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John Donald Macfarlane, of Hawkswood

John Donald Macfarlane, of Hawkswood

Male 1851 - 1921  (70 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  John Donald Macfarlane, of Hawkswood was born in 1851 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand (son of John Macfarlane, of Coldstream, New Zealand and Catherine Cameron); died on 16 Dec 1921 in Hawkswood, Waiau, Canterbury, New Zealand..

    Notes:

    1 - JOHN DONALD MACFARLANE, of Hawkswood, Waiau, Canterbury, New Zealand, b. 24th March, 1851 ; m. 9th June, 1880, Margaret Hart GIBSON, and has issue,
    I. JOHN FREDERICK, b. 31st August, 1884.
    II. Hugh Miller, b. 28th November, 1885.
    III. Douglass Graham, b. 5th March, 1887.
    I . Florence Agnes.
    p680BURKE'S COLONIAL GENTRY.

    2 - The original Hawkswood Station of around 40,000 acres was acquired by John Caverhill in 1859. Another Scottish settler, John Macfarlane, purchased the property from Caverhill in 1872 and it has been farmed by the Macfarlane family ever since. John Donald Macfarlane inherited Hawkswood, which was one of six large farms in the South Island purchased by John Macfarlane Sr. Earlier purchases included Coldstream (Rangiora), Kaiwara (Waiau), Achray (Culverden), and Lyndon (Waiau).
    Hawkswood has always been a place for travellers to stop and rest. Back in the 1800s, the trip between Christchurch and Nelson took around three days, crossing rivers and negotiating various terrains and seasonal weather variations from drought to flood to snow. Hawkswood was in a position to offer shelter and rest for horses (whose life expectancy in those days was around 5 years!).
    Hawskwood has been reduced in size over the years but is still owned by the Macfarlane family.
    [ http://www.stagingpost.co.nz/history.html ]

    3 - "Killed" by Act of Parliament.
    Unique in the history of legislation.
    They "killed" Amuri sheepfarmer John Donald Macfarlane in November 1918.
    But it was only a paper slaying the New Zealand legislature performed that month.
    Macfarlane was to survive his legal death by many years.
    The private Act by which Macfarlane "died" was intended to ease the administration of his 8100 hectare sheep station, Hawkswood, while he was a patient in a mental hospital.
    One of the lawyers involved in the affair was later to describe the Act as unique in the history of legislation. He was O.T.J. Alpers, later Mr Justice Alpers, who refers to it in his 1928 book "Cheerful Yesterdays".
    "I do not think the legislature of any country in the world except New Zealand has ever killed a man by Act of Parliament, and solemnly enacted that the said AB (Alpers used initials instead of Macfarlane's name in his book) "shall be deemed to have died on the date of this Act coming into operation."
    The Act was passed at a time when it was considered for Macfarlane there was " no prospect or reasonable hope of his recovery of mental health and power."
    But he did eventually recover.
    Alpers was in practice as a lawyer in Christchurch at the time of the affair, noted that Macfarlane recovered not merely his reason but his shrewd common sense.
    After his return home the provisions of the Act were explained to him.
    ...... he thought the scheme eminently sensible and it never seemed to him to disturb it."
    Alpers came into the matter when the Bill which officially "killed" Macfarlane was referred to a judge of the Supreme Court to investigate the circumstances and to report to the legislature whether nor not it was a proper one to pass.
    The Public Trustee as statutory committee of lunatics in the Dominion, represented Macfarlane in the proceedings before the Court and Alpers acted as his counsel.
    Macfarlane, the son of a pioneer who was in Canterbury before the arrival of the First Four ships bought the Hawkswood property in 1873.
    Married with six children, Macfarlane was in 1896 found lunatic on inquisition by the Supreme Court according to the text of the Act. From November 1902, he was an inmate of Ashburn Hall.
    His sheep station was managed by a committee, according to Alpers account.
    Burden.
    But during World War I there were difficulties obtaining labour. The property was also bearing a heavy taxation burden. Parliament was to be told later that half the income of the property was being paid in taxation.
    "It was felt that the longer the retention of so large an estate in one holding was against public interest, retarded closer settlement, and militated against the most beneficial use of the land" said Alpers in his book.
    Four of Macfarlane's children were sons, brought up to farming pursuits. If the estate were to be subdivided among them or sold in smaller blocks, it would be to the advantage of the family.
    Alpers records that"three years before Macfarlane was found lunatic-- at a time when no doubt could be thrown about his soundness of mind and testamentary capacity- he made his will.
    "A very just and sensible document," it provided for his property to be divided equally among his children after paying a large annuity to his widow.
    "The family solicitor conceived the daring and novel expedient of promoting a private Act of Parliament to authorise the Supreme Court to grant the administration of his estate on the assumption that he died on the date of the coming into operation of the Act.
    Alpers said that in the court proceedings, inquiring into the Bill he had no difficulty in satisfying himself that the Bill was a perfectly just and sensible measure, provided that an adequate sum was set aside for Macfarlane's maintenance until his natural death.
    It had been agreed to set aside ?9000 to produce an income for Macfarlane's maintenance and comfort. At Alpers suggestion it was also agreed to provide him with a good motor car for drives and outings in the country.
    Medical witnesses gave evidence that though Macfarlane's physical health was robust, his mental condition was rapidly deteriorating. In their opinion in no event could he ever recover or even improve.
    "In these circumstances, I took the responsibility, on behalf of the insane man, of approving the Bill, which would have the effect of treating him as dead in contemplation of the law, and would accelerate perhaps by many years the distribution of his property", said Alpers.
    Place.
    As well as deciding the time of Macfarlane's legal "death" the Bill also determined the place. Although the mental hospital was in the Otago judicial district, the Bill deemed him to have died, and to have been domiciled at the time of his death in the Canterbury district. "Moreover, and this was highly important, for all purposes of administration, all children of Macfarlane were deemed to be living at the date of this Act, and to have survived their father." The Bill also contained a clause for keeping up the payment of premiums on Macfarlane's life insurance policies so that these should not lapse in the interval between his civil and natural deaths. Alpers had grave doubts whether or not the Bill would pass through Parliament. However, it did.
    As it was being processed the Legislative Council was told the measure was thought advisable not only from the point of view of the family, but also from the point of view of the Dominion as a whole. It was recognised as being of an exceptional nature.
    Oliver Samuel from Taranaki, told the council there was nothing to indicate other than a proper relationship between Macfarlane and his wife and children.
    "They would seem to be actuated by the most proper and natural feelings of affection and the best motives in every respect," he said.
    Shrank.
    He noted that one daughter had not petitioned for the Bill, but neither had she opposed the petition.
    "She apparently, perhaps not unnaturally, shrank from asking that her father should be deemed to be dead, even though the effect would only extend to his property and carry out his wishes.
    "But at the same time, she submitted to whatever might be the judgment of Parliament."
    At the time the country was in the grip of the great influenza epidemic and this at one stage led to the suspension of standing order requiring specific periods of time to elapse between stages of Bills passing through the House of Representative.
    Alexander Scott Malcolm (Clutha) told the House that all the beneficiaries under Macfarlane's will were still alive. But if any one of them died it would considerably embarrass the administration of the will.
    The John Donald Macfarlane Estate Administration Empowering Act was passed, dated November, 1918.
    .
    (John Donald Macfarlane returned to Hawkswood, where he died in 1921).
    From The Christchurch Star. 4th August 1979

