Photo:
"Mardan South State School " (Grades 1-6).
Educator of 3 generations of Allans.
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Photo: "Mardan South State School " (Grades 1-6). Educator of 3 generations of Allans.
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A history of that line of the Allan Family Tree that originated in "Inverlair", near Ft. William, Scotland and ended at "Inverlair", near Leongatha, Victoria, Australia.
Note 1 - Birth Years are used in parenthesis after names throughout this document since the repetition of first names is so prolific. eg. Geoffrey Allan(1942)
This is from the text of a letter written to me by Uncle David Allan in 1987 and revised based on other historical records. Geoffrey Allan.
Revisions.
I will write this history of the Allan family in the first person as I feel that will be the easiest way for me to tackle it. (David Allan)
Richard ALLAN(1720 - approximately)
The earliest recorded Allan traceable to our tree is Richard who lived with his wife Elizabeth REDPATH in BERWICKSHIRE, SCOTLAND. They had 4 children traceable to birth certificates (ftr)
Andrew ALLAN(before 1735)
He married Sibbilla RICHARDSON at Cranshaws Parish, Berwickshire in 1779. They had 3 daughters and one son. They lived in the districts of Duns and Langton, Berwickshire. (ftr)
Richard ALLAN(1782) [great,great-grandfather]
My great, great, grandfather's name was Richard, a name that continued to every generation until mine. [He was born in 1782. A farmer who lived on a property close to Edinburgh. He married Elizabeth DARLING at Greenlaw, Berwickshire in 1804. He had 5 sons and 2 daughters, all well educated - both in academics and in strict Scots spiritual principles.
Andrew ALLAN(1805) [great-grandfather]
This saga starts with his son, my great grandfather Andrew Allan. The 4th recorded generation of Allans(gaa). We have several letters that were written between him and his father Richard; and between him and his son David.(lt)]
On his marriage certificate, of which I have a copy, he was shown as a shepherd while his wife Catherine Drummond was shown as a housemaid. They were married in St. Cuthbert's Parish Church in Edinburgh in 1832. Later Andrew became the manager, I think the Scots called him the Doer, for an estate north of the Forth called Inverlair. My father called our home in Gippsland Inverlair. Andrew had 3 sons and 2 daughters. refer also "Our Trip to Inverlair" by Alison and Ida Allan.
The oldest son, Richard, came to Australia on the ship "Thetis" in 1851 starting out as a shepherd on the York Peninsula and later in Gawler and Encounter Bay,SA. He was only about 18 years of age so he must have been quite adventurous. Late in 1852 he joined the gold rush, first at Bendigo, and later at McIvor Creek, Forest Creek, Fryer's Creek and Ballarat. Later he took part in one of Australia's 2 battles, the Eureka Stockade [1854]. He wasn't hurt in that battle and escaped punishment [with a caution. There is NO reference in his letters to gold seeking but he did describe the reason for the protest against taxes]. Later he became a farmer. [buying a farm in 1857 with his brother David]
Richard married Catherine Robertson in Adelaide in 1855. The Robertson family were also on the ship "Thetis" so they might have met then and kept in touch.
There were the parents, Alex and Eliz (nee Blellock), with children Catherine, Isabella, and Peter. Son Alex had already mirated to Australia on the ship "Indian" in 1849, and another daughter, Eliz remained in Glasgow, dying in 1877. (ca)
I don't know how many Robertson's came to Australia apart from the above mentioned but there must have been others. Dad's Uncle Peter Robertson helped him and his brothers clear their first selection in Gippsland. There were 2 old maid Robertson's living in Adelaide I met once when I was about 16. (probably daughters of Alex& Hannah Robertson - gaa) Dad's cousin, Alex, hailed from that city.
