creek from Neil's portions are portions 93 & 94. The 1894 Richmond map showed that these portions were also selected by Charles BENGER (CP 78 248; in Aug 1878 & ACP 78 525; in 5 Dec 1878 respectively). This coincidence suggests that the McLEAN brothers might have made a deal with BENGER for all 4 portions? More circumstantial evidence for Donald Hugh and his son Samuel McLEAN selections of Lots 93 & 94 Richmond Parish arises from the McLEAN family pattern of selections which they made at Oxley Island, Manning River and in the "Big Scrub" Lismore...:

 

• McLEAN children often married the children the selectors of adjacent portions... in this case there were marriages with the WAGENER family (Portion 24) and the STENMARK family (portions 33 & 144).
• The McLEANs had a history of living next to each other… in this case Neil & Donald would be on the opposite sides of Deep Creek.
• The McLEANs favoured frontages to good water… in the past to float rainforest timber down to a timber mill.

A visit to the State Archives should give us the history of these conditional purchases.

 

Neil’s wife Harriet died at the age of 44 in 12 Aug 1894 in Casino when Neil was aged 53 r/xxiii), w/ii). She was buried in the Old Methodist section of the Casino West Cemetery r/xxvii). Perhaps Neil just walked off his Greenridge farm when Harriet died. Who would buy a farm during the Great Agricultural Depression, especially around the time of the major financial crash of 1893! Neil moved to Queensland n/iii) and recorded his address as North Pine, when he was the informant of his brother Roderick’s death in 1901. r/xxi) North Pine is now named Petrie (28km NE of Brisbane) and had a population of 500 in 1900.

Neil M^cLEAN (selector) was then recorded on the electoral rolls at 1908 at Happy Jack Creek, west of Cooroy Qld. By this stage, his son Alexander Allan McLEAN (selector) had moved to the same locality. Alexander was with his wife, Elizabeth and children Helen, Harriett and Ethel aged 5, 3 & 1, born in the Ballina area (Casino?). By 1913 Neil (farmer) had moved on to Rockdale, Cooroy and Alexander remained at Happy Jack Creek r/xxiv).

Neil died on 7 Mar 1918 at Brisbane Hospital from heart problems r/x). He was buried at Toowong Cemetery Qld r/x) in portion 18, section 155, number 25 w/iii). He did not have a gravestone b/xx).

His son "A. M^cLEAN" (Alexander) lived at Toombul Terrace, Nundah and was the informant of his father's death. He said that his father was a farmer. r/x) By 1925 Alexander (farmer) was recorded at Rockdale, Cooroy… perhaps on Neil's farm? By 1949 Alexander (boat owner) had moved to Munna Point Tewantin r/xxiv), and died at Tewantin in 1964.

The only information we have about Neil is from the public record, with the exception of his photo. We don't have a gravestone, family bible or obituary. However, there are pointers to a very interesting life which might be told if his stories have been handed down through his descendants. Can anyone help?

Children of Neil M^cLEAN and Harriet CAMERON.

Jane (1869-1955); John Neil (1870-1919); Grace (1873-1914); Sarah (1874-1936); Archibald Cameron (1876-1955); Alexander Allan (1878-1964); Mary (1880-1962); Catherine (1883-); William McKinnon (1886-1952); Charles McLaughlan (1888-1961); Jessie Janet (1893-1956).

Neil M^cLEAN (& Harriet CAMERON) Sources:
 
      Newspapers and Periodicals.
n/iii)  1900. Obituary of Donald Hugh M^cLEAN. Northern Star; 26 Jun 1900.
n/xiv)   1942. Obituary of Mr. Samuel BLANCH. Northern Star; 2 Oct 1942.
n/xx)   1873. Advertisement of farm for sale. Manning River News; 17 May 1873.
n/xxxiv) 1884,6,7 & 1903. Neil McLEAN drinking charges. Northern Star; 12 Mar 1884; 2. also 6 Mar 1886; 2. also 29 Oct 1887; 2. also 30 Dec 1903; 4.
n/xxxv) 1888. Sale of Neil McLEAN's farm at Bexhill. Northern Star; 9 Jun 1888; 3.
n/xxxvi) 1888. Death of Samuel BLANCH. Northern Star; 2 Oct 1942.
n/xxxvii) 1889. Sale of Neil McLEAN's farm at Deep Creek. Northern Star; 19 Oct 1889; 3.
 
