(1796-1864) Daniel Ferguson

Daniel Ferguson migrated from Scotland to South Australia in 1838. He became farmer and became an influential member of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia. He was also a miner, a district councillor, educator and church elder.

Scotland

Daniel Ferguson was born at Muirkirk, Ayrshire on 11 February 1796, the 6th of the 11 children of Alexander Ferguson and Mary McMichael. He was named after his grandfather, Daniel McMichael, also the name of the Covenanter martyr.

Daniel Ferguson spent his childhood in Muirkirk. The town was expanding as the opening of the iron mine drew more workers to the area. He had a brother, William, 3 years older than him and 3 older sisters and 4 younger sisters. He was 20 when the family moved to Auchinleck, then to Sorn.

Daniel was 31 when he married for the first time. The Sorn parish register recorded, "Daniel Ferguson and Elizabeth Campbell both in this parish, after being duly proclaimed in order to marry, were married 10th Apl 1827 - 2d." Their first child was born three months later, the parish register noting, "Ferguson, Charles Cliff, lawful son of Daniel Ferguson, Blackside end and Elizabeth Campbell, his spouse, was born 24th July and baptised 9th Sept 1827"

In a departure from traditional naming patterns, Daniel gave his son the same name as that chosen by his sister Susanna Ashmore for her son, Charles Cliff. A second child, James, was born on 5 September 1828 followed by a third, Alexander, named for his paternal grandfather, on 11 July 1830. Alexander died as an infant and his mother Elizabeth either in childbirth or shortly after.

Daniel remarried two years later. His second wife, Helen Ritchie was his second cousin. She was born on 5 October 1806, the daughter of Gilbert Ritchie and Margaret McCall, who was a great-niece of Mary McCall, Daniel's grandmother. Helen Ritchie's father had taken over the tenancy of Eastside Farm where Daniel's father Alexander was born. Daniel and Helen's first child, Elizabeth, was born on 21 October 1833. Another son, Alexander, was born on 7 April 1835, followed by Gilbert on 28 December 1836, the day when the colony of South Australia was officially proclaimed a colony.

In 1835, Daniel lived at Dalruscan, a farm about 5 miles from the town of Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire. The farm, which still exists, is on the Dumfries to Bealtoch Rd near Kirkmichael. Daniel was involved in community life, elected as an elder of the Barras Church. Built in 1816, by the Reformed Presbyterians, whose roots lay in the Cameronian movement, it could seat 800 worshippers.

On 10 January 1837, Daniel's father died at Sorn. His father had had helped his children establish themselves, although more assistance was given to his sons and he lent Daniel and his brother William £600 each in 1832. The loan to Daniel was increased on 19 June 1835 by another £360. Interest was added, but Alexander specified that "interest upon whatever sum has been received by our son Daniel shall not exceed one hundred pounds sterling" noting "the said William Ferguson has been in the habit of paying me interest on sum advanced to him, whereas his brother Daniel has not done so."

After bequests had been paid to his daughters and his wife provided for, Alexander left the residue of his estate to be "equally divided between our two sons William and Daniel Ferguson, whom I hereby nominate and appoint my residuary Legatees; and seeing that they a considerable time ago received from me the sum of Six Hundred Pounds Sterling each, which will be reckoned to them with what interest may be due thereon as if paid to them after my decease, so that in adjusting this and calculating the interest due my Trustees will see that upon the whole my Residuary Legatees have equal shares."

A year after his father's death, aged 42, Daniel Ferguson decided to migrate to the new colony of South Australia with his wife and five children. He farewelled his mother, knowing he was unlikely to see her again. Just before he left, he sorted out his financial affairs, giving his sister Janet Murray a draft for £12 payable on sight, dated 4 June 1838. According to family legend, Daniel refused an uncle's offer to finance his move to the new colony.

Migration to South Australia

The principles on which South Australia had been established differed from those of other colonies. South Australia was designed to be self-supporting. There was no convict labour and instead of granting free land, it was sold and the revenue raised used to create an emigration fund to pay for the passage out of farm labourers and tradesmen. Agents were appointed in major cities and ports to handle the sale of land and selection of emigrants. In Leith, the port from which Daniel Ferguson sailed, Messrs Allan and Son and Messrs Adamson and Co were the official agents.

The Fergusons left Scotland from Kirkalldy Roads Leith, on 28 June 1838 on the "Catherine Jamieson." They reached South Australia on 1 December 1838, after a journey of 5 months. When Daniel Ferguson arrived, South Australia had a population of only 5,770, making his family amongst the early pioneers. Thirty-two ships had arrived that year, carrying 3,142 emigrants. Just two years later, the population had expanded to 17,000.

In preparing for the trip, emigrants could consult such guides as Henry "Capper's South Australia Containing Hints to Emigrants". Capper advised caution in selecting the ship to sail on, stating "all persons should inspect the ship they intend to proceed on, choose their berths, see that there is a good height between decks, and proper means to secure a free ventilation." He gave practical hints for fitting out the cabins and deciding what to take on the journey. "Care should be taken that the door is not in the centre as much room is lost in that case, sea chests in a cabin are inconvenient. Chests of drawers are far preferable. Large nails and hooks to hang things on are useful, as also are a few shelves. Everything should be securely lashed to the bulkheads. A tin can with a swing handle and a spout, for saving water in, is useful. Raspberry vinegar is a very essential article to mix with the water when not very good. A few camp chairs would be very convenient. Horsehair mattresses are to be preferred to feather beds. A crate of crockery and glass, and a supply of useful cooking utensils are absolute necessities. The emigrant must calculate upon not being able to have linen etc washed during the passage (about four months) and consequently should be provided with a sufficient stock. It should be remembered that this will last a long time afterwards in the colony. Calico should be substituted for linen and a very fine flannel will be serviceable. Striped shirts are much more economical and are generally worn in all the colonies."

A barque of 317 tons, the Catherine Jamieson was captained by W Hutchinson. It carried 30 passengers and a cargo listed in the manifest as "35 casks of pease, 7 casks of split peas, 24 casks bottled ale, 100 casks oatmeal, 54 package goods, 600 garden chairs, 1 box hats, 5 cases, 1 cask sundries, 2 bundles spades, 11 bags nails, 102 barrels pork, 100 barrels flour, 7 bales thread, 2 boxes biscuits, 638 deals, 31 bales, 8 cases, 27 casks 49 jars, 8 boxes merchandise, 6 bales linen, 6 boxes sundries 3 iron frames, 3 long frames, 3 wheels and 3 boxes, 195 oil casks in sakes, 40 barrels pork, 20 barrels beef, 18 barrels oatmeal, 9 packages furniture, 20 boxes fish 60 tons salt 54 casks in shakes, 14 crates earthenware, 6 bags barley, 23 firkins herrings, 1 box hams, 4 casks sugar, 350 boxes glass, 4 cases pianoforte". The Catherine Jamieson was later wrecked at Table Bay in 1860.

Amongst the cargo were the possessions that Daniel Ferguson had brought with him from Scotland to start his new life, some of which still survive. Folding chairs taken out on the Catherine Jamieson and owned by later generations of the family are still in good condition. Christening gowns and baby clothes of fine muslin have also become treasured family heirlooms, as has Daniel Ferguson's personal seal.

Settlement at Gawler Plains

Daniel Ferguson settled at "Bank Flat" on the Gawler Plains, one of the first settlers in the area. On 14 January 1839, David McLaren, Colonial Manager of the South Australian Company, claimed the second survey to be granted in the Colony, known as The Lyndoch Valley Special Survey. He described it as highly valuable for agriculture and "in a great measure unencumbered with trees and ready for the plough".

Daniel Ferguson established his first farm in the area known as Little Para, about 12 miles from the town of Gawler, which was just beginning to be built when Daniel Ferguson arrived in the area. The town was surveyed early in 1839 and the first buildings erected later that year. In 1840, Gawler itself was described as containing "one very good inn, one public house, police barracks, two smith's shops, six dwelling houses and 34 inhabitants."

A visitor to the area near Gawler on 30 October 1839 commented "the first four miles of the road to Gawler was poor soil and rather thickly wooded, principally with the box tree, but known as the Pine Forest; after which the country becomes flat, with some wattles at first and then a perfect plain. About six miles from town, we crossed a dry creek, known as First Creek, and came to the Little Para at 12 minutes past two. Distance from town to the Little Para about 12 miles, and the road very good." The surrounding area however, was largely dry and he added that "in the bed of the river to the east of the road were a few small pools of water. We found no water from Adelaide to the Little Para or from the Little Para to Murray Pass."

The Surveyor General's report of 30 November 1840 showed 160 acres had been surveyed and selected at Little Para. The Southern Australian on 5 January 1841 reported that in the last half of 1840, the entire Para district had 99 acres under cultivation, including 33 acres of wheat, 8 of oats, 6 of maize, 16 of potatoes and another 36 not specified. There were 16,311 sheep, 46 cattle and 27 horses.

The "Southern Australian" of 2 March 1841 added "This splendid survey, belonging to the South Australian Company, and of which they were put in possession only in September last, is rapidly assuming the appearance of a thriving settlement. Although located upon but a few months, it is said to have a larger population already than Gawler Town, its present number of inhabitants amounting to about one hundred souls. The ring of the anvil, the sound of the carpenters hammer, the sawing and splitting of timber in the neighbourhood and the song of the ploughman on the plains are said to give it that air of bustling activity. About two hundred acres will be under cultivation in this survey alone during the ensuing season."

In 1841, Daniel is listed in the census as farming at Little Para, an area about 12 miles from Gawler, with his wife, daughter and five sons. The listing of families under the Lyndock Valley Spread Survey showed Daniel Ferguson's was the largest family. There were 7 other families comprising 14 adults and 10 children, as well as 10 labourers and 5 stock keepers.

Allen's 1844 directory lists Daniel Ferguson as a cultivator on section 47, "Bank Flat," which extended to the bank of the Gawler River. By this stage, he had under cultivation 49 acres of wheat, 5 of barley and a quarter of an acre of garden. He also had 480 sheep, 16 cattle and 2 pigs. Today, Section 47, where Daniel settled, is in the suburb of Hillier, on the outskirts of Gawler, facing Two Wells Road and a caravan park in the Murray Hiller Reserve, the area still semi-rural.

Daniel Ferguson farmed at Gawler for 9 years. During his years at Gawler, another three children were born and he received news of his mother's death in Scotland. Although he left Gawler in 1847, the Ferguson connection with the town continued through his nephew James Ferguson, who later had a store in the main street of Gawler.

The Establishment of Glenunga

In 1847, Daniel Ferguson decided to move closer to Adelaide, where his children would have better opportunities for education. The move also offered Daniel Ferguson the opportunity of playing a greater role in the establishment of community structures of South Australia.

He settled in Glen Osmond, near Adelaide calling his farm Glenunga, from "Glen" of Glen Osmond and an aboriginal word "unga," meaning "near to." The name continues in the Adelaide suburb established on the site of Daniel Ferguson's farm.

In 1847, Daniel Ferguson bought 80 acres of an area designated as Section 271 on early maps of Adelaide and now bordered by Glen Osmond Road, Portrush Road and Bevington Road. When the colony was established, land had been sold in rectangular units, with little regard for topography. Section 271 was originally bought by the Hall family. Some of it was later acquired by the government for a road from Adelaide to Glen Osmond, "without any price or consideration being paid" although the government was to "fence the road where it passes through the sections" at public expense. Section 271 was next sold to Robert Cock, who had arrived on the Catherine Jamieson with Daniel Ferguson. In 1844, he is recorded as growing 137 acres of wheat in the area. He later sub-divided the section, before selling part of it to Daniel Ferguson. Some of the Glenunga site was sold in Daniel Ferguson's lifetime, to William Murray, who used it to establish a jam factory.

Daniel Ferguson built a home, Glenunga House, in the middle of the property, where his two youngest children were born. It was home to members of the Ferguson family for almost seventy years. The Fergusons had frequent visitors at Glenunga, from a wide circle of family and friends, including the Dobbies, whom they had known in Scotland.

Matthew Rankine, whose wife Jessie came out on the Catherine Jamieson and whose granddaughter later married Daniel's grandson, mentions in his diary visiting Glenunga when he was on business in Adelaide and reciprocal visits of the Fergusons to his home at Angas Plains. On 5 February 1856, he recorded "Started for Adelaide about 4 o'clock. Arrived in time for dinner. Called at Tuxfords about plough. Went out to Mr D Ferguson's where I stayed all night. Spent a happy evening in giving and solving riddles. On 25 April 1860, when Daniel's daughter Elizabeth visited the Rankines, Matthew noted "Elizabeth Ferguson came here this morning and stayed all night, her father called for her. He and son Charles have been to the Lakes looking for a farm. Father (William Rankine) came with them."

The farm at Lake Alexandrina must not have interested Daniel. As well as Glenunga, he also had another farm at Yankalilla and a mill at Parkside. By the time Daniel established Glenunga, his eldest sons had been old enough to share the work of farming and in return he helped them establish themselves.

Family Links

Daniel Ferguson maintained strong links with his family in Scotland. The family were very close, and after Daniel migrated to Australia, contact was maintained and letters and photos exchanged. On 22 May 1847, his brother-in-law John Kerr noted in his diary, "wrote to D. Ferguson, Australia."

Other branches of the family followed Daniel to Australia. While his brother remained in Scotland, three of his sons migrated to Australia and Daniel's nephews James and Daniel arrived in the late 1850s or early 1860s. James established himself at Gawler as a shopkeeper, marrying Isabella Ferguson, whose father William Ferguson was a friend of his uncle Daniel. Daniel's nephew, also Daniel was a storekeeper at Payneham and in Adelaide. While Daniel's other nephew William settled in Tasmania, his first son was born in South Australia.

Descendants of Daniel's sisters also came to Australia. Daniel's brother-in-law Thomas Bird had settled in South Australia by 1862, searching for a healthier climate for his daughters, who both died quite young. Also in search of a healthier climate, John Smith Kerr spent four years in South Australia between 1862-66.

A second cousin, Hugh Ferguson was a doctor in Strathalbyn, his widow and children later moving to Burnside, near Glenunga.

Daniel visited his family on his trip back to England in 1855. Photos are included in the Glenunga album of nieces and nephews and the grandchildren of his brother William. A book of psalms inscribed "Daniel Ferguson, the gift of his sister Susanna Ashmore, August 13th, 1861" was a treasured possession.

As Farmer and Agriculturalist

Daniel Ferguson's commitment to the development of agriculture in South Australia was reflected in helping set up networks for the exchange of information on agriculture. One such early attempt was the establishment of the Farmer's Club, of which he was a founder and first president. However, it later lapsed and Daniel turned his energies instead to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society.

The Agricultural and Horticultural Society was formed in 1842 when the two societies amalgamated. Daniel's photograph is included in a collection of the twelve "Original Founders of the Society" in 1844. He served for a term as president and was vice-president for a longer period of time. Other founders included James Umpherston, who married Daniel's daughter Margaret and William Ferguson, whose daughter Isabella married Daniel's nephew James Ferguson.

Daniel Ferguson was involved in the organisation of the first large show held by the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which took place on February 1844, in a paddock between North Terrace and Frome Bridge. Marquees and tents were lent by the government and a grand pavilion, 100 feet by 40 feet held the main exhibits. Although the show was only held for an afternoon, 1,200 people paid admission and 300 names were entered as subscribers to the society. A special prize of ten guineas was awarded to John Ridley for his reaping and threshing machine.

Daniel Ferguson was also invited to be a judge at country agricultural shows. In his diary, Matthew Rankine refers to "Daniel Ferguson, a Judge at the first Agricultural Show held on March 5th, 1856" at Angas Plains.

As a vice-president of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, he was involved in the establishment of its journal, Farm and Garden. He first put forward the idea of a farmers' periodical at a meeting of the society on 24 April 1857. However, the suggestion met with some opposition, and it was not until Edward William Andrew, part-owner of the Register, offered to take responsibility, that it was produced.

Farm and Garden was a professionally produced journal, selling for sixpence a copy. It was published "on the second Thursday in every month" between 1858 and 1863 "under the auspices of the South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society." The sub-committee responsible for producing it consisted of "Messrs E. W. Andrews, Chairman, D. Ferguson, G. McEwin and A. Wilson." Daniel Ferguson's name also appears on the masthead as one of the three vice-presidents of the society.

Although it mostly dealt with rural matters, Farm and Garden had leading articles, parliamentary reports, poetry, humorous articles, snippets of general news and a chess column. Daniel Ferguson was a frequent contributor and also quoted for his views. After five volumes, it ceased publication for lack of support.

Photo from Colin and Margaret Kerr "Royal Show" 1983

One subject on which Daniel Ferguson offered advice was deep ploughing. He believed that the common English ploughing depth of 3 to 4 inches was not deep enough in a dry climate. On 1 December 1858 , he wrote "It is just over 20 years today since I arrived at Holdfast Bay and I have been here ever since, one year excepted. It is more evident to me that the deeper the land is ploughed, the more rain it will absorb in the winter months and the longer it will retain the moisture. I would advise the farmer to try one acre four inches deep and another eight inches and I am confident he will find profitable results, particularly in dry seasons"

Farm and Garden of 14 October 1858 stated "Mr Daniel Ferguson, of the Adelaide Plains, informs us that he intends this season, as soon as the crop is off the ground, enclosing a small paddock with a fence sufficient to keep sheep. This he means first to fallow down, and in the proper season, either April or September, to trench-plough, manure, and sow it with 2 grasses. We have just referred to lucerne and Italian rye grass, which he selects on account of their excellent fattening qualities, his object being to try the artificial feeding of sheep - an experiment the results of which will be very interesting."

The Glenunga farm was mainly used for crops, which in 1856 won 1st prize for wheat on the Adelaide plains, despite the appearance of black slugs. The Register of 31 May 1856, noted "we regret to learn that the destructive black slug which had already attacked the barley, is now making its appearance among the wheat. Mr D. Ferguson of Glenunga on the eastern plains, informs us that one of his fields has been much injured, being cut up in patches. His opinion is that the best remedy will be the use of a heavy roller which has been found by experience cuts the slugs to pieces. Some of them are as large as a man's finger." After Daniel Ferguson's death, much of the farm stock and implements he had accumulated was put up for auction. The Observer of 30 July 1864 invited potential buyers to attend an auction, to be held at the farm, Glen Osmond

Daniel Ferguson
FARM STOCK AND IMPLEMENTS
Friday, August 5, at 12 o'clock
2 Draught Mares
1 Draught Horse
1 Exc Gig Horse
1 Yearling Filly, 1 ditto colt
2 Horse-power chaffcutters
1 Drill Sowing-machine
1 Spiked Clod-Crusher
1 Roller, 1 Horse-rake
1 Wheel Plough, 2 Swing-Ploughs
2 Pairs Harrows; 2 Sets Swingle-Trees
1 -do- Smith's Bellows and Anvil
1 Winnowing Machine
1 Heavy Wagon, 1 Horse Dray
1 Box Cart, a Sheep Trough
Harness, and a quantity of sundries
A Stack of Excellent Hay
At the Farm, Glen Osmond

Importing Draught Horses

One of the strongest family legends is that Daniel Ferguson was sent by the government to bring the first horses back to South Australia. In fact, horses had been imported into the colony from other states almost as soon as it was founded, and it was to improve the breed of cart horse that Daniel Ferguson returned to England in 1855. His mission was undertaken on behalf of the Society for the Improvement of the Breed of Cart Horses, which had been established in 1854.

John Baker, MLC, had placed a notice in the Register in February advertising a meeting to import draught horses. However, a few days beforehand a smaller group, Daniel Ferguson among them, met in the office of Mr Brunskill. Although they decided to adjourn their meeting to Mr Baker's, they argued unsuccessfully for the shares to be £5, rather than the £25 suggested by Baker. According to the Register of 23 February 1854, more than 50 people attended Baker's meeting, and a decision was made to form a company. The next meeting, reported in the Register of 1 May 1854, was held at Bernard's exchange and "the attendance was very much larger than on the last occasion." John Baker again chaired the meeting. This time, only shareholders were allowed to take part in the proceedings, and a formal motion was put "that the Society now be established." One hundred and twelve shares had already been taken up and more contributions were expected.