David ALLAN(1837) [grandfather]
His brother, David, my grandfather, followed Richard to Australia in 1854 on the "Oliver Lang"(ca) and took a stagecoach from Geelong to Ballarat (86 miles in 7 hours - pretty good riding on a rough road (lt)) to the diggings to meet his brother. He spent several (3) years digging for gold in Ballarat (lt) and eventually worked a farm of 93 acres near the township of Newlyn that he and his brother purchased in 1857 (at 4 pounds/acre (ca)). I feel the original farms were about 40 acres but grandfather extended his holdings until he must have had over 200 acres of very rich volcanic soil. He married his brothers sister-in-law, Isabella Robertson in 1863 at Scrub Hill.
Grandfather David became friendly with a Thomas McCall (note: according to the 1851 census he was a servant of David's father and lived on the farm at "Inverlair", near Fort William, Scotland) who wrote to great grandfather and asked him to find him (Thomas) a wife. He said "Australian girls are all right but they can't make butter" and he sent 20 pounds for her fare. Great grandfather did a cunning thing. He used the money to pay the fare for his daughter (Isabella) along with himself and the rest of his family, Catherine, Elizabeth and James - another son, John (1838), died in infancy. Thomas and Isabella married the following year so the arrangement was mutually acceptable. They emigrated to Australia on the "Lord Raglan" departing Liverpool 22nd Aug, 1860 with an estimated 140 days at sea before disembarking at Melbourne.(ca) and he bought a block of 40 acres about half way between grandfather's property and the Newlyn Township. You have probably forgotten Geoff but I showed you the place where the cottage used to stand but you didn't seem interested at the time. I would have shown it to you again had we managed to get to Creswick on you last visit.
Grandfather was a very dour Scot with very Calvinistic religious principles. He wouldn't harness the horses to go to church on Sunday and the family had to walk. Missing church was a mortal sin. On Sunday no one was allowed to read anything except the bible or Pilgrims Progress.
To fill their evenings the family played cribbage, which needs a scoreboard with holes punched in it. Pegs were put in the holes to keep the score. Not having a score board they each used a bar of soap with holes punched in it. They didn't understand why Peter wanted his own bar until the checked and found there were ten less holes in his bar.
As with most Scots at the time grandfather believed in a good education. It which wasn't that common of the people of the age, and dad and his brothers attended Creswick Grammar School. Dad later on had a library of books that I would find hard to read today with my much greater education (he was an elementary school principal). I remember on our shelves, SARTOR RESATUS by Carlysle, Gibbon's "Rise And Fall of the Roman Empire" and others I can't remember.
Elizabeth Allan married John Inglis who I understand came to Australia on the same ship as the McKinnon family [John Inglis was one of the subscribers to the Scrub Hill church 1856. In 1882 he set out for Mirboo North and Mardan and was a pioneer in that area. He was instrumental in setting up the Woorayl Shire in1888]. John's grandson "Jack" Inglis was my second cousin and a close friend. (The story
James, the baby of the family was supposed to be an invalid (asthmatic) but I feel he was just plain lazy. When he died great- grandfather left the farm and cottage to his descendants with a proviso that James had the use of it for the rest of his life. James died, when I was about 21, at the age of over ninety - some invalid! He, his father and mother, my grandfather and mother three uncles and an aunt are all buried in the Creswick cemetery. Recently we traced the site of great-grandfather to an unmarked grave. We have since put a marker on it. I supplied the money for the inscription and my cousins for a concrete slab over the grave. It wasn't until I went to the funeral of one of my uncles that I found out that another of dad's brothers, John, was buried there. Evidently he died in infancy, a fairly common happening in those days.
My two uncles, Dick(1867) and Dave(1870), remained on the home farm and when great grand died had the added problem of caring for his 40 acres until Jim died. Then they got rid of it quick smart, selling it to another Allen, no relation. When they went through the house after Jim died they found the linen that had been grown and spun and woven by my great grandmother and a chest of letters grandfather had written to her along with some of the replies. I have a shoebox full of letters I haven't yet had time to read. And, by the way, as a result of great-grandfathers will I was already 21 I received a bequest. I forgot whether it was 10 or 20 pounds. My youngest sister Marge received a lot more when she reached her majority as it had been gathering interest for many years.
