1891 Census living with father
Plumber
Relative of Martha. July1999. Alan Ward,2045 Eastside Drive RR3,Orilla,
Ontario,Canada.L3V 6H3.
Died of influenza.Her usual address was 157 Waddell Street,Hutchesontown,Glasgow.A steward in the asylum registered her death.
1901 Census with parents.Scholar.
Carver and gilder.
1901 Census living Ilford with wife Alice and two children,Joseph and Hector.General labourer.
Marriage St.Savoiur 1d6 Dec1895
1901 Census gives place of birth as Wakes Colne,Essex.
Birth St.Saviour 1d148 Dec1893
1901 Census not with parents.Not found in census.
1881 Census West Boreland Cot House,Old Luce.894/2/2 Ploughman.Living with wife,seven children and his mother.
Registered his mothers death.
Thomas Murchie was the oldest son of Jean/Jane Wilson and Ivie Murchie. He sailed to Australia from Liverpool in 1862, soon after his marriage in Scotland. He was a lowly mole catcher in Ballantrae, (looking out for smugglers' ships?) but became a respected pioneer farmer near Bundaberg, Queensland. (In the 1880s, the Queensland government gave undeveloped land to anyone who was prepared to clear the trees and start farming. The first income was usually from sale of the timber -- hard work!). Why would an eldest son emigrate? Poverty? In 1860, Queensland was certainly the 'land of milk and honey' for any able-bodied person who was not afraid of physical work. (The fact that sheep and cattle walked around with spears in their sides from the aborigines was not publicised then.) !Sailed from Liverpool in 1862 soon after his marriage.Arrived in Maryborough on the "Ariadne" 8Oct1862 (Ref Immigration Register No.16,Page 130) Ariadne was a wooden bark,Capt.J.Brown.This was the first immigrant voyage direct to Maryborough.
References: "Tall Ships on the River: Ariadne 1862: A Turning Point in the History of Maryborough" by K F Gasson & J A Grimes (Qld 1992) "They Came Direct - Ariadne 1862" by E B Johnson (Maryborough 1994) for details of voyage, health officer's report, newspaper accounts, lists of immigrants and crew. 1865, 1866 Gayndah accepted (Source: Queensland Government Gazette) ? work permits? 1865 worked as a shepherd at “Rawbelle“, an isolated sheep station near Eidsvold in southern Qld.The sheep 'stations' (farms) where Thomas Murchie and Elisabeth Wright first worked are very remote from civilisation. e.g. On "Camboon", the nearest white people were on the next station, 50 miles along a horse bridle track through the bush (forest). The nearest town was 150-200 miles away. Rawbelle was little better. Children were born, but their birth was not easily registered; they were not baptised because the nearest minister might be 300 miles away. Deaths were reported - eventually. There's no official record of my grandfather's birth (Andrew), but he's mentioned as a sibling on a younger child's birth certificate. 1871 worked sheep & cattle at “Camboon“, near Cracow, (south Qld) when son Andrew was born. Oct 1875 Carrier's licence granted, at Bundaberg, coastal Qld. (Qld Govt Gazette) 1876 Drayman, Bundaberg Aug 1884 Application 160A Monduran accepted (on Kolan River) 35 miles north of Bundaberg. (Source: Qld Government Gazette) Oct 1888 juror (performed jury duty in a legal trial) Gooburrum Shire ratepayers list 1911: MURCHIE, T, Mullet Creek (runs into Burnett River beyond Splitters Ck. (Bundaberg is near mouth of Burnett R.) Source: Bundaberg newspaper report: " .... the next creek we strike is another branch of Littabella Creek called Walsh's Creek, and on our route there is a large quantity of very good forest land, well watered and some large areas of open country. .... I must not omit to mention that there has been one settler Mr T. Murchie, on Walsh's Creek some years, who selected before this portion of Monduran was withdrawn from selection. He has a good patch of scrub land and is cultivating about ten acres with maize, potatoes and also goes in largely for fruit growing such as bananas and pineapples, in fact he's done quite a trade while the (railway) line was under construction." 11 Mar 1915 Death notice and obituary of Thomas Murchie published in L&G News of Bundaberg Mail Newspapers. (Source: Bundaberg Mail Newspapers 1900-1925, published by B’berg Genealogy Soc, PO Box 103, Bundaberg 4670 Qld, Australia) " THOMAS MURCHIE It is our sad duty to have to report the death of a sturdy pioneer, Mr Thomas Murchie, of “Waroo“ (name of farm), Mullet Creek, which took place yesterday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Terrence Murray, North Bundaberg. This fine old gentleman, like the pioneering class to which he belonged, died in harness. He belonged to the old time school who knew not defeat, and never gave in - those who were responsible for making Queensland the habitable and prosperous country that it now is. Mr. Murchie, who was within a few weeks of eighty years of age, was hale and hearty up to the last, and persisted in continuing at his ordinary occupation on his farm. On Saturday morning he evidently entered his milking yard with the purpose of milking his cows in the customary manner but apparently was stricken down by a paralytic stroke and remained there in an unconscious state until discovered by a friend, Mr Budgen, on Monday. Mrs