      Registrations and Lists:
r/x)   Death of Neil M^cLEAN. Reg# 1918/26878. Registrar of BDM, Qld.
r/xi)   Marriage Neil M^cLEAN & Harriet CAMERON. Reg# 1867/2240. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xii)  Birth of Archibald Cameron M^cLEAN. Reg# 1876/014523. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxi)   Death of Roderick M^cLEAN. Reg# 1902/530. Registrar of BDM, Qld.
r/xxiii)   Death of Harriet M^cLEAN. Reg# 4231/1894. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxiv)   Queensland state electoral rolls.
r/xxvii)  Casino and District Family History Group… research of Casino Court House records.
r/xxviii) Birth of Harriet CAMERON. Reg# 1849 (V18491085 51). Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxix)   Birth of Alexander Allan M^cLEAN. Reg# 1878/21507. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
 
      Family Bibles, Correspondence, Wills & papers:
fb/iii) Autobiography of Archibald Cameron. Handwritten sheet forwarded by Jean Whimp.
fb/ix)  Information from George Wagener, g-grandson of Neil M^cLean.
fb/x)  Information from Linda Sivyer, g-g-granddaughter of Neil M^cLean.
fb/xi)  Information from Neil Sivyer, g-g-grandson of Neil M^cLean.

      Maps:
m/iv)  Parish Map of Lismore, County of Rous. Notations current on 1903. Lands Department parish map preservation project.
 
      Books & Electronic Resources:
b/iii)  McKinnon, Leslie Malcolm. History of Malcolm McKinnon in Australia. Private publication; 1999.
b/vi)  Ramsland, John. The struggle against isolation: a history of the Manning Valley. Library of Australian History; 1987; 47-48, 131.
b/xx) Queensland Family History Society. Toowong Cemetery monumental inscriptions : version 1.01 with QFHSdatasearch 1.5 [electronic resource]. Queensland Family History Society, Indooroopilly, Qld; 2003.
b/xxi) William Good. A forest of Blanches: the story of the Blanch family 1838-1988. William Good, Sydney; 1988.
 
      Websites:
w/ii)  Robert S. Cameron. Cameron Genealogies. See here.
w/iii)  Brisbane City Council. Grave location search. See here.
 
      Acknowledgements:
I am grateful to make contact with some of Neil M^cLEAN’s descendants. I have valued correspondence with George Wagener, Alison Grant & Kaye M^cLean and thank them for their interest and help. I am most grateful for photos from grand daughters of Alexander M^cLean… Elizabeth Sivyer and Norma Presling, made possible by contact through Neil and Linda Sivyer. Neil and Linda have been great correspondents.

vii. Angus M^cLEAN

Angus M^cLEAN was born r/xv) on 1 Jun 1844 in Morpeth, NSW. He died in Maitland Hospital, West Maitland, NSW, on 2 Sep 1894; at the age of 50. He was buried on 4 Sep 1894 in West Maitland Church of England Cemetery, NSW. His occupation was "bushman". The cause of his death was compound fractures and shock; his death was subject to an inquest by the coroner at West Maitland, on 3 and 6 Sep 1894. r/iv) The inquest verdict said that he died from the "effects of injuries accidentally received through the wheel of a dray having passed over him". He was never married. Note the special provision made for Angus in his father’s Will, fb/v) which is described in the section below about Roderick.

The newspaper article about his accident tells us a lot about the standard of medical care of crush injuries in those times:

"Dreadful Accident at Clarence Town.—On Saturday afternoon a dreadful accident, which we are sorry to say has since terminated fatally, occurred to a man named Angus M^cLEAN, a teamster residing at Dungog, about a mile from Clarence Town on the Dungog Road, the man falling off his wagon and the two wheels passing over him, smashing his right leg and arm, and bruising him in a shocking manner. M^cLEAN at the time of the occurrence was riding on his dray, which contained about 3 tons of stuff. He was picked up and placed in a vehicle as soon as possible, and conveyed to Maitland Hospital, where he was admitted at four o'clock yesterday morning, after suffering the most intense agony on the long journey. The unfortunate sufferer was seen by Dr. W.J. Russell yesterday, who found it necessary to amputate the injured arm at the shoulder, and thought the operation was successfully performed, poor M^cLEAN gradually sank and died in the Hospital at six o'clock last evening. An inquest was commenced this morning on the unfortunate man by the Coroner, Mr. J.N. Brooks, P.M. The matron of the Hospital, Miss Olive Reay, gave evidence as to receiving the deceased at about 4 o'clock, and Dr Russell saw him between nine and ten o'clock. Deceased was brought to the institution by Philip Maurer, who made a statement to her to the effect that deceased was riding on the pole of the wagon, and a boy who was with him kicked one of the bullocks. This caused a jerk, which threw the deceased under the waggon, the wheel of which passed over him. Dr W.J. Russell deposed to seeing deceased who was suffering from a compound fracture of the right arm and right leg, and from loss of blood. The arm was reduced to pulp, which rendered it impossible to save it. An operation was performed about 12:30, but deceased died about 6 o'clock last evening. He was assisted in the operation by Drs. R.G. Alcorn, W.D. Power, and Alex. Pentland. Deceased was quite sober, and death was caused by shock to the system caused by the injuries received. The inquest was at this stage adjourned till half-past two o'clock on Thursday next, and will be held at the Courthouse, West Maitland. Deceased was a single man, 45 years of age."— n/xxvii)

 

viii. Annie (Ann) M^cLEAN (& Hugh GIBSON)

Annie (Ann) M^cLEAN was born in 1848 at Williamtown NSW, and died r/xvi) at Tamar Street, Ballina, NSW, on 30 Nov 1933 at the age of 85. On 4 Jun 1874 when Annie (Ann) was 26, she married Hugh GIBSON at M^cLean’s Ridges, Richmond River, NSW n/xxviii). Hugh was the son of Samuel GIBSON & Mary Ann RUSSELL, and was born on 14 Apr 1853 at Redbank, Manning River district, NSW n/xxviii). He died at Tamar-street, Ballina, NSW, on 2 Nov 1928 at the age of 75 n/xxviii).