Last year Leslie and I attended the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Presbyterian Church in Scrub Hill, about a mile from grandfather's property. I think the first services were probably held in granddad's home. Five generations of Allans' worshipped there. Strangely enough my Uncle Robert McIndoe (he married mother's elder sister) and his father carted the stone for the church with their bullock team.
The Allan Saga - Second Spasm
Alexander Allan(1865) [father]
The following paragraph was provided by Chris Allan)
My father Alexander(1865) and his brother Andrew(1863) applied firstly in 1886 for a selection of 700 acres (being lots 107a,b,c&d). They were only given allotment 107D Koorooman bieng 156 acres in their father's name (after borrowing 200 pounds from him). In 1892 his father transferred the 107D block into Andrew's name. By 1893 (possibly earlier) the brothers were working away at another block 114A (180 acres). This was a forfieted block belonging to one Mr. Slattery. This was the block later known as "Inverlair". Another block to the immediate east of 107D was 113C, formerly owned by one Mr. Meldrum. This block was also worked at prior to the partnership breakup. I'm not sure of the exact deal the brothers struck in order to dissolve the partnership only that "Andrew consented to the terms about the land at last, but certainly not graciously". Remember too that therewere the 80 acres at Nerrena, I'm not sure when that was purchased. Anyway, in the end, Andrew settled in 1902, building a brick house on 113C. Alex stayed at "Inverlair" (114A) along with the 80 acres and the original 156 acres must have been sold off. Lesters now own it. Jack McKinnon's deceased estate of 194 acres was added in 1918 to Inverlair, totalling 374 acres. (ca)
(Based on early maps it is likely the Nerrena property was purchased later and was occupied by Richard and Agnes. gaa)
(Missing text here)
Getting to South Gippsland.
The South Gippslanders traveled by train to Morwell and then overland through the primeval forest to Mirboo North and Leongatha. They had to go by horseback and with packhorses with all their belongings. There was so much compost on the ground from fallen leaves that by the time they went over the same ground twice they had mud to the ankles and after a few more times they would have to make another track. Just by the way, the Irish from Bungaree went in the same direction but settled at Fish Creek that later had the reputation of being the fightingest town in Victoria.
The first task of the pioneers was to ring bark all the trees (cut through the bark all the way around so the tree would starve and die). When the trees were dead they were felled, cut into lengths of about ten feet and then rolled into heaps, two on the ground and one on top pulled up by a chain with a cant hook on the end. Then they were fired in the autumn and grass was sown. It must have been back breaking work. The brothers build themselves a comfortable house and lived quite well. They had to pay 1 pound per acre but also had to do improvements every year. They borrowed the money from their father and he made certain they repaid him. There was never any talk of wages for the early work they did on their father's farm.
I gather that Andrew wasn't all that fond of work and the bulk of it fell onto dad. Later Andrew married Agnes Lester, a member of a family that came from Ascot, near Creswick. I had always had a suspicion that it was dad that Agnes wanted but she had to be satisfied with second best. After the marriage the brother dissolved the partnership and Dad selected the block the family still has and started all over again. Dad did keep 80 acres of Nerrena, part of the original selection. (this conflicts slightly with historical records (see properties)
The following paragraph was provided by Chris. Allan
Andrew(1863-1905) apparently died of a hernia, that his brother could usually somehow make right /put back in place. He used to wear a waist band for protection. The story is that he went out fighting fires without his belt, and the hernia reasserted itself but on this occasion Angnes Allan (who was always cold to Alex - David felt she had a crush on David) wouuld not allow David to help Andrwe and she took him down to Melbourne where, after surgery, he died in 1927. The Allans never had much to do with her after that incident. I have spoken to some of the Lesters, and while having photos of Agnes, do not have any of Andrew Allan, so to this day we do not know what he looked like. (ca)
Alexander(1865) ALLAN marries Mary McKINNON [parents]
In those days the people around would gather on Sundays at my uncle Bob McIndoe's home he called "Authoringa" to have a "natter" and collect their mail. It was one of their few chances to have a social occasion. Dad became very friendly with my Uncle Jack McKinnon and in one of his letters home, he wrote very frequently by lantern light, he spoke of meeting Jack McKinnon's sister Mary who seemed to be a nice girl. She became my mother. Dad was about 40 when he married and there was 15 years difference in their ages but it was an ideal marriage. Mum must have had her work cut out. She had 4 children under the age of six, made her own bread, made the butter and even the clothes for the kids while as a treat she could sometimes visit the township 8 miles away. Young though I was at the time I remember when Rix came along a little early and dad galloped down to get Mrs. Garvie our next door neighbor to act as a midwife and I can still see Mrs. G. running like mad from their place. Mrs. G. at that time was a widow with 10 children and a lovely old lady who lived to become a great, great grandmother. When her 2 younger children (Bob & Marge) were about due she didn't make the same mistake. Mum boarded next to the hospital for a week or two prior to the big event.