    3 - Registration Number-1921/7288 MacFarlane, John Donald Age at Death-71Y
    [NZ Govt. BDM website database-death entry]

    John married Margaret Hart Gibson on 9 Jun 1880 in New Zealand. Margaret died in Sep 1931 in New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Notes:

    Married:
    #1880/1532 Bride-Margaret HartGibson
    Groom- John DonaldMacfarlane
    [NZ Govt. BDM website database-marriage entry]


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  John Macfarlane, of Coldstream, New Zealand was born on 9 Feb 1817 in Letter Farm, Port Of Menteith, Stirlingshire, Scotland; was christened on 13 Feb 1817 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland (son of Malcolm Macfarlane, in Letter, Port of Menteith and Agnes Macfarlane); died on 23 Oct 1884 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; was buried in Rangiora Presbyterian Burial Ground, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    Notes:

    1 -1841 census was living in the Granary Loft at Milling Farm or Malling as it is known today, Menteith Scotland.
    In 1877 purchased 18,000 acre property Achray at Rotherham in the Amuri County North Canterbury, which he sold to his 3rd son James.

    2 - 1841 census entry (N.B. ages over 15 were rounded down to nearest 5 years)
    Port of Menteith parish ED 3 page 1
    Address Milling No.2-Granary Loft
    Cameron John M 32 Male Servant
    McFarlane John M 25 Male.Servant
    Ritchie William M 13 Male.Servant
    McMaster Alexr M 10 Male.Servant

    3 - JOHN MACFARLANE, of Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand, b. in Perthshire, Scotland; landed in Nelson in 1842, and in 1850 proceeded to Canterbury. He was the president of the Northern Agriculltural Association for about 17 years, and took an active part. in the business of the County Council. He m. in Wellington, February, 1849, Miss CAMERON, and d. 23rd October, 1884., aged 67, leaving six sons and three daughters.
    Mr.John Macfarlane possessed large estates in the middle island of New Zealand. His widow survives.
    [ Burkes Colonial Gentry ]

    4 - Mr. John Macfarlane , one of the pioneers of settlement in New Zealand, was born in Perth, Scotland. He was brought up to sheepfarming by his father, who was a farmer and dealer. Mr. Macfarlane landed in Nelson, in 1842, and two years latr removed to Wellington. About the end of 1850, three weeks prior to the arrival of the first four ships, he came to Canterbury, and took up the Loburn run-so named by him-which he worked till 1862, when, owing to the advent of free selectors, he sold out and purchased land about three miles from Rangiora, since known as "Coldstream." Mr. Macfarlane resided on this property till his death in 1884, and took considerable interest in local affairs in Rangiora. He was married in Wellington, in 1848, to a daughter of the late Mr. Donald Cameron, who came to the colony in 1840. Mrs Macfarlane survives her husband, and is well known throughout the Rangiora district. She has six sons and three daughters and about forty grandchildren.