Annie may have arrived at the Northern Rivers in Sep 1871 with her brothers Donald & John, or visited the GIBSONs and her brothers shortly after. The previously quoted letter from A.C. M^cLEAN to the Editor of the Northern Star in 1953, told the story of their initial selection: "Mr. Samuel Gibson had sold his farm on Oxley Island for £500 and left with his family for the Richmond. His family consisted of their three boys, Robert, Sam and Hugh, all single, and two daughters (Eliza & Mary) and their husbands, John and Donald M^cLean. They selected three blocks, all adjoining, on what is now known as M^cLean’s Ridges."— n/xxii)

Annie married Hugh GIBSON on 4 Jun 1874 at M^cLean’s Ridges, and their home was on the GIBSON property (portion 70, 316 ac). The map m/v) and Tuckombil table shown earlier in this chapter, describe both the location and also the manner in which Hugh obtained this property (about the time of his father Samuel’s death in 1883). A reference is made to Hugh’s home in 1882… the history of the M^cLean’s Ridges school tells us that the school was given a temporary home in a large room of Mr. Hugh GIBSON, who lived south along the Cowlong Road from Donald M^cLEAN. "At that time the two chief families in the district were those of Mr. Hugh Gibson and Mr. Donald M^cLean. It was finally decided to perpetuate the name of M^cLean (in the naming of the school)." n/xv

In those days, there was rarely a public record of a wife’s accomplishments! Perhaps an exception was when Annie adopted her brother Neil M^cLEAN’s daughter (Jessie Janet) after Neil’s wife Harriet died in 1894 n/xxviii), r/xxiii). We assume that it must have been her decision to do this, since at that stage she would have been already caring for 7 of her own children under the age of 19, with the youngest aged 5. Our story of Annie now continues with an account of what her husband Hugh did… in those days the wife was the invisible helper and supporter. Can anyone help with a photo of Annie?

In 1928, Hugh was given a very long obituary in the Northern Star n/xxviii), and also an abbreviated obit in the Sydney Morning Herald n/xxxiii). The Northern Star obituary described how his marital home at M^cLean’s Ridges was built and how his property was maintained, noting that he was engaged in the cedar industry for some years, and then diversified into sugar and dairying:

The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Gibson was celebrated about four years ago at M^cLean’s Ridges. On this farm Mr. Gibson had been married. The whole family were born there. During his life the manner in which everything was done brought forth much praise from visitors. From the pit-sawing of the timbers to the completion of the buildings showed that the late Mr. Gibson was a man of many parts and well fitted to do the work he set his hand to…
(And then around 1880)… he erected and owned a sugar mill, which was worked by horse power. The first shipment of sugar was made on October 24 of that year and for which the return was £26 per ton. Altogether, the first year’s operations resulted in 27 tons being shipped away. The price was maintained until the introduction of the steam plants and sugar crushing was abandoned. (About the same time)… the butter made was packed in (illegible) and forwarded to Sydney. As is well known to many, the price realised was not very great. The late Mr. Gibson was an admirer of the Durham cattle and pinned his faith in these while he was interested in the dairying business n/xxviii).

Hugh’s obituary does not highlight his true character— that of an entrepreneur and leader. In 1881 Hugh advertised in the Melbourne press, the possibilities which existed in sugar cane in the Wollongbar area.

To Capitalists, Investors, Sugar manufacturers and Others.—First-class OPPORTUNITY to ESTABLISH a SUGAR-MILL at the Richmond River, N.S.W.—Twenty farmers at Wollongbar are prepared to plant cane, and sell it at a price per ton. Should inducements offer, 150 acres can be planted next season, and the same quantity in 1883, which can be largely increased. The land is easy of access, situated about eight miles from Lismore, and five from the Victoria company’s land and projected sugar works. The above offers an opportunity rarely to be met with of establishing an immense paying concern. For full particulars address Mr. Hugh Gibson, planter, Wollongbar, Richmond River n/xxxii).

