Seeking Background Information
In 1839, a family that seemed to include parents and 3 sons, named Fergusson arrived in South Australia. Within a few years they had taken up land near Adelaide and were farming very successfully. One of the 3 sons had 13 children who made it to adulthood, and at least one of the brothers had a similar number of children.
The farm was called Monreith. I would love to know anything about this farm and if it still exists. Are there any Fergussons still about?
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RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
The Fergussons may have consisted of Andrew Fergusson, a millwright from New Luce, his wife Margaret/Nancy and their three sons, Alexander, Willam and Peter. They probably arrived in Adelaide on the 'Lysander' in 1839 on an assisted passage but the shipping records from that era are inaccurate. Andrew and Alexander leased and later bought land near the early settlement of Adelaide from the South Australian Company and called their property Monreith Farm after the town in Scotland. Alexander and his wife (also Margaret) raised a large family. He died in 1869 and is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery along with many other family members but Margaret survived until 1914, still living in the original 1853 farm house. A few years after her death, the farm was sold to become the suburb of Toorak Gardens. There is a Fergusson Square in the suburb commemorating the family and Monreith lives on as the name of a private nursing home. Nothing remains of the original farmhouse. My great grandfather was the yougest son, Peter.
Comment from Andrew Fergusson on Monday, 1st August 2011.
RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
Third Cousin Andrew! Thank you for that synopsis! Quite by accident, through my rowing club, I have found also another Fergusson with whom I share ggf Alexander, son of #1 son Alexander. Do you have anything more on Peter's children etc? Did he marry Jane Glover? I have relatively little on William's life either. I had thought he was the youngest but obviously this is wrong. Did he marry Jane Blacklock? I have always been unsure about that. There is some mention somewhere of a William at Pt Wakefield and I know Alexr had property up there so wondered if this was him? Actually, too, the suburb that the farm became was called Monreith. I remember it as such and it was morphed into Toorak gardens relatively recently. My Mum was d/o Alexander, s/o Alexander with the 13 kids. I found birth records for both of these sons (P &W) in Scotland but not for Alexr. Please let me know if you have any other revelations. Genealogy is a really absorbing time filler.
Comment from Lorimer Packer on Tuesday, 2nd August 2011.
RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
I am also a descendant of Alexander Fergusson, through his daughter Sarah. I have been trying to find the connection with the property on the Wakefield but the only reference I found was that William and Peter at one time operated the horse drawn railway in that area. There is also a mill near Yankalilla called William Fergusson mill and I am fairly sure it was our William! One interesting snippet is the arrival record shows that Andrew and Nancy/Alice arrived with their 3 sons and an 11 year old female. (not named). When you look at the ages of Alexander and Margaret when they married it just about matches! James their eldest was born before they married and their second child not long after. No-one I've had contact with has been able to find out where Andrew and Alice (nee Walker ) were born. They are buried at West Terrace with Alexander and Margaret, Alexander's eldest son James is buried next too them with a significant headstone. Alexander and Margaret also had a son Alexander (married Emily Jane Trewenack) who appears to have been a notable horseman. He is buried at my local church - St George's Magill SA.
Comment from Judith Rocklyn on Saturday, 17th September 2011.
RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
I am a descendant of Andrew Fergusson - Andrew, Alexander, James, Alexander, Barbara, Hilary and then myself. Alexander, my great grandfather, born 1870, was working as saddlier in Dongara WA 1889, he married Emma Louise Osborn in 1894. He had two sisters Margaret Ann 1867 - 1871, Jane Heath (known as Jennie) 27 Feb 1875 - 1965, His father James had died 30 Sept 1875, leaving his mother with 3 children, the youngest 9mnths old. His mother remarried Henry Michael Rice 1877 and they had 2 children - Sydney Cotton Rice, 1879 - 1930 and Edith Gertrude Rice 1884 died aged 3 and half months, look forward to sharing information with other family members, regards, Peta
Comment from Peta Zadow on Sunday, 27th November 2011.
RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
Hi Judith, you are right on the money! Have you done a tree for Sarah's offspring? She was my gf's sister. My rowing mate Malcolm Fergusson, has supplied his and we did a swap. His gf was Robert, Alex's and Sarah's brother. A couple of points. Nancy is a common nickname for Agnes in Scotland according to the National Library people. That clarified that one. Agnes/Nancy was Andrew's wife. I found some possibles in family search.org but no ah ha moments. Did Sarah marry a Wark? I recall one lad was Kia just before the end of WW1 in France. Reginald Fergusson Wark. Emily Jane Trewennack was my grandmother. Grandpa was run over and killed by a drunk driver, while pushing my sister in her pram in 1934. Never forgotten or forgiven. First grandchild and all that. I even remember the hated name! I haven't made it to WTC. On my gunner list. There was another lot of Fergussons arrived early too but unrelated. I have a sneaky suspicion they were the Yankalilla ones but not at all sure. Regards, Judy
Comment from Lorimer Packer on Sunday, 27th November 2011.
RE: RE: Seeking Background Information
Since it is difficult to limit my responses to 300 words, quite a bit of what I think is the family history has been published to a MyHeritage website:
http://www.myheritage.com/site-family-tree-137566341/fergussons-marrabel
Please make sure the family tree Test2 is displayed or it will not be up to date. The site contains also notes on individual members mostly obtained from TROVE searches of the newspapers of the time. There are obituaries for Alexander and Margaret Fergusson as well as Peter Fergusson. I have included lengthy extracts relating to the Normanville Mill built by William Fergusson and the insolvency proceeding associated with the firm of Fergusson & Reeves at Port Wakefield. Please check the profile for each family member.
Thanks for comments posted so far, all of which have added pieces to the puzzle. The Agnes/Nancy problem appears to be solved but it is unlikely Alexander married his sister so that is still going. However, Margaret is reported as having come out on the same Lysander voyage (obituary) so that fits. A cousin perhaps?
The website might change to the Lysander Fergussons in the near future unless someone comes up with a better name.
Comment from Andrew Fergusson on Tuesday, 29th November 2011.