The eighth Government chartered immigrant ship to sail from a Highland port in Scotland was the barque, British King. Her predecessors were the William Nicol, Midlothian, Brilliant, St. George, Boyne, James Moran and Lady McNaughton. The British King's registered tonnage was 673 tons; and her burthern upwards of 1000 tons. She had a regular frigate deck, from stem to stern, of 124ft., with a ceiling of 81/2ft., width 28 1/2 ft, with a double tier of berths for 256 passengers, besides children.
In addition, the male and female hospitals each contained nine berths and were situated immediately beneath the surgeon's cabin. The surgeon thus had access at all hours to his patients from his own room by a hatchway, through which a wind sail could be put to the top of the poop; a matter of the greatest importance to the sick. Each adult was provided with a clothes bag, a bed and blankets, a knife, fork and spoon. The dining tables were affixed amidships and no chest was allowed to be taken to the hold.
There was a wide promenade around the whole of the ship, which was rendered airy and agreeable by the provision of air ports on each side. According to the standard of accommodation for ships of those days, that of the British King was comfortable. The general outfitting was carried out probably at Greenock, under the supervision of Lieutenant Hermans, the Government Agent for the ship, whilst Mr Andrew Crawford, joiner, fitted up in a superior manner the sleeping and dining accommodation. Sufficient stores were taken aboard for a trip to last some five or six months. These consisted mainly of arrowroot, biscuits, flour, meat, molasses, oatmeal, pork, port wine, sago, soap, vegetables, vinegar, water and medical supplies etc.
From the Clyde River she sailed under the command of Captain William Paton, with a crew of four officers and 30 marines, to the port of Tobermory, "The Well of Mary", so called from a spring of local celebrity, Isle of Mull. Up to the time of her departure she was the largest ship that had ever sailed from the Clyde for Australia, but what a contrast she presents to the present day steamers! She was comparatively a very small ship, but her name will long be commemorated with this trip.
"FOGRADH NAN GAIDHEAL"
'Thainig soitheach 'g an iarraidh,
'S dn' fheum iad triall air an anradh
'G an giulan thar fairge
Do gharbhlaich gun fhardaich.'
At Tobermory the migrants embarked under the superintendence of Surgeon Alexander Arbuckle, 128 adults and 204 children, a total of 332 passengers, belonging to the Caird (1), Cameron (17), Campbell (29), Fletcher (11), Henderson (5), Frazer (15), Keay (3), McArthur (1), McCallum (13), McDonald (146), McDougall (2), McEachern (13), McFadeyn (2), McFarlane (14), McKellar (1), McKillop (7), McKinnon (5), McLean (16), McCormick (7), McPherson (11), McNaughton (1), McNeil (1), Nicholson (1), Pender (7), Pierson (1) and Shaw (1) clans.
The majority of them were natives of Argyllshire - the Islands of Coll, Gometra, Tyree and Ulva and the district of Ardnamurchan. The remainder were from Invernessshire - Isle of Skye and Moidard; Dumbartonshire - Kilpatrick; Morayshire - Elgin and aberdeenshire. With her full complement of passengers aboard, the British King weighed anchor ont October 28, 1838, and set sail on her long voyage of 13000 miles direct for "down under." That day her Gaelic speaking migrants bid adieu, probably for the last time, to their heathered hills and glens, and braved the storms and perils of the, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Many of them, especially those from the Isles, had lived on the level of the sea. The menfolk were mostly farmer-sailors equal1y at home in the furrow of the land or in the furrow of the sea.
Although a copy of the regulations observed aboard ship is not available, probably they were similar to those of the Asia, from Cromarty, in which the Phemister family, descendants of whom reside at Copmanhurst, arrived at Sydney on May 10, 1839. These, in the main were:
1. Out of bed at seven.
2. Beds to be rolled up and in fine weather carried on deck.
3. Breakfast at eight.
4. Clean decks at ten.
5. Dine at one.
6. Tea at six.
7. Four constables to be appointed.
8. A certain number of men to be on watch at night. One lantern to be kept burning at each hatchway.
9. Everybody under 15 years to be on m deck at 10 a.m., weather permitting, to be inspected by the surgeon or teachers and seen to be clean. After inspection, school.
