Arrochybeg to Australia (The Story of MacFarlane Pioneers) – Part One by ‘Calum Curamach’
As we delve further into our Clan’s history, we come across more and more references to those clan folk who were settled along the eastern shores of Loch Lomond.Thus our lead story in the June 2011 issue of the Australian “MacFarlane’s Lantern”, Issue No.118, concerns two MacFarlane brothers from the small farm of Arrochybeg, Buchanan parish, Stirlingshire, who were among the many Scots that migrated to Australia during the mid-19th century and contributed greatly to the development of this huge country.
James (b1796) and Duncan (b1798) were the sons of Walter and Marjory MacFarlane (nee Colquhoun) who farmed Arrochybeg, beside Loch Lomond.Walter (1755-1836) was a seventh generation direct descendant of Andrew Dubh MacFarlane, 2nd Laird of Gartartan, Gartmore, Stirlingshire, which, in turn, linked the family to the main line of MacFarlane Barons of Arrochar and to the ancient Earls of Lennox – by all accounts a pedigree to be proud of.
Part one of this article deals with James, who was a pioneering cattleman in Victoria.His brother Duncan, who made his own mark in South Australia, will feature in the next (September) issue.
The article has been extracted in full from the newsletter and made available below as a pdf document for the benefit of those who are not members and therefore unable to access the newsletter via the Members Area.
Arrochybeg to Australia – Part One
Hi , I am researching my family history in relation to the Macfarlane side of my family .
I have been given the following information :
John & Isabella Macfarlane ( my great , great grandparents ) arrived in Sydney aboard the infamous ” Minerva ” in January 1838 .
They had four daughters ; Euphemia , Christina , Margaret & Catherine .
Euphemia married John Henry Woodhill ( they are my great grandparents )
I believe that John & Isabella drowned in a swollen river in 1846 -47 . The four girls
were ” farmed out ” .
Is there any record of where they died and the circumstances ?
Best regards , Bob Woodhill .
Hi Bob,
Can you please tell me on what basis you believe that John and Isabella Macfarlane died in 1846/7? A quick search in the NSW BDMs had a nil result, although it must be remembered that civil registration did not begin until 1856 in NSW and any earlier deaths will only show if they were recorded in Church records. I suggest you start by establishing the date of birth of each of the children and the last recorded may give you a better idea of where the parents may have been living when they died. If you would like further advice on tracing your MacFarlane ancestry please contact me by email secretary@clanmacfarlane.org.au
Regards,
Glenda
Hi anyone out there Im looking for information on my mums side of the family MacFarlane/McFarlane so far they are from around Stirling Im looking for a Walter he was a teacher and he had a son born in Australia named Charles Walter who also became a teacher and a headmaster in Tasmania Australia
Hi Karen,
We would love to help you get started with your research on your MacFarlane/McFarlane ancestors from Stirling, but you haven’t provided any dates or mentioned what research you have already done. Please email me secretary@clanmacfarlane.org.au with further details and we will see if we can help.
Glenda
Hi Glenda,
I will have to get back to you with this one mum has the names if its not on her old computer (the type that uses floppy disks) I dont know if she has the information till I get there
Hi Glenda,
James MacFarlane married Agnes Walker.
Colin Dawson Sr
Hi Karen,
You are in luck. This family is already listed in the online database at http://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info (James McFarlan/MacFarlane is Person ID 17051). This family also features in our Members’ Genealogy Column, ‘Root Lines’, published in our quarterly newsletter, the Australian ‘MacFarlane’s Lantern’ No. 111 – Sept 2009.
Regards,
Glenda
PS Hi Heather, just to confuse things, it seems the children of John and Violet Macfarlane listed their mother’s maiden name as Thomson and if you search on McGlashan/Thomson ancestry around Stirlingshire and Argyll, the two names seem to be used interchangeably. Someone may be able to shed light on this.
Cheers,
Kate
This is a new topic for general distribution. Do we have any MacFarlane readers out there in Clanland who have familiy connections with the Isle of Lewis and Canada. We are looking for information concerning one Alexander McFarlane, who surfaced in Nova Scotia around 1800, Canada and who married a Jessie McKay, whose forebears were from around Aberdeen. This marraige resulted in some 500 descendants — possibly some in Australia.Yet Alexander’s origins — belived to be Isle of Lewis — are still a mystery. Can anybody assist with this?