Similarly, Hugh’s obituary writer may not have realised how important Hugh was to local dairying. The Sydney Morning Herald detailed how a new butter factory erected by the New South Wales Creamery and Butter Company at Alstonville was opened on 21 Nov 1900. It describes Mr. Hugh GIBSON, the chairman of the Springfield Dairy Company, proposing a toast to the success of the Alstonville Central Factory. Significantly, the district manager of this factory was Mr J. GIBSON, with a daughter Miss E. GIBSON. When Mr. Webster (Mayor of Ballina) proposed "Success to the Dairying Industry," … Messrs. W. Johnstone, R. Gibson, and J. M^cLEAN responded. Looks as if the GIBSONs and John M^cLEAN were very significant in the local area! n/xxxi)

At the peak of their influence, in 1904 Hugh and Annie retired from farming to new ventures at Ballina. Their Ballina home was initially near the canal and later in Tamar-street.

The Ballina Bowling Club described his importance to bowls in both 1928 and 2009, telling the importance of his first Ballina home by the canal:

(The Club's 1928 obit said)… In the passing of Hugh Gibson there has been removed from the bowling world of the three rivers one of the fathers of the game. It was away back about 1904 when the late Mr. Gibson left his farm at McLean's Ridges and came to live in Ballina in a home that was bordering on the banks of the canal. It was right here that bowls had its birth n/xxix).
(and again when the Ballina Bowling Club had their centenary on 16 Sep 2009)… Inspired by the Lismore Caledonian Society, who had in 1907 the first bowling club in the Northern Rivers District, Hugh Gibson of Ballina, constructed a one rink green on his own property on the banks of the Ballina canal. … Another connection with the past is junior bowler Ben Gibson being the great great grandson of Hugh Gibson the founder and first President. … and Ben Gibson delivered the first bowl, proudly watched by his mother Joan and members n/xxx).

Hugh and his family were part of the Ballina Parish of the Presbyterian Church for a long period. This parish was formed in 1885 and included both Alstonville and Ballina centres until Alstonville and Bangalow gained full status in 1910. White's official history of the Presbyterian church mentions that Hugh opened the new Ballina church on 16 Sep 1914, in his position of Elder and also as Mayor of Ballina. White also records that Hugh was a Sunday School Superintendent b/xix). Hugh’s obituary gives more detail:

Mr. Gibson was an ardent church worker, and during a long period was senior elder of the Ballina charge. He was always at his peak, and was the minister's right hand man, seeming to be just where his services were most required. He was also superintendent of the Sunday School, and many of he young men of today look back in at their association with Mr Gibson during their younger days and revere his memory for the good lessons taught and example set. When the present church (St. Stephen’s) was being built, Mr Gibson was chosen to lay the foundation stone, an honour which he much appreciated, and an indication of the value placed on his work n/xxviii).

Hugh never stopped influencing events. Almost as soon as he moved to Ballina he was elected to the local Council:

Mr. Gibson was an alderman of the council of Ballina municipality for nine years (1905-1914), and mayor during the last year. The stress of this year and its attendant strain on all public men will be remembered, as it was in August that the great war broke out, and Mr. Gibson was so affected that he considered expedient to lay aside the burden which was too great and allow younger men to take up the responsibility.
(Hugh’s public office as Mayor allowed Annie to make a public impact)… The electric light and water schemes were two matters in which the late Mr. Gibson took a prominent part, and as a mark of appreciation, Mrs. Gibson was chosen to turn on the light in Tamar-street n/xxviii).

Hugh was aged 74 and Anne was 79 in the last year of Hugh’s life. Annie’s act of kindness in 1894 of adopting her daughter Jessie was more than repaid when Hugh’s care became more onerous for the elderly lady at this time:

Looking back over the life of Mr. Gibson this seems to be the only time he was seriously ill until the past 12 months when he seemed to be often taken with giddiness. In one of these turns he fell on his own back verandah and broke his leg hear the hip, and from that time he had been confined to his bed. About a month afterwards he took a stroke, which left him very feeble and in need of constant attention. During the whole of this time he was constantly and faithfully nursed by his adopted daughter, Miss Jessie, assisted by Matron Jamieson. The Rev. W.J.R. Rankin had been a regular visitor, and did much to soften the sorrow n/xxviii) .

What an eventful life! I was most impressed by how Hugh was described in the various cited reports! Hugh’s funeral took place on Sunday afternoon 4 Jun 1928 at the Wollongbar Presbyterian cemetery in the presence of a very large crowd of mourners (a long list was made in his very long obit).

 

Children of ANNIE M^cLEAN and Hugh GIBSON.

Mary Ann (1875-1931); John Alexander (Jack) (1877-1953); Samuel (1879-1951); Annie Grace (1881-1971); Hugh Russell (Russ) (1884-1957); Jane (1886-1974); William James (1889-1969); Jessie Janet [adopted] (1893-1956).