    [The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District] Old Colonists published 1903]

    4 - LOBURN (Run IA)
    Loburn is the spelling which has long been used for the name of this station and for the district which is named after it, but the older spelling was Lowburn, and Macfarlane, who named it, said it was undoubtedly the right one.
    Loburn lay on the north side of the Ashley and took in the downs at the back of Mt. Grey. At one time it took in most of Whiterock as well. Run lA, of about thirteen thousand acres, was taken up by John Macfarlane in September, 1851. Macfarlan
    e sold Loburn to Cunningham Brothers (Arthur and Charles, sons of Cunningham of Fernside) in 1862, and built a new homestead at Whiterock, in my note on which I have placed an account of him. John O'Halloran, afterwards of Glentui, was his head shepherd at Loburn.
    Loburn was very scrubby, and a bad place to get a clean muster, and the Cunninghams had a very bad time with scab. It was a poor run altogether, but there was some heavy land in the valleys, a good deal of which was bought in small blocks by navvies with the money they had been paid for digging the Lyttelton tunnel.
    The first brand ever registered in Canterbury was for 'Lowburn' by John Macfarlane on 14th January.
    [ The Early Canterbury Runs: Containing the First, Second and Third (new) Series by: L. G. D. Acland Publication, 1946 p71 The Plains North of the Waimakariri ]

    5 - Whiterock (Runs 127, 165, 166 and 168)
    Whiterock was bounded on the north by the south branch of the Waipara and ran to the top of The Brothers. It was bounded by Mt. Grey on the east, the Okuku River on the west, and Loburn on the south.
    Runs 165, 166 and 168 were taken up in August, 1957, by John Macfarlane. He had taken up Loburn in 1851 and worked Whiterock as part of it until he sold Loburn in 1862, when he built a homestead at Whiterock.
    A man called Young took up Run 127 (Mt. Karetu, the part of Whiterock adjoining Mt. Brown), in November, 1853, and had 1200 sheep there in 1858. He sold his run and sheep to Macfarlane about 1860. I have not been able to find out who he was or anything about him.
    John Macfarlane came out to New Zealand in the early 'forties, and soon afterwards went to the Wairarapa, but was driven out by the Maoris in 1850 and came down to Canterbury. He landed at the Heathcote from a whale boat about a fortnight before the arrival of the First Four Ships, which he saw from the top of Scarborough Hill.
    Macfarlane lived at Coldstream near Rangiora. His first manager at Whiterock was John Robinson. Robinson had been a shepherd at Esk Head and was supposed to have walked from there to Lyttelton and back to Christchurch in twenty-four hours, making only one stop-at Saltwater Creek, where he drank a pint of whisky. Owing to the scrub there, scab was very bad at Loburn and Whiterock in the 'sixties. Macfarlane was fined ?1000 on one occasion and ?1500 on another. In June, 1868, Mallock and Lance of Horsley Down claimed ?500 from him for contaminating 21,000 of their sheep, but Macfarlane got this reduced by arbitration to ?275. Robinson dipped the sheep in arsenic, and besides killing several hundred of them with it, nearly killed the shepherds as well. He left in 1869, and fell off the pier at Dunedin and was drowned. He was succeeded as manager by Alexander McLean, who stayed about five years, during which he cleared the scab. He used to dress the infected sheep with spirits of tar and tobacco, and then dip the whole flock a month later with sulphur and tobacco.
    After this time, Macfarlane used Whiterock as a wether station and took the wethers on to Coldstream where he fattened them for the Coast.
    For a time, in the 'sixties, Macfarlane let the run and sheep to his brother Malcolm (who was afterwards drowned in the Rakaia), and John Mann, but owing to scab they did no good and John Macfarlane took the run back some time before 1867, when he had 18,000 sheep there.
    In 1882 Walter Nicholls, who at that time owned Haylands, bought Whiterock from Macfarlane.
    Macfarlane's last manager was Miles Campbell, one of the compilers of the Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, who stayed on until about 1889 with Nicholls.
    [ The Early Canterbury Runs: Containing the First, Second and Third (new) Series Author: L. G. D. Acland Publication: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited, 1946 ]

    6 - Cora Lynn (Run 333)
    Cora Lynn lies on the Waimakariri and Bealey rivers, and goes back to the unoccupied country on the main range next north of Glenthorne. It was taken up by Goldney Brothers in February, 1860. They paid rent for twenty thousand acres.
    In 1867 the Goldneys sold Cora Lynn to John Macfarlane and Thomas Whillians Bruce, and went home to England. In those days Macfarlane sent many cattle to the Coast, and bought Cora Lynn as a convenient place for finishing them off before sending them over to Hokitika.
    Their head shepherd at Cora Lynn was a man named Andrew Curie.
    Macfarlane sold his interest in the station some time about 1870 to Bruce. Bruce had been Caverhill's manager at Motunau, and was known all over the province as the 'Little Angel.' Besides Cora Lynn he had Riversdale, across the Waimakariri, and the Inchbonnie estate (then known as the Paddock) on the West Coast Road beyond Arthur's Pass.
    [ The Early Canterbury Runs: Containing the First, Second and Third (new) Series Author: L. G. D. Acland Publication, 1946 ]