Regards…Malcolm.
Hello Belinda
Nice to hear from you. You ask about the surname Weaver and its possible connection with Clan MacFarlane.Weaver is an anglicized version of the Scots ‘Wabster’ or ‘Webster’ all of which relate to the occupation of weaver of cloth.Until the late nineteenth century almost every district in Scotland had many weaver/websters who worked from their homes (a cottage industry), but with the coming of the Industrial Revolution most of the weaving was concentrated in large mills centered in large towns and cities, which even-tually caused the gradual demise of the small cottage looms.
Thus, it is safe to say that in the early period of the cottage industry, there would almost certainly be people named Weaver/Webster in all the clan lands of the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland (and England).
In the Gaelic-speaking Highlands the word appears as ‘figheadair’ (weaver)
which, in turn, appears as ‘Mac-an-fhigheadair’ (son of the weaver), which again is corrupted in translation to English as ‘MacNider’ (or variations thereof).
So, really, Belinda, since the heartlands of Clan MacFarlane are historically in the old earldom of Lennox (county of Dunbarton, and parts of the counties of Stirling, Perth and Renfrew) only those of the name Weaver/Webster and MacNider would likely be attached to MacFarlane. If, by chance you trace your Weavers to th areas here mentioned then you are a step nearer.
In any event, since Weaver IS listed as a MacFarlane sept name, then we would be pleased to accept you as a member of Clan MacFarlane Society Australia, Inc. Meanwhile, I hope the foregoing is of help to you, and if you think we can assist further – well you know where we are.
Good luck with your research,
Malcolm.
Hi Malcom,
I am investigating my families history and talking with a few people in Scotland I learned that the last name Weaver is linked to the Mac Farlane clan.Do you have any documents indicating the connections? I am only at the beginning of my journey and can trace back a few generations, so any guidance would be great.
Thanks,
Belinda
Hi Kate,
If we come across yer auld darlin’ Annie McTavish during our research, we shall keep you in mind!
Malcolm
I’ve been searching for my hard-to-trace great grandmother Annie McTavish for 30 years and I’ll be delighted if she’s a descendant of the MacFarlanes – even if via the wrong side of the blanket.I’m amazed MacFarlanes were among the earliest pastoral pioneers in three states.
I’ll look forward to reading about Duncan in September.
Kate
Thanks, Kate:
It was good of you to take the time to respond.New information is always most welcome.We shall add your comments to our archives.
Again, many, many thanks,
Malcolm.
Hi Malcolm, Just found your interesting article on the MacFarlanes of Gippsland and the reference to Malcolm’s sister Margery.Margery married Peter MacFarlane (son of Robert MacF but not sure of Ptr&Margery’s connection) on 22.5.1841 at Buchanan, Stirlingshire and they arrived at Pt Phillip Bay on 2/10/1841 on the Thomas Arbuthnot from Greenock.They had a son Robert in 1843 at Portland.
They settled up near the Murray-Darling border near Wentworth, taking on the Mallee Cliffs Station that their son Robert also later ran.
Peter died at Wentworth in 1869 and is buried there along with Margery’s illegitimate son, Peter McTavish (b 10.4.1839 Buchanan, Stirlingshire).Peter was raised in Scotland by Margery’s parents John MacF and Violet Thomson but came to Australia with another relative Thomas McPherson in 1857 and lived with his mother Margery at Mallee Cliffs until he was drowned on 24/1/1865 near Wentworth.
Peter MacFarlane, Peter McTavish and Archibald McIntosh (of Broadlands, Gippsland d 1876, aged 30) are all buried in a fenced grave at Wentworth.
My interest/connection is with Peter McTavish.I’m descended from an Annie McTavish, b 1860 at Mallee Cliffs, Murray Cliffs, Murray River NSW – she may be the illegitimate daughter of Peter McTavish and a Janet Simpson, a servant at Polia station on the Darling River.
Cheers,
Kate