10. On every Sabbath, the people to assemble for Divine service.
11. Washing days every Monday and Thursday. When not fine, others to be substituted as the surgeon may direct.
12. No washing on any account to be suffered between decks, and no drying g of wet clothes there.
13. No spirits to be allowed.
14. When wine in issue, the surgeon enjoined to refuse same to any person neglecting or obstructing these regulations, and in the case of gross misconduct or violence same to be reported to the Governor on arrival.
15. The constables and teachers to be exempted from cleaning the decks.
16. Passengers to bear in mind that on arrival in the colony their conduct during the voyage will be known, and that. therefore, not only is it essential to their health and perhaps their safety to attend to the rules agreed to for their wellbeing on the passage, but that individuals who thwart them may feel the consequences seriously in their prospects afterwards.
The fair breeze blew,
The white foam flew,
And after a lengthy and tedious passage of 123 days, without calling at any intermediate port, the good ship, British King, on February 28, 1839, entered the safe and beautiful haven of Port Jackson.
Dr. John Dobie, health officer and formerly of the Royal Navy, whose name is perpetuated in the name of a street in Grafton, and is also linked with the early history of the Clarence River, conducted the medical examination of the passengers. All except two were found to be quite healthy. Dr Dobie granted pratique and the British King dropped anchor in Neutral Bay. During the passage seven minors died and six babies first saw the light of day.
On arrival, Surgeon Superintendent Arbuckle reported that Divine service was kept every Sabbath since leaving Tobermory-240 Protestants and 88 Roman Catholics attended. School was also established. Thirty-five scholars attended regularly, all of whom made great progress. One of the teachers was Mr. John McFarlane, father of Mr Duncan McFarlane, well-known on the Clarence.
For the preservation of the health of the passengers. they were made to appear on deck whenever the weather, permitted and the greatest attention was always paid to cleanliness. Dancing and other amusements were encouraged to prevent idleness and to preserve contentment and, cheerfulness among the passengers.
Probably Duncan McDonald, a native I the Isle of Tyree, who was recorded on the passenger list as a farmer and piper provided the bagpipe music for Highland dances.
Whilst at sea, the British King exchanged colours with the Cassandra, bound for Bombay, on December 5; with the North Britain, from Sydney to Batavia, on February 18; and she also spoke in Bass Strait, on February 25, a brig, supposed to be the Black Joke from Launceston, to South Australia.
The British King was hauled into Sydney Cove, where she landed her migrants on March 4 and commenced discharging her cargo of soap, vinegar, whisky, ale, wine geneva, bottles and handspikes, and stores.
The immigrants were domiciled at the Immigration Building, Bent street, until they met with, engagements. These Highlanders, and those who had landed before them, being hardy and frugal in their habits, and in general of strict integrity and virtue, were eagerly sought after as employees by the colonists, The majority of them were farmers and shepherds. One was a qualified surgeon-Duncan McDonald, native of Mull.
In "The Australian" newspaper of March 23, 1839, the following letter of appreciation was. published:-
"To the Editor of 'The Australian":-
Sir, requested by my fellow passengers to communicate through the medium of your valuable journal to the local Government and the public generally, the high estimation in which Superintendent Arbuckle, Captain Paton and other officers of the British King are deservedly held by the whole of the passengers.
"I feel much pleasure in complying, with such a creditable proposal.
"It is admitted by all the gentlemen who have been on board that they never witnessed an immigrant ship enter the harbour of Port Jackson in superior condition as to general cleanliness and the consequent good health of its inmates than the British King, and certainly none her equal, who made the passage without calling at any intermediate ports.
"The expenses generally incurred at the Cape of Good Hope have been avoided and the health of the passengers preserved unimpaired.