The question of whether the horses should be brought to Australia at once was debated. Mr Whitford argued that as it was too late for the current breeding season, it would be better to wait to see if more shares were taken up. Daniel Ferguson added the comment that "it would take at least three months to arrange the preliminaries. That little delay would not make any material difference to the price."

Others, anxious to proceed, disputed the need for delay. The Chairman pointed out that no-one had as yet been authorised to collect money, and suggested some gentleman should move the appointment of a committee to collect money, draw up rules and report to a future meeting. Daniel Ferguson responded by moving the motion, which was then adopted. A committee of five, Daniel Ferguson, John Baker, Mr Whitfield, Mr Brunskill and Mr Duffield were then appointed.

Controversy continued over the question of whether it was really necessary to send someone to England to bring out the horses. The Chairman commented he thought it would be "the most satisfactory, though the rather more expensive plan." The issue was not a new one, as he went on to add that he wished to contradict the rumour that the society had been established for the sake of securing a berth home for certain individuals. The secretary's services were gratuitous, and should it be necessary to send someone to England, the committee would receive applications.

Daniel Ferguson then opened the discussion from the floor by saying that he thought "a person should be sent home, not for the purchase, but for the care of the horses." Further suggestions followed and Daniel Ferguson moved "that a competent person be sent from the colony to superintend the purchase, shipment and bringing out of the horses from England." Opposition was voiced by Mr Mortlock, who moved an amendment that someone in England be appointed to purchase the horses and for them to be placed under the care of the captain, who would be paid for their successful care.

After several speakers voiced doubts about leaving the horses in the care of the captain, he suggested instead that £500 could still be saved by finding someone in England to bring the horses out. In reply, Daniel Ferguson argued that the cost of sending a person would not be so great, adding that "there would be plenty who would be glad to go for their bare expenses for the sake of visiting their English friends." Eventually, it was decided to defer the question to the next meeting, when the committee could report and shareholders had more time to reflect. Both Daniel Ferguson and Mortlock's motions were then withdrawn.

At the next meeting, reported on 29 May 1854, the committee presented rules for adoption, and a recommendation that "some fit person be appointed to proceed to England and to superintend the purchase, shipping and bringing out of the horses." The committee's recommendations were accepted unanimously. At this stage, £800 had already been collected. Several people then offered to go to England. Mr Oscar Lines, who was intending to travel home anyway, said that he was willing to take on the task for £300 and travelling expenses, claiming nothing for his time and trouble, but leaving it to the society to fix a bonus, should his trip be successful.

Daniel Ferguson objected to this, on the grounds that the amount to be paid should be fixed before the appointment of an agent. He moved that it should be set at £300. This was carried unanimously, with the understanding that the money was being voted only for passage and travelling expenses. The agent was to charge all outlay for the horses keep to the society, and could also appoint an assistant at the Society's expense, to accompany any other horses that might be shipped later.

Other names were put forward. As a consensus was not reached, at Daniel Ferguson's suggestion, the appointment was held over to the next meeting. Shareholders were to be allowed to vote by proxy and suggestions were called for of people in England who could help the agent, when he was sent. Daniel Ferguson also announced his intention of nominating Robert Smith. However, it was pointed out that Robert Smith held no shares. The meeting decided whoever went should hold at least 4 shares and Robert Smith agreed to take them. Despite this, in the end it was Daniel Ferguson himself who was given the responsibility, in recognition of the part he had played in the society and in agricultural circles generally.

Daniel spent several months in England. As well as selecting the horses to bring back to Australia, he took time to visit his family. In October 1854, he visited his sister Jean Kerr in Abbotsley, Huntingdon, after seeing his sister Susanna Ashmore in London. He set out for the return voyage to Australia in April 1855, his nephew Andrew Kerr noting in the Kerr diary "Uncle Daniel started from London to Australia on the 21st April."

The selection of Daniel to return to England, however, was far from the end of controversy. On 30 July 1855, Daniel Ferguson reached Adelaide on the Time and Truth with Clydesdale horses and mares. According to the Register on 1 December 1855, on his return he accused Thomas Gepp, a veterinarian returning from England on a similar errand of poisoning 3 of his stock as Gepp had given them medication before they died. In Gepp's defence, James Fisher who had employed Gepp to bring out horses, E B Gleeson and Trimmer gave testimony to his excellent character.

The voyage on the "Time and Truth" was described in detail in a diary kept by one of the passengers, W B Randell. Interspersed with accounts of the illness of his children from smallpox, the death of his daughter on board ship and his own religious observations, he also kept track of the welfare of the livestock on board, recording their progress and noting his own suspicions about Gepp.

On April 24, as the voyage started he wrote "Very rough. All stock Great and Small appear to be getting on much better on the whole than might be expected" and on 30 April "Ship making good progress - it will be a great mercy to us and all the poor horses and cattle if it remains so." On 1 May, conditions worsened and he noted "Rolling. Poor horses and cattle have felt it severely" The next day it was "Very uncomfortable for horses and cattle. Very rough."

The effect on the horses worried Daniel Ferguson. On 3 May Randell wrote "Gloomy AM with very strong winds. The horses in particular, especially those under the superintendence of Mr Ferguson, some of which were broken loose by the violence of the rolling and tossing of the ship. Both Mr Ferguson and Mr Gepp were up a good part of the night doing all they could to mitigate their suffering as much as possible. Several of them seemed to feel it very much, so much so that Mr Ferguson begins to fear their standing the journey." The next day conditions improved and Randell wrote "Weather settling. All stock on board recovering. 2 or 3 of Mr Ferguson's horses are the only ones that still remain affected." However, on 5 May "one of the fine cart horses under Mr Ferguson's care died this evening about 8 pm, thrown overboard 9 pm." He added another "appeared very sickly."

On 7 May, Randell commented he was "sorry to have to report the death of another of Mr Ferguson's horses," writing at length of his unfavourable opinion of the medical treatment of "these fine animals" especially "the copious bleeding." "I have expressed my opinion on the subject to the Captain and also said a word or two by way of advice to Mr Ferguson. I must not fail to add that I am persuaded that Mr Ferguson has acted with the greatest solicitude according to the best of his judgement for the welfare of all the horses under his charge and moreover I believe he would not of his own mind have bled them half as much, but for the opinion and advice of Mr Gepp who professes considerable knowledge in management of horses as also in the veterinary art."

On 14 May "Another mare died today. Respecting the poor mare of Mr Ferguson's which died this AM, I should say little at present, beyond recording my decided convictions that there is something suspicious that there has been foul play going on beyond what Mr Ferguson is aware of, both as to this mare and the other horses that have died before and will I am sure apply also to another fine grey horse that has been out of order and has a cough. I took an opportunity of hinting this to Mr Ferguson confidentially and I found that similar thoughts had crossed his own mind and named a circumstance or two that rather strengthened my convictions."

Not only the horses suffered ill health. On June 10 Randell reported "3 of Mr Ferguson's men are complaining of illness and appear to me to have the smallpox." The health of both the men and horses improved, until on 23 July Randell noted "The choicest of Mr Ferguson's horses is taken ill, very similar to those that have died before. The affair to me appear very suspicious but we shall see the results." A few days later "I am glad to find that Mr Ferguson's horse is considerably better, encouraging hopes of his recovery, not withstanding, no doubt but there has been some foul play towards him."

The arrival of the "Time and Truth" was reported on 31 July 1855 by the Adelaide Times, which listed it as a barque of 573 tons from Gravesend with 22 intermediate and 16 steerage passengers. It "arrived from England yesterday but on going alongside out reporter found that the smallpox had attacked the passengers during the voyage, consequently we were unable to furnish our readers with passenger list or manifest. There appears to have been 8 or 9 cases of the disease, but fortunately only one death has occurred." Although there was no sickness at present, the vessel was to remain in quarantine. "She was expected to bring horses from England for the Society formed for the purpose of improving the breed of horses in the Colony but we could not possibly learn whether they were on board or not." The next day the Times reported "This vessel has obtained pratique on account of no case of small pox or any other contagious disease having occurred for the past 2 weeks. She was towed up the river last night by the Adelaide steam tug."

On August 2, the Times noted "This vessel yesterday commenced to land the horses and other stock which she has brought out from England. A very large number of people thronged the wharf on the appearance of the first horse and on the animal being freed from the horse box several good judges expressed themselves in high terms of his symmetry. All stock are in excellent condition and appeared quite comfortable in their quarters as steerage passengers. The arrival of this vessel has created more sensation amongst the settlers of the Colony than that of any other vessel for some time past."

Matthew Rankine also noted the arrival of the horses in his diary on 2 August "Went and saw horses brought out by D Ferguson, well sloped horses but not large."

Mining Ventures

As well as farming, Daniel Ferguson also ventured into mining. His childhood was spent in the mining are of Muirkirk and he decided to invest in the opportunities that Glen Osmond offered. He is known to have been a trustee of the Wheal Gawler Mine, the first mine established in Australia and is referred to as an engineer with the Silver Lead Mining Company at Glen Osmond, which later bought him out.

Although South Australia was the last of the Australian states to be settled, it was the first in which metal mines were discovered. The fact that the metal deposits were close to the main port of Adelaide contributed to their quick discovery and development. By the time that Daniel Ferguson came to Glenunga to live, the Wheal Gawler Mine at Glen Osmond, South Australia's first mine, had already been operating for eight years.

The original company was too small to continue financing operations at Wheal Gawler and it was sold first to a German company, then in 1848, the Wheal Gawler Mines Association was set up. During the working life of the mine, three major shafts were sunk, the deepest one 240 feet, with levels and tunnels constructed leading into the hillside of Glen Osmond. £33,000 worth of ore containing silver lead was produced. However, the discovery of gold in Victoria and the resulting exodus of labour forced the closure of virtually every mine in South Australia.

The Silver Lead Mining Company in which Daniel Ferguson was involved also failed, disputes amongst the management a major contributing factor. The company was established by Osmond Gilles, the Colonial Treasurer for whom Glen Osmond is named. It produced galena, lead, copper and silver, but suffered the same difficulties with the exodus of labour in 1851 as Wheal Gawler. There also disputes over the royalties due to Gilles, a large charge on the company, resulting in Gilles' decision not to re-negotiate the lease. In his retirement speech, Daniel Ferguson proposed a toast to the colony, ruefully referring to his lack of success in mining, "with reference to the mining industry, he could not say much in its praise, as he had only one or two ventures and had not been very successful. He hoped however, their resources would be developed."

The Parkside Mill

Daniel Ferguson also owned a mill at Parkside Terrace and Glen Osmond Road, built opposite the Turf Hotel, on the former site of the residence of Dr Sweetapple. His son James is believed to have been involved in running it.

In the 1850s, agriculture in South Australia benefited from the discovery of gold in Victoria. Although labourers left South Australia, they needed provisions. Wheat-growers in South Australia helped to supply this market, and between 1850-7, the acreage of wheat in the colony increased from 41,807 acres to 175,865 acres. By 1853, South Australia was the wheat-growing centre of Australia. Flour mills were also needed, and the mill at Parkside prospered. In 1858, the Register advertised for wheat to store or grind at the mill, "Grist done at moderate prices and punctually attended to."

After Daniel Ferguson's death, the family sold the mill. By this stage, the market for wheat had fallen off. The Observer of 30 July 1864 contained an advertisement which indicated the extent to which Daniel Ferguson had built up the mill.

By Order of the Executors of the late Daniel Ferguson, Esq , At The Farm, Glen Osmond Road. To Capitalists, Speculators, Millers and Others, THE PARKSIDE MILL, Townsend, Botting and Kay ... will sell by auction...on Friday Aug 5 at 12 o'clock --All that valuable Freehold property known as the Parkside Mill situated at Parkside on the Mount Barker Road. The Mill is a substantial stone building of three storey, with complete machinery and mill gear, comprising 15 horse-power engine, Shell boiler, and new tubular boiler, 3 pairs Stones, Smut-machine, Dressing-machine, &,& There is on the property a Stable and Cottage. The land is about half an acre in extent, of finest... There is a first-rate well of never-failing water on the premises. Terms of sale, one-third cash, one-third at one year and one-third at 2 years, with interest at 8%.

The land was later sub-divided. The Register of 24 November 1880 advertised an auction of "that valuable block of land situated at the corner of the Parkside Terrace and Glen Osmond Road on which stood the well-known Ferguson mill. To Capitalists and others. On Thursday Dec 2 the above will be laid out in suitable allotments. Lithograph plates will be prepared and issued in due course." Another notice in the 9 December 1880 Advertiser read "At Old Parkside Mill. Under distress for Water rates. Quantity building materials. Auction"

As District Councillor

The early introduction of elected local government was a distinctive feature of the establishment of South Australia as a colony. One of the first councils to be set up was the East Torrens Council, gazetted on 26.5.1853, under the District Councils Act of 1852. All occupiers of rateable land, whether tenants or owners had the right to vote. Daniel Ferguson was one of the 5 members elected to the first council, representing the Southern section.

The Council first met at the World's End Hotel, Magill, on 13 June 1853. They began with no funds, but had the power to take over from the government the collection of licence fees for timber-cutters, slaughterers and publicans. Annual rates were also set, on the English principle of three-quarters of the estimated value, or 5% of the capital value. An assessor was also appointed.

The East Torrens District covered an area of 100 square miles. In 1851, it had a population of 3,705, with 739 dwellings. The area proved too large to be administered by five part-time councillors and two paid staff. Following petitions, it was divided into two smaller units, one of which became Burnside Council. On 14 August 1856, the District Council of Burnside was proclaimed, covering 10 square miles of the original East Torrens area. Daniel Ferguson was again elected as one of the five councillors, this time representing Glen Osmond.

The first meeting of the Council was held on 19 August 1856, at the Greengate Inn, Tusmore. Dr Christopher Penfold was elected chairman. Although it has long since disappeared, a plaque commemorating the first meeting and listing the names of the first councillors has been erected near the site, unveiled in 1956. It was reported the first meeting:

Resolved, that Dr Penfold be Chairman of the Burnside District Council.
Resolved, that the future meetings be held at the same place on the second and last Friday of each month, and that the next meeting shall take place on the 29th of the present month.
Resolved, that the Chairman apply to the Colonial Secretary for an advance of funds.
Resolved, that three advertisements be inserted in the Register for a Clerk and he be called upon to find security to an amount of £50.
Resolved, that all funds received by the District Council of Burnside be paid into the Bank of South Australia
Resolved, that all cheques drawn against money so deposited shall be signed by the Chairman and one of the Councillors.
Resolved, that the Chairman and Councillors of the District of East Torrens, prior to the division, should be requested to divide the balance of funds in their hands amongst the three districts; and that the landed property of Woodforde should sold, and the proceeds divided as above in proportion to their respective assessments.

The newly formed council immediately faced the problem of by-elections. John Austin decided to move to Victoria and William Milne was found ineligible to be a councillor. The full council did not meet until 29 December 1856, comprised of Dr Penfold, Daniel Ferguson, John Townsend and the newly elected James Grylls and Alexander Fergusson.

Daniel Ferguson served as a councillor for Burnside from 1856-63. In 1859, he became its 3rd chairman, taking over from Alexander Fergusson, who had replaced Dr Penfold. Daniel remained chairman for 4 years, until his retirement from the Council not long before he died. When Daniel Ferguson was councillor, the Council had to meet in borrowed rooms. Early meetings continued to be held at the Greengate Inn, or at Alexander Fergusson's home at Monreith. Later, a room was leased in John Fort's home at Burnside for 5 shillings a week, which covered the room and "accommodation for horses, together with fire and candles where necessary."

The Council's annual income was less than £500. According to the 1861 census, Burnside had a population of 1,210 with 261 buildings. With a limited income, it was restricted in what it could do, even with government assistance. To ensure their needs were met, residents sometimes had to subscribe partially or wholly to local projects.

Much of the Council's business was connected with roads, and residents presented petitions asking Council to establish internal streets. At times, decisions were deferred for lack of funds. In some cases, funds were specially raised. For example, J. W. Bull, Osmond Gilles' manager, attended a Council meeting to arrange for a road on the northern side of the Woodley section. This was accepted on the understanding that "the undernamed having agreed to raise the sum of £60 for completing the same - Mr Milne £10, Ferguson £10, Sturkey £20, Edgar £5, Gryllis £5, Davenport £10"

The Council also had the power to appoint District Constables and to lay down by-laws. Offences were usually to do with riding or parking drays on the footpath, allowing cattle to stray, and stealing sand or gravel from roadworks. The Council was also responsible for ensuring Scotch thistles were cut down and stubble burnt off.

The control of the cutting down of trees was another issue that came up frequently. For example, it was noted in the Minutes in 1857:

April: Resolved that Mr Daniel Ferguson be empowered to sell two trees on Glen Osmond Road at £1 each.
June: Chairman reported that he with Crs Ferguson and Gryllis had examined the District Road leading past Sections 1062, 1070 and 1277 and found that a number of trees ... were marked off for the purpose of being cut down.
Resolved that the Clerk write to owners and occupiers of such Sections cautioning them against cutting down such timber.
July: Messrs Williams & Grant engaged with the Council to complete Milne's Bridge . for £20 provided the Council will find trees containing sufficient timber for the job. Mr Gryllis and Mr D. Ferguson to point out the trees.

As well as holding positions on Burnside Council, Daniel Ferguson also held other positions in civic life. He was a Justice of the Peace and from 1861, also served as a member of the Central Road Board. Set up in 1849, its task was to help control the development of main roads in the colony. Although short of funds, it could raise money from licence fees on carriages and carts. Edmund Bowman, whose niece Jane Forrester later married Daniel's son, was a fellow member. Robert Kelly, whose wife was related to Mark Goldsack, later to marry Daniel's daughter Mary, was also a member. Daniel attended meetings of the Board until just before his death.

Involvement with Education

Daniel Ferguson played an important part in moves to set up the first public school in Glen Osmond. While local councils were given the power to "promote education in South Australia by aids towards the erection of schools and the payment of stipends to teachers," with limited income, they seldom had the means to do so, and funds to establish schools were more commonly raised through subscription.

Private schools already existed in Glen Osmond, however the private dwellings they were held in were quite unsuited for schoolrooms. As no suitable building existed in a central position for a public school, a number of residents presented a petition to Arthur Hardy in October 1856m asking him to take steps to establish a schoolroom at Glen Osmond under the trust of the Education Board. The Register of November 2, 1856 reported "a public meeting was held on Thursday morning at the Reading Room, Glen Osmond, to adopt measures for raising subscriptions for the erection of a public schoolroom in that locality. From seventy to eighty persons were present"

Private schools already existed in Glen Osmond, including the Reverend Platts', which had an enrolment of 81. Conflict arose over the issue of who was to control the new school. Reverend Platts wanted it to remain under his control and a motion was put to the meeting that "it is desirable for a schoolhouse to be erected at Glen Osmond, in connection with the existing school."

Opposition came from those who wanted to ensure secular control. Daniel Ferguson seconded an amendment that "the school be erected in connection with the Central Board of Education." Osmond Gilles had already offered land and a subscription of £50, so an alternative to Mr Platts' school was available.

The amendment was however, lost for the moment, Reverend Platts arguing that "the present school could not be less denominational than it was. It was already in connection with the Board of Education, and its conductors had no intention of receding from that position." Having won support, he also obtained consent to apply for a grant from the Central Education Board, and to appoint trustees.

Those opposed to Platts' plan refused to concede defeat. Proof was presented that Osmond Gilles' plan was not new, and in fact dated back to 1851. Attempts to reach a compromise by referring the Gilles' offer back to a committee were resisted, the question of who should appoint the trustees coming into dispute. Arthur Hardy, the Chairman, tried to bring the debate to a close arguing "the trustees should be appointed by the District Council. At all events, the whole matter must pass through the District Council's hands." He also moved a resolution thanking Osmond Gillies for "his kind offer, whether it were accepted or not." Daniel Ferguson seconded the motion, which was carried with cheers.