Annie (Ann) M^cLEAN (& Hugh GIBSON) Sources:
      Newspapers and Periodicals.
n/xv   1959. History of North Coast Schools: Status Quo MCMLIX. Ballina Inspectorate of NSW Dept of Education; 1959.
n/xxii)  1953. A.C. M^cLEAN. Settlement at M^cLean’s Ridges; Letter to the Editor. Northern Star; 7 Mar 1953. Note: The author could have been the son of our Neil M^cLEAN… Archibald Cameron M^cLEAN d. 1955 Hurstville, NSW.
n/xxviii) 1928. Pioneer Passes - Mr Hugh Gibson - An Eventful Life. Northern Star; 6 Nov 1928.
n/xxix)   1928. Bowls— the Ballina Club: The late Hugh Gibson— a retrospect. Northern Star; Nov 1928.
n/xxx)  2009. Ballina’s centenary celebration. Bowls NSW; Dec 2009; 35-36.
n/xxxi)   1900. Dairy news: new creamery at Alstonville. Sydney Morning Herald; 22 Nov 1900; 9.
n/xxxii) 1881. Advertisement: To capitalists, investors etc… The Argus; Melbourne; 6 Dec 1881; 12.
n/xxxiii) 1928. Death of Mr H Gibson, Ballina. Sydney Morning Herald; 14 Nov 1928; 18.
      Maps:
m/v)  Parish Map of Tuckombil, County of Rous, Land District of Lismore, Tintenbar Shire, N.S.W. Department of Lands, Sydney, N.S.W; 28th March, 1938; edition 8. National Library of Australia ID# 4192751.
      Books.
b/xix)  White, Rev. CA. Challenge of the years: a history of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in the state of NSW. Angus & Robertson, Sydney; 1951; 442-3.
      Acknowledgements:
A special thanks to Elizabeth McGuire (Hugh & Annie's g-granddaughter), who forwarded a copy of Hugh's obituary. This was central to this account. Also to the Ballina Library who provided access to the copy of Hugh's mayoral photo and to his file kept in their local history section. Dorothy Towell kindly provided the greatest find… a photo of the golden wedding celebration of Hugh & Annie GIBSON in 1924 complete with identification of the people! Dorothy also sent a photo of Hugh Gibson as the founding member of the Ballina Bowling Club.

ix. Allan M^cLEAN

Allan M^cLEAN was born on 20 Oct 1849 and baptised on 13 Jan 1850, at Raymond Terrace, NSW. r/xvii) Allan died r/xviii) accidentally on the Oxley Island, Manning River district, NSW, on 22 Dec 1861; he was 12. A horse had dragged him. Allan was buried on Oxley Island.

x. Roderick M^cLEAN

Roderick M^cLEAN [Jnr] was born on 21 Dec 1851 at Tomago, near Newcastle, and baptised on 23 Mar 1852 in the Parish of Butterwick, NSW. r/xix) This was quite possibly on his uncle Roderick [Snr]’s tenant farm… the location indicated by the 30 Sept 1854 marriage of Roderick [Snr]’s daughter Mary to Hector M^cLEAN, when both gave their "abode" as Tomago r/xxv). There were two Portions with the name "Tomago" in the Parish of Stockton which faced onto the Hunter River. Richard WINDEYER’s Portion 7 "Tomago" contained the stately home "Tomago House", with many tenant farmers leasing small parcels of land under a feudal system of tenancy. On the western boundary of "Tomago" was Portion 17 called "Tomago Estate". Colonel Kenneth SNODGRASS (Acting Governor NSW abt 1838) and Major T.L Mitchell (Surveyor General) took possession of Portion 17 on 6 Apr 1829 in trust for Col. SNODGRASS’s sister Janet M^cLEAN, wife of William M^cLEAN.m/vii), b/viii) A member of the SNODGRASS family was also a joint owner of Roderick [Snr]’s Portion 143 in the parish of Stowell m/viii)… (see chapter 12). Roderick [Jnr]’s subsequent baptism in the parish of Butterwick (on the eastern bank of the Paterson River) was about 30kms by road from Tomago.

In 1870 when Roderick was aged 18 he gave evidence at an inquest: "I am a farmer and live on Oxley with my father… I was employed at a threshing machine at the residence of (William Brown of Oxley Island)." n/xxi) Roderick’s father made especial provision for him in his Will: The Farm on which I now reside situated on Oxley island aforesaid containing 56 ¾ Acres, to be equally divided after the decease of my wife, and given to my two youngest sons Angus and Roderick as follows— The half adjoining Mr Flett’s property to be given to Angus— the other half adjoining Mr Small’s land to be given to Roderick. The working Bullocks, Pigs, Poultry, Farming Implements, and Household Furniture that may be left at the decease of my wife, Grace, to be also divided between (Angus and Roderick). fb/v) Roderick’s father died on 17 Aug 1871, and his mother Grace died on 17 Oct 1877.