"We are indebted under the guidance of Providence, for such a happy issue to our voyage, to the close and unremitting attention, conjoined with the superior intelligence and experience, of Dr Arbuckle and Captain Paton. These gentlemen are so affable in their manners that to obey their commands was a pleasure, and their natural dispositions are so benevolent as to render their orders easy and agreeable. The former's kindness and assiduity will never be obliterated from the hearts of those who emigrated from their native land under his charge, and if ever any of them should return thither they will consider themselves more than fortunate by taking their passage under the command of a gentleman equally qualified with the latter.
"Our thanks are likewise due to the first and second officers, who invariably treated us with affability and kindness. The common sailors participated in a high degree in these benevolent feelings so prevalent among our seafaring countrymen, and our wives in particular are very grateful for their assiduous attention to the children.
"I am your obedient servant,
"An immigrant of the British King."
In scanning over the passenger list, the Highland custom of referring to the married women by their Christian and maiden surnames is conspicuous. Another custom, in some instances, was that of giving to two children in the same family, each an identical Christian name. Two such cases were aboard the British King - John McEachern, "Long John" and "Little John"; Angus McDonald, "Angus First" and "Angus Second". one Christian name only.
All the immigrants on this ship bore one Christian name only.
There were 146 persons with the surname McDonald, or 44 percent of the total passengers Of these members belonging to the great clan McDonald with the same Christian name, there were 14 Donalds, 13 Johns, 11 Annes: 11 Marys, 9 Alexanders, 9 Margarets, 8 Anguses, 8 Catherines, 8 Floras, 5 Duncans, 4 Hughs, 4 Ronalds, 4 Marions, 4 Janets, 3 Christmas, 3 Isabellas, etc.
During the time they were travelling on ship there must have been consider able difficulty in differentiating those with identical Christian and surnames. The custom adopted by the Gael in overcoming this was to add to the Christian name an adjective, descriptive of some feature peculiar to the person physical or otherwise. Some years ago there resided on the Manning River two Highlanders with similar names. To distinguish one from the other, one was called "Eachainn Ruaidh"-"Red Hector,' and the other "Eachainn Dubh"-Black Hector.
A number of the names of passengers who arrived by the British King rank as worthy agricultural pioneers of the Clarence and Manning River valleys and elsewhere. In these parts many of their descendants still reside. Those who reap to-day the fruit of the labors and struggles of their early, hardy and courageous forbears of this fair land, do well to honor and keep alive the names and memories of their worthy progenitors so as to justify the possessions inherited, which have become theirs by reason of the many sacrifices made by their ancestors. Probably some will find it of considerable interest to go over the names shown in the following list and trace their ancestry from among these good and pious Highlanders, who arrived in the British King one hundred years ago;-
Duncan McDonald, aged 39 years.- Mary, 32 years (daughter of John McDonald and Christina McDonald, his wife, Mull); Anne, 8; John, 6; Christina, 5; Flora, 3; William (born on British King, October 25, 1838). This family remained in sick quarters and later proceded to Port Phillip.
John McDonald, aged 40 years.- Flora, 35 (daughter of Mrs. Mary McDonald, Isle of Ulva). Anne, 13; Mary, 11; Margaret, 7; John, 6; Angus, 4; Lachlan, 1; Kate (born New South Wales).
Lachlan McDonald, aged 29 years, bachelor.
Donald, aged 27, bachelor.
Janet McDonald, aged 30 years.
Anne, aged 21 years.
The abovenamed were all born in the Isle of Mull, with the exception of Mrs. Flora McDonald, who was a native of the Isle of Ulva. The parents' names of the husbands, Duncan and John, spinsters, Janet and Anne, and the bachelors, Lachlan and Donald, were John McDonald and his wife, Anne McGilvary, Isle of Mull.
John McDonald's family resided on the Williams River until about the end of the year 1860. At the Crown land sale; held at Grafton on February 26 1861, Mr. McDonald purchased three portions of land, each 50, .54 and 44 acres, of standing brush at Lower Southgate. These were surveyed by M. S. Finley, L.S, on August 21, 1860. They fronted the Clarence River and portion of them was situated opposite Heliman Island, 'This holding was known as "Wahgungary". John senior, and his wife Flora, died there.