While the meeting ended at this point, controversy continued. On March 5, 1856 a notice appeared:

Proposed schoolhouse at Glen Osmond
At a meeting held at the Mechanics' Institute, on Thursday, October 30, 1856, it was resolved: "That it is desirable that a schoolhouse be erected at Glen Osmond in connection with the existing school (explained by Mr Platts to mean in connection with his private school) under the Central Board of Education." It is contrary to the intention of some of the subscribers that the proposed schoolhouse should be limited in connection with any particular existing school, and a meeting of those persons only whose subscriptions may be paid will be held at the Mechanics' Institute, Glen Omond on Wednesday, the 7th November, to determine on the disposal of funds in hand, when any person will be at liberty to withdraw his or her subscription. Arthur Hardy, Treasurer, pro term.

Daniel Ferguson was clearly a major force in having the second meeting called, as he is again recorded as proposing and seconding several motions. The first, which was carried unanimously, resolved "that it is desirable to carry out the erection of the proposed schoolhouse in accordance with the spirit of the memorandum to which the subscribers' names are affixed, that is to say, under the model deed of the Central Board of Education, and entirely unconnected with any denominational or other existing school Proposed by Arthur Hardy, seconded by Daniel Ferguson and carried unanimously"

A second resolution, put forward by Arthur Hardy, was more critical "That it is the opinion of the meeting that Mr Platts' resolution, as carried by him at the meeting on October 30 "That the proposed school house be in connection with the existing school" is opposed to the spirit of the memoranda in pursuance of which that meeting was called, and which memorandum was subscribed by Mr Platts; and that this meeting has no confidence in any support that gentleman may offer to the erection of a schoolhouse for the equal accommodation of all denominations."

Having regained control of the project, the meeting went on to allocate responsibility. At Daniel Ferguson's suggestions, Arthur Hardy was appointed treasurer. A new committee was established, with Daniel Ferguson the first named of the eleven members. It was decided that "they be authorised to negotiate for the most advantageous site; and that they be requested to procure plans and estimates from such persons as may be willing to furnish the same, and submit the same to a meeting."

Seven trustees were appointed, and again Daniel Ferguson's name was listed first. The site of the proposed school was to 'be vested in them upon the trusts of the model deed approved by the Central Board of Education.' The new school was completed in 1859 and comprised a large hall with two rooms for a teacher's residence. According to the Education Report for 1859 "Glen Osmond, with one exception the only suburban locality that has taken advantage of Government aid in building, possesses a large and well-furnished schoolroom. The master, aided by Mrs Tucker, teaches an orderly assemblage of pupils with ability, energy and success"

The school was later handed over to Burnside Council, when repairs became too costly. As well as serving its central purpose as a school, it also served as a public hall and became the new home of the Glen Osmond Institute. It was also used for religious services by various denominations on Sundays.

From 1859-64, Daniel Ferguson was also President of the Glen Osmond Institute. First known as the Glen Osmond Mechanics Institute, it was established by Arthur Hardy on his property to foster adult education, especially amongst the working classes. The Institute lapsed somewhat over the next few years, but in 1859, when the new schoolhouse was completed, interest was rekindled, and a new committee elected. A lecture program was organised. Statistics for the 1860s show that the Reading Room had more than 300 books, over 100 donated by Arthur Hardy's brother-in-law, the English philosopher John Stuart Mill. A debating club was also set up and Mutual Improvement classes held. Lectures were frequently illustrated by a magic lantern, and were usually well-attended.

Daniel Ferguson's involvement with education was also reflected in the establishment of a private school for young ladies in the refurbished dairy at Glenunga. Set up in 1861, it was run by his daughters, with the help of their cousins, Sarah and Mary Bird. It last appeared in directories in 1883 as Miss Ferguson's School.

Elder of the First Presbyterian Church

Daniel Ferguson had been ordained as an elder in the United Associate Secession church in Scotland. He continued to play an active role in church life after he migrated to Australia and was closely involved with the establishment of the first Presbyterian church in South Australia.

The first Presbyterian service was held at the South Australian Society's schoolroom in North Terrace on 14 July 1839. A meeting was held soon after to discuss establishing a church and a committee was set up to collect subscriptions. At a second meeting on 18 October 1839, a congregation called the Scotch Kirk was established, with Daniel Ferguson elected as one of the first elders.

The church records state: The congregation met according to previous intimation and after prayer and our adoption of the principals and constitution of the church by the Reverend Ralph Drummond proceeded to elect Elders. It being stated that Messrs Daniel Ferguson and John Harkness were ordained Elders of the United Associate Secession congregation of Lochmaben in Scotland and were then present, it was unanimously agreed that they be requested to take this office in the congregation and they having expressed their willingness to do so were admitted and ordained to be ruling Elders of the church. Concluded with prayers

From November 24, they met in the schoolroom in the Reverend Ralph Drummond's home in Angas Street. As the congregation grew, a canvas awning had to be erected to increase seating capacity. A building was urgently needed and by January 1840 a special fund had been established. Congregation members were asked to take out £5 shares, bearing 20% interest. In the first year, £452 was raised, which also allowed for an increase in the Reverend Drummond's stipend.

Sir James Malcolm donated a site in Gouger Street, and a tender was accepted from Samuel Mills for £550 for mason work only. The foundation stone was laid on 30 November 1840, St Andrews Day. A plate was inscribed "Fourth year of the colony, George Gawler, Governor, Presbyterian Church." Daniel Ferguson's name, as elder, was inscribed on it, along with the names of the other elders, the trustees, the managers, builders and architects.

The building measured 60 feet by 40 feet and was made from stone from a quarry behind government house. A slate roof was later added. The church, described as 'a severely simple gable-ended stone structure, to seat 260' was opened on 27 February 1842, but remained unfinished for some time, as its members were reluctant to go into debt. It was not plastered until 1845. Two vestries were added at the rear in 1850.

As well as serving the congregation in the city, the Minister also had to keep in touch with settlers in the country. Gawler Plains, where Daniel Ferguson first settled, was included in his itinerary. The size of the parish made it urgent that an assistant be appointed. In 1846, a request was made to the Synod in Scotland to send out a missionary. In 1851, William Baird Miller arrived. Presbyterians in the Barossa and Little Para districts asked for him to be stationed at Mt Crawford, where a church had been built in the 1840s. When Mr Miller went there on his arrival, members of the city church were dissatisfied.

On 20 April 1851 a meeting of the congregation was called to discuss a petition signed by six members of the Board of Management asking for Miller to be assigned to assist Drummond, so he could more effectively administer to the whole parish. A motion was put forward by some of the town people, suggesting Miller and Drummond share the work. However, neither Drummond nor Miller were happy with this suggestion and Drummond would not let the motion be put to the meeting. The meeting described by one member as "very uproarious" resulted in a serious rupture in the Gouger Street congregation. Daniel Ferguson and all of the elders except one resigned, as did all but one of the managers. The minute books were taken away and only recovered by the church when legal action was threatened.

The Gouger Street church continued, at first with a very much reduced congregation. In 1865, its congregation moved to a new church in Flinders Street. The Gouger Street property was sold, becoming in turn a hall, a school and a Crusaders temple before being incorporated in 1895 in the development of People Stores. Three walls, part of the roof, the northern gable and two stained glass windows remained, until the entire building was finally demolished in 1983.

Dissident members of the Gouger Street congregation joined other Presbyterian churches, as they became established. The Gouger Street Church belonged to the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Daniel Ferguson was one of 16 members who left to join the newly built Chalmers Free Church, in North Terrace, while others left to join the Grenfell Street Church of Scotland. The Free Church quickly attracted support in South Australia. By the end of 1851, it had 133 communicants, including the 17 who had left Gouger Street.

Daniel Ferguson was admitted to the eldership at Chalmers Street on January 30, 1859. He resigned on 5 April 1864, because of poor health, having served as an elder for five years. Chalmers Church had by then grown considerably, especially in comparison to the other two churches. In 1865, it had 200 communicants, an average attendance of 400 and 230 Sunday school scholars.

The Cyclopedia of South Australia in 1902 described the "Chalmers Church, by its commanding position on North Terrace at the corner of Pulteney Street, impresses the visitor as being the most representative Presbyterian Church in Adelaide."

Retirement from Public Life

To mark Daniel Ferguson's retirement as chairman of Burnside Council, a dinner was held for him at the Vine Inn on Thursday 2 July 1863. Local dignitaries came to pay their respects. According to the Register, "About forty persons sat down to an excellent dinner provided by Mrs Henderson, the hostess. The Hon W Milne presided and was supported on his right by the guest for the evening and Mr J W Bull, and on his left by Mr W S Whittington. Mr Thomas Graves filled the Vice-Chair. A party of German settlers also attended." Toasts were first proposed to "Her Majesty the Queen," "the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family" and "His Excellency the Governor," all of which were received with cheering and drunk with tokens of loyalty. David Packham then sang "I'm Afloat." Next were toasts to "the Houses of Parliament" then the Chairman turned to "the toast of the evening, the Health of Mr Daniel Ferguson." William Milne spoke at length on Daniel Ferguson's contribution to public life

"Mr Ferguson had made up his mind to retire from the District council; and though all would regret losing the benefit of his services, it was only right to show a slight appreciation of what Mr Ferguson had done for them". He expressed his pleasure at presiding, for he was not only able to appreciate Mr Ferguson's services as District Councillor, but could testify to the services he had rendered in a public capacity, where he had always endeavoured to advance the interests of the colony. The duties of a District Councillor were responsible and important, especially in the care and maintenance of the roads. Mr Ferguson had a great deal of practical experience and they had the benefit of his services gratuitously for years. He was sure the district of Burnside might be taken as a model, for their funds were appropriated in a careful and economical manner. A large amount of the present satisfactory state of the district was owing to their respected guest. He did not wish to depreciate the other District Councillors, but he thought Mr Ferguson, from his greater age and experience had been the most useful member of the Council. Mr Ferguson had proved himself valuable in many other matters. He had attended a large number of agricultural meetings himself, and he almost invariably met Mr Ferguson there, he being always willing to render any service in his power. Mr Ferguson was also a member of the Central Road Board - a very important institution in the colony - and his services were highly appreciated by the Government and the country generally. He could only say in conclusion, that throughout the long period that he had known him, he had always found him - whether as a private or a public man - to act in a manner which had assured him of the respect of all persons (Cheers) The toast was drunk with more cheering, with "one more for Mrs Ferguson". A song was then sung "in an excellent manner" by the party of German gentlemen from Adelaide.

"Daniel Ferguson was then called on to speak, replying that he rose with considerable diffidence to return thanks for the eulogistic manner in which the toast had been proposed, and the enthusiastic reception it had met with. He felt that the Chairman had rated his services much beyond their merits ("No"). When the idea of a dinner was first put to him, he stated that he was perfectly satisfied with the honour of a unanimous vote of thanks from the Council for his past services. He had no idea of being surrounded by so many friends, with some of whom he had no personal acquaintance. He had now been a colonist for 25 years and had always taken a warm interest in the progress and industry of the colony, more particularly with reference to agriculture and roads. Very often however, it was not he who made suggestions, but the person who carried them out who deserved the praise. He remembered some years ago moving that a farmers periodical should be published by the Agricultural Society, but it was opposed on the grounds that it was a matter of speculation. Mr E W Andrews however, came forward and offered to take the whole responsibility of such a paper published as Farm and Garden, if the Agricultural and Horticultural Society would honour him with its patronage. He was sure everyone who had read it had received practical lessons ("Hear, hear") and would join him in expressing regret that by want of support, it had now become defunct. He also had the honour to initiate the Farmers Club, which however, also from lack of support had fallen to the ground.

With reference to District Councils, he remarked that they were very useful institutions. He was a member of the first Council in East Torrens, which was successful for a time, but in consequences of disagreement the district was divided and Burnside Council was formed. He was connected with the East Torrens Council for two years. Dr Penfold was their first Chairman, Mr A Fergusson their second, and he had filled the same capacity for five years. They had acted with harmony, and he believed that they had given general satisfaction (Cheers). He believed that the roads and bridges of Burnside were a model for other districts. The Council however should be considered together, for he was only a humble member of it. It was now his desire to retire from the Council to make room for a gentleman who had sufficient spare time to devote to their interests. With these observations he thanked them for the honour they had done him (Cheers).

Following this speech, the German party again sang, then Daniel Ferguson proposed a toast to "The Various Interests of the Colony," stating he considered "the agricultural as the principal interest of the colony. When he came to the colony there were only four or five acres cropped, but this year their exportation, after feeding themselves would amount to 50,000 to 60,000 tons. It was evident that some depression existed at present, but he hoped that this would soon be dissipated. It was necessary for them also to have mercantile men like their Chairman. The pastoral interest was progressing well, and had become an important interest of the colony. With reference to the mining interest, he could not say very much in its praise, as he had only had one or two ventures, and had not been very successful. He hoped however, their resources would be developed, and he would ask them to drink to "The Various Interests of the Colony."

The Vice-Chairman responded, adding his thoughts, then a toast was proposed to "Lady Daly and the Ladies of South Australia" which Gilbert Ferguson acknowledged. Before they parted, Mr Bull proposed a toast to "the fatherland," referring to the pleasures with which they frequently remembered "the old country." My Meyers then made a speech in German, and Mr Schumm translated. The last toast was to "the health of the hostess" and the meeting separated at 11 pm.

Daniel Ferguson's Death

Daniel Ferguson died on Thursday 26 May 1864, aged 68, less than a year after his retirement from public life. The certificate lists the cause of death as old age.

According to his obituary in The Register "Mr Daniel Ferguson died on May 26 at his residence "Glenunga" near Glen Osmond. He had been ill for some time previously and had been unable to attend the last meeting of the Central Road Board, of which he was a member, but it was not known generally that his end was so near. Mr Ferguson, during his residence in the Colony, has in his private capacity, gained the respect and esteem of a large number of people, particularly among those engaged in the progress of Agriculture and in the improvement of the roads in the Province. He has occupied various public positions all of which he has filled with great satisfaction. He was the founder and President of the first Farmer's Club. He first suggested the establishment of a periodical under the auspices of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society which suggestion led to the publication of "The Farm and Garden." He was President for a long time and one of the Vice Presidents of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He was for years a member of the Central Road Board and ten years a Member of the Burnside District Council in which district he resided. His opinions were always regarded with more than usual attention whenever they were expressed. On July 2nd 1863 a dinner was given for him at the "Vine Inn" at Glen Osmond as a mark of respect to him and as an acknowledgment of the services he rendered to the District. On the occasion Mr Wm Milne M.P. proposed Mr Ferguson's health and in so doing paid the deceased a well merited ecominium for his service in connection with the material prosperity of the Colony. The funeral will take place on Saturday May 28th.

Daniel Ferguson was buried on 28 May 1864 at West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide. His wife and children Janet, Margaret, William and Alexander and his brother-in-law Thomas Bird, were later buried with him. The memorial inscription reads :

In memory of
Daniel Ferguson
Died 26 May 1864 aged 68 years
Helen wife of the above died 9 November 1885 aged 80
Wm Son of above died May 19 1870 aged 19 years
Thomas Bird died May 18 1870 aged 75 years
"Waiting for the Coming of the Lord"
Janet Ferguson youngest daughter of above died 7 June 1912
Alexander son of above died 3 Sept 1913 aged 78 years

On 27 May 1963, 99 years after Daniel Ferguson was buried, the lease on the Ferguson family grave was re-issued to Hugh McFarlane Ferguson.

Daniel Ferguson had made his will on 7 May 1864, less than three weeks before he died. He appointed the Hon Thomas Elder, MLC and James Munro Linklater as executors. Household possessions were left to his wife, who inherited "all the pictures books plate linen china wines household goods and furniture, which shall at my death be in or about my dwelling house." Two specific bequests were made, of £10 to his wife and £50 to his oldest son Charles, to be paid within three calendar months of his death. His executors were given the power to "convert into money such part of my said personal estate as shall not consist of money ... to sell the same either together or in parcels and either by public auction or by private contract." The proceeds were to be invested in Government or real securities in the province of South Australia, with the annual income to be paid to his wife as long as she lived or as long as she remained his widow. After Helen's death, the annual income was to be held in trust for all of his children, except James "who has already been provided for and is indebted to me in the sum of £40. His sons were to receive the principal sum when they reached 21 and his daughters when they reached 21 or married, with the trustees allowed to vary this if need be.

When Daniel died, Mary, Janet and William were still under-age. His concern for their future was reflected in the specification in his will that "I appoint my said wife and the said Thomas Elder and James Munro Linklater guardians of my infant children," with the proviso that half of the income due to them could be used for their advancement or betterment. Probate on his estate was granted to James Munro Linklater on 28 July 1864, 2 months after his death, his estate "sworn under £1,000." Although the dissolution of his estate began, his family remained at Glenunga for a further 75 years.

The gradual disposal of Glenunga began two months after Daniel's death, when the farm stock and implements that he had built up in his years in Australia were advertised for auction in The Observer of 30 July 1865. Helen Ferguson remained at Glenunga for a further 21 years. The family continued to draw income from the school run by her daughters in the old dairy and from the farm. Janet taught in the school until 1883, while Alexander looked after the property.

The household was depleted by the death of William in May 1870 and the marriage in December that year of Mary. Elizabeth married in 1874 and Margaret in 1878, while Janet and Alexander remained at home with their mother, neither marrying. In 1876, Elizabeth returned with her infant son, William, after the tragic death of her husband. Helen died at Glenunga on 9 January 1885, aged 79, the notice of her death in the Chronicle referring to her as a colonist of 47 years. She was buried with her husband at West Terrace. In her will, valued for probate at £400, Helen bequeathed her personal property to her daughters, while Alexander, who was appointed sole executor, inherited "all the rest residue and remainder of my property both real and personal" subject to any debts being paid.

Her personal bequests give some indication of Glenunga at the time. To her daughter Elizabeth, she left "all the furniture and effects in and about the bedroom I now occupy (expect the chest of drawers in my said bedroom), the seat now on the verandah and also the washing copper mangle and all my crockery." To her daughter Mary Goldsack, she left "all the furniture and effects in the bedroom in my dwelling house known as the spare room." To her daughter Janet, still living at Glenunga, she left "all the furniture and effects including the piano in the room in my dwelling house known as the parlour and also the chest of drawers in my said bedroom and also the easy chair in the room known as the sitting room and also all my chairs and all my knives and forks and spoons." Not long after Helen's death in 1885, the family decided to sell the entire farm, advertising it in the Register of 15 March 1886 as:

By Order Trustees Est of D. Ferguson
Very Valuable Suburban Property
"Ferguson's Section" Glen Osmond Rd
Melvin ... Instructed to sell in one lot section 271 HD of Adelaide
80 acres known as property of late Mr Daniel Ferguson. This fine estate
has a long frontage to main road and tramline, is substantially fenced
and has comfortable dwelling, stables, outhouses, garden etc.
This is rich soil, healthy position, splendid views of sea, easy access,
superior neighbourhood, convenient trams ....
NB. The special attention of Capitalists, Trustees, Investors etc is invited
to the important Sale of a most eligible property near city

It was not until 1893 that substantial blocks of land surrounding Glenunga House were sold, in 10 and 12 acre lots. The buyers included Goldsack, Weidenbach, Rule, Buring, Hall and Hampson. Another buyer was Albert Conrad, an architect who purchased 24 acres between Glenunga Road and Fowlers Road, developing the section in 1912, when he built a new "Glenunga House."

Janet and Alexander Ferguson remained in the house after their mother's death, joined in 1876 by the widowed Elizabeth and her son and by Margaret in 1900. Janet died in 1912, followed by Alexander in 1913, Elizabeth in 1916 and Margaret in 1919. After the death of the last of Daniel Ferguson's children, Glenunga House was sold to Albert Conrad, who demolished it in 1992 when he subdivided the land, replacing the farmhouse and grounds with 13 allotments. Daniel Ferguson's grandson, William Murdoch built a house at Myola Avenue on land that once belonged to his grandfather's farm. Others of Daniel's descendants have also lived in the area that once formed Glenunga farm. While Glenunga House has long since disappeared, the name lives on in the suburb that includes the area where Daniel Ferguson once farmed.

(1847-1920) Robert Roland Stevenson

Robert Rowland Stevenson 1867

The story of Robert Roland Stevenson, adventurer, surveyor, explorer, railway-man and father, as told by his grand-daughter, Eunice Margaret Stevenson. Researched and written over several years. Completed in 1985.