    7 - Macfarlane, John, sheep-farmer, Rangiora, assessesed for a properties of
    4,082 acres worth 64,080pounds in Ashley county
    88 acres worth 176pounds in Kaikoura county
    25,204 acres worth 47,816pounds in Amuri county
    57,328 acres worth 68,746pounds in Cheviot county
    Making a total of 86,702acres valued at 180,818pounds of Country Lands
    He also has a property in Rangiora valued at 250pounds, bringing his total property value in the colony to 181,068pounds at 1882 assesment.
    [ Freeholders of NZ Oct 1882 - Assesment Rolls of the Property-Tax Dept NZ ]

    8 - The original Hawkswood Station of around 40,000 acres was acquired by John Caverhill in 1859. Another Scottish settler, John Macfarlane, purchased the property from Caverhill in 1872 and it has been farmed by the Macfarlane family ever since. John Donald Macfarlane inherited Hawkswood, which was one of six large farms in the South Island purchased by John Macfarlane Sr. Earlier purchases included Coldstream (Rangiora), Kaiwara (Waiau), Achray (Culverden), and Lyndon (Waiau).
    [ http://www.stagingpost.co.nz/history.html ]

    John married Catherine Cameron in Dec 1848 in Wellington, New Zealand. Catherine (daughter of Donald Cameron, in Ormasaigmore and Christina McLean [MacLean]) was born in 1825 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland; died in 1909 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; was buried in Rangiora Presbyterian Burial Ground, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Catherine Cameron was born in 1825 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland (daughter of Donald Cameron, in Ormasaigmore and Christina McLean [MacLean]); died in 1909 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; was buried in Rangiora Presbyterian Burial Ground, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    Notes:

    1 - Catherine Cameron, with six brothers and one sister, came out to New Zealand
    with her parents Donald and Christina McLean* Cameron in the sailing ship Blenheim, landing at Kaiwarra-warra, Wellington, on Christmas Day, in 1840. They sailed from Strontian, on Loch Sunart, near Ardnamurchan, then came down the Clyde to Greenock, from whence they embarked. The children enjoyed the four months' sea-trip. On arrival, all the passengers were carried ashore by fierce-looking Maoris.
    In December, 1848, Catherine Cameron married John MacFarlane, in Wellington.
    After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom were rowed on the open sea in a whale boat by two men who lived at Te Kope, inside Palliser Bay. These men, for some reason, refused to take the young people to their destination, so John and Catherine had to walk fifteen miles over rocks and stones to their home in Palliser Bay, where John was managing Whiterock for Mr. Barton.
    Malcolm, their eldest child, was born on December 27th, 1849 at Kaiwarra-warra, Wellington. When he was some months old his parents took him to Canterbury. The reason for their going to the South Island was that the Maori Wars in the North Island were endangering life and property to an alarming extent. A couple of weeks after their arrival, the first four ships sailed into Port Lyttelton. Catherine, with others, climbed up Scarborough Hill, and saw two of these sailing ships pass near the land. All were pleased at the prospect of seeing more people.
    * The late Sir Donald McLean, who was a wonderful Maori speaker, was a clerk in the Native Department, and later became Native Minister. Sir Donald McLean was a friend, if not a relative, of Christina.

    2 - Mr. Macfarlane resided on this property till his death in 1884, and was married in Wellington, in 1848, to a daughter of the late Mr. Donald Cameron, who came to the colony in 1840. Mrs Macfarlane survives her husband, and is well known thrughout the Rangiora district. She has six sons and three daughters and about forty grandchildren.
    [ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District] - pub. 1903 Old Colonists ]

    Children:
    1. Malcolm Macfarlane, of Coldstream was born on 27 Dec 1849 in Kaiwarra-Warra, Wellington, New Zealand; died on 7 Oct 1911.
    2. 1. John Donald Macfarlane, of Hawkswood was born in 1851 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died on 16 Dec 1921 in Hawkswood, Waiau, Canterbury, New Zealand..
    3. Catherine Macfarlane was born in 1852; and died.
    4. James Macfarlane, of Achray NZ was born on 5 Oct 1853 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died on 3 Apr 1931 in Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
    5. Agnes Macfarlane was born in Oct 1854 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died in Jul 1924 in New Zealand.
    6. Walter Macfarlane, of Kaiwarra was born on 27 May 1856 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died on 8 Apr 1914 in New Zealand.
    7. Helen (Nellie) Macfarlane was born in 1857 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died about 1922.
    8. Christina Anne Macfarlane was born in Jan 1858 in Lowburn Station, Canterbury, New Zealand; died in Jan 1875 in New Zealand.
    9. David Duncan Macfarlane, of Lyndon was born in 1860 in Canterbury, New Zealand; died on 31 Mar 1914 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
    10. Frederick Grahame Macfarlane was born in 1862 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; died in 1863 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand.
    11. Alexander Macfarlane, of Achray Station was born in 1863 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; died on 31 Jan 1913 in Achray Station, Rotherham, Canterbury, New Zealand.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Malcolm Macfarlane, in Letter, Port of Menteith was born in 1786 in Tomachar, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 12 Sep 1786 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland (son of Alexander Macfarlane, in Tomacher and Agnes (or Anne) Johnstone); and died.