John Junior married one of his British King playmates, Catherine McLean, to whom reference is made later. The Reverend A.M.Sherriff officiated at their wedding on May 15, 1860 at "Drimnin", Clarencetown. This coule also resided at "Wahgungary" until about the beginning of this century.when they moved to Queensland This couple had four daughters. Their father died at Mount Morgan and their mother at Tolga. His sisters, Margaret and Kate, also died in Queensland. Lachjlan, his brother died at Woodford Dale, and Angus, who married Miss Pringle, died at the Burdekin River. Lachlan was engaged by Hannibal Hawkins McArhur, Parramatta. On 1 November 1842, he married Anne McDermid, who arrived in Sydney by the George Fife on 23 January, 1840. After their marriage they resided on the Hunter River at Tickerebenne until 1843; Old Station, near Hinton, 1845; Miller's Hill, Northern Road, 1847; "Mount Pleasant", William River, 1851; "Stewartfield", 1855.
On July 27, 1855, they, along with their six children, arrived at Yaypo brush, opposite Wingham, to carve out a home on their then recently purchased 31 acres of standing brush and forest timbers fronting the Manning River. Their family consisted of five daughters and six sons. The property was named "Longview". Lachlan died there on November 23, 1892. Donald, the other bachelor brother, was also given employment by H.H.McArthur of Parramatta. Afterwards he accompanied his brother Lachlan to the Hunter River where, on January 26, 1856, he married Elizabeth McDonald.
At the Crown land sale, Grafton, Mr. McDonald bought, on August 13, 1862, 14 acres, 1 rood, of thickly covered brush-land on Carr's Island, with a frontage to the Clarence River, which vas measured by Surveyor W. A. B Greaves, on May 30, 1862. They had a family of two daughters and two sons. A son still resides on and owns the original farm. The father died at Carr's Island during February, 1879.
Janet resided for some time with her brother-in-law. John McFarlane, Carr's Peninsula. She afterwards removed to the residence of her brother, Lachlan, "Longview", Wingham, where she died.
Anne married Alexander Wright on June 2, 1841. They had no family.During her widowhood she was matron at the King's School, Parramatta. She died on January 15, 1869. A tombstone, erected to her memory by the scholars and others of that schooi, marks her last resting place in the Presbyterian section, Rookwood cemetery.
Duncan McFarlane, aged 47 years, widower for 15 years - John, 23; Sally, 21; Anne, 20; Grace, 17; Duncan, 16; George, 15.
The names of the parents of the above named widower and his brother John, referred to hereunder were John McFarlane and Anne Colquhoun, his wife, of Mull. All the immigrant members of these two families were natives of the Isle of Mull.
Duncan's family first secured employment at Major Lockyer's, Ermington. Later they proceeded to and settled at the Mullion, Yass district, Murrumbidgee Rjver. After several years' sojourn, the head of the family died there.
John, who resided with his father at the Mullion for a time, accepted service under the Denominational School Board and subsequently transferred to the National Board of Education. He taught at Moruya, Iona (Hunter River district), Brookfield and Mulconda, near Dungog.
A survey plan of 35 allotments of Crown land, fronting or near to the Clarence River and on each bank at the confluence of Swan Creek , in the parishes of Ulmarra and Clarenza, prepared by Licensed Surveyor Greaves, in 1857, shows that John McFarlane purchased one of the river frontages, containing 58 acres. All the blocks were sold at Grafton on March 30, 1858.
The plan shows the two following endorsements by the surveyor: "App1ied for to purchase by numerous settlers on the Hunter" and "The farms are very rich and are suitable for agriculture."
In 1861, John McFarlane went to and became a pioneer of the Ulmarra district, where he resided until his decease in 1886. In 1848 he married Mary Stuart, who was born in Ardnarnurchan, Argyllshire, and arrived by the George Fyfe, 1840.