 

Family

Grandparents

Robert Stevenson, a weaver of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland and his wife Christina (née Ferguson). Married October 27th. 1816, Paisley.

Parents

Captain Walter Stevenson, Master Mariner, lost at sea 1859, and his wife Margaret (née Robertson) - (1825-1888) of "Glen Darrick", Paisley. They married at the parish church of Paisley Low on November 17th 1843 when Margaret was aged 18. There were only two children of this marriage. Malcolm, the elder, born c.1844 became a seaman and was swept over board in the Bay of Biscay on December 15, 1870, aged about 26 years. He married early, and his wife apparently died young as two children were left with their maternal grandmother at Paisley. One died "the time Malcolm was in America" according to one of the American letters written last century, copies of which were sent to the writer by her distant cousin Franc Ryan (née Burns) of New York in 1967. The other, also Malcolm who used the surname Robertson as did his father, was living at Paisley in 1888 where he was employed at an engineering works. He was married with children. Nothing further is known of this nephew of RRS.

Younger son of Captain WALTER & MARGARET STEVENSON of Paisley, Renfrewshire, was born on July 3, 1847 in Perthshire. According to the marriage certificate of RRS the place was "Ardeevalloch". However no such town or village of this name exists. It is thought that the spelling is phonetic and should be Ardvorlich, near Killin, Perthshire. This is a village on Loch Earn and also the name of the hereditary house of the Stewarts. How the mother of RRS came to be at that remote place for the birth of her child must remain a mystery. He was named simply Robert Stevenson and assumed the second name of Rowland at a later time at the behest of his father, apparently to ensure identification if such was ever needed.

Marriage: On January 5, 1877 to MARIA NICHOLLS (born 28/1/1855 at Inverleigh, Victoria) the 2nd. surviving daughter of MARIAN (née DOWNES) and HENRY NICHOLLS of "Sutton Grange", Linton, Victoria, and formerly of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. The marriage took place at "Sutton Grange", the Rev. J.B. Smith, Methodist minister, officiating. Witnesses were Maria's sister Clara Isabella (Mrs. John Inglis) and her brother, Edmund Nicholls.

Children

1. ADA MARGARET STEVENSON born June 29, 1878 at "Belleview Cottage", Port Wakefield, S.A.
2. FLORENCE MARIAN STEVENSON born April 16,1880 at Ewen Street, Kadina, S.A.
3. CLARA HARRIETT (HETTIE) STEVENSON born February 14,1882 at Bowden, S.A.
4. WALTER ROWLAND STEVENSON born September 3,1883 at Kingston, S.A.
5. RONALD ROBERT STEVENSON born December 11,1885 at Bordertown, S.A.
6. STUART HENRY STEVENSON born February 10,1888 at Bordertown, S.A.
7. BLAINE REID STEVENSON born March 31, 1890 at Bordertown, S.A.
8. KEITH MELVILLE STEVENSON born June 11,1893 at Bordertown, S.A.
9. JEAN LILIAN STEVENSON born July 15, 1896 at 79 Unley Road, Unley, S.A.

Robert Rowland Stevenson died at his residence "Craigielea", 79 Unley Road, Unley, S.A. on October 24, 1920, aged 73 years. Interred West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

His wife, Maria, died at her residence, Unley Road, Unley, on July 25, 1935, aged 80 years. Interred in the family plot at West Terrace, Adelaide. There is a headstone with dates.

Childhood

RRS told his children that he was born with a caul over his head, which according to an old Scottish legend ensures good fortune and safety from drowning. If the first failed to eventuate at least the second proved correct for him. As a lad at Paisley when skating with a companion one winter they ventured onto thin ice. RRS narrowly escaped falling through but his companion was drowned.

The captain, his father, was absent for long periods at sea. According to RRS Walter Stevenson owned his ship and conveyed emigrants to America and as he was domiciled at Paisley it is presumed that he plied from the Clyde and the sea port of Glasgow. His young wife Margaret was a native of Paisley and had been married at 18. Perhaps being alone with two young children so much, although she had many relatives in the town, she was persuaded to elope by a plausible rogue named John Burns. RRS was 5 years of age and never saw his mother again and knew nothing of her at first hand until he was put in touch with her when he was 29.

There was no divorce at that time except by act of Parliament so that her American marriage to John Burns made during the lifetime of her first husband was bigamous and her three Burns sons were illegitimate. However, she was a woman of upright character and innocently believed that her marriage to Burns was legal. He proved to be a very weak reed indeed. Not only was he a poor provider but mostly a non-provider so that to take care of her children she was forced to set up as a boarding house keeper, in New York.

John Burns joined the Northern Army during the American Civil War but deserted from a Maryland hospital and returned to Paisley in 1864. His letters to Margaret have been preserved. This venture was also unsuccessful and he wrote demanding that she pay his fare back to New York which she did. He was deceased by 1868. According to his descendants, when the authorities approached his wife for the cost of burial she refused, as by then she had had more than enough of his careless behaviour. He was interred as a pauper in "Potter's Field" at a New York cemetery. Margaret died aged 63 years on September 29, 1888 at her New York residence. Copies of the letters which have survived will be included later in this account.

So, RRS and his brother Malcolm were virtually motherless from an early age. They were placed with a grandmother, but whether the Stevenson or the Robertson one is not stated. RRS was aged 12 years when his father failed to return from a voyage in 1859. Malcolm was already at sea following his father's profession. It was the termination of the young Robert's education, the lack of which was to haunt him for the remainder of his life. His writing, that was so poor when he was young, gradually improved, so that when he commenced an account of his life in old age, he did very well.

The next two years were difficult. He worked by day for local farmers and tried to improve himself by attending night school, but by then he was too weary to absorb much in the way of lessons. At 14 he left Paisley, as it proved, forever. Some of the Robertson relatives farewelled him at Glasgow Quay. These included his cousin James Clark junior who later corresponded. He travelled to London to be apprenticed to the Black Ball Line of ships, a well known one of the period that was owned by Scottish James Bayne. In his unfinished biography RRS gives no indication of any voyage taken prior to the one which took him to Australia, but as this took place a year later, in 1862, there was doubtless an earlier one.

Arrival in South Australia (1862)

RRS was 15 when the "Morning Star", a sailing ship of 1285 tons left Liverpool on November 20, 1862 with Captain Matthews and First Officer Grainger and 400 passengers, bound for South Australia. They reached Port Adelaide on February 15, 1863. RRS hated the sea life and the considerable hardships of an Able Seaman. Reports of the harsh treatment of the crew by Captain Matthews were hinted at in Adelaide newspapers. RRS had discovered that the sea was definitely not his vocation and with a fellow crew member of like mind, was given leave to travel by train to the city, eight miles inland. They took the precaution of conveying their sea chests too.

They hid at an Adelaide boarding house for three days then RRS made his way to a sheep and cattle station 100 miles north of the city. This was "Wandillah" at Kooringa, which is now part of the Burra District. At that time Richard Hallett was the proprietor. Meantime Captain Matthews was advertising for his missing seamen. A £10 reward was offered for any information as to their whereabouts. None was forthcoming and 3 weeks later the "Morning Star" sailed minus two lads. RRS remained at "Wandilla" for about three years and must have left in January 1866. His relative, Alexander Gray, made enquiry from Paisley and received this curt reply:-

Wandillah
17th June 1866
Mr. A. Gray,
Sir,
R. Stevenson left my employment six months back, and at present I have not the slightest idea where he is. I have returned you the letter as requested.
Yours truly,
Richard Hallett.

Surveyor (1865)

Some later research at the Adelaide Archives brought forth the record of RRS entering the South Australian Survey Department on November 18, 1865 as a cadet Chainman on ordinary surveys at a weekly wage of 6 shillings which included Sundays. He received rations and was housed in a tent. He was now 17. A letter which he wrote his cousin Catherine Risk in April 1867 (given verbatim) describes his early years in South Australia.

Survey Camp,
Adelaide, Australia
24/12/1867
Dear Sister,
I now embrace the opportunity of writting to you to let you know that i am well and hopping this will find you & Robert & family the same, i hope i have given no offence by the way in which i have headed my letter; for Caty you know you were always a sister to me and i have always had a Brother's love for you; never shall i forget the time when I was ill with the fever when no-one was there even to wet my lips; you who attended all my littel wants as if i had been a child. But indeed i was littel more than a child at the time but now Dear Sister i have grown up to the state of manhood and now it is that i feel the want of your council and advice. Dear sister, since i came out to this Conlia [colony] i was for nine months confined to a sick bed, a sick bed which i thought i should never rise from any more in this world but i prayed often to God that the cup of agony might pass away, but God was pleased to let the cup pass from me without me having to drink of its bitterness. Dear Sister, when the doctors pronounced their hopes of my recovery my heart overflowed with joy at thoughts of at some future day of seeing those that i Love and are dear to me. Dear Sister, no-one knows what the disentry is but those that has suffered with its pains and had to bear with its agoneys; when i was able to sit up in bed i happened one day to look in the Looking Glass; i almost got afraid of my own Shadow, my face was pail and my cheek bones were projecting through the scin; i looked a perfect fright, even the young lady that used to attend me when i was getting better used to say that she often heard of a ghost but had never seen one but me; many a time i laughed at her sayings since i got better. She was a Miss Obrine and is now a Mrs. Rayn [probably Ryan].
Dear Sister, i am at present in a government situation on the Survey Department; the wages is small they are ninety five pounds per annum [$195] and have to find myself; it costs me nothing for lodgings because we live in tents out in the bush; at present our camp is over two hundred miles from the city of Adelaide & i intend to get my likeness taken as soon as i can get to the city and i should like very much to get a card of visite of yours & Robert's & also Margaret & Anne; i have written to Craigielee twist and have got Know answer yet so i intend to write no more; and yet i should like to see that place where memry brings back to my recollection where i spent the happy days of boyhood but alas those days are gone and will never return, they are gone, gone like those that have gone to sleep until the world that is to come.
Dear Sister, i have to ask you to ask Robert if he will be kind enough to call upon a Mr. John Ward who is a Taillor & Clother and tell him that his Brother-in-law, Mr. Michael 0'Reilly, Surveyor, sends his compliments and best wishes to him and Famley; i believe his establishment is in the high street or about the Croos somewhere; by doing so he will oblige Mr. 0'Reilly and me. I hope dear sister you will write by the following [mail] after the receiving of this i must conclude with Kind Love to all Uncals and Anuts and cousions and hope to be allowed to remain your affect. Brother
R.R. Stevenson.
P.S. Dear Sister perhaps you will wounder how that i sine my name Robert Rowland but if ever it pleased God to spare us to meet again you shall know what it is for and why it is that i have taken it; it was a request of my father before he died. Dear Sister, when you write be sure to let me know about Mr. Ward; be sure to write soon as i shall be expecting, yours R.R.S.
Direct to care of Mr. Henry Davies, Cooper, Walkerville via Adelaide, Australia.

The photograph which RRS desired to have taken was duly executed that same year (1867) when he was aged 20. It shows him in Highland costume. He was bearded and of strong build. However the kilt appears to have been made for a larger man so undoubtedly had belonged to his father. Some copies are still extant and one has been engraved on brass with his name and dates of birth and death beneath. This costume was subsequently lost in a house fire at Linton, Victoria. The tartan is the Royal Stuart. He was also entitled to use the Robertson. According to the father of RRS their family was given permission to use the Stuart tartan in perpetuity by Bonnie Prince Charlie as reward for saving his life during the 1745 troubles. Blind Willie Stevenson, a famous fiddler played "The Campbells are Coming" outside the inn where the Prince was staying enabling him to escape his enemies. Sir Walter Scott mentioned this in his book "Red Gauntlet".

According to the reminiscences written in pencil by RRS, in 1868 he was told to hold himself in readiness to be one of the party of the Surveyor General, George Woodroofe Goyder, for a journey of exploration to the Northern Territory which at that time was largely unknown. RRS must have informed the Paisley relatives of this proposed trip. His position was at the beginning "Axeman" but he was promoted in the field during the course of the exploration. One of his aunts had an exaggerated idea of the importance of the position RRS held. This letter was written from Scotland to his mother in America. He had still not been put in touch with her as this particular aunt refused to give their addresses to either of them. She apparently enjoyed her position of go between too much to oblige. The letter is also one of condolence at the death of John Burns.

64 Canal Street,
Paisley
25th. Nov. 1868
My Dear Sister,
I again embrace this opportunity of writing you to let you know that we are all well, hoping this will find you all enjoying the same. I have now received 3 papers from you which I beg to thank you very heartily. And would still wish you to send me on more because I enjoy reading them very much.
We were very sorry to hear of your husband's death, also of brother William's which we are informed took place some time ago. But if it was God's Will, we cannot murmur and may they have both been able to say ere they closed their eyes to this world and took the long, long sleep of death -- may they have been able to say with Job of old, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Any information you can give us regarding WILLIAM'S death will be thankfully received.
We have had several letters from ROBERT since we wrote you last. I may state that he is in the highest stages of a government situation. In fact, he cannot get any further without the aid of some very influential gentleman of that country to speak in his favour. In his last note he takes leave of us for 3 years, perhaps forever, as he leaves the place he is at present in to explore the "Northern Territories" of "New Zealand". They have to carry firearms with them as the people are very savage, and don't know when they may be attacked.
The last note we had from MALCOLM he was cruising about the Spanish coast. When we wrote him we gave him your address in "New York" and likely he will have written you by this time.
Trade in general in Paisley is very slack at present.
Paisley is at present the scene of great confusion on account of the Election, but it is all over now. We have sent you by this post a newspaper containing all the news of the Election.
Allow me to conclude with all our best compliments and as this is likely the last letter before New Year's we wish you all a Happy New Year and many happy returns,
No more but remain your affectionate sister
Mrs. James Clark

Hilarious as the above appears in retrospect it would not have been exactly comforting to the mother who had not seen her son for 14 years. Also there is more than a little doubt over her New York address being sent to RRS at this time as it was another 8 or 9 years before mother and son commenced to correspond.

The Goyder Expedition (1868-1870)

RRS kept a diary of this period which in later years he lent to a friend. It was never returned. His other pages which included a hand drawn and coloured map of Darwin were given to the Adelaide Archives by his youngest son Keith in 1920. The original acknowledgment of this is held by the writer. The following account gives the kind of detail which would have been recorded in the missing diary. Since this was originally written in 1967 a book has been published by Goyder's grand-daughter, Margaret Goyder Kerr, called "The Survivors" - "The story of the Founding of Darwin" - Rigby 1971. It of course includes the material I found in the Adelaide "Advertiser" and "Express & Telegraph as well as much more.

That RRS "held himself in readiness" indicates that he was ordered to be of the party and was not one of the 1400 applicants from the eastern states as well as from South Australia. The final number selected was 140 men. George Woodroffe Goyder was to lead this expedition to the far north, 2000 miles from Adelaide, choose the site for a town and survey half a million acres of tropical territory, which was expected to take about 2 years. Previous expeditions had failed so that the general opinion was that this one would also prove disastrous.

Goyder, known as "Little Energy" for his size and his industry, and his party left Port Adelaide on December 23, 1868 in the "Moonta", (Capt. Thomas Barneson). It was an old but seaworthy vessel. It was packed so tightly with men, livestock, 100 water tanks of 400 gallons each which had to last the whole journey and tons of equipment that there was no room on deck for exercise. RRS had to provide himself with knife, fork, spoon, towel and bedding (a mattress was provided) and the only luggage permitted was a sailor's canvas bag for clothes etc.

There had been a great send-off with hundreds of persons on shore cheering and waving but bad weather held them up for 3 days in the north arm of the Port River with only an outlook of swamp and mangroves. Contrary to a newspaper report of a "fine Christmas dinner on board" the fare that day was the usual sea rations of salt pork and hard tack without so much as a taste of plum pudding. By January 10 (1869) they had rounded Cape Leeuwin and were heading north. They were becalmed in oppressive heat for 5 days and to lessen the tedium of tiny cabins without ventilation, poor food and overcrowding a newspaper was published with W. Fisher as editor. It was called "The Moonta and Northern Territory Gazette". Church services conducted by Dr. Peel (the surgeon with the expedition) a choir was formed (there was a harmonium on board) and concerts and amateur theatricals were performed. RRS does not appear to have had any musical ability so it is presumed he formed one of the appreciative audience.In spite of such poor conditions on the "Moonta" not one real disagreement occurred. Every Saturday Mr. Fisher held an auction on the forecastle and a great variety of goods changed hands at inflated prices.

They were becalmed again in sight of Timor, 90 miles distant, but Fort Darwin was reached in a record 40 days. Within half an hour Mr. Goyder was on shore looking for a suitable camp site which he chose on a high bluff known as Point Fort. A well was sunk in excessive heat, a thunderstorm arrived punctually every afternoon as it was the wet season and prickly heat commenced to plague everyone. Once the bluff was left sand flies and mosquitoes swarmed so nets were made "square rigged" of cheese cloth taken along for that purpose.

Although RRS is shown as "axeman" in the M.G. Kerr book, the official record of Mr. Goyder lists him as starting out as a "trencher", then "axeman", followed by "chainman" and finally as "Head man in the Field". He was one of the No. 6 party under the leadership of George MacLachlan and second class Officer Daniel Daly, a nephew of the recently deceased Governor Sir Dominic Daly of South Australia. Daniel had been sent out to be aide-de-camp to his uncle which position had ceased when the uncle died in office. He kept a diary and in lieu of RRS's own, some extracts are included. No 6 party was composed of the above leaders plus Cadets Thos. B, and C. Wells. Headsmen were E. Ryan - G.A. Armstong - J. Gerrald - and M.Ryan. The chainmen were W. Fisher (the former auctioneer) and J. London. Trenchers: RRS, P. Healy, D.Heir and H.H.Irwin with T.Stevens as their cook. I noted in another party two of the men who were to accompany RRS to the north in 1872, namely Will Collett and Richard Robinson. This group surveyed the East Arm although in view of his gradual move up the ladder he may have been attached to other groups as time progressed.

Within 3 weeks a road to the well had been constructed, the livestock landed (horses, cattle, goats and hens), a store built for perishable goods, a jetty erected, a substantial one, Point Fort cleared of dense scrub and a trig station set up there and several other roads made. Trees, flowers, animals and insect life were listed and the painting and photographing of these was begun enthusiastically by the officials of these arts. But the men worked immensely hard. The scrub barriers had to be hacked through for the surveys and the spear grass was so tall that small men moving through it were quite invisible. Then the natives began to filter around the camp sites and brought bark for roofing in return for food. Fresh food was a problem as game was not readily available and fish were scarce. Lime juice had been overlooked when provisions were ordered and gradually ailments showed up amongst the men. Boils, headaches, sore eyes, swollen legs, swollen gums, loose teeth and the ever present bites of insects.During this early part of the survey the party with RRS had been timber cutting at the East Arm and camping on the beach and so escaped mosquitoes and flies, those inland all suffered from the exhausting humidity and heat.

The "Moonta" left on March 4, and Daly took his party to survey a new township called Virginia still on the East Arm but 20 miles away. Mr. Goyder was tireless and drove the men hard and they would return to the camp at night too exhausted even to eat. The "Gulnare" from S.A. arrived on Easter Sunday with very welcome fresh supplies and clothing which included cabbage tree hats to replace the sweat blackened felts. RRS was still away at the Virginia camp as Daly reported their whereabouts at this time in a letter which survives at the Archives (Adelaide). There was a good deal of sickness amongst the men, the doctor was inefficient so Daly was dosing them himself from the medicine chest in his charge. The natives were peaceable but they all slept with loaded revolvers at their sides.

J.Bennett who had been learning the native language had been rather too friendly with the aborigines in the opinion of Mr. Goyder. He warned this man to be less trustful, in case of treachery, but he was speared by them and died on May 25.Daniel Daly wrote, "We have our perils here. The natives that appeared so quiet at first have turned most treacherous and savage. A great friend of mine, Mr. J.W.O. Bennett was murdered by the blacks about 5 miles from where I am camped with my party. Another man ran to his rescue and received a spear wound in his back which has crippled him for life. After that they came to my camp, but I turned out at the head of my men and gave chase to them, firing our revolvers so close that we frightened them away." As RRS told his children of this incident he was still with the Daly party. Daly continued "They followed us several times after that and used to hide in wait in the long grass and suddenly jump up with their long spears (14 feet long) poised in their hands, ready to kill us, but we were always too sharp for them and had our revolvers always ready, so that we used to blaze away at them before they could throw their spears."They had been camped for a month at a waterhole (in July) and had daily swum and bathed there until the day a large crocodile appeared and took Daly's dog as it drank. Daly jumped from his horse and ran into the water firing his revolver but was unable to save his dog.