When grandfather died I was about 10 years old. His property was left to my uncles Dave and Dick but dad received nothing which I still consider was a very miserable state of affairs considering how hard he worked on the property without wages before moving to Gippsland. Dave married a neighbor, Esther Binns, but Dick remained a bachelor all his life. He had the misfortune of having a cleft palate and I used to find it hard to understand him at first. Strangely enough my cousin Isa was also inflicted with a harelip but they are the only two of what can be thought of as hereditary complaints. Isa's lip was fixed up but when Uncle Dick was born you just had to live with it. The youngest brother of the family, Uncle Bob, became a Mining Engineer in Tasmania and married a Hilds Cowburn whose family owned the "Bush Inn" in New Norfolk. We called to see her once but she was very old and didn't seem terribly interested to meet us.
The Allan Saga - Third Spasm
Missing text here.
Gap - photos and drought
After clearing his new block dad became a grazier, keeping cattle to fatten for the market, and when this didn't produce an income to feed and educate six kids he gradually moved into dairying. All of us were sent to high school in Leongatha which meant we had to board in the town which was of course a considerable drain on finances as there were three of us there at the same time and we could never have been considered a wealthy family. While I was there I obtained a teaching scholarship so I must have been a great deal smarter then than I am now as there were only 40 for the whole state. Nowadays there are hundreds of them. Winning the scholarship meant I was tied to the teaching profession, something I have never had cause to regret. I matriculated when 17 and got my first job as a junior teacher at Elsternwick when my pay, after settling my board, was 5 shillings a week ($0.50). Isabel attended for 2 years and Jack for 1. He only went so he could learn some woodwork. A special case was made for him so that he could do so. Dad was one of the originators to have the High School established and was on the council for many years. Jack must have had some success with his woodworking classes as later on he built Rix's house by himself. (Footnote: he also did additions to the Presbyterian Church Hall, School, Hall and the old Farmhouse)
My Uncle Jack McKinnon died very young at only 51 and Dad and Uncle Dave Campbell were named as his executors and quite a job they had as his affairs were in quite a mess. I always wish I knew more about Uncle Jack, as he must have been quite a man. He was also very generous hearted and lent money to quite a few people who couldn't or wouldn't repay it. One couldn't as he was killed in World War I. the Executors sold off all the properties that were mortgaged and one that was really an addition to Sprayden. Dad bought this from the estate, the ninety acres on which Rix's house was built. He borrowed 200 pounds from Uncle Dick to help in the financing of this and put the property in mother's name. Sprayden was left to Aunt Eliza and Uncle Duncan McKinnon and after their death it was to be sold and the proceeds divided between Hector McKinnon, Gordon McKinnon and John McKinnon Allan. Jack didn't live long enough to receive his share so it passed to your mother Geoff.
In 1924 dad became very ill and had to spend some months in hospital in Leongatha. In an era when the basic wage was 4.10 pounds/week we were paying 4.4 pounds/week for the hospital; and 6 pounds/week for a special nurse; while several visits from Melbourne, by 2 specialists, cost 100 pounds each. By the time dad died at the early age of 59 their financial state was bad.