The issue to this union was Duncan, a nonagenarian, who at one time was Mayor of Grafton for five terms a well known pioneer of the Clarence, historian and veteran journalist, now residing Haberfield. In 1886 he married Matilda Bondfteld, a native of Grafton.
Marion wedded the Reverend Allan McDougall. She died in Sydney during 1932.
John resided for years on the Clarence, and afterwards entered business Sydney. For 27 years he represented the Clarence electorate in the Legislative Assembly. He died at Sydney during 1916.
Mary married Dugald Henderson, and resided on the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed Rivers. She died in Sydney.
George resided on the Clarence for 60 years. After farming experience he engaged in storekeeping at Ulmarra. He married Mary Ann McIntosh, of that town, and resides at Strathfield.
Grace married A. Smart, at Grafton. For several years she resided in Sydney, where she died during 1914.
Alexander pursued the culture of sugar cane on. the Lower Clarence for several years. Then he entered the Customs Department, Sydney. His wife's maiden name was Jessie McPherson. During 1914 Alexander died in Sydney.
Cyrus entered journalism as a profession and served on country presses, then on dailies at Perth, Hobart and Brisbane. He married Miss Stafford Smith. of Adelaide. Cyrus died in Brisbane during 1930. leaving no descendants.
Duncan, the immigrant son, remained in Yass district as a farmer till his wife died about the year 1876. Later, he married Grace McGregor, and they afterwards moved to Glen Innes.
George remained permanently at the Mullion. He married Susan Potter, reared a large family and died at the age of 82 years. Numbers of his descendants still reside there.
Marion married a Mr. Ledger in the Yass district, where she lived and died. She reared a large family, and several of her descendants still live in that locality.
Grace married John McDonald and not long afterwards left Yass district for Gippsland, Victoria.
John McFarlane, aged 37 years - Marion (Sarah), 32 (daughter of John McDonald and Anne McGilvray, his wife, Mull); Margaret, 13; Anne, 11; Archibald, 7; John, 5; Duncan, 3.
Hannibal, Mary and Maria, born New South Wales.
On arrival at Sydney this family was engaged by Hannibal Hawkins McArthur, Parramatta, where they stayed for a year or so before proceeding to Hinton, Paterson River. Here they rented a farm until 1857. At the Crown land sale held at Grafton September 30, 1858, John McFarlane purchased 61 acres of primeval brush land on Carr's Peninsula, with frontages to the Clarence River and Carr's Creek. The block was surveyed by W.A.B. Greaves, on March 18, 1858. This family is recognized as one of the agricultural pioneering families of the Clarence district. The paternal head of the family died on his property and his wife passed away at the residence of her son, Woodford Dale.
Margaret, their eldest child, married Duncan McDermid, a native of Ardnamurchan, who arrived by the George Fife 1840. The marriage ceremony was performed at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Sydney, by the Reverend Dr. John McGarvie, M.A., on June 26, 1848. For six years they followed farming pursuits at Mount Pleasant, Williams River.
On February 1,1854, at the Port Macquarie Crown land sale, Duncan McDermid purchased three blocks of land, separated from each other, with frontages to the Manning River, containing each 31, 45 and 55 acres of virgin brush and forest land at Yaypo brush, opposite Wingham. On the 45 acres he erected his house. On the Williams and Manning Rivers, seven daughters and five sons were born to them.
After 63 years residence at Mount Pleasant, situated at what is now called The Bight, Margaret McDermid, then a nonagenarian, passed to her eternal rest on July 12, 1917. The parental farm is owned and occupied by a son.
Anne married Hugh McDonald, who arrived at Sydney in the Brilliant on January 20, 1838, on the Hunter River during February, 1849. On January 14, 1857, he purchased at Grafton Crown land sale two adjoining allotments of 'dense cedar brush composed of black alluvial soil of most fertile description," and with frontages to the Clarence River, containing 61 and 64 acres at Great Marlow. They formed part of several blocks surveyed by Mr. Greaves in 1856. This property he called "Dunfield." In 1857 the family moved from the Maitland district and settled on this brush land. May 29 of the same year at the Crown land sale, Grafton, he bought two further.blocks of 51 and 49 acres 2 roods, which were surveyed at the same time and adjoined the original purchase on the back line.