On August 23 the "Gulnare" returned for the second time with supplies and brought monkeys for food but the men promptly made pets of them. The survey had been completed in six months instead of the expected two years. At the main camp a theatre had been built and when available the irrepressible Daly took to the boards. He wrote that they had been indulging in splendid ragouts of snakes, guanas, lizards and hawks, all very good eating for those who had been without fresh meat for so long. He didn't care for alligator - "too oily".

Mr. Goyder left for Adelaide by the "Gulnare" on September 28. Ten officers accompanied him in the Cabin (First Class) and 24 were in the main hold. They reached Port Adelaide on October 17. RRS was still at Darwin. Incidentally it was to have been called Palmerston, changed to Port Darwin, then Darwin. Daly wrote at this time ..." I have just returned to our main camp after a month's dreadful hard work, but for which we have been complimented by the Surveyor-General. He leaves in the schooner in a day or two with about forty of the party to return to Adelaide, but I, and a few more officers and about 100 men are left here till a steamer is sent round for us which we expect to take us away the first week in December ..... My only duties during the next two months are to keep watch over the camp. I am the officer of the guards to defend the camp against the natives....."

RRS stayed on for several more months. His superior George MacLachlan remained as senior surveyor and a number of men set up concerns and formed the nucleus of what was to eventually become the city of Darwin. Dr. Peel was to be in charge until the appointed Government Resident arrived, but he was so unpopular there was near mutiny. Fortunately Dr. J. Stokes Millner came to relieve him. With the work completed, the commencement of the overland telegraph between Darwin and Adelaide was soon in hand.

Under water cable was already at Java from Europe and was extended to Darwin. By August 1872 Australia was linked directly with England.What occupied RRS until he reached Adelaide late in May 1870 is not recorded. His pencilled notes tell of severe ague (malaria) and that Dr. Millner recommended his return south to recoup his health. On June 21 his cousin James Clark wrote from Paisley to New York that they could not expect to hear from Robert for at least another year. Robert had already despatched a letter to James Clark senior. It is not exactly chatty and gives not one of the many adventures he had in the North.

South Australia.
Walkerville,
via Adelaide.
18th. June 1870.
Dear Uncal,
I now embrace the opportunity of writing to you. Since my return to Adelaide again. You will remember that when I wrote to you last I said that I was about to leave Adelaide for two years. Well, I returned to Adelaide about three weeks ago and am well, hopping this will find you all enjoying the same Blissing. I will not say anything about the hardships that I had to go through since I wrote to you last. It is true that I was pretty well paid. I had 12 pounds per month.
Adelaide is in a very dull state at present. There is some hundreds of men out of employment and it has got no appearance of getting much better for some time to come.
The party that went on the survey that I was with surveyed 800,000 acers of land in the years that we were away. We had to go 1800 miles inland before we could begin our work. Give my love to sister Kate and the young Risks and likewise to all Uncals, Aunts and Cousions,
And allow me to remain your affec. nephew,
R.R. Stevenson.
Address to R.R. Stevenson,
C/- H. Davis - Cooper,
Walkerville,
via Adelaide.

Surveyor General Goyder gave RRS a letter of recommendation. I have the original.

MEMORANDUM
Surveyor General's Office,
Adelaide 12th. October 1870.
This is to certify that Mr. R.R. Stevenson served as Headman in the Field in one of my parties in the Northern Territory, and remained there until the party was disbanded. He was also employed in ordinary survey work near Adelaide for two (2) years during the whole of which time he conducted himself with much propriety and to my entire satisfaction. I can recommend him with confidence to any person requiring his services.
G.W. Goyder,
Surveyor General.

RRS was with the Survey Department about three and a half years. He resigned on his return from Darwin as his health was by no means as robust as he made out to James Clark, senior. A letter of early 1872 from Paisley to New York referred to RRS having gone to Sydney "for his health", the news having been received from a Mrs. Morrison of Paisley. This then must have been when RRS first contacted his father's sister, Christina Morrison, in Victoria, and she in turn wrote home to her sister-in-law.A letter of November 1871 from James Clark, junior, to Margaret Burns, New York, was in his usual exaggerated style. The cottage occupied by RRS was a rented one. At no time did he build a house for himself. Like his mother Jane Clark, nee Robertson, James could not help dramatising nor were his letters guaranteed to comfort.

64 Canal Street,
Paisley.
26th. November 1871.
My Dear, Dear Aunt,
Your very welcome letter came duly to hand and with pleasure we see from it you are all well and we are enjoying the same Blessing. You express a wish that you would like to come home if you thought your boys could get work. There are two carpet factories in Paisley and I think there is some possibility of them obtaining work in some of them, and as you say, if they did not like Scotland you could easily go back to America. You have no idea of the great pleasure it would give all your dear friends to see you once again among us and I am sure it would also be a pleasure to you to once again see the land where you were born. It is not like the town it was when you left it. Now we have "Public Parks" and we have too a Public Library and Museum. All these things are added to the town of Paisley.
You ask if we have had any word from Robert. Yes, the last letter we had from him he was staying in a neat little cottage in "Australla" which he got built for himself but I am sorry to say he is still an old bachelor [Note: RRS was 24] and has the appearance of still remaining one. He was not quite so well when he wrote us last but we hope by the next letter we get from him he will be alright and able to resume his daily work.
As for Malcolm, while in the Bay of Biscay on the 15th. of December 1870 while in the noble discharge of his duties he was carried overboard by a wave there to sleep till the sea gives up its dead. No time to prepare had he. No kindly hand to soothe his last moments, but there amidst the roar of the waters and while buffeted with the waves he crossed that borne whence no traveller returns.
You also ask to know how your sister Janet [Gray] is. She also on the 22nd, of November 1870 died, but how different was it from Malcolm's. She had kindly hands about her, she had a loving son's ,earnest prayers. loving daughters' tenderest nursing and an affectionate sister's careful watching and all these seemed to comfort her as she went forth to meet her God, but why sorrow we as those who have no hope, let us trust that she rests from her labours and her works do follow her. Her son Alex wrote you and told you of the death at the time we are sorry if the letter did not reach you......"

The remainder of the letter will be given in the Robertson record as it deals with other members of that family.

In his unfinished memoir RRS wrote that while in the north on the survey he had seen deposits of gold, silver lead, copper, tin ore and other minerals and he was determined to go back. He consulted Mr. Goyder and received much good advice and practical aid concerning mining laws. This was 10 months after he had left the Government's employ.

Explorer (1872)

We find him next, in July 1872 at Melbourne, busily purchasing supplies for his proposed expedition to search for minerals. He had earlier visited his Morrison aunt at Happy Valley and the Nicholls at nearby Linton. He gave his future wife, then aged 17 years, a brass bound Bible of a size suitable to carry to church. It is now owned by the writer. RRS wrote on the fly leaf: "Presented to Miss Maria Nicholl; as a Remberence [Remembrance] of the giver- June 14th. 1872•" He did not sign his name.

Some of the receipts of the supplies are with the papers of RRS at the Adelaide Archives.

From William Redford, 19 Post Office Place, Melbourne.

(1) can at 2/6 [$0.25]
(1) tea, billy at 9/9 [$0.99]
Total 12/- [$1.23]

James McEwen and Co - dated July 15th. - £10/14/7 - ($21.47) worth of goods which included saws, nails, hammers, 5 picks with handles, a magnet, frying pan, tin dishes, long handled shovels, pair of bellows, 4 iron buckets, adzes, "gimblets", a pit saw and shingling hammer. He later returned for copper nails, boiled oil, ropes and timber.

July 17th. - 5 soup plates, 5 mugs, 5 knives and forks (ditto), 5 spoon and one 2 key padlock for £1/3/2 [$1.32].

July 18th. - groceries - the heaviest expenditure - from Robt. Walker, Provision Merchant, Melbourne.

600 pounds sugar £8/15/0 [$17.50]
40 pounds salt 4/6 [$0.45]
60 pounds jam £1/17/6 [$3-75]
2 pounds pepper 1/9 [$0.19]
12 pounds rice £1/4/0 [$2.40]
4 bottles curry 8/0 [$0.80]
2 pounds hops (for yeast making) 2/8 [$0.28]
2 pounds carb. soda -/8 [$0.8]
2 pounds acid 4/6 [$0.45]
1 pound cayenne pepper (the remains of which until recently
survived in my laundry cupboard) 2/6 [$0.25]
20 pounds soap 5/- [$0.50]
1 gross matches 4/6 [$0.45]
1 box Sp. Candles £1/4/- [$2.40]
1 half chest (40lbs) tea £2/10/- [$5.00]
1 case (3 dozen) ...? £1/6/3 [$2.63]
10 sacks silk drest, flour (200lbs) £16/10/- [$33.00]
1500 pounds preserved meat (in tins) Irish stew, mutton,
tripe, beef & bouilli £31/5/- [$62.50]
_____________________________
Grand total £67/3/10 [$134.40]
Less cash discount of £1/0/4 [$2.04]
_____________________________

A final purchase of luxury items:- 2 dozen tins of sardines at 9/- [90 cents] per dozen and 2 tins of herrings at 3/- [30 cents)] each. They were ready.

The ship they chose was the "Condor" (or perhaps the "Conda", the old hand writing is faded and hard to decipher now). They left from Hobson's quay, Melbourne, on July 30, 1872. How many of the party left Melbourne is not stated and possibly some joined at Darwin. The lading bill for shipping the supplies was £9/15/- ($19.50). No price for the human freight shows in the papers remaining. The voyage was via Sydney and Brisbane and they were two months in reaching Darwin. There, where a township was already in the making and the cable from England and the Overland Telegraph had been connected the previous month (Aug. 22), RRS formed the "Gol Conda" Gold Mining Company. The document is quaint, set out by RRS with his own special brand of spelling.

Port Darwin - September 2, 1872.
All had to agree to a partnership to last not less than 8 months and and not more than 12 after arrival at Palmerston [Darwin].
(1) Parties to share one sixth each in all profits and losses.
(2) Anyone wishing to dispose of his share must give the other partners first opportunity of purchase and 24 hours notice to the Secretary.
(3) Any new partners must be approved by all.
(4) Each had to guarantee £120 [$240] and each must pay £20 [$40] towards expenses immediately.
(5) A Secretary to be appointed at once to take charge of finances. This last was undoubtedly RRS as he did all the purchasing at Darwin.

Those who signed were:- (1) W.Collett (2) Antonio Charles (3) John Gunn (4) Richard Robinson (5) Bernard Menghine (6) R.R.Stevenson.

A month later, having made a thorough investigation, they registered their claim. It was described as "near Darwin, and 200 yards by 400 yards near the beach." On October 28, RRS on behalf of the Company, purchased two Timor ponies branded "D" near the shoulder from T.V.J. Weir for £20 [$40]. He paid cash as the receipt (still extant) shows. On November 4 he was at Palmerston and bought 200 pounds of potatoes for 18 shillings [$1.80]. Four days later one of the partners sold out to his fellow share holders. Perhaps he didn't care for potatoes. This was Charles Antonio, or maybe Antonio Charles as he signed both ways.

It was not until the following year, on May 16, 1873, that RRS bought a set of pony harness from Fred Dixon for £5/10/0 Sterling. A couple of ropes must have sufficed meantime. RRS rented a house on allotment No. 649 for three months for £1/2/6 [$2.25] from September 26 and a little later paid a whole years rent of £4/4/- [$8.40] for the same. The Company of five partners was reduced to four when Will Collett died of fever [malaria]. They scrupulously drew up an account of the profits and bought in his tools. On October 23, 1873 the balance sheet of the "Gol Conda" Gold Mining Company showed a profit of £53/6/6 [$106.65]. RRS was to write later that while they did not make a fortune they made a living. But only just, I imagine.

The four partners now remaining left the Darwin area and penetrated south as far as the McDonnell Ranges (Alice Springs Telegraph Office was perhaps sighted) and in that remote and lonely land, Richard Robinson died of fever. They were all ill of fever, but they had discovered a rich deposit of gold, and a fortune was close. However, this was not to be. Hostile natives surrounded their camp and one morning RRS discovered the body of the companion sharing his tent pierced by a spear through the canvas wall as they both slept. Whether this was John Gunn or Bernard Menghine RRS did not say, but he and the only other left of the original six returned to Darwin minus the hoped for riches. Dr. Millner was again consulted and he strongly advised a quick return to the south where fever and scurvy could be cured much quicker with good food and a more equable climate. He also advised at least five months rest.

Railway Worker (1874)

On August 23, 1874 RRS was ready for work again. He was now aged 27 years. On this date he joined the South Australian Public Works Department. He was to have commenced in the Railway Workshops, perhaps he did, but with Fitter Cockran he was sent to work on the original Wonga Shoal Light House, off the suburban beach of Semaphore. According to his sons, RRS had the knowledge that enabled him to set the light and did so. But, considering the earlier experience of RRS - apprentice seaman, cattle station rouse-about, survey work and gold mining, this has a doubtful aspect. The lighthouse no longer exists. It was rebuilt in 1906 only to be rammed and wrecked by a sailing ship, the "Dimsdale". on 17th. November 1912. The two keepers died and the light was replaced by an automatic beacon which in turn, was removed in 1970.

RRS returned to the Railways on May 17,1875, and noted sadly that the locomotive Engineer in Charge reduced him from 8 shillings [80 cents] per day, to 5 shillings and sixpence [55 cents] and sent him to the "running sheds" as a cleaner. RRS naturally regarded Engineer J.H. Clark without affection. Later in this same year (1875) RRS was instrumental in saving the Railway Workshops. When a fire began he organized Fitters Appleby and Cameron and himself into a team, and together they had extinguished the flames and saved the store rooms before the horse drawn fire brigade galloped to the rescue. He had been used to doing fire duty every second Saturday at the railway yards (Adelaide) so was familiar with the equipment.

1885 Margaret RobertsonOn March 3, 1376 he was sent to Port Wakefield, north of the city. This first of several such moves to country depots was also the time when his mother in New York was taking her initial step toward direct contact with RRS. The hypocritical James Clarks of Paisley, who wrote so regularly to "Dear, dear Aunt (or sister)", were not the means by which Margaret Burns found her son. That they could have obliged many years before is clear, and that they deliberately held back from doing so, is equally clear. Margaret's original enquiry to Henry Davies of Adelaide has not survived, but the reply has.

Leigh Street, Adelaide,
July 4, 1876.
Dear Madam,
In answer to your letter I consider it was no liberty of you writing to my Father, it being the wish of a Mother to know about her SON. Your son, I believe he is your son, Robert Rowland Stevenson. He is at present driving an Engine on the Railway line. He is enjoying good health. He often writes to us. Any information I can give you I will with pleasure. With this letter I will send you his portrait in his Highland costume. This R.R. Stevenson has got a peculiar mark on his ear that I would swear to wherever I seen him. When I was but a youth I recollect seeing him sign his name R.R. Stevenson Burns. You write a letter to him and Direct it to R.R. Stevenson care of Henry Davies, Cooper, Leigh St., Adelaide. As I have answered your kind letter would you be so kind as to write to me and tell me where you got your information about his letter being addressed in care of us, by doing so you will greatly oblige. Hoping this will find you enjoying good health, wealth and prosperity, I remain,
Henry Davies.

Margaret Burns replied promptly:-

New York,
Sept. 25, 1876.
Dear Sir,
I received your kind and welcome letter and portrait which I believe to be my son from strong likeness to our family, but it being 24 years ago since I saw him I cannot remember his features. In regard to the mark on his ear that you speak of, I cannot bring it to my mind, but by the portrait I fully believe it is him. In regard to where I got my information about his letters being addressed to you, I got it from a letter dated back six years ago that he sent to his cousin Mrs. Risk in Paisley, Scotland. So you see by that I wrote just by Chance, not knowing if ever it would find you or not. I could not express to you how thankful I am to you for writing in Return. Hoping this will find you all in good health, I remain,
Yours,
Margaret Stevenson Burns.
Address:
Mr. John Burns,
Care Mitchell Higgens Carpet Factory,
East 43rd. Street, New York, America.

John Burns senior had died long since. This John was the eldest of the three half brothers of RRS. He never ever contacted RRS though the other two corresponded spasmodically after their mother's death in 1888. The first letters that RRS and Margaret Burns exchanged are lost, but she must have written to him at the same time as she answered Henry Davies.

Marriage (1877)

In South Australia RRS was preparing for his marriage. Nothing remains of the correspondence between him and Maria Nicholls during their courting days. The one concrete memento is the previously mentioned inscription in the brass bound Bible, his gift to her in 1872. They could not have known each other very well or met more than a few times as the railway to the east went only as far as Nairne in the Adelaide Hills. The Parliamentary Act to continue the line to the Victorian border was not passed until 1882. Travellers from Adelaide used either the sea route or went by road with Cobb & Co. coaches although those in no hurry sometimes took a Murray River paddle steamer up to one of the Victorian towns and thereafter went by coach to Melbourne or the desired Victorian destination.

That RRS took leave to visit Linton in the mid 1870s and asked Maria to be his wife, is certain. The engagement ring was of turquoise and pearl stones and eventually went to their eldest grand-daughter, Kathleen Schulte, on her 21st. birthday.
The marriage certificate (now owned by the writer) and a newspaper cutting of the announcement give the details of the wedding. The two witnesses were Clara Nicholls (Mrs. John Inglis) and Edmund Nicholls, sister and brother of the bride. She so disliked her name that she answered only to Viola, usually shortened to "Vi". Her son Stuart never called her anything else although the remainder of the family called her by the more dignified "Mater".

STEVENSON – NICHOLLS
On the 5th, of January 1877, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. J.B.Smith (Wesleyan), Robert Rowland second son of the late Walter Stevenson of Renfrewshire, Scotland, to Maria, youngest daughter of Henry Nicholls of "Sutton Grange", Linton, Victoria.

There is no indication as to which newspaper carried this announcement. Three days later RRS and his bride were at Ballarat where they were photographed. A copy was later sent to Mrs.Burns and the writer also has one. The bride stands beside the seated bridegroom. He wears a light summer suit in the fashion of the time and holds a bowler hat. His brown hair has begun to recede and he has both beard and moustache. She leans on the back of his chair wearing a checked gown with bustle and frills on the skirt, the sleeves are full length and a white muslin bertha drapes the shoulders. Her small hat is of the "pork pie" variety with lily of the valley flowers as decoration within folds of ribbon. Her gold tassel ear rings were made into brooches for two of her daughters many years later. One has been altered again and is now used as a pendant by the writer who also now owns the gold locket on a fine gold chain which RRS gave Maria as a wedding gift.

Their pictured heads were set in this locket, but in after years Maria took so strong a dislike to the lily of the valley hat that she removed hers. RRS is still in place. The photo is of course in black and white so does not show that her eyes were a vivid forgetmenot blue which were to be unfaded at 80 and that her soft brown curls had a hint of gold. At her death there was no gray in her hair. She was very small and slight and remained so even after the births of nine children.

Maria's parents had emigrated from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, where Henry Nicholls had managed a carpet factory owned by his father-in-law John Bill Downes (born 1798). Henry (1820-1888) and his wife Marian (1821-1903) travelled by the ship "James T. Ford" with their young family, one of whom died on the voyage. They arrived at Port Lonsdale, Victoria on December 22, 1852. He tried farming but was too inexperienced to succeed. He did a little better at gold mining and better still at storekeeping and as an orchardist. Maria was born at Inverleigh on January 28, 1855, the first of the Nicholls children born in Australia. They were afterwards at Snake Valley, then at Orchard where the house was burnt down before they could move in, and later at Linton where again their house was burnt in a bush fire, but they rebuilt. Henry's diary is included with the Nicholls history.