Roderick lived in Queensland at least from 1900, n/iii) and then died in the Caboolture district, Qld on 11 Dec 1901. His brother Neil was the informant of his death, and Neil lived just south of the Caboolture District in North Pine, now named Petrie (28km NE of Brisbane, with a population of 500 in 1900). Roderick was buried at Lawnton Cemetery, next to Petrie. Neil gave no information about any marriage or children for Roderick. r/xxi) There is a Qld record of a Roderick M^cLEAN marrying a Clara Fanny Anne MILLS on 24 Feb 1870 with 11 children to this marriage. However, this Roderick is unrelated… he was born in Queanbeyan NSW and his parents were Robert M^cLEAN & Sophia MILMAN r/xxvi). There was only Roderick M^cLEAN in the electoral rolls in 1880-1881… at Tyreconnell. This was a mining area in the west of Qld, between Mitchell and Morven. Similarly, there was only one Roderick in the electoral rolls in 1895… he was living at Musgrave St Gympie. Quite probably this was not our Roderick (d.1901), since a Roderick was still in the Electoral District of Gympie in 1905 with his residence at the Goldfield Homestead 889, Spring Valley. r/xxiv) Quite probably our Roderick never voted!

Sources:
 
      Newspapers and Periodicals.
n/i)  1837. Third and Last Embarkation of Highlanders to Australia for the Season. Caledonian Mercury. Edinburgh Scotland; 14 Oct 1837.
n/ii) 1886. Obituary of Mr. William McKINNON. Northern Star; 16 Jan 1886.
n/iii)  1900. Obituary of Donald Hugh M^cLEAN. Northern Star; 26 Jun 1900.
n/iv)  1901. Obituary of Mary McKINNON. Northern Star; 20 Nov 1901. Also Richmond River Express; 22 Nov 1901. Copy held by R.R.Hist.Soc.
n/v) 1905. Death Notice: Mrs John M^cLEAN. Northern Star; 3 Jul 1905.
n/vi)  1905. Obituary of Mrs John M^cLEAN. Lismore Chronicle: July 1905.
n/vii) 1913. Biography: The Scot we know. Scottish Australasian. Highland Society of NSW; 1913.
n/viii) 1923.Funeral description: Late Mr. John M^cLEAN. Passing of a district pioneer. Large and representative funeral. Northern Star; 4 Jul 1923. Copy held by R.R.Hist.Soc.
n/ix)   1923. Obituary: Mr M^cLEAN’s early days. Northern Star; 4 Jul 1923. (A continuation of n/viii) on the same page… copy held by R.R.Hist.Soc.)
n/x)   1907. Valedictory to Mr J. M^cLEAN. Lismore Chronicle; 25 Oct 1907.
n/xi)  1923. Death Notice & Funeral notice: Mr John M^cLEAN. Northern Star; 2 Jul 1923.
n/xii)  1923. Funeral of the late Mr John M^cLEAN. Northern Star; 3 Jul 1923.
n/xiii) 1923. Work of the Pioneers: John M^cLEAN’s Death. Northern Star; 5 Jul 1923. Copy held by R.R.Hist.Soc.
n/xiv)   1942. Obituary of Mr. Samuel BLANCH. Northern Star; 2 Oct 1942.
n/xv   1959. History of North Coast Schools: Status Quo MCMLIX. Ballina Inspectorate of NSW Dept of Education; 1959.
    The Principals wrote (1959) their own school’s history. Kathy Pearson kindly made the transcription (2001).
n/xvi) 1946. Obituary: Mary McKENZIE. Died 26 Jan 1946. Newspaper clipping. May have been the Mullumbimby Star or the Northern Star?
n/xvii) 1945. Obituary: Mrs Grace TALBOT. Northern Star; 18 Mar 1945.
n/xviii) 2002. Clan Gathers to Celebrate Pioneers. Northern Rivers Echo; 15 Aug 2002.
n/xix)   1871. Obituary: Alexander M^cLEAN. Manning River News;16 Dec 1871.
n/xx)   1873. Advertisement of farm for sale. Manning River News; 17 May 1873.
n/xxi)   1870. Inquest into the death of James Brown. Manning River News; 15 Jan 1870.
n/xxii)  1953. A.C. M^cLEAN. Settlement at M^cLean’s Ridges; Letter to the Editor. Northern Star; 7 Mar 1953. Note: The author could have been the son of our Neil M^cLEAN… Archibald Cameron M^cLEAN d. 1955 Hurstville, NSW.
n/xxiii) 1950. The late Sergt. S. M^cLEAN. Unidentified newspaper clipping.
n/xxiv) 1871. Property Sold— Mr Samuel Gibson's homestead. Manning River News; 12 Aug 1871.
n/xxv)  1873. Donald M^cLean of Richmond River offers farm for sale. Manning River News; 5 Jul 1873, 13 Sept 1873.
n/xxvi) 1871. Advertisement of farm for sale. (John [Jnr] & Donald M^cLEAN) Manning River News; 5 Aug 1871.
n/xxvii) 1894. Dreadful accident at Clarence Town. Maitland Daily Mercury; 3 Sep 1894.
n/xxviii) 1928. Pioneer Passes - Mr Hugh Gibson - An Eventful Life. Northern Star; 6 Nov 1928.
n/xxix)  1928. Bowls— the Ballina Club: The late Hugh Gibson— a retrospect. Northern Star; Nov 1928.
n/xxx)   2009. Ballina’s centenary celebration. Bowls NSW; Dec 2009; 35-36.
n/xxxi) 1900. Dairy news: new creamery at Alstonville. Sydney Morning Herald; 22 Nov 1900; 9.
n/xxxii) 1881. Advertisement: To capitalists, investors etc… The Argus; Melbourne; 6 Dec 1881; 12.
n/xxxiii) 1928. Death of Mr H Gibson, Ballina. Sydney Morning Herald; 14 Nov 1928; 18.
n/xxxiv) 1884,6,7 & 1903. Neil McLEAN drinking charges. Northern Star; 12 Mar 1884; 2. also 6 Mar 1886; 2. also 29 Oct 1887; 2. also 30 Dec 1903; 4.
n/xxxv) 1888. Sale of Neil McLEAN's farm. Northern Star; 9 Jun 1888; 3.
n/xxxvi) 1888. Death of Samuel BLANCH. Northern Star; 2 Oct 1942.
n/xxxvii)  1889. Sale of Neil McLEAN's farm at Deep Creek. Northern Star; 19 Oct 1889; 3.
 