Mother had never had to worry before about anything on the farm as dad took care of everything and now she was saddled with a load of debt and without experience. She could not have possibly managed without Jack and later Rix. Jack just took over and managed the farm and in due course cleared the debt. Rix would have preferred an academic life but he was needed on the farm and had to make it his life's vocation. Rix married to his first childhood sweetheart and Jack later. They ran the farm in partnership for years but friction developed and it was decided to cut the farm in half. To pay for the surveys and necessary fencing they were forced to sell the 80 acres in Nerrena, which nearly broke their hearts. It was a very good property with a good creek and a permanent spring, which never ran dry even in the worst drought. The division of the property by the way Geoff was before, not after, your father's death.
Now to get back to Dad's brother David and his family. He was the only other on of the six brothers who had children.
Dave had 3 children. Isabel(Isa) who is now about 82; Allison, a couple of years younger; and Alex (Andrew Alexander), named after my father and his elder brother, who died last year (1986?). Isa, Alison and their mother, after Alex' marriage and her father's death, bought a home in Ballarat. Alison was a high school teacher and finished up as headmistress of a big school in Ballarat. Isa took care of her mother and, after her death, began kindergarten teaching. Some years ago while holidaying in America she had a severe stroke which left her slightly incapacitated and hasn't done anything kind to her disposition. Alex had 2 daughters but no son to carry on the old farm and a couple of years ago before he died he sold it to another farmer of Scottish descent in the district. I don't know much of his daughters except the both are married with children.
Now for grandfather's brother and his family. As two brothers had married two sisters the families were almost like brother and sisters also. During dad's generation and when we were young we saw a lot of that branch of the family. Dick, the oldest, after a shot at farming, ran a garage in Glenferrie which was more than successful. He had three children Richard III, Jim both married and Ann never married.
Jim Allan died fairly young but Dick lived to be fairly old. Sometime later in his life he went to live in Tasmania. You can find out as much as I know from the family tree. I think my sister Isabel keeps in touch with both families. Strangely enough when we were in Creswick recently visiting one of Leslie's distant cousins, an Elizabeth Northcott (related to the ex-governor of N.S.W. - General Northcott) another Northcott she hadn't seen for 20 years happened to drop in. He is in charge of a University in Fiji and said he knew a Ron Allan over there. I think he is a Parson, or something like that, and he is the son of Dick III. Hows that for me having a parson in the family!
Of Richard II's three sisters only one, Catherine, married and she had no children. The other two had a news agency in Port Melbourne and looked after their brother Jim who like his uncle was bone lazy but passed as an invalid. Elizabeth really ran the shop and cared for the other two. Isabel (Belle) was really a semi-invalid but as often happens the nurse went before the patient. I knew all of them and Belle often visited the Bob Inglis family where she was very friendly with Barbara. I saw her often there and she was a very nice person.
Grandfather's sister, Catherine, married John Inglis and had two daughters and two sons. Margaret married a chap named William McWhae and died early of leukemia. Kate never married and became a rather unpleasant old woman. She always cherished the idea that dad had married beneath himself and she gave mother and her sisters in law quite a bad time. She thought the world of dad and I sometimes wonder if she was just jealous of mother. Bob and Andrew, the sons, married sisters. It seemed to be a family habit. Andrew married Ellen Elliot who died fairly young of consumpsion and later he married a Mrs Farmer whose maiden name was Bair, a sister of the hotel owning Bairs of Leongatha and Inverloch. They had no children. Bob married Barbara Elliot who lived into her seventies and was the mother of my greatest friend Jack Inglis who died suddenly when he turned 70. Jack had two sons and two daughters. Robert married again after a divorce of his first wife. He had two sons from each wife. I don't know how many children Ian has or the sexes. Barbara is married and has children but I think is separated from her husband while Ann, the baby, I know nothing of except that I have heard that she is living in South Australia.
I told you earlier that we have lost all trace of the McColl part of the family so that brings the saga to an end. I have found out that on reading through each sheet there are some things I have missed.