On reaching Adelaide, RRS took Maria to rooms at the house of his friends Mr. and Mrs. R.W.Winter at Finniss Street, North Adelaide. They were a childless couple who remained lifelong friends. Harriett, the wife, was known to the Stevenson children as Aunty Winter. She died in the early 1900s and left her opal jewellery to Maria. The writer has some of it now.

On the marriage certificate the place of residence of RRS is shown as Hoyleton, S.A, but this was no more than a railway siding though an important one for the railing of wheat. Whether there were railway cottages at this siding 80 miles north of Adelaide on the Gladstone line, or whether they first set up house together at the northern depot at Port Wakefield, is no longer known, but RRS still gave Hoyleton as his address at the end of that year when he wrote his second letter to New York.

Locomotive Department,
Hoyleton, South Australia,
November 24th. 1877.
My Dear Mother,
Your letter of August came to hand after a great deal of knocking about. I was very glad to hear that you were well and I am glad to say that this leaves us the same at present. I was very much pleased when I read yours as it has explained to me that which I never knew before. You seem to think that my last letter to you was Both unfeeling and slanderous. I only told you what Father told me when he was alive.
Grandmother died when I was very young and as for my Aunts they seldom did ever mention your name. When my Father died I was cast upon the world then to do for myself. After Father died I went to work for Aunt [Janet] Gray, but her family and me could not agree, so I went then to work for the farmers and used to go to School at night and get what larning-I could, this I did for about 2 years after father died. My Aunt Mary [Millar] was the only one that used to give me clothes when I was in need of them, both Sunday and working ones untill I could earn enough to keep myself. 15 years ago I left Scotland and came out to Australia and here I have been ever since. I am something like Yourself Mother, I had a good deal of hardship to contend with for the first five years I was in Australia. I was so ill with Disentrey for 7 months that the Doctors gave me up for to die. But I got the turn for the better and recovered although it was very, very slowly.
I was two months before I could walk by myself but that is ten years ago and I have enjoyed very good health ever since. I have struggled very hard here to place myself in a position to be my own master but fortune seems to frown on me as I cannot get above a working man. There was one thing that was greatly against me out here, that was my Education, if I had had a fair Education when I arrived in this country I might have been in a position now that would have made me my own master and independent, but I have had to work hard for the last 20 years and I suppose I will do so to the end of Existence in this world, but as long as God grants me my health I shall not complain but work on to the last. The pay that I am in receipt of at present for Stoking on the Railways here is 2 dollars and 4 cents per day, but I hope to get more wages as I get older in the Servises of the railway Department.
I have been at all kinds of work in this country and likewise all over Australia. At one time I thought of leaving this Colony and going to the Unighted States, I wrote home to Scotland and asked my Uncal James Clark to send me your address but he replied saying he did not know if you was dead or alive so I gave up the Idea of comming to America from Australia and as for Scotland I suppose that I will not See it again without fortune smiles on me sweeter in future than it has done in the past.
As you do not say, Mother, in your letter, if you are in comfortable circumstances or not in America but I hope you are - perhaps you think I do not wish or desire to see you again. It is the fondest wish of my heart to see my Dear Mother whom I never saw, that I never knew, but still is ever as Dear to me as if I had been under her care from childhood. Many and Many a time have I thought and wondered if I would ever see her or if ever wee would meet one another in this world again, but if wee never meet in this world I hope that we will meet again in the next world.
Perhaps you think that my childhood days were happy ones because they were spent with my Father, but for years my Father drank very, very heavy, and when I had the sense to Speak to him and ask him why he drank so he used to tell me it was to drown his grief and his sorrow till he left this world.
You seem thinking that my letter to you was a very cold and hard one - but I assure you that though it may seem hard and cold to you it was not meant as such. I could not write otherwise than I did for I had written to Scotland several times to ask them if they knew anything of my Mother or my Brother Malcolm, but the answeare I always got was that they had not heard of you for years and did not know if you was dead or alive.
About three or four years ago I found out my Uncal [Daniel] and Aunt [Christina] Morrison and his Familey which consists of six sons namely Robert, Daniel, John, Walter, James and David & there was or 5 girls in the family but they all died before they was many years old. I did not stay at my Uncal's place very long when I first found them out, but I have seen them about twelve months ago and they were all well then.
I suppose you will want to know about my own familey, well Dear Mother, I have got Know familey yet. I was married last new years day to a young lady whose parents live close to my Uncal's place. She is the daughter of a farmer, her maiden name is Maria Nicholls. I had to go from Adelaide to Victoria for to get married which is a distence of 500 miles - her parents are English but she was born in Australia. I also send you a photograph of my wife and myself which was taken three days after we were married. There is one thing I would ask you for and that is your photograph - you are 54 so getting old now and I would like very much to get a photograph of you in case wee might never meet again in this world.
Maria says She would like very much to see you and she says as wee cannot come to America just yet to see you that surely you will send us your photograph. I send you the Envelope of your letter just to show you all the places it had been fore I got it, or I should have replied to it before this date.
I hope that this will find you well and that you will write to us soon and let us know how you are, and Allow us to remain your Loving Childern,
R. and M. Stevenson.
Please Address to R.R. Stevenson
c/- of R.W. Winter,
Finniss Street,
North Adelaide, South Australia.

As it will have been noted RRS could now manage a letter much less awkwardly than in earlier years but his spelling was to remain distinctive for the rest of his life. He was aged 30 years when he wrote this letter. Maria was 22. The photograph arrived from New York in due course and RRS had an expensive and greatly enlarged portrait reproduced on glass as was the fashion last century. It still exists and shows a severe lady in a plain bonnet with a somewhat sunken mouth, no doubt caused by loss of teeth.

Railway Fireman (1877)

The service record of RRS shows that he was by this time a "Fireman" at Port Wakefield (60 miles north of Adelaide), the date given is December 3, 1877. As a fireman he travelled on the steam engine with the driver, continually stoking the coal to ensure that the all important fire never went out. He and Maria occupied "Belleview Cottage" and one hopes that the view was of the sea and not just of the railway line. Here their first child was born in June 1878. RRS wished to call her Jessie, perhaps for the Robertson grandmother, but Maria preferred Ada Margaret. Their next move was to the early day copper mining centre of Kadina, 123 miles north of Adelaide, and here at Ewen Street on April 16, 1880, the second daughter was born. This time RRS decided on Janet but Florence Marian was much more fashionable so Maria had her way again. RRS was now a Spare Engine-man and no longer had to stoke and was required to do much shunting about of engines, and was soon moved to Adelaide to do so. The year 1881 was not altogether successful concerning his career. Perhaps having had early training as a sailor he was inclined to look at far horizons and dream, but there being much less space to manoeuvre railway engines this didn't answer at all. On June 16 he was fined 5 shillings [50 cents] because he moved an engine without first ascertaining that the line was clear and so damaged engine No. 120.

On August 27 came a second fine of the same amount and not easily spared with a wife, two bairns and a third on the way. This time he had neglected to report over-shooting Bowden Railway Station platform and some person unknown had told tales. Less than two weeks later RRS was removed from shunting,and driving engines with gay abandon, and reduced in status to First Class Fireman once more. The Line Engineer considered "that he was not competent to have charge of an engine", so back to the stoking and bad cess [luck] to the Line Engineer who had undoubtedly listened to the teller of tales.
Sometime during this year of 1881 a friend, Alexander Melville Durie, better known to RRS as "Owd Aelic" (just as RRS was "Owd Bob" to Alec), and neither of them more than 34 years of age, came across a newspaper item which he thought might be of interest to the Stevensons. It had been inserted by a firm of solicitors of Perth, Scotland, namely Robertson & Dempster. The Robertson half was a cousin, but of a different Robertson family from that of Margaret Burns. Robert Robertson and his son James continued this business from 1860 to 1900. The cutting survives and reads:- "If this should Meet the Eye of R0WLAND R. STEVENSON, aged 33 years, native of Perthshire, Scotland, son of the late Walter Stevenson M.M.F.C., last heard of 6 years ago as an Engine Cleaner with the South Australian Railways. If you will write to your Cousin, the solicitor of Perth, you will hear something to your advantage of the Glen-Darrick Property."

The code word of Rowland which RRS had also given as his first name when he entered the Railway Department had at last proved to be of value. The estate of Captain Walter Stevenson was in the hands of these lawyers for more than 20 years after his death netting them a steady profit, and their dilatory behaviour can be partly explained by the need to wait seven years for the Captain to be declared officially dead as he was lost at sea. The time having elapsed it was next necessary to trace the beneficiaries, the sons Malcolm and Robert. No doubt by the time they had traced RRS to South Australia he had left, as his Aunt Jane Clark so succinctly described, for the "Northern Territories of New Zealand". RRS had no sooner returned to Adelaide (1870) than Malcolm also was lost at sea which entailed yet another wait of seven years, but there is no explanation for the third period of seven years before an attempt was made to find RRS.

According to the sons he eventually benefited by about £2,000 [$4,000] with several accounts to be paid to the lawyer cousin, one seen by Keith, the youngest son, many years later was for £200 [$400], but most of the papers concerning this welcome legacy were destroyed by the wife of son Stuart who inherited them, as she thought such items made her house untidy. The writer contacted the still lively firm of Robertson & Dempster hoping that their records were still available, but all paper work to the year 1900 was handed in to Salvage during the 1939-45 war. Although Robertsons no longer were part of the firm some still live at Perth, Scotland, according to the Dempster half but when I requested the address he wrote curtly that they were not the kind of people to be interested in Australian connections, so another hoped for avenue was closed in the quest for information concerning the Stevensons.

There are a few penciled lines on a scrap of paper written by RRS in after years:- "Dear Blaine, You will wonder where this money came from, it came from your grandfather whom you never knew".

RRS had brought Maria and the children from Kadina to Park Street, Bowden, close to Adelaide. It was then a quite respectable working class suburb which in due course became a very run down one, so that to call anyone a "Bowdenite" was to infer that he was a very rough type indeed. At this stage most houses are occupied by either Greek or Italian migrants. Harriett Clara Stevenson was born at Park Street in February 1882, Aunty Winter and Maria's sister Clara Inglis being both honoured. RRS had given up suggesting girls' names and he got around these two which were not to his liking by calling the baby Hetty (not unknown in Scotland) and Hetty she remained all her life so that it was often thought that her name was Henrietta. Ada he called "Maggie" and to him Florence was "Flora" but these names did not survive childhood.

Engineman (1882)

For RRS the year 1882 was free of chastisements and he was again promoted to Spare Engineman. It was during this time that some of his belongings, including the all too few letters from his mother, were destroyed by fire. Whether his sea chest containing his closest links with Scotland and his father's Highland costume were also burnt, or whether these things had been at Linton when the bushfire passed through is not now known. The sons said that the kilt and plaid of Royal Stewart tartan and the accoutrements and ornaments were valued at £300 pound ($5600), perhaps an exaggeration. Only one item from Scotland remained, a "pebble" broach, given to Maria. This was of silver set with semiprecious stones found in Scotland and a typical Victorian period piece. It now belongs to my sister Betty Muller.

On May 1st. 1882 RRS was notified that he must proceed to Kingston on the southern coast at Lacepede Bay, 293 miles from Adelaide, and Maria with the three children now aged 4, 2, and a few months, plus all their household goods had to be conveyed there from Bowden. How she travelled is rather a puzzle as the rail link from Adelaide had as yet not gone further than Nairne (28 miles) and although commenced toward Bordertown in 1883 it was three years in the making and the first Adelaide to Melbourne train did not run until January 20,1887 to pass through Bordertown and Wolseley just beyond. It was from these two country centres that were still too small to be called towns that the narrow gauge track wandered off south to reach Kingston via Naracoorte with a branch to Mt.Gambier further south again. It was a railway system all on its own in this southern part of the state with no connection with any other when RRS arrived.

The line, built for freight, had reached Kingston in 1876. The trains soon had the reputation of having square wheels, so rough was the journey until the widening of the gauge between 1955 and 1959. The stone ballast for this narrow gauge line was quarried from a property near Naracoorte, where by odd coincidence, a future daughter-in-law of RRS, wife of his son Keith, spent part of her childhood.

Bordertown (1883)

As there had been a small port at Lacepede Bay from the early days it is possible that Maria and company, and earlier the materials for the railway were shipped to Kingston. No sooner were they settled close to the sea (so healthy for the children) than RRS was ordered on July 17 of 1883 to Bordertown. Maria was still at Kingston in September when their fourth child and eldest son was born. This time RRS had his say with the naming and Walter (for the Captain) and Rowland (that talisman of a name) were firmly attached to the new infant.

RRS was to be centrally stationed for many years at Bordertown where the turntable and running sheds for the "square wheel" trains were sited. His engines were WX class, type 2-6-0, and three of them built by Beyer and Peacock in 1876 were numbered 18, 37 and 56. No. 18 and another (No. 9), resplendent with brass commemorative plaques, are now housed at a little park near Naracoorte and in 1960 three of the great-grand children of RRS were photographed with them.

In November of 1883 RRS was fined one days pay for Insubordination which was nothing worse than failing to show as much respect to the visiting Inspector as that worthy deemed was due to him. Nine trouble free years followed, at least no tale bearers were active.

That Maria, with appendages, was railed from Kingston to Bordertown there can be no doubt though one cannot believe that she would actually enjoy the journey. She made yet another home of a railway cottage though perhaps with wistful thoughts of the now distant seaside.

Ronald Robert came along next, at Bordertown, in December 1885, and does one detect the voice of Maria in the already fashionable name of Ronald or was it an echo from the boyhood of RRS when his friend drowned beneath the ice one winter day at Paisley and he so narrowly escaped.

Six years earlier he had been accused by the L.E. (who could have been either the Line Engineer or the Locomotive Engineer, the record is not explicit) of not being competent to be in charge of an engine and had him demoted. On September 15, 1887, RRS gained a Certificate of Competency after passing an examination in all electrical signalling and a second concerning Westinghouse Air Breaks.

When Stuart Henry made his appearance at the "Locomotive Cottages, Bordertown (according to the huge old family Bible) in February 1888 the family was divided neatly into 3 girls and 3 boys. This was the year when Margaret Burns died, at the end of October of cancer of the bladder. She only discovered her terminal illness after buying a steamer ticket home to Scotland and the journey was never taken. She purchased this ticket in the name of Margaret Stevenson, not Burns, as though she were aware that in Scotland her legal name would be Stevenson, but the American descendants cannot agree about this and merely remain mystified. RRS described how the news reached him to James, the second of his three half-brothers, although directing his thoughts to all three.

Loco, Dept.
Bordertown, S. Australia
28th. December 1888.
Dear Brothers,
I just received a letter from Mr. George C. Coffin, Attorney of Broadway, New York, informing me of Mother's death, it came to us like a thunder clap and has wrecked all the fond hopes I have cherished within my breast for years of some day being able to come to New York to see Mother before she died and also you whom I have hered of but never seen, but I trust that God will spare me to see you yet and also the Silent Grave where our dead Mother lies.
You do not know dear Brothers what I would have given to have seen her before she was called away from this world of sorrow, but let us pray God that wee will meet her in the world where there is no parting and sorrow is unknown. I will ask you to write Dear Brothers as soon as this comes to hand. I have much to say that I cannot say in this as I do not know if it will reach you safely. I am writing in the hope that Mrs. Wingate will be able to deliver it to you,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
Robert Rowland & Viola Stevenson.

This letter was written on mourning stationery with a deep black border At the same time he wrote to the solicitors who looked after the Adelaide end of all the business concerning the estate of Captain Walter Stevenson.

Loco. Department.
Bordertown,
28th. December 1888.
To Messrs. Stock & Smith,
Solicitors,
Adelaide.
Dear Sirs,
Yours of the 24th, inst. just to hand today, asking who sent me the papers. They came from G.C. Coffin, Solicitor, no. 234 Broadway, New York, who is Attorney to Robert Auld, the Executor of the Will of the late Margaret Burns. No letter came with them. The late Margaret Burns is my Mother. I am the second eldest son of her first marriage to my father, the late 'Walter Stevenson of Paisley, Scotland. My Mother was married to the late John Burns about the year 1860. Their offspring John, James and David Burns are my half-brothers whom I have never seen as my mother after her second marriage left with my step-father to live in New York, and my brother and myself remained in Paisley with our Aunt, my Mother's sister.
The last letter I received from my Mother was in 1883, I think. I was then residing in Kingston. I wrote to my Mother 18 months ago and I presume that is how Mr. George C. Coffin who is Attorney to Robert Auld, the Executor of my Mother's Will, got my present address, as the papers came direct to me from his office.
I have a friend in New York I could ask you to correspond with on the subject. I have looked everywhere I can think of, but have failed to find the last letter I received from my Mother. I have no recollection of destroying it, although all the previous letters I got from my Mother were destroyed by fire. I would like to get a copy of my Mother's Will. I suppose it could be obtained from the Executor or the Attorney.
Yours faithfully,
R.R. Stevenson.

The friend in New York who looked after the interests of RRS was Mr. H.S. Shippy of John Roeblings Sons Co. of 117-119 Liberty Street, New York.

It can be seen that RRS dealt gently with his mother's past history and was most careful to give no slightest hint that might possibly mar her good reputation. In giving the date of 1860 as that of her remarriage, of which no trace could be found by the Burns descendants, he either did not know or avoided their dates of birth which were John 1854, James 1856, David 1861 and that she left Scotland in 1852 when Walter Stevenson was still very much alive.

Meantime the Law Journal, and Register of New York Weekly, from November 1st. 1888, for six consecutive weeks published the following Citation:-

To Robert H. Stevenson,
Loco. Dept. South Australia.
From G.C. Coffin,
Attorney,
234 Broadway,
New York,
To Robert Auld, Executor.
In the Last Will & Testament of Margaret Burns late of New York, deceased, has proved at the Surrogates Court in the County of New York on the 29th, day of October, 1888, to Rastus S. Ransom Esq. Surrogate, that John, James and David Burns and Robert R. and Malcolm Stevenson are the only heirs and next of kin of the said Margaret Burns.

Naturally RRS did not see a copy of this Citation until much later. The Burns sons were able to identify themselves at once, Malcolm was dead and RRS at the other end of the world, and Robert Auld was highly suspicious of his existence. He set out a schedule which in part said:

1. John Burns, a son who resides at 560 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
2. James Burns, a son who resides at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York.
3. David Burns, a son who resides at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York.
4. Robert R. Stevenson, a son, a resident at some point in Australia.

A person claiming to be the said Robert R. Stevenson is said to reside at Border Town, South Australia, whether he is the person intended by and mentioned in the Will of the deceased: by the name Robert H. Stevenson I do not know. Dated February 12th.1889.

Auld wrote later:

I have never seen the person called Robert R. Stevenson referred to in said Will and mentioned in my Petition upon this accounting and in the late preceding Schedule. I was informed by the Testatrix shortly before her death that the person bearing that name and referred to in her was her son by a former marriage by her first husband and that he resided in North Adelaide, Australia as stated in said Will. I have been unable to find such person in North Adelaide but a person claiming to be the person referred to in and intended by said Will as Robert R. Stevenson, has been heard of at Border Town, South Australia. I have therefore upon information and belief alleged that said claimant is the son of the said Testarix referred to in her Will. Whether he be in fact such, I do not know, and I therefore submit my rights to the protection of the Court, leaving said claimant to make such proof of his identity as he may. So advised and as may be by this Court in the premises.

Through Mr. Shippy a firm of Solicitors named Brownlow & Lathrop acted for RRS so that he eventually received a share of his mother's estate.

Among the papers preserved by RRS was an account of the proceedings to the Surrogates Court New York with details of Margaret Burns' property. Margaret Burns died at New York, U.S.A. in the latter part of 1888. Robert Auld, Executor of her Will found it to amount to $5,421.48 in the Letters Testamentary issued to him on December 15th. 1888 being made up as follows:-

New York Savings Bank $661.77
Bowery Savings Bank $597.50
Emigrant Savings Bank $181.78
Greenwich Savings Bank $1,003.71
Franklin Savings Bank $566.74
East River Savings Bank $664.15
Bank for Savings, New York $1,348.83
Total $5,024.48
Draft Henderson Brothers to order of deceased
as Mrs. Margaret Stevenson $397.00
Accrued interest $74.63
_________
Full total $5,496.11

Margaret, a canny Scot, was making sure that in the event of one or more banks failing she would not be left without ready cash. The Executor also set out the expenses to be deducted.