    Malcolm married Agnes Macfarlane on 10 Dec 1815 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland. Agnes (daughter of John Macfarlane, of Achray & Drumbuie and Helen Macfarlane) was born in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 7 May 1793 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Agnes Macfarlane was born in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 7 May 1793 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland (daughter of John Macfarlane, of Achray & Drumbuie and Helen Macfarlane); and died.

    Notes:

    Married:
    Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record.
    Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
    M113884 1697 - 1820 1040201 Film 6900677 Film

    Children:
    1. 2. John Macfarlane, of Coldstream, New Zealand was born on 9 Feb 1817 in Letter Farm, Port Of Menteith, Stirlingshire, Scotland; was christened on 13 Feb 1817 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 23 Oct 1884 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; was buried in Rangiora Presbyterian Burial Ground, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand.
    2. Helen Macfarlane was born on 21 Jan 1819; was christened on 25 Jan 1819 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    3. Agnes Macfarlane was born on 5 Mar 1823 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    4. Daniel Macfarlane was born on 2 Nov 1825 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; died in Aug 1904 in Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.
    5. Malcolm Macfarlane was born on 16 Feb 1834 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; died in Rakaia River, Canterbury, New Zealand.

  3. 6.  Donald Cameron, in Ormasaigmore was born in 1794 in Ardnamurchan, Argyllshire, Scotland (son of Samuel (of Ardnamurchan) Cameron); died in Feb 1860 in Wellington, New Zealand.

    Notes:

    'The Weaver'
    1 - Emigrated from Strontian, Loch Sunart on the vessel "Blenheim" landing at Kaiwarawara, Wellington, on Christmas Day 1840.

    2 - Blenheim Barque: 378 Tons Captain: John Grey, Surgeon Superintendent: Niel Campbell
    Sailed Clyde 5:00pm 25th August 1840 - Arrived Port Nicholson 27th December 1840
    The NZ Company knew the value of the Scot as a pioneer. The Blenheim brought out 197 people under the leadership of Laird Donald McDonald (his opinion about some of these folk is expressed in the "Comments" column below). This gentleman was a representative of the New Zealand Company and a large landholder in the colony and nearly the whole of the body of emmigrants were composed of his own and neighbouring clans, near Fort William, Invernessshire.
    Source White Wings - Sir Henry Brett

    3 - DEPARTURE OF THE SHIP BLENHEIM
    On Monday last we had the opportunity of accompanying a select party who paid a farewell visit to the ship 'Blenheim', before her departure with emigrants for the land of promise in the southern seas. The emigrating band numbered nearly 200; they were principally highlanders who are strangers to the language of the Saxon, and as Dr McLeod had kindly consented to address them in Gaelic for the last time before their departure from the shores of old Scotland, the occasion was one calculated to excite both feeling and interest. The 'British Queen' steamer sailed from the Broomielaw at 11 o'clock, with the New Zealand flag flying from her mast head, and both there and at Renfrew wharf, passengers for the remote home of Port Nicholson, New Zealand, were received, and placed on board the 'Blenheim', which lay at the Tail of the Bank, shortly after one o'clock. The 'Blenheim' is a London ship, commanded by Captain Gray, and although she only reached Greenock on the Sunday week preceding, the time had been so well improved that it only required the lifting of the anchor, and the spreading of the sails, to fit her for sea. It was intended that the ship should be entirely filled with emigrants from the Highlands, but when the day of parting came, the home-sick feeling came so strongly upon them that about 40 drew back, whose places were filled up by families principally from Glasgow and Paisley. Mr Crawford, the New Zealand Secretary, only received notice of the defalcation in the Highland complement on Thursday last; but so eager and so general is the desire to settle in this infant kingdom, that in two days he was able to muster a sufficient number of reputable artisans - weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, &c, with their families - who were willing and ready to leave the land of their fathers for ever. The great majority, however, were Highlanders, and we have rarely seen a more creditable band; they were selected personally by Mr McDonald late of Druimi!
    ?_ntoran, who shows his sincerity in the cause of emigration, by proceeding at the head of his peasant friends, accompanied by his lady and family.
    (The Stirling Observer (Stirlingshire, Scotland) September 3rd 1840)

