Burra Mine SA ,School Records, Railway employees and Steamer employees.

[vhowie]

Hi I was wondering where I could locate Burra Mine SA records that may show a list of employees in 1867. Also school records for Blanchetown SA, and Morgan SA in the 1870s, 1880's.
Railway employeees in SA 1870's and Steamer employees. This is a long shot to find my ancestor Peter McMillan and his children Donald, Peter Melville, John Maher in SA. I have birth records for Donald and Peter, Death record for John Maher. I am trying to locate the movements of the family in SA.

[Spike H]

Biographical Index of SA has an entry for Peter McMillan. (Use BISA as a guide, not 100% accurate or complete).
Born 1837 to Daniel and Mary, arrived 1852 on the Sea Park, died after 1883.
Labourer residing at Truro and Morgan. Roman Catholic.
Married 13 Dec 1864 at Adelaide, Jane O'MAHER.
Children: Donald b 1868, Peter Melville 1870, Adelaide 1872.

[sparrett]

Here is a news item about one Peter MCMILLAN around Burra Burra mines.

PETER McMILLAN, lately heard of at the Burra Burra Mines, is earnestly requested to communicate at once with his Wife Johanna, who is now in Nelson, New Zealand. Address Post-Office, Nelson, New Zealand.


Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) Saturday 27 July 1867 p 2 Advertising
Sue

[sparrett]

Here is the death of Donald in NSW

10339/1951  MCMILLAN Donald Stafford
Father  Peter
Mother -
At  BERRY

A death notice-

McMILLAN Donald Stafford -April 1 1951 at Berry Hospital, of Truro  South Australia and of Illaroo Road Nowra aged 83 years.

The Sydney Morning Herald  Monday 2 April 1951
Sue

[vhowie]

Hi Thank you for your information. I do have all this. I'm looking for more local info re schools, mine, railways. Peter snr and peter jnr have vanished. I have not been able to locate death records.

[sparrett]

I have birth records for Donald and Peter, Death record for John Maher. I am trying to locate the movements of the family in SA.

Sorry,
I had gathered from the above you were also searching for death of Donald.

Perhaps you understand the NZ connection?
Sue

[vhowie]

Hi Thanks for info. I have Donald's death transcription  but I'm not sure if it is the correct one. If I cannot find any others I will presume it is he. I do understand the NZ connection. Peter Snr's parents Donald and Mary migrated to NZ in 1867 with his siblings. He apparently stayed behind. His wife Johanna went with them but must have returned in 1867. Such a mystery.

[cando]

Before you start searching it is a good idea to read the history of the places you mention.  I very much doubt you will find any records especially school records. 

Have you researched all the children of Peter and Johanna as you haven't mentioned their eldest child, a daughter who was born at Copperhouse [Burra] in 1865.  The other children were born at Truro.

If Peter was a miner it is possible he was working for the owners of the Wheal Barton mine which was a few km out of Truro.
The government funded school in Truro opened in 1878.
http://www.trurops.sa.edu.au/history.htm

Morgan as a town was proclaimed in 1878 and first allotments sold in May of that year.  Doubtful if there was a school prior to that date.

Compulsory education was introduced in the 1870s and was difficult to enforce especially in the rural areas.

Was Peter present at the marriage of his eldest daughter in Adelaide in 1887?

Is Peter Jnr mentioned on his mother's death certificate?

McMILLAN Johanna Frances
Father Patrick MAHAR  Mother Catherine DESPBURN
At Swan Hill  76 years  1920  Reg#8021

Cando

[vhowie]

Thanks so much for your advice. I have started reading the history of the areas I mentioned to get a sense of social history at that time. I didn't mention Mary Geneva as I have most of her history. She is my G Grandmother and the only one I seem to be able to get full records on. She settled in Victoria so details on certificates contain more information. She states on her daughter's birth certificate she was born at Wonoka SA which is a surprise as all indexes state she was born at BURRA/Copperhouse in 1865. However birth was not registerd until 18 months after birth1867. I am exploring this area to see if I can get any further information. Any suggestions?Peter Melville was alive at time of his mother Johanna"s death. All children were alive at this time. I have applied for transcripts of Peter and Johanna's marriage and Peter Melville's birth to see if I can find any more clues. I will f/u your suggestions. Hope I can crack the brick wall.