 
      Registrations and Lists:
r/i) Death of Roderick M^cLEAN. Reg# 1868/5422. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/ii)  Birth registration of Grace M^cNEIL. Reg# 1856/7249. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/iii) Birth of Samuel M^cLEAN. Reg# 1868/10983. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/iv) Death of Angus M^cLEAN. Reg# 1894/007993. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/v)  Isle of Mull immigrants on the “Brilliant” on 2 Jan, 1838. NSW State Archives; “Assisted Bounty Immigrants” Ref# 4/4828, reel# 1288.
r/vi) Old parish records (OPR) Parish of Kilninian and Kilmore, Isle of Mull: 2 Oct 1803 - 19 Dec 1803; Births. Look-ups by Barbara MacQuarrie (Isle of Mull).
r/vii) Pre 1860 Pioneer Register. Manning Wallamba Family History Society Inc. 1: 15,16,23,39,82,83,107. 2:132,133,138.
r/viii) Death of Alexander M^cLEAN. Reg# 1871/004164. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/ix)   Death of John M^cLEAN [Jnr]. Reg# 1923/012741. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/x)   Death of Neil M^cLEAN. Reg# 1918/26878. Registrar of BDM, Qld.
r/xi)   Marriage Neil M^cLEAN & Harriet CAMERON. Reg# 1867/2240. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xii)  Birth of Archibald Cameron M^cLEAN. Reg# 1876/014523. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xiii) Baptism of Donald Hugh M^cLEAN. Reg# 1840/0 (V1840825). Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xiv) Death of Donald Hugh M^cLEAN. *Reg# 1900/005157. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xv)  Baptism of Angus M^cLEAN. Reg# V1844490 162A/1844. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xvi) Death of Ann GIBSON. *Reg# 1933/022067. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xvii) Baptism of Allan M^cLEAN. Reg# 1849/0 (V18491397 50). Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xviii)Death of Allan M^cLEAN. Reg# 1861/3283. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xix)  Baptism of Roderick M^cLEAN. Reg# 1852/0 (V18521146 51). Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xx)   Penrith City Council: Draft Amendment No.1 to Penrith LEP 1991 (Environmental Heritage Conservation). "Yodalla", house and garden, 28 Nepean Street Emu Plains, Lot 42 DP 524161. Note: Description of "Yodalla" can be downloaded.
r/xxi)   Death of Roderick M^cLEAN. Reg# 1902/530. Registrar of BDM, Qld.
r/xxii)  Wise, H. Queensland Post Office Directory. 1903, 1910, 1915.
r/xxiii)   Death of Harriet M^cLEAN. Reg# 4231/1894. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxiv)   Queensland state electoral rolls.
r/xxv) Marriage of Mary & Hector M^cLEAN. Reg# V1854870 81/1854. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxvi)  Marriage of Alexander M^cLEAN & Clara Fanny Ann MILLS. Reg# 1870/C197. Registrar of BDM, Qld. Note that Alexander was variously named Roderick (7X). Alexander (3X), Alexander Roderick (1X) at the births of his 11 children. Note also that this McLEAN was not related to our family.
r/xxvii)  Casino and District Family History Group… research of Casino Court House records.
r/xxviii) Birth of Harriet CAMERON. Reg# 1849 (V18491085 51). Registrar of BDM, NSW.
r/xxix)   Birth of Alexander Allan M^cLEAN. Reg# 1878/21507. Registrar of BDM, NSW.
 