    4 - The 1840 Voyage of the Blenheim
    August 25th 1840 was a dank and drizzly day when the last of the passengers boarded the full rigged ship Blenheim at Greenock, near Glasgow. The usual state of confusion existed, even though some of the passengers had been on board for some days. At 5:00pm Blenheim slipped her moorings and was towed some 20 miles out into the the Firth of Clyde by a steamboat and at 11:00pm on a beautiful and calm night the steamboat cast off and the voyage of almost 4 months began.
    Over the following three or four days Blenheim made her way south through the Irish Sea, often against adverse head-winds, towards Lands End from where she would launch into the seemingly endless passage south towards the Cape of Good Hope. It was not known until later but, at this early stage of the journey, she was within 10 minutes of a disaster. During the night crew had mistaken Wexford light on the south eastern coast of Ireland for a passing steamboat. A question of the Captain, asking him for confirmation of any lighthouse that should be visible in the area, brought him swiftly on deck. Had this not happened the ship and the journey would have ground to a halt on a nearby sandbank.
    By September 2nd Blenheim was well into the Bay of Biscay and most of the passengers, being uncommon or new sailors, were suffering from the effects of sea-sickness. The ship was rolling and tossing a good deal but the wind had turned in her favour, pushing her along at a clipping rate. The Bay of Biscay seemed never ending and it would be another 24 hours before they could put this stormy place behind them. At 6:30pm on the following evening, Blenheim cleared Biscay and pushed out into the Atlantic proper where heat, calms, Equator, storms and 'bergs awaited them.
    The following day, September 4th much to the delight of the passengers, dawned bright, clear and calm with a favourable wind. Many ships were sighted throughout this and the next day including the Tam-O-Shanter out of Liverpool bound for Port Jackson (Sydney) with a general cargo. A long journey at sea such as those undertaken by New Zealand immigration vessels had the potential to be very boring. One can only only briefly cast an interested eye over so much sea. Passing seabirds, shoals of fish (especially the delightful little flying fish), jellyfish and floating seaweed all served to break the monotony. By far the most interesting of these "events" was the sighting of another ship, especially when these ships were "spoken" to by signals. When one ship "spoke" another, the event was recorded widely and was a means of allowing owners, traders, friends and relations to know that all was well.
    Tuesday September 8th and Blenheim was just north of the Canary Islands when the passengers experienced one of most horrific events that could occur on board a small and crowded ship in the middle of the ocean - suspected smallpox. Although the passenger concerned had been on board for almost three weeks, the symptoms had only just appeared on this day. Many on board were thus in great fear of having come into contact with him or with those whom he had been in contact. Ignorance, too, of the conditions surrounding the spread of smallpox caused as much fear such as the belief that their increase was caused, in part, by "moist humours". The patient was isolated in the hospital and "quite separated from all the others". Ultimately the illness was not to prove anything dreadful. The symptoms disappeared and the patient became well, but not before a very careful and lengthy isolation.
    Blenheim entered the tropics and the passengers began to feel distinctly uncomfortable in the hot and relatively still conditions. Solid English clothing would not have been at all suitable in these climates and one can but imagine the various states of undress behind closed cabin doors while Victorian modesty would never have allowed the removal of stays, stockings and chemises in public. Slow southern progress was made over the next 25 days with what little wind there was, and "The Line" was crossed at 2:00pm on Friday October 2nd after which Blenheim's progress improved. The Island of Trinidade off the coast of Brazil was seen and passed on October 15th and by the 18th Blenheim was out of the tropics and well on her way to the Cape of Good Hope which point she passed (300 miles south) at 12:00pm on November 12th.
    All indications are that Blenheim bent with a will towards her Easting, driven along by what Captain Gray called "a glorious breeze" and the passengers called "too high a wind for my taste". Racing across the great Southern Ocean, Blenheim was making almost 200 miles per day following almost exactly the 40th Latitude. The Captain, understandably relishing the speed that his ship could obtain, expressed the hope that they would be in New Zealand by Christmas Day. However, as if to deliberately dampen his enthusiasm, on Monday, November 30th the glass fell very low and the gloomy, morose conditions indicated that a gale was on its way.
    At 6:00pm the wind increased a great deal and throughout that night and the following day it gusted very strongly. The vessel rolled about a lot and there was a tremendous noise of sea and wind such that the passengers had never heard before. The elements continued to batter the ship until the following day (Thursday December 3rd) when the wind eased to a strong and favourable breeze. On this day Blenheim was three weeks beyond the Cape and had covered 3,800 miles, an average daily distance of 181 miles. The winds continued strong and favourable for the next three or four days driving the ship further eastward and closer to Australia and New Zealand.
    Thursday December 10th saw the first indication of land being nearby. On pumping the bilges the ships carpenter noticed sand in the water and "it was easily seen we were drawing near land when the sand was coming into the ship with the water". Four days later the southern shores of Tasmania were spotted 30 miles to the north. The passage between the Cape of Good Hope and Tasmania had been a rather speedy 32 days.
    As Blenheim approached Wellington, the weather warmed and the seas became calmer. Cannon were brought up from the hold and prepared for the firing of a salute on dropping anchor at Wellington. Their first sight of New Zealand came at 10:30am on Wednesday December 23rd and was Cape Farewell on the northern tip of the South Island. On entering Cook Strait, Blenheim became subject to the notoriously fickle winds of the area. Head winds, sudden squalls and dead calm all contrived to to prevent the passengers from arriving at their ultimate destination. Indeed they were positioned a mere 60 miles from Wellington at this stage.
    For four days these conditions were endured until the wind changed to blow in Blenheim's favour at around 2:00am. However, things were never that easy. Captain Gray was having trouble finding the harbours entrance. No proper chart of the harbour had been published in 1840 and he was not sure which of the bays around Wellingtons southern coast opened into Wellington Harbour. Attempts were made to attract the attention of the Pilot (this would have been James Heberley ) by firing five cannon and a boat with six crew was launched to search for the entrance. However, by spotting Somes Island and Ward Island from the masthead, the entrance was soon found and on Sunday December 27th Blenheim anchored opposite the small town of Wellington.
    Name Age Occupation Comments
    Cabin Passengers
    McFarlane John
    Steerage Passengers
    Cameron Donald 46 Weaver From Ormasaigmore -
    "This man and his family have been known to me for many years, he is very industrious."
    Christian 40
    Dugald 18 Labourer
    Alexander 17 Labourer
    Donald 16 Labourer
    Catherine 14 Housemaid
    Ann 12
    John 10
    Duncan 8 At School Comment crossed out
    Our sincere thanks to Beryl O'Gorman for supplying this write-up.
    [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/Blenheim.htm]