Mrs. Annie Sands board and
nursing deceased $37.49
Serving Citations $4.50
New York Law Publishing (Journal) $9.80
New York Daily Register $12.75
Serving Citations $ 3.30
Fees to Witnesses (Mrs. Sands & Mrs. Green)
of Will and their fares $2.25
George C. Coffin legal services $90.35
John J. Cullen fees $15.00
Russell H. Roof fees $15.00
George C. Coffin
legal services on Inventory $28.70
Funeral expenses $98.00
Law Journal notices $3.21
_______
Total $319-65

These details have been set out for comparison with prices of the present time (1985). At that time the U.S. dollar was worth something less than 4 shillings Sterling. Even so, it was a remarkable effort on the part of Margaret Burns to have saved this sum by her own hard work as a boarding house keeper while raising three sons, after being deserted by the worthless John Burns.

This note in pencil by RRS - Papers handed by me today, January 28th. 1889, were the Citation from Rastus Ransom Esq. Surrogate of the City of New York, to the solicitor Mr. Stock, Adelaide. also a copy of my Mother's Will and a letter of instruction and declaration to be signed by the American Consul.

A second note dated 28/5/1889 stated that he had that day received £239/8/- [$478.80] sterling, being £252/16/6 [$505.66] less fees of £13/8/6 [$26.85] from Mr.W.F. Stock, of the firm of Stock & Talbot Smith of Clifton Chambers, King William Street, Adelaide. In present day figures the legacy would be worth about $35,000 (1985).

Letter from James Burns to RRS.

New York,
May 24th. 1889.
Dear Brother,
I received your letter of December 1888 informing me that you had received word of Mother's death. I would have written and told you but I did not have your address. When our Mother was taken sick I was away in California, but my brother wrote to me and I came home, and I stayed with her till she died. I think it very strange that you never answered the letter that she wrote you informing you of her sickness, for I heard that she wrote when I came home. When you write I would like if you thought I could get work if I was going to Australia, as I have a great longing to go there. No more at present,
but I remain yours truly,
James Burns.
Address:
329 East 106 Street,
New York City.

RRS replied:-

Loco. Department
Bordertown
13th. July 1889
Dear Brother,
Your long looked for letter reached me yesterday which is dated 24th. May. I was very glad to hear you say that you got home to see Mother before she died and I only wish that I had been there to see her before she departed from this world. I had hoped that God who has the keeping of all our lives would have spared her to us for a few years longer, but let us hope that wee will all meet our Dear Mother in that Land where there is no parting and no sorrowing after those we love. You, my Dear Brother, have known what it is to have a Mother's love bestowed upon you. My life when young was like a blank, for years my heart yearned for the love of her I was doomed never in this world to see again.
You say, James, that you think it very strange that I did not answeare the letter that Mother wrote informing me of her illness. I did answeare it, James, the day after I received it, but you must understand that the letter was laying in the General Post Office (Adelaide) 4 months before I received it, the reason of that was that Mr. Winter who the letter was sent in care of had shifted from Finniss Street North Adelaide to McLearn Street, East Adelaide, and the letter not having been delivered to him it lay in the G. Post Office 4 months before I got it. You must also understand Dear Brother that Border Town is 200 miles from Adelaide. I have been living here for 7 years.
So you can see that I cannot get a chance of getting to the city very often. When I answeared Mother's letter I sent it care of Mrs. Wingate, it was written nine days before I wrote to you, John and David. I wrote to Mother in May 1887 sending a photo of Viola, myself and Maggie (i.e. Ada Margaret). I sent the letter to my aunt Jennie in Scotland asking her to send it on to New York. I had not got Mother's address, but I never heard if she got it or not.
I got a letter from my Cousin James Clark last week, he is my Aunt Jennie's only son. He informs me that he has written to me 7 times within the last five years yet I only had three of them out of the 7.
You do not mention John or Davy in your letter. Are they well and living in New York or are they in some other part of America? Dear James, you ask me to let you know if I thought you could get work if you came to Australia. There is no doubt but what you would get work of some kind or other, but you did not say in your letter what kind of work you have been doing, nor if you are married or single, as for myself I am working on the railway here. If you come to Australia, James, wee shall make you welcome. I hope that you will write soon and let me know how you are getting on. I hope Dear Brother some day to see the spot where our Dear Mother lies. Hoping that this will find you all well. Hoping that you will write to us soon, Viola and myself close with kind love to you, John and David and sisters if you are married,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
H.R. & V. Stevenson.

Margaret Burns and her three sons are buried at Machpelah Cemetery, North Bergen, New Jersey and photographs of two headstones were sent to the writer in March 1976. They have only the names and dates of birth and death year of each and the stones are set in well tended lawn in the American custom.

In the midst of these latest happenings Maria was preparing for the birth of her seventh child and Blaine Reid arrived in due course at the end of March 1890. To this day no one knows why these two names were chosen. Blaine did not ask his parents and was himself of the opinion that they were taken from an American newspaper which featured politicians with these names. This is doubtful as the exchange of newspapers did not commence until later. Meanwhile the letters continued.

James Burns, the only link with the American half-brothers, did not reply until October and then was far from informative and the names of the wives of John and David were not given as RRS had requested.

New York City,
October 13, 1889
Dear Brother,
I received your letter and I was glad to hear from you. I suppose you will think I am a long time in answering your letter, but the reason I did not answer was that I was not settled, but I am settled now. I never saw the letter that you say you wrote to Mother. Mrs. Wingate never gave it to us during Mother's last illness. She longed many and many a time to see you. John and David are both married but I am single and have no intention of ever getting married. When you write please address James Burns, 500 Madison Avenue,
No more at present, but remain yours truly,
James Burns.

RRS must have enclosed this New Year greeting "to my Brother Davy, care of James" in an earlier letter. It is undated but has "Health, Peace & Prosperity" printed at the top.

My Dear Brother,
Just a line or two hoping this will find you well as it leaves us all here. I will be very glad to hear from you. I am not in possession of your address so I am sending a line or two in Jamie's. He has never told me if you are married. So I hope that you will send me a line or two and tell me the news as Viola and myself will then write to you,
So with love to all from all,
your affectionate Brother & Sister
H.R. & V. Stevenson.

The reply that RRS sent to James to his letter of October 1889:-

Loco. Department,
Bordertown.
15th. January 1890
Dear Brother,
Yours of Oct.13 was duly received by us and we were very glad to hear from you and that you were well. I was rather surprised to hear you say that neither you, John or David received the letter I sent to you in the care of Mrs. Wingate. As our poor Mother was gone before the letter would reach New York I thought surely Mrs. Wingate would give the letters to either you, John or David as I thought by the letter that I got from Mrs. Wingate that she must have been a very old and esteemed friend of our dear dead Mother.
One thing I want you to tell me James, has there been a stone placed over Mother's grave by you John and David. If there has not been one erected yet I will try and arrange to have one put there when I hear from you again.
The reason Dear Brother I have been so long in answering your letter was that I thought to have been able to send a photo of Viola, myself and the Bairns by this letter, but I find that I will not be able to get a chance of having it taken for another month or six weeks yet, so I will be able to send it almost before this reaches you.
Wee were disappointed when wee read your letter as wee expected to hear you say that you were coming to Australia and you would be made heartily welcome, but I suppose that you do not like to leave America as it is your birthplace. Wee would like very much to hear from John and David, and trusting that you will write a few lines very soon, allow me to remain,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
Viola & Bob

On February 4, 1890, a photograph of the Stevensons was posted to New York but as a later communication of RRS shows, the Burns did not receive it. Only one further letter from James remained amongst the RRS papers at his death, and it is dated 1904. However, the answers from RRS indicate the general trend of James' correspondence. He kept most of those that he received from Australia and when he died in 1929 the David Burns family took charge of them. Photostats were received by the writer in 1967/68. The next RRS missive was written on the day Blaine was born but he didn't get a mention.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
31st. March 1890
Dear Brother,
I hope that this will find yourself, John, David and their famileys are all well as I am glad to say that this leaves Viola, the Bairns and myself at the present. I have sent you a photo of the Bairns, it is taken by a travelling photographer and it is not a very good one but still you will be able to see what they look like. You see James, Border Town is 200 miles from the city and I could not see my way clear to get them (the children) all to the city for some time to come so I got it taken when wee had the chance by a travelling photographer but some day wee hope to be able to send you a better one.
So in looking at the photo as you hold it in your hand you will see Clara on the left, Flora on the right, Ronald on the left, Walter on the right, Stuart in the middle and Maggie behind. The photo of Viola and myself was taken a few years ago, but as soon as wee can get a chance of getting another taken at the same place wee will send it on to you. Wee would like very much to get a photo of yourself John, David and their wives, but wee would like much better if you would take a trip to Australia and come and see us.
You know James you are single and you can travel about without having to think about the wife and Bairns. You must tell me what trade you, John and David work at. I am an Engineer an the railway here but the wage is very small. 1 only get 9/6d. [95 cents] per day of 10 hours. Is the wages any better in America? I hope that you will droop us a line or two as soon as this comes to hand and please to let us know if you got the photo alright and I hope James that you will send us all your photos as the Bairns all want to see their Uncles and Aunts and Viola and myself are very anxious to see our brothers and sisters. I must now close this short letter with love from the Bairns to their Uncles and Aunts and with kind love from your affectionate,
Brother and sister,
Viola and Robert Stevenson.

The answer to the above was a long time arriving and another year had almost passed before RRS wrote again. The 1890 letter and photographs described were returned to South Australia but must have been forwarded once more for the letter to have been in the American collection. James never did give the names of his sisters-in-law or those of his nephews and nieces. The present generation of Burns sent a little information but as it is not much better at corresponding than the old one, and like James ignores queries, the Burns history to be given later, is a sketchy one.

Locomotive Department
Border Town
30th. May 1891
Dear Brother,
We were pleased to get your long looked for letter. I am very glad to say that Viola, the Bairns and myself are all as well as can be expected at the present after all of us having been laid up with the influenza which has been prevalent all over the world. I hope this will find yourself, John and faimley, Davy and faimley, all well. I am so sorry to hear that you are not very strong as I know that it is sure to make you feel miserable at times.
We were very pleased to get your Photo - as soon as I handed it to Viola she said that is your Brother I know, for he is very like [your] Mother. On the 4th. February 1890 we sent you a photograph of Viola, the Bairns and myself, but we got them returned and also the letter I sent with them, from the General Post Office saying that you could not be found. They were addressed to James Burns 306 Madison Avenue New York City, that is the address that you gave me in your letter. Wee thought when they were returned that I must have addressed them wrong but wee will send them again when wee can get another chance to get them taken.
You see James I am an Engineer by trade and I am stationed at an out station of the Railways 200 miles from the City of Adelaide and do not often get a chance of getting to the city.
Wee were very glad to hear that you had placed a stone at the grave to [the] Memory of our Dear Mother. I will send you some money by the Mail which leaves on the 4th. August as a Share of the cost of the stone at Mother's grave. May Heaven rest her. I would like very much to see John Davy and yourself and I hope the day will come when wee will all meet.
Recollect James if you should come to South Australia that you are not coming to a strange country where you would have no one to take you by the hand or no one to make you welcome, because if you should think to come Viola and myself will be only too glad to make you as comfortable as we can. I could not say that you would get work that would exactly suit you on account of you not being very strong, but still you might.
Give our love to John and family and Davy and family and allow us to remain your Loving Brother and Sister,
V & RR Stevenson.
P.S. Please to drop us a line or two soon.

Although the repetition in these letters may be tedious reading they have been included in full to show both the difficulty experienced in communication and how deeply RRS longed for some kindness from his half brothers. One feels that John and David's indifference in never making direct contact or even sending the occasional message may have been due to resentment at having to share their mother's estate with a relative who was no more than a name to them. James perhaps had a pleasanter nature. Neither his letter nor his photograph remain. No doubt the latter was unmarked as to identity so was not kept by the Stevenson children.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
25th. August 1891
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Just a few lines to let you know that wee are all well, except Viola, who has been suffering with a pain in her side for the last eighteen months and the Doctors do not seem to be able to give her much releafe. We hope that you are all well and would like very much some day to see some of you. I would like very much to be able to pay [a] visit to New York to see our Dear Mother's last resting place but I cannot afford the expense. You see James I could not leave the Bairns here as Maggie is too young yet to be able to look after the others and I could not leave Viola behind owing to her weak state of health but I hope someday to be able to see you all.
I send you by this letter a Post Office Order as a share of the cost of the stone that you had placed over our Dear Mother's grave. Wee would like very much to hear from John and David and think that they ought to droop us a line or two. When you receive this letter please to write at once and let me know if you get the Post Office order alright as I shall be very anxious until I hear from you. The Bairns all send their love to Uncles and Aunts and cousins. Viola and myself send love to John & family and Davy and family and yourself,
From your affectionate Sis, & Brother
Viola and Bob.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
19th. March 1892
Dear Brother,
I have no doubt but what you feel angry with us for not writing to you sooner as wee now have got two letters from you since wee wrote to you last. Well, I must tell you that when wee received your last letter wee were determined not to write to you until we were able to send you our Photos. So you see James, that is the only thing that kept us so long in replying to your welcome letter. The Photo wee send you with this letter was taken last week in Adelaide.
Wee had to go to Adelaide with our eldest boy to Dr. Hamilton who performed an operation on his ear and wee were obliged to stay in the city for a fortnight with him so that the Dr. could see him. I was glad to hear that you got the Post Office Order all right and hope that this will find you, John, David and their faimleys all well. Wee should like very much to hear from John and David but I suppose they do not care about writing to us.
I was going to ask you if you could send us a newspaper sometimes as wee [would] like to see the American news. You must not think that wee have been neglectful, James, in not answearing your letter sooner. The photo is considered to be a very fair one but the one wee sent you that was returned I think was a better one.
Dear James, please to droop us a line or two when this comes to hand just to let us know that you have got it. Give our love to John & family and David and faimly and accept the same from your loving
Sister & Brother,
Robert & Viola Stevenson.

Almost twelve months passed before RRS wrote to James again, his excuse being that there had been a strike causing him to be on half time at work which makes rather odd reading, as he had considerably more leisure time than when working a ten hour day.

Locomotive Department,
Border Town,
lst. March 1893
My Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Wee received yours of the 4th. of July in due course. Wee were very glad to hear that yourself and John, Davy faimlys were all well and I am very glad to say that wee are all in good health at present. I was sorry to hear that you were out of work at the time you wrote but I hope you are in work again long before this.
I would be very glad James, to see you in Australia if I thought you could get suitable work and could content yourself here. Life in Australia I believe is very different to what it is in America. You see wee have not many large cities in Australia to be compared with the large cities in America so you will quite understand that it is very different from Yanky Land. There are no large factorys like there are in America or Scotland. Nearly everything of the manufactory is imported into Australia.
Wee were pleased to hear that David had been to Scotland. I have not had a letter from Cousin James Clark or Aunt Jennie for some time although I wrote to them several times since Uncel James died. The last letter we had from Paisley was from Cousin Katey Gray. I suppose Davy went to see her when he went to Paisley, also Sandy & Annie Gray, and also our other Cousins Jessie Millar, Jessie Robertson John & Willie. They were all in Glasgow when we heard from Paisley last. Our Aunt Mary, I have not heard from her for some years past.
James, I would like very much to see Paisley once more before I die and hope that the day will come when I will be able to see both America and Paisley. You must forgive me James for not answearing your letter sooner, fact is wee have had a great strike here at the Silver Mines and it has caused all the Engineers in the Loco. Department to be put on half time for several months past. But wee have all started to work full time again last week and things are beginning to look brighter and I trust that it will be a long time before wee have a great strike again.
I hope James that you John & Davy will write to us very soon and let us know how you are all getting on and allow us, with love to all from all, to remain,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
R.R. & V. Stevenson.

After nine years of unblemished record with the Railway Department RRS erred again and was fined one days pay for "damaging the eccentric gear on the engine for want of lubrication" on August 29, 1892, which rather spoilt his good record of 1889-90 for which he was awarded a bonus of £10 [$20] "Clause 59" having been brought in, apparently a system of rewards. Then on November 9, of 1892 he was cautioned to exercise care in future for running the train late from Bordertown to Kingston and for failing to account for loss of time on the daily (report) ticket. And thereby hangs a tale and had it been set out on the ticket the stern authorities, like their sovereign, would not have been amused. Alec Durie, already mentioned in connection with the newspaper cutting concerning the estate of Captain Walter Stevenson, had also been sent to work on the south eastern line and was also based at Bordertown and was usually fireman to RRS.

Alec was friend, crony and literally a silent partner. Except for an occasional "Aye" between puffs of (doubtless) evil smelling pipes, they seldom spoke being always in excellent accord. On this occasion of the mysteriously lost time, as they travelled towards Kingston there was an even longer silence than usual, and RRS, noting the diminishing steam, turned to make a request for more coal and found that he lacked a fireman. Alec, quiet as always, had fallen from the engine. RRS backed his train 14 miles (so he said) before he came across Alec striding along beside the rails, shovel on shoulder and quite unharmed. "Aye, I kenned ye'd be back," said Alec, and climbed aboard.

Alec had reached South Australia by the "Tanjore" on February 1st. 1877 from Scotland, with his wife Dinah, and children David, Jane and Mary and from 1885 owned a house at Rose Terrace, Wayville, close to the city. He named it "Craigie" and installed his family there while he continued at Bordertown.

RRS was not yet free of censure for 1892 as just a month later he was fined one day's pay for blithely sailing off from the Frances station in his engine and minus the train and had to again retrace his track, but the next three years saw him gaining another £30 [$60] in bonuses under that same Clause 59.

After the-letter of March 1893 already given which mentioned David Burns having been to Scotland, there was a gap of eight years before RRS wrote to America again. Ada Margaret. or Maggie according to her father, was 15 when the eighth child was born at the Bordertown Railway Cottage and having left that small country school was her mother's most able helper. The baby arrived prematurely in June 1893 and almost cost Maria her life and only the skill of the town doctor who was much experienced in such matters saved her. Alec had referred all along to the expected newcomer as "Wee Melville", being determined to have at least one Stevenson bairn named for himself. He and RRS and their train were all at the railway station of Keith when a message saying that a fifth son had been born to Maria came by the railway telegraph, so they "wet the baby's head" from that distance and RRS named him Keith Melville, but forever he was Wee Melville to Alec.

79 Unley Road (1894)

As Alec's children near the city were receiving an education of a much higher standard than the little country school at Bordertown afforded, RRS determined to do as his friend and purchase a suburban residence for his family though he must remain at Bordertown alone and so see them only occasionally. He had money from both parents, and in spite of the Great Strike, and his statement to James that he could not afford a trip overseas, he was in a position to buy a house and pay cash for it. It is quite understandable that though he might dream of once more seeing Paisley, and even New York and Margaret's grave, he really had no intention of doing so for it would mean leaving the Bairns to their own devices and that was not to be thought of.

In this year (1894) people from all Australian States were leaving to join an organisation being set up in Paraguay, South America, to begin (so they believed) a Utopian life. The famous Australian poet Dame Mary Gilmore and her husband were amongst them and suffered great hardship before escaping back to Australia. The project was a dismal failure. A Mr. and Mrs. James Sutler of Unley, about a mile from the city, were desperately anxious to be part of this soon to be disillusioned band and had their agents, George Heckwith & Co. place an advertisement in an Adelaide paper:-

FOR SALE - MUST BE SOLD - great sacrifice in price - Owners going to New Australia, South America.
Unley Road opposite Dr. Wigg's residence - Superior Double Fronted Villa containing six rooms, bathroom, pantry, etc. Drawing room 16 x 12 feet 6 inches, corniced and centre flowered; Dining room 12 x 14 feet; Bedrooms 12 x 12, 12 x 13, 11 x 12 feet; Kitchen opening from large Lobby 10 x 11 feet fitted with cooking stove, fireplaces in every room with pretty mantelpieces and grates; hall 5 feet 6 inches wide, corniced and flower centred and large dividing glass door; the doors are all grained and varnished; front verandah tiled; asphalted footpaths, neat garden in front; enclosed back verandah, yard planted with fruit trees and vines; connected with deep drainage; land 50 foot frontage to Unley Road and 120 feet deep with Ella Street at the side. This villa was built expressly for the owner under his own supervision, and every item of material used is of the very best. A CHANCE like this is seldom met with, it being the Owner's determination to SACRIFICE.
PRICE - £550 [$1,100] - reduced from £600 [$1,200] - TERMS EASY.
Call early for cards to Inspect.