      Family Bibles, Wills & papers and correspondence:
fb/i) Janet M^cLEAN’s family bible. Courtesy of Penelope Luck and Eric Wilson.
fb/ii)  John M^cLEAN’s family bible. Information from Jean Allsep and Jean Whimp.
fb/iii) Autobiography of Archibald Cameron. Handwritten sheet forwarded by Jean Whimp.
fb/iv)  Jean Allsep. Pers. comm.; 1999.
fb/v)   Probate: John M^cLEAN, Date of death 17 August 1871, Granted on 14 May 1874. Item number series 2-668. Record series 13660, probate packets. NSW State Records.
fb/vi)  Information from Grace Neale. Grace d. 1993 and was daughter of Samuel M^cLEAN b. 1868, g-dau of Donald Hugh M^cLEAN b. 1840.
fb/vii)  Information from Robert Neale, grandson of Samuel M^cLEAN.
fb/vii)  Information from the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society
fb/viii)  Information from Sara Powter, granddaughter of Eliza Hunter (née M^cLean).
fb/ix)  Information from George Wagener, g-grandson of Neil M^cLean.
fb/x)  Information from Linda Sivyer, g-g-granddaughter of Neil M^cLean.
fb/xi)  Information from Neil Sivyer, g-g-grandson of Neil M^cLean.
 
      Maps:
m/ii)  Parish Map of Oxley, County of Macquarie. 1886; gazetted 1873. Lands Department parish map preservation project.
m/iii)  Parish Map of Oxley, County of Macquarie. Charted to date: 17 Dec 1937. Placed in office: 17 Dec 1937. Lands Department parish map preservation project.
m/iv)  Parish Map of Lismore, County of Rous. Notations current on 1903. Lands Department parish map preservation project.
m/v)  Parish Map of Tuckombil, County of Rous, Land District of Lismore, Tintenbar Shire, N.S.W. Department of Lands, Sydney, N.S.W; 28th March, 1938; edition 8. National Library of Australia ID# 4192751.
m/vi)  Parish Map of Tuckombil, County of Rous, Land District of Lismore; 1887.
Relevant portions of the Tuckombil maps kindly forwarded by the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society.
m/vii)  Parish Map of Stockton, County of Gloucester. Date of map: 20 Mar 1915. Further notations made up to 22 Jan 1918. Lands Department parish map preservation project.
m/viii) Parish Map of Stowell, County of Gloucester. Lands Department; 1921. (Notations made up to 1922.) Parish map preservation project.
 
      Books & Electronic Resources:
b/i)  Bailliere’s New South Wales Gazetteer. F.F. Bailliere, Sydney; 1870.
b/ii)   Birrell, W.K. The Manning Valley: Landscape and Settlement, 1824-1900; Jacaranda Press; 1987.
b/iii)  McKinnon, Leslie Malcolm. History of Malcolm McKinnon in Australia. Private publication; 1999.
b/iv)  Maclean, Charles. The Isle of Mull: placenames, meanings and stories. Books for Dillons only, UK; 1998.
b/v) McSwan, E.H. Maclean: The First Fifty Years 1862-1912. Maclean District Historical Society. Clarence Press, Maclean; 1992; 30-31, 34.
b/vi)  Ramsland, John. The struggle against isolation: a history of the Manning Valley. Library of Australian History; 1987; 47-48, 131.
b/vii)  Gow, R. & W. Oxley Island - chronicles of the early days. Private Publication; 2007. Note: Highly recommended.
b/viii)  Hartley, D.T. From Fullerton Cove to Motto Farm. Private Publication; 1987; 8, 10, 22-23.
b/xix)  White, Rev. CA. Challenge of the years: a history of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in the state of NSW. Angus & Robertson, Sydney; 1951; 442-3.
b/xx) Queensland Family History Society. Toowong Cemetery monumental inscriptions : version 1.01 with QFHSdatasearch 1.5 [electronic resource]. Queensland Family History Society, Indooroopilly, Qld; 2003.
b/xxi) William Good. A forest of Blanches: the story of the Blanch family 1838-1988. William Good, Sydney; 1988.
 
      Websites:
w/i) Australian Cemeteries Index.
w/ii)  Robert S. Cameron. Cameron Genealogies. See here.
w/iii)  Brisbane City Council. Grave location search. See here.
 
      Acknowledgements:
I am grateful to the following people who have kindly provided much assistance: Gloria Toohey (Manning Wallamba Family History Society), Glenda Smith (Manning Valley Historical Society), Janette Childs (Richmond River Historical Society), Margaret Kennedy & Alison Draper (Alstonville Plateau Historical Society), Jean Allsepp, Les McKinnon, Barbara McQuarrie, Eileen Willis and Jean Whimp (past Clan M^cLean Australia Archivist). Jean Whimp has been most important in this study, being happy to discuss problems at length and provide much guidance and information. Eileen Willis has been most helpful… the opportunity of exchanging certificates and information with her was greatly appreciated, and provided the motivation to complete the task. Most recently, Sara Powter has come on the scene with information, certificates, photos and clippings about Donald Hugh M^cLEAN and his descendants through to his youngest daughter Eliza (Sara’s grandmother). Again… all are most appreciated.

Contact

It would be great if descendants of the M^cLEANs, or people with knowledge of this family, could make contact with me. See the e-mail link at the bottom of this page.

The Story Continues

• See chapter 12 for "Continuing story of the Roderick M^cLEAN and his children" (from Chapter 10).

Page Last Updated: Jan 2016.
Email to: Philip Strong