    5 - I had occasion to look at your Clan Macfarlane Genealogy pages and see that you have the family of Donald Cameron of Ormsaigmore included. I have a large database of the descendants of Donald Cameron and Christina Cameron who came to New Zealand on the Blenheim in 1840. By the way, I'm sure you're aware that there will be commemorations of the Blenheim's sailing and landing later this year (2015) in Wanganui, Auckland and Wellington.
    [E-mail from Dorothy Gaunt rec: 17 May 2015]

    (Research):Contributed: Angus Cameon's death certificate gives his parents as Donald Cameron and Christina McLean. I think we can take this as being accurate as he and Mary Cram named one of their children Christina McLean. Unfortunately, as yet we have not found any of their children called Donald. If we assume that Donald Cameron and Christina McLean are Angus's parents then we have been able to trace them in the Jo Currie database of Mull family names to living at Ockle. Strontian, Argyllshire. Ockle is on the south side of the Morvern Peninsula. Together with the mention of Lismore and Kingairloch we can be reasonably certain that Angus was born and lived his early years somewhere on the Morvern Peninsula or on the island of Lismore. Angus's death certificate gives his father's occupation as "Joiner Journeyman", so perhaps the family moved about the area and were not based for long in any one place. Who knows!

    Donald married Christina McLean [MacLean] about 1820 in Ockle, Strontian, Argyll, Scotland. Christina was born in 1800 in Ockle, Strontian, Argyll, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Christina McLean [MacLean] was born in 1800 in Ockle, Strontian, Argyll, Scotland; and died.

    Notes:

    (Research):poss parents for Christina from IGI based on naming pattern

    1 - Christy McLean bapt. 19 Dec 1797 Tyree, Argyll, Scotland to Alexander McLean and Catherine McDonald

    2 - Christie McLean b.1799 Barra, Inverness, Scotland to Alexander McLean and Catherine Gillis.

    Children:
    1. Alan Cameron died in Young.
    2. Dugald Cameron was born in 1822 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland; died in Kaiwarra-Warra, Wellington, New Zealand.
    3. Alexander Cameron was born in 1823 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland; died in Kaiwarra-Warra, Wellington, New Zealand.
    4. Donald Cameron was born in 1824 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland; died in Masterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand.
    5. 3. Catherine Cameron was born in 1825 in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Peninsular, Argyll, Scotland; died in 1909 in Coldstream, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand; was buried in Rangiora Presbyterian Burial Ground, Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand.
    6. Duncan Cameron, of Moroa died in Moroa, Greytown, New Zealand.
    7. Anne Cameron was born in 1828; and died.
    8. John Cameron, of Pahaua was born about 1831 in Scotland; died in 1900 in Pahaua, East Coast, Ni, New Zealand.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Alexander Macfarlane, in Tomacher was born in 1762 in Milnling, Menteith, Scotland; was christened on 31 Mar 1762 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland (son of Malcolm Macfarlane, of Monievreckie and Elizabeth McKercher [MacKerrachar]); and died.

    Alexander married Agnes (or Anne) Johnstone on 3 Dec 1785 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland. Agnes was born about 1765; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Agnes (or Anne) Johnstone was born about 1765; and died.

    Notes:

    Married:
    http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=500199381185&lds=1®ion=2®ionfriendly=British+Isles&frompage=99
    Source Information:
    Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record.
    Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
    M113884 1697 - 1820 1040201 Film 6900677 Film

    Children:
    1. Catherine 'Kate' Macfarlane and died.
    2. 4. Malcolm Macfarlane, in Letter, Port of Menteith was born in 1786 in Tomachar, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 12 Sep 1786 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    3. Helen Macfarlane was born in 1792 in Willow Of Stragartney, Callander Parish, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 20 Jun 1793 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 15 Dec 1867 in Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried in 1867 in Elora Municipal Cemetery, Elora, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada.
    4. Jean Macfarlane was born about 1796; was christened on 15 Sep 1796 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.
    5. Mary Macfarlane was born on 23 Jun 1800; was christened on 27 Jun 1800 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.

  3. 10.  John Macfarlane, of Achray & Drumbuie was born on 20 Jan 1749 in Trossachs, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 23 Jun 1749 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland (son of Malcolm Macfarlane, of Strathnahaun of Duchray and Mary Macfarlane); died in 1815 in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.