RRS did inspect and was pleased with the bluestone construction, the large high ceilinged rooms and not mentioned in the advertisement a big galvanized iron shed divided into two sections, one a workshop and the other a laundry with a wood copper. Forty years later when the writer stayed at this house the laundry still had only a dirt floor and wooden stands for the vast tubs of galvanized iron that had to be filled by hand (and emptied the same way) from a rain water tank alongside, a heavy task for such a small woman as Maria, and the only way to get a hot bath was by heating water in tin buckets on top of the wood burning stove. Later gas was installed for cooking in summer and for lighting so that the cleaning and filling of lamps became a thing of the past. With three daughters growing up now Maria was not without household help. Earlier she had been a tireless worker and most particular about the appearance of her children. Quite often she would not finish ironing the starched white petticoats and pinafores, the frilled drawers and print dresses of the girls until 1 a.m., using flat irons heated on top of the stove. Not for her girls was the red turkey twill underwear so widely worn at that time.

So RRS established his family at 79 Unley Road, and on the day they all reached Adelaide en route, three year old Blaine, never having previously seen horse trams with people riding on the upper deck, demanded of his father, "Why are all those mong-kis [monkeys] sitting up there?" He was to recall this with amusement when he had passed 80. The children went off to the Unley Primary School and RRS returned to Bordertown to look after himself and to the company of Alec Durie.

The nineth (and last) child, Jean Lilian, was born on July 15 1896 "at the corner of Ella Street and Unley Road, Parkside" according to the entry in the family Bible in Maria's writing. Parkside was and still is the formal address but letters had to be addressed to Unley Road, Unley. Brief Ella Street with only two cottages to face it led to the entrance of the grounds of an elegant two storey house (now demolished) belonging to the Hall family who possessed a horse drawn carriage. This property barred the way, and beyond it Ella Street started again and continued further. The part of it which touched the Stevenson boundary is now called Belgrave Crescent but the other section retains the original name.

1895 Maria Viola Stevenson Maria had her hands full with nine lively children to keep in order on her own as each had a forthright personality and entirely lacked any meekness of spirit. She developed the bossy manner and reputation for being a severe disciplinarian which remained with her to the end of her life. Without these two props chaos would have been inevitable. Far away from the thumping of nine pairs of feet (excluding Maria's) RRS had his own little problems. The station master at Hynan: reported him for not obtaining Proceed Orders before leaving that station, the periods between November 1 and December 18 of 1897 and also from January 17 to February 4, 1898 being the precise times. For this misdemeanour RRS was fined one day's pay of fourteen shillings [$1.40]. But in March for "not keeping a proper lookout, thus causing the engine to collide with, and damage the breakvan" he was fined only one quarter of a day's pay, 3/6d. [35 cents]. Two days later came the loss of another whole day's pay for not promptly obeying the Porter's signals whilst shunting at Mt. Gambier. The punishments seem oddly unequal. In 1901 his correspondence with half-brother James Burns was resumed. The note paper has a reproduction of a street in Mt. Gambier on the first page.

Loco. Department,
Bordertown,
1st. January 1901
My Dear Brother,
Just a line or two to let you know that I received your long looked for letter and was glad to hear that you were all well and very glad to be able to say that we are all, except Viola. She has not been well for the last two years but I am still in hopes that she will pull through and get strong again.
You will recollect James when you wrote me about 6 years ago that you told me not to write to you again until I heard from you again as you were on the move and not settled down. So that is the reason I say that I was glad to receive your long looked for letter. I hope that when you reply to this letter that you will tell me all the news and how you are getting on yourself. I would like very well to hear from John and Davy. I suppose they are both married and got familys.
Maggie, Flora and Hattie [Hettie] say if they have any cousins in New York that they would like to know their address so that they could write to them. So I hope that you will send it when you reply to this and tell us all their names and if any of them are grown up. I hope dear Jamie that you are looking after Mother's grave some times and that although she is gone she is not forgotten.
Well there is nothing much of any importance happening here that is worth writing about. I am sending two papers by the same mail as this which I hope that you will get alright so I must close with love from all the Bairns to all and accept the same kind love from Viola and myself to all,
From your affectionate Sister & Brother
Bob & Viola.

It will be noted that RRS was no more forthcoming with details of his family than James was about his nieces and nephews, so that except for "Maggie and Flora and Clara alias Hattie or Hettie" the American relations were not informed of the number or names of the others, so that the customary seen but not heard attitude toward the small fry went ever further and totally ignored them.

March brought the fine of a half days pay of seven shillings [70 cents] for not detecting faulty brake gear on tender No. 13 before leaving Bordertown but this did not jeopardize his10 pound bonus [$20] for 1899/1900 and in the latter year the first marriage of a Bairn occurred. Florence married much against her parents' wishes a widower, much older, before she was 20 and for a long time the brothers and sisters had to visit her unbeknown to the very disapproving Maria. Ronald ran away from home and Walter left to board with friends when he could no longer endure Maria's dictating of his life style and Stuart later followed suit. There had been much amiable squabbling amongst the Bairns (and occasionally not so amiable) that was scarcely known to RRS who continued to be far distant in the south east with only the occasional visit home. Maria's long and grim determination to train her children in the ways of righteousness had been effective but her reign was almost over.

James' letter of 1904 was not kept, but the reply from RRS was and is given here. It is his last in the collection as after just one more from James the correspondence lapsed, and although RRS lived on until 1920 and James to 1929 there seems to have been no further contact. RRS was transferred from Bordertown to Mt. Gambier in August 1902 and wrote from there.

Loco. Department,
Mt. Gambier,
August 28th. 1904
Dear Brother,
Just a line or two to let you know that I received your letter on the 25th. inst. I was very glad to hear that you were well. We were beginning to think that you had forgotten us altogether. I have sent three letters to you within the last three years but did not get any answer to them. And about ten months ago Maggie wrote to you and sent you a photo of herself and Hattie but she got her letter returned as unclaimed but they did not return the photos.
Well, however, we are all right, pleased to hear from you and hope this will find you in good health as it leaves us all well except, Viola. She has been in very poor health for the last two years.
She is a bit stronger now but still she is far from what she ought to be.
Dear Jamie, we were greatly surprised when we got your letter for to see that you were in Texas. Viola thinks that it is time that you got married and settled down and give over roving about from place to place. And I think, myself, that you would be better to settle down to something steady and enjoy the comfort of a home life which I suppose you have not had since Mother died. So I think it is almost time that you got some girl and made a home for yourselves. I am sure if Mother was alive that would be her dearest wish to see you married and settled down to a quiet steady life. And I am sure that it must be the wish of John and David and their wives, and we hope to hear you say when you answer this letter that you are married and settled down.
You did not say in your letter if John, David and their wives and bairns were all well. You must give me the address of John and David when you write to me next time. I asked you twice before for it but I suppose you forgot but I hope that you will not forget this time when you write.
Things has been very bad in Australia for the last four years but there are signs of the times getting a lot better and I think Trade will soon be in a flourishing condition again.
It is very distressing to see in the papers that you sent me the sad fatality that happened to the excursion steamer and to think that there was so many perished and them so close to land. You did not say in your letter what you were doing in Texas so when you write you must tell me all about what you are doing.
All your nephews and nieces join Viola and myself in sending kind love to your dear self and to John, David and their families and hope to hear from you very soon.
We remain your loving Brother and Sister
R.R. & M.V. Stevenson.
P.S. Be sure to send us John and David's address. RRS.

This next and final letter from James was written in a very large hand indicating that he could no longer see well.

Beaumont, Texas,
October 21st.1904
Dear Brother,
I received your kind letter and was glad to hear you were all well except Viola whom I am sorry to hear has been sick, but I hope will soon be better. The letters you speak of I do not remember receiving. Do not answer this letter until next Spring when the days are long, then it is daylight at night. When I get off work I can see to write better then. I will now close hoping this will find you all in good health which it leaves me at present,
From your loving brother,
James Burns,
General Delivery,
Beaumont, Texas, America.

RRS was to be at Mt. Gambier for another two years. The Railways felt no concern that he had been away from his family,except for an occasional visit, for ten years. There was another 7 shilling fine [70 cents], in February 1905 for not seeing the points set right at Mt. Gambier so that they were trailed through and damaged. The next year, in September he was merely cautioned for trailing wheels of engine No. 100 which was derailed at Woodville. He had been transferred at long last, to Port Adelaide and was paid a Bonus for each of the next three years.

Family together at last (1909)

At last, at the end of 1909 he could live at home when Adelaide became his central depot. Old friend Alec was still with RRS as his fireman. With the rail link between Adelaide and Melbourne completed in 1887 it was much easier for RRS and Maria to make some visits to see her people, also there would have been an annual free pass, at least as far as the now actual border town of Serviceton. Maria's father had died at Linton in 1888, and thereafter, until her death in 1903, her mother lived at Ballarat, no doubt with daughter Clara Inglis. Keith recalled one such visit by his parents when he was left to the not so tender mercies of his sisters Ada and Hettie, Florence having married by then.

The Nicholls' relatives occasionally arrived from Victoria to stay at Unley. Brother-in-law Edgar Nicholls of Melbourne, once made a special trip to Bordertown (about 1892) to beg RRS to buy heavily of B.H.P. shares at the peak profit time of the Broken Hill mines, but RRS had already lost several amounts on shares which proved to be worthless so declined to risk anymore. Edgar did very well indeed from his speculation and RRS was to always regret his refusal.

From 1909 to 1915 RRS was a driver of trains out from Adelaide to suburban termini. The year 1910 was yet another one of censure for minor peccadilloes. In February for "losing time and with-holding actual facts when reporting same on the daily ticket", and a few days later he was most severely censured for a similar offence. This was to affect his bonus but it did not for he received £10 [$20] in the following April. The record stated - "for failing to report all the facts why his engine failed at Woodville in accordance with Rule 434 and that he did not note delays were caused by bad coal" and again on May 12 - "whilst working No. 43 Up Port (Adelaide) Line he overshot Port Adelaide platform to such an extent that he passed the starting signal whilst at danger." Shocking!
In September while running through Croydon he overshot Kilkenny when working No.31 down train, Adelaide to Henley Beach, and he finished 1910 by colliding with dead end No. l platform, Adelaide Station, with No 33 Up Port train. For this only a mild verbal caution was administered.

In 1912 he ran past only one station (not named) and the next year pulled up short at Adelaide no doubt remembering the former collision.

In 1915, aged 68, he was ordered to the Mile End goods yards to end his career with the Railway Department by shunting engines about in that area. However as he damaged the dead end at Bowden in 1917 (the final entry of his papers,) it must be presumed that he was not entirely confined to shunting. During the time at Mile End he daily walked the three miles there and back in all weathers, and as his way lay past the Wayville home of Alec, if the hour was suitable, a call was made to "hae wee crack wi' Alec" and the days he missed Alec usually turned up on the Stevenson doorstep.

There had been some lighter monents while travelling the suburban lines, such as the competition between Alec and RRS as their train passed the backyards of the little cottages at Bowden, to see who was the more accurate in lobbing pieces of coal into the 0. S. pair of cotton drawers left by one shrewd old lady on her clothes line near her fence, thus ensuring a constant supply of fuel for her stove. At Unley Road there was Max the fox terrier who was fond of nipping ankles sharply and biting babies of which he was inordinately jealous, and a mad cockatoo that helped to keep the household lively. The latter would remove pegs from the washing on the line and release the hens, no matter how secure the gate fastening, then shriek that they were loose in the yard. He mimicked everyone's voice and caused much confusion and more than one family argument with snide remarks wrongly attributed to one of the members.

Retirement (1917)

1917 Robert Rowland Stevenson With the years the accent of RRS grew broader and he more silent, leaving all the talking to his women folk and in this they were by no means backward. The most he said to my mother, newly engaged to his youngest son Keith in 1916, when she was at the Stevenson house for Sunday tea was, "stretch oot your hand lass, and help yoursel', or you may go short." He retired from the Railway Department in 1917 when he was aged 70. Maria was presented with a silver teapot which could not be used due to a defective lining, and RRS received a gigantic, and then fashionable "Morris" chair with massive polished wooden arms, and complete with silver plate, suitably engraved. This chair ended up at Keith's house and caused so many bruised shins and sore elbows, and occupied so much space, that the writer disposed of it as soon as it came into her possession, but preserved the engraved plate. The oak chair used exclusively by RRS at the head of the dining table is still in excellent condition.

He was an Elder of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Unley, where he took up the collection on Sundays and helped with church affairs. He was also a Free Mason in the Duke of Leinster Lodge of which he was a Past Master. In old age he was no longer bearded and was rather bald with the remaining hair and moustache white, and his Scotch "agate" eyes, grey flecked with brown, were unfaded. All ties with Scotland and New York seem to have ceased and he never spoke of his relatives until he was dying when he tried to tell his son Blaine, who seeing his father's distress of body, said not to attempt this so the opportunity was lost.

Death (1920)

Keith and Blaine sat with their father on alternate nights during the week he was dying and unconscious with only his powerful heart and lungs keeping death at bay. Keith was with him when he died October 24, 1920 and he was surprised to note how quickly the white hair and moustache turned to a youthful brown. He was buried at West Terrace Cemetery (the State's earliest) on the outskirts of Adelaide in the park lands. With typical forethought he had purchased a plot. At the foot of this large old burial ground, about a half mile distant from the Stevenson grave where Florence was the first occupant, the trains pass to the south and west and the Mile End yards and running sheds were at that time close by.

RRS left £1,626/6/6 in cash [$3,252.65]. By his Will Maria received £482/2/0 [$964.20] and each of the 8 surviving children had the sum of £125/16/6 [$251.65]. A Trust (to mature) was set up for the grandchildren and Keith's younger daughter Betty missed out as she arrived later. Eventually the 5 grandchildren each received £16/16/6 [$33.65].

Maria

1910 Maria Viola Stevenson Maria remained at the family home at Unley Road. It was left to her for her life time. Daughters Ada and Jean were with her, and for a time bachelor son Ronald. She had a small Superannuation pension and the sons put their shares of the father's estate into a special fund that was invested, so that there was always sufficient money for any large expenses. Maria's reputation amongst her children was that of a stern Victorian moralist, a strict disciplinarian with almost no sense of humour and easily shocked, but to her grandchildren she was kind and generous and liked nothing better than to prepare elaborate meals. Her wine trifles were guaranteed to intoxicate the most hardened infant in spite of keeping to her narrow Methodist outlook which should have eschewed Strong Drink in any form. When this trifle was a bit much for a child its parent or an uncle was by no means averse to cleaning up the plate.

Maria and her daughters kept the house spotless and the children well dressed. She had a certain elegance of attire though always in black after RRS died. Her black seal skin fur stole lined with heavy satin still survives. The house as the writer recalls its appearance in the 1920s retained its late Victorian furnishings. These had been purchased by RRS mainly at auctions and according to Ada, some pieces and ornaments had belonged to a State governor who held a clearing sale before returning to England.

Mother' s Day, Maria' s birthday (January 28), and the family get-together held annually on Boxing Day, were about the only occasions when the front parlour was used. There were floor to ceiling tapestry curtains in dark green and gold tied back with thick silk cord at the bay window which faced Unley Road and lace curtains veiled the glass. The carpet was of so dark a green, that to a child moving into the room there was fear that there was no substance under foot and one just might step into nothingness.
There was an upright piano (Jean was the musician) and six chairs of Italian walnut with carved round open backs, a lady chair and a scroll back sofa, all in matching upholstery, the original floral tapestry but much faded. A papier-mache firescreen in shiny black had a sea scene complete with light house, outlined in mother of pearl - the walls were decorated with large photographs of the family, each in a broad carved frame. The front bedroom had cedar furniture, some of which is at this house and in excellent condition. Maria took a daily siesta after the midday dinner upon a cedar couch upholstered in delicate pink.

The dining/living room was the largest with a family size table and the many chairs needed and a tall backed sideboard laden with an array of glass and silverware. The silver tea service of ornate design has an 1843 hallmark. Under the window with its cedar venetian blind and Nottingham lace curtains was a sofa. This black leather covered horror was stuffed with horse hair that sharply pricked young bare legs and was so slippery that the same child continually slid off and so was scolded by Maria for supposed restlessness. There were some very large engravings of the Zulu Wars with gory details and black and white prints of Marcus Stone drawings such as "The Love Letter" and "Two Strings to her Bow". The children presented Maria with afternoon teacups on the occasion of her Silver Wedding and a half dozen of these are intact. The truly vast cheese dish and cover, redolent of past occupation, and patterned with cabbage roses, was to eventually bring a good price from an antique dealer.

On one side of the small tiled grate (where the fire radiated almost no heat) was the "Morris" chair and something a lot more comfortable for Maria on the other side. The high mantel piece had carefully spaced ornaments and in the centre the presentation clock from the Railway Department fellow workers. It was of imitation onyx and brass, very ornate, with double pillars at each end so that it looked like a miniature building. It was wound with a very large brass key. The remainder of the house was unremarkable except for the deal kitchen table which was scraped and scrubbed to keep its original pale surface. Yet another sofa was beneath the window for Ada to take her siesta, and both took up a lot of space.

The writer lived Maria for for a period in 1933 while Ada was away on an extended holiday and can testify to the excellence of her grandmother's cooking. A truly sumptuous high tea was prepared each Saturday to be eaten when I returned from the matinee at the local cinema. Maria of course supplied the necessary sixpence (5 cents) to go in. It was winter and almost dark when the picture ended and after the screening of "The Invisible Man" it was a case of run home as fast as possible. At night Maria wandered about the house with a candle. She said her nocturnal walks were due to getting up to children for so many years and she had never been able to sleep well since those days. However, Keith who suffered a similar inability to sleep, merely put it down to an ancestor having murdered a Chinaman. She presented me with my first wristlet watch for being her companion during those weeks.

By this time Unley had become densely built over and the open land round about when RRS purchased had all vanished. There is an envelope still extant addressed to "Mrs. R.R. Stevenson, Truly Road, Imly, Adelaido" which came from America when Maria sent for coloured prints of Ida Rentoul fairy pictures for me in the 1920s. The pictures (framed) remain also.

It was from "Truly Road, Imly" that Maria took her last outing to Clarence Park one Sunday, with Ada. She had a premonition this would be her last visit and brought a prized glass beer mug she filled with port wine jelly (made with port wine) to Keith. There was no indication of any illness and her very blue eyes were bright as ever, but in the early hours she had a stroke and remained unconscious for eight days. She had a dread of hospitals so was nursed at home. She awoke just once when Keith was keeping the night watch and accused him of putting her in hospital. He pointed out the familiar furniture, the pictures and ornaments of her own room, and comforted she slept again, never to awake.

At death she returned to lovely youth and to me, in her coffin looked no more than 17. Her hair was almost untouched with grey which added to the young look, and she had retained her slender figure.

There were violets and narcissus in her hands. She was buried beside RRS at West Terrace in the family plot. She left an estate of £377/10/1 [$755.99] and a statement dated October 2, 1935 shows her two bank balances and Elder Smith & Co. shares and sets out the expenses. These include £19/5/6 [$38.55] funeral costs. The seven surviving children each received £47/14/11 [$95.49].
The house which in 1893 RRS had purchased for £550 [$1,100] to be sold under the terms of his will and the money divided between the children, but the Contract note is dated some 5 years later, on August 29th, 1940 and says that "the house at the corner of Unley Road and Ella Street, Parkside, having a frontage of 50 feet to Unley Road by a depth of 120 feet or thereabouts, together with the villa house of 6 rooms and all conveniences and improvements now thereupon, at present occupied by Mrs. Bowden, and known as street no. 79 was purchased from the agents Allen and Barton of Unley for £800 [$1,600] by Rich. Sidney Fidock, master printer, of Cottonville, S.A." The Executors were Blaine and Stuart.