Murray was immediately afterwards communicated with and the old gentleman was conveyed to her home by the afternoon train. Medical skill and loving care failed to relieve him and yesterday he passed away. During his long life he had done his duty as a colonist and made many friends and to his sorrowing relatives sincere sympathy is extended in their affliction. The funeral takes place this afternoon from the residence of Mrs. T. Murray, Gavan Street, North Bundaberg. (F.C. Brown & Co.)" (Bundaberg Mail 11 Mar 1915) More About THOMAS MURCHIE: Burial: 11 March 1915, Bundaberg General Cemetery Christening: 10 May 1835, Barr, by Girvan, Ayr, Scotland Emigration: 8 October 1862, 'Ariadne' to Maryborough Qld from Liverpool Eng. Occupation 1: 19 August 1903, farmer Occupation 2: 1861, Molecatcher (at marriage) Occupation 3: 1862, Shepherd (on immigration records) Occupation 4: 1874, Drayman, Bundaberg (would have used bullocks (cattle) to pull the dray) Occupation 5: 1875, Carriers licence granted, Bundaberg (Source: "Bundaberg & District Pioneers" from Qld Govt Gazette.) Occupation 6: 1915, farmer Residence 2: 1861, Barr by Girvan, Ayr, Scotland Residence 3: 1873, Camboon, Qld Residence 1: 1891, Walsh's Ck, Littabella, via Bundaberg Residence 4: December 1891, Perry St, North Bundaberg. Residence 5: 1915, Mullet Creek near Bundaberg
More About ELISABETH WRIGHT: !Burial: February 1908, Bundaberg General Cemetery Emigration: 8 October 1862, 'Ariadne' to Maryborough from Liverpool Occupation 1: 1862, Domestic (on immigration record) Occupation 2: 1861, Kitchenmaid (on marriage) Religion: 1861, Established Church of Scotland Residence: Bef. 1861, Shennas, Ayrshire More About THOMAS MURCHIE and ELISABETH WRIGHT: Friends: Marriage witnessed by John Murchie and Elisabeth Templeton. Marriage: 5 July 1861, Shennas, Ballantrae, Ayr, Scotland (Source: Old Parochial Register, (microfilm), Marriages in the Parish of Ballantrae in the County of Ayr page 1, "1861 July fifth at Shennas Parish of Ballantrae. After Banns according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland. .")
JANE WILSON MURCHIE, b. 27 October 1868, Qld (Source: RGO (Registrar-General's Office), Qld, Births Register, 68/000023.); d. 13 July 1869, Camboon, Qld. age 8 mths (Source: (1) Index to Early Burials - District of Leichhardt, Peak Downs, Rockhampton, Westwood, Volume 2, MURCHIE Jane Wilson 8/12 parents Thomas Murchie and Elizabeth Waight (transcription error) burial date 14 Jul 1869 Camboon., (2) Qld Pioneers Index 1829-1889, 1869/000012.).
THOMAS MURCHIE, b. 12 March 1875, Qld (Source: (1) RGO (Registrar-General's Office), Qld, Births Register, 75/002278., (2) Qld Pioneers Index 1829-1889, 1875/002278.); d. 7 August 1875, Rawbelle? Age 5 months (Source: Qld Pioneers Index 1829-1889, 1875/001608.). Notes for THOMAS MURCHIE: Moura Family History Group has documented cemetery records of Old Rawbelle (where Thomas Murchie jnr died) and also have particulars of private family cemeteries, and some isolated graves in the Callide & Dawson Valley areas.
AGNES MURCHIE, b. 19 November 1876, Qld (Source: RGO (Registrar-General's Office), Qld, Births Register, 76/000229.); d. 16 December 1891, Drowned in Burnett R., Bundaberg, age 15. Notes for AGNES MURCHIE: FUNERAL NOTICE "The friends of Mr Thos. MURCHIE, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his youngest daughter, AGNES - to move from his residence, Perry Street, North Bundaberg at 10a.m. This day. - C. Buckly, Undertaker." (Bundaberg Mail 18 Dec 1891) NEWSPAPER REPORT "A sad case of drowning occurred on the north bank of the river Burnett, on Wednesday afternoon. A girl named AGNES MURCHIE, aged 13, a daughter of Mr Murchie, of Littabella, was with some other girls, paddling in the sands a short distance west of the railway bridge when she suddenly disappeared. It is believed there was a deep hole at the spot, and she was not seen to rise again. Dragging and diving operations were at once resorted to with the hope of finding the body, but it was not recovered until about 10.30 yesterday morning immediately underneath the spot from which she disappeared. The deceased was a bright intelligent child, and her sad and untimely end has caused much sympathy to exist for the bereaved parents." (Bundaberg Mail 18 Dec 1891) MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY "Magisterial inquiry ... into death of AGNES MURCHIE, aged 15, who was drowned in the Burnett River on the 16th instant. Lena Ayers, aged 14 1/2, daughter of Thomas Ayers ... knew Agnes Murchie, was a playmate of hers .. on Wednesday went down to river bank with Jane Griffith, Maud Turton and Agnes Murchie ... a little girl named McDonald, was drowned there last year ... John Murchie, the brother of the child ...." (Bundaberg Mail 21 Dec 1891) More About AGNES MURCHIE: Burial: 18 December 1891, Bundaberg General Cemetery
Gravestone in New Luce Kirkyard.
Will in Scottishdocuments website.Died at New Luce,intestate.Inventory Wigtown 18Jul1893 by Agnes Wright or Robinson,wife of George Robinson,gardener,Houghton House nr.Carlisle.Value of estate £450- 4/9.
OPR New Luce.Deaths.April1853.William Wright,Village,age 9.Born about 1844.Was he a son of Andrew and Elizabeth?
Died aged 32 years.