Their Issue was nine daughters and two sons, of whom four daughters reside in Grafton.
Anne, their mother, passed away on November 18, 1876.
Archibald first purchased at the Crown land sale Port Macquarie, on November 2, 1855, a block of 80 acres of land, fronting the right bank of Dingo Creek, about a mile or so from its confluence with the Manning River. It was surveyed by John Hall on August 2, 1855. Archibald then secured at the Crown land sale, Grafton, on August 29, 1859, 37 acres fronting Carr's Creek, which was surveyed on January 12, 1858, by Mr. Greaves. His next purchase was 55 acres of brush lurid fronting the Clarence River, Lower Southgate, on which were situated Chowne's sawplts. This block was sold at the Crown land sale, Grafton, on February 26, 1861. It adjoined and was surveyed at the same time as John McDonald's aforenamed three purchases.
Here he settled permanently. A year or so later, Archibald purchased two further blocks, each containing 54 and 56 acres, 2 roods. These were situated at the rear of his 55 acres.
He married Flora McLachlan, a native of Kilmory, Argyllshire, a daughter of John McLachlan, a pioneer of Ulmarra, who arrived in the General Hewitt on November 13, 1848. On March 8, 1905, Archibald died on the old homestead, leaving a family of four sons settled on the Clarence. A girl died in infancy. Two sons still occupy the farm.
John purchased two portions of 41 and 42 acres of brush land fronting the Clarence River, with "swamp, mahogany and tea-tree" on the back portion at Woodford Dale. These were surveyed by P. R. Donaldson, L.S., in 1861, and were sold at the Crown land sale, Grafton, on September 4, 1861. John married Hannah Munro, formerly of the Paterson River. He died on his farm during 1911, and left a grown-up family of three daughters and one son, who retains the original property.
Duncan, the youngest immigrant son wedded Catherine, daughter of Alexander (familiarly known as "King") McAulay, of Carr's Creek. The marriage ceremony was performed on January 15, 1863, by Reverend James Collins at "Tyrone Villa," Grafton. They had nine daughters and four sons born to them. For many years Duncan owned and occupied the farm of 37 acres, originally purchased by his brother, Archibald, at Carr's Creek, where he died on February 8, 1910.
Hannibal, their oldest Australian born child, was born on June 3, 1839, at the "Vineyard," Parramatta, and was baptised by Reverend James Allen on July 4, 1839. He was honored with a Christian name of the family's first employer in Australia. His wife was Jessie Cameron, a daughter of a pioneer family, Ulmarra. In the early period of the sugar industry he became one of the pioneer cane planters on the Serpentine Creek, Chatsworth Island. They had a family of two daughters and five sons. Their father died at Sydney on February 2, 1917.
Mary, who was born at Parramatta on June 6, 1842, was baptised on June 12, 1843, by Reverend John Tait, married Hugh McLachlan, son of .John McLachlan, Ulmarra. The marriage took place at Carr's Peninsula on August 26 1863, and the Reverend Allan McIntyre officiated. Hugh's farm, "Laurel Bank," Great Marlow, was originally purchased from the Crown by Richard Bligh. It was surveyed and sold at the same time as "Dunfield," which was contiguous to it. By the union there were eight daughters and four sons, most of whom reside on the original holding. Their mother passed away on March 23, 1915.
Maria, the youngest daughter of the immigrant couple, was born near Hinton during 1847. Her Christian name was derived from Mrs. H. H. McArthur, Parramatta. Maria married Duncan Robertson, at Carr's Peninsula, on November 1, 1866. They resided on the South Arm, Clarence River, where he erected a sugar mill. Afterwards they shifted to the Brunswick River and then to Emu Plains. Their family consisted of five daughters and three sons. Their mother died at Willoughby on November 11, 1922.