    Notes:

    1 - To be Janets twin his birth date must be 20 Jan. 1749. It appears their parents had another set of twins eleven months later.

    2 - It appears John either inherited the Drumbuie Farm on the death of his wife's father or he purchased it from him.

    3 - At one time had the tenancy in the 1780-90's of Glasahoile Farm. On Glasahoile, high on the mountain at the head of glen from which Allt Glasahoile flows, is Loch Tinker, Lochan a Cheird, once believed to be the home of a water-bull.

    4 - I did manage to get up to the trossachs but took my family and spent most of the time sitting in tearooms or craft shops. I only managed one farm, that was Drumbuie aka drumbowie aka druim buidhe. As I have previously said it has now been aorbed by the forestry commission but they left an area around the ruin un-planted. An image taken in 2007, in Google, shows this area has been kept clear but it is now overgrown and the drive leading up to the ruin reduced to a small incomplete footpath. There has also been trees planted in front of the ruin and the view from front the front door gone. Within the last couple of years a memorial stone has been laid nearby and when I enquired about this with local forestry regional office nobody knew anything about it or the farm. Permission to lay the stone must have been sought but the usual government agency response prevailed.
    I did take a few photos but the area is so overgrown that it was impossibe to an image of the complete house.
    [E-mail from Len Russell rec: 20 July 2010]

    5 - Drumbuie was probably a dairy farm producing butter as the main source of income with beef once a year. It was a satellite farm for the main farm of Achray. Also includes farms at Brig O Michael and Crahavie.
    Loch Achray Hotel was the old Achray farm/house mentioned in the 1901 and before census. The old part is in the middle I think. The 1901 census has the Achray Farm house as having 10 bedrooms
    The Brig O Michael farm is now called Achray farm.
    [e-mail from Len Russell rec: 30 July 2010]

    Christened:
    Suspect misreading of OPR, as sister has 3 days between entries in Drymen and Aberfoyle registers. This one appears to be 6 months.
    Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record at Aberfoyle
    Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
    C113252 1692 - 1744 0993510, 0102680 Film 6903037 Film

    John married Helen Macfarlane on 8 Jul 1779 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland. Helen (daughter of Walter Macfarlane, of Drumbuie and Janet Miller) was born on 3 Apr 1755 in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 20 Apr 1755 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; died in 1845 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 11.  Helen Macfarlane was born on 3 Apr 1755 in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 20 Apr 1755 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland (daughter of Walter Macfarlane, of Drumbuie and Janet Miller); died in 1845 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.

    Notes:

    1 - Living in Milton by Aberfoyle aged 85 at time of 1841 Scottish census.

    2 - Two other IGI bapt. submissions show her bapt as "20 APR 1755 Stronmaknarl, , Perth, Scotland"

    Notes:

    Married:
    NameJohn Mcfarlan
    Spouse's NameHelen Mcfarlan
    Event Date08 Jul 1779
    Event PlaceAberfoyle,Perth,Scotland
    Indexing Project (Batch) NumberM11325-4
    System OriginScotland-ODM
    GS Film number993510

    Children:
    1. Malcolm Macfarlane, of Achray & Drumbouie was born on 22 Dec 1780 in Achray, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 25 Dec 1780 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 14 Sep 1850; was buried in Aberfoyle Churchyard, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.
    2. Agnes Macfarlane was christened on 15 Sep 1782 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; died before May 1793 in Infancy.
    3. Katharine Macfarlane was christened on 30 Jan 1785 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    4. Hugh Macfarlane was christened on 3 Dec 1786 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    5. Mary Macfarlane was christened on 24 Dec 1788 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    6. Donald Macfarlane was born in Culigartan Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 28 Nov 1790 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    7. 5. Agnes Macfarlane was born in Drumbuie Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 7 May 1793 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    8. Margaret Macfarlane was born on 2 Feb 1795; and died.
    9. Helen Macfarlane was born on 27 Sep 1797; was christened on 29 Sep 1797 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; and died.
    10. Elizabeth Macfarlane was born on 22 Jan 1799; was christened on 25 Jan 1799 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.
    11. Thomas Macfarlane, of Drumlean Farm was born on 15 Apr 1800 in Milnton, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; was christened on 18 Apr 1800 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 21 Jul 1867 in Drumlean Farm, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.

  5. 12.  Samuel (of Ardnamurchan) Cameron (son of son Cameron); and died.

    Notes:

    of Ardnamurchan, also known as Donacharoa or Donachie
    From family stories, he appears to be identified with Alexander Cameron of Dungallon, Major and Standard bearer in the Prince's Army at Culloden, but for this to be true another generation, unrecorded in official histories, would need to be invoked. The order of his children is unknown.

    Children:
    1. Hugh Cameron, minister and died.
    2. Duncan Cameron and died.
    3. Allan Cameron and died.
    4. John Cameron and died.
    5. 3 daughters Cameron and died.
    6. 6. Donald Cameron, in Ormasaigmore was born in 1794 in Ardnamurchan, Argyllshire, Scotland; died in Feb 1860 in Wellington, New Zealand.



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