John McLean, aged 40 years, - Mary, 37, daughter of Robert Kay and Catherine Mclnnes his wife, Argyllshire; Margaret, 17; Robert, 15; Hector, 12; John, 6; Catherine, 3; Archibald, 11/2.
The paternal heads of this and the following family were both sons of Hector McLean and Euphemia McPhee, his wife. All the members of the two families were natives od "Drimnin", Argyllshire, with the exception of the two wives and the youngest son, who were born at sea.
John McLean first secured a position with Messrs. Lang and Trappist, Bathurst. Shortly afterwards the family retraced their steps and settled at "Drimnin", Williams River, near Clarencetown. At the Crown land sale, Dungog, June 16, 1852, John McLean senior, purchased three allotments, each 109, 68 and 61 acres, of brush land on Oxley Island, fronting the South Channel, Manning River. These were surveyed on March 23, 1852 by Henry Carmichael, M.A., licensed surveyor, Porphyry Point, Williams river. The three blocks were each occupied by and transferred to his sons, Robert, Hector and Archibald. They were named Torwood, Copabella and Ferndale, respectively.
The father died on August 26, 1865, and the mother on October 26, 1845. Their remains, together with those of their eldest daughter, Margaret, who died when about 20 years old, were interred at the family holding, "Drimnin".
Robert married Sarah Cameron, daughter of Archibald Cameron, Redbank, Manning River. They had four daughters and five sons.
The death of their father eventuated on August 3, 1897, and his remains were interred in the cemetery, Redbank.
Hector married Isabella Lobban, "Parkhaugh", Wingham, who was born on the Paterson River, July 9, 1839. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Allan McIntyre, on December 25, 1862. Four daughters and three sons were born to them. When 90 years old, Hector died at his eldest daughter's residence, Drummoyne, September 21, 1919. His wife died at Copabella, June 6, 1879.
John, a bachelor, died at Oxley Island on July 12, 1879, and his remains were buried in the Redbank cemetery.
Catherine wedded John McDonald at "Drimnin", on March 15, 1860. She died at Tolga, North Queensland.
Archibald married Janet Lobban, "Parkhaugh", Wingham. The officiating clergyman was Rev Allan McIntyre. Archibald died at Annandale August 27, 1910, and the funeral took place at the Presbyterian section, Rookwood cemetery. Four daughters were born to them.
Donald McLean, aged 37 years - May 28; Donald, 4; Jessie, 2 1/2.
Baby boy born on British King, December 1, 1838.
Soon after landing, this family proceeded to the Port Phillip district.
John Pender, his wife, Mary, their children, William, Mary, Eliza, Breadalbane and Betsy, all natives of the Isle of Mull, also accompanied the aforenamed families from Tobermory. A number of their descendants reside in Maitland.A BRITISH KING COMMEMORATION
To mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Sydney of their immigrant forebears in the British King, Mr and Mrs Hugh McEachern, with their seven sons and four daughters, it is noteworthy that many members of the various branches of this family from widely separated districts of New South Wales and Victoria, assembled for the McEachern family centenary gathering at Casterton, March 1, 1939.
The friendship established between some members of the McDonald, McFarlane and McLean families on the voyage out remained intact until severed by death. In the Yaypo cemetery, Wingham, lie, within a few yard of each other, the mortal remains of Janet McDonald, Margaret McFarlane (McDermid) and Hector McLean, whilst Mr and Mrs John McFarlane and their daughters and sons, Anne (McDonald), Mary (McLachlan), Archibald, John and Duncan, together with Donald McDonald, take their long last sleep in the Grafton cemetery.
"To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die."
The undernamed would welcome any information relating to Highlanders who arrived in Sydney during the years 1837-1840 and on the Ontario, 1852.
G. DENNES,
School of Public Health,
University Post Office, Sydney.
Copyright © 2003 Ian Scott
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