Gordon Blair - Mystery? or Not!

[OZScot]

Hi Wivenhoe.

Gordon's First:

When & where married: 7 July 1876 Brisbane - Manse Ann street
Name or Profession: Gordon Blair
Age: 29
Bachelor or Spinster: Bachelor
Birth place: Dumfries Dumfrieshire Scotland
Rank or Profession: Freeholder
Usual place of residence: Stanthorpe
Parents: John & Jane Blair
Father's rank or profession: Farmer

Julia Droughton.

When & where married: 7 July 1876 Brisbane - Manse Ann street
Name or Profession: Julia Droughtson
Age: 27
Bachelor or Spinster: Spinster
Birth place: Ballymore Westneath [looks like] Ireland
Rank or Profession:
Usual place of residence: Goondiwindi
Parents: Henry Droughton & Eliza Lowe
Father's rank or profession: Farmer

[OZScot]

No Rosinish it's not the original.

1st name is Jean Blair then Elizabeth - Gordon

They are 'Tarten HL weavers' Where born: outside Outside Census County (1841)
nothing beside Gordon. Where born: Stirlingshire

Address Cambusbarron.

[Ruskie]

I'm still thinking about this interesting puzzle, but just a couple of thoughts/comments:

The anomaly regarding Gordon's immigration - one thought is that there may have been an error in his age - sometimes a number 1 with the stroke on top can be misinterpreted as a 2. The accuracy of the information written in the register would not have been checked by Gordon himself. Perhaps check the original shipping record if you haven't already done so.

Regarding his occupation, it may be that everyone else on the voyage was a labourer and Gordon was just dittoed. Once again checking the original might clarify.

Or perhaps the colony were after labourers at this time as Gordon said he was a labourer in order to emigrate, or he may have actually done labouring work for a time. If he lied about his age he may have done so to fit in with age restrictions or preferences.

Have you traced his "wife" and surviving daughter in Scotland? Did the wife remarry and if so what does she say about her condition? Did the daughter name Gordon as her father on her own marriage certificate?

[OZScot]

Thanks for your input and ideas Ruskie.

I have the original passengers' list and it's as clear as a bell age 19.
It was the only voyage that ship ever made to Qld - 7 Aug 1861.
Unfortunately it doesn't say if the passengers were assisted or not.
Most were but he had a job as a clerk before his daughter's Elizabeth birth 3 April 1863.
If he were paid for by a Solicitor's firm in Ipswich where he got his 1st? job
why say your a farm labourer? most people would boast about being a clerk.

Yes it may not have been a lie as on the MC he said his father was a Farmer.
He would certainly have laboured on his dad's farm. That's a fall back position
if caught out or a disguise to muddy the waters maybe.

Yes I looked long and hard for his wife and found her on that 1861 census with daughter
Georgina where she reverted back to her maiden name of Norval and also her daughter.
I haven't yet been able to find a re-marriage and another change of surname or a death.

Seven Norval's came to Qld and none were her or daughter so she didn't follow or die here.

Georgina's MC says her father was Gordon Blair [he wasn't really] and mother was Jane Blair
MS Norval and none deceased.

Thanks for trying to assist.

[Ruskie]

What I meant was, perhaps the colonies were advertising for single Scottish labourers between certain ages for a specific labouring project, and Gordon decided that this might be his chance to start a new life (possibly with free passage), hence not letting on that he was a Clerk, and fibbing about his age. Being a labourer might have been an advantage. 

I have to sign off in a minute so don't have time to check, but just wondering if there are there any other Gordon Blair immigrations around the same time in case you have connected the wrong immigration to the wrong Gordon? It's not that uncommon a name.... (not that it will help solve your puzzles)

[wivenhoe]

Can you please name the witnesses for the 1876 BLAIR - DROUGHTON marriage record.


Julia BLAIR nee DROUGHTON died 1906, among the many newspaper articles.....obit....funeral...is this -

Brisbane Courier 24 Sep 1906 p7
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19493225?
.......the chief mourners Hon.  J W BLAIR, Mr Henry G BLAIR, Mr E C STANLEY, Mr C DROUGHTON, Mr W KIPPEN and other immediate relatives......

The two BLAIRs are sons of the deceased Julia, Mr STANLEY is the husband of Julia's daughter, Isabella,  C(harles) DROUGHTON is the brother of Julia.......

.......who is Mr W KIPPEN?

Possibility?

QLD BDM death
1940 C642 KIPPEN William    parents James KIPPEN / BLAIR Jane.

[OZScot]

Yes Ruskie, the Qld Gov did advertise for labourer's for the building of the 1st Railway from Ipswich to Grandchester. They sent Agents to many places in great Britain including Scotland where the Scots proved to be the best Engineers for building Railway's. They went to Germany & Ireland as well trying to get the best people.

The firm that was finally awarded the contract was Peto, Brassey & Betts from Scotland.
However the Railway didn't start until the 25 Feb 1864. Much too early for our Gordon Blair
and he was already employed as a clerk.

[wivenhoe]

The Telegraph 1 Feb 1940 p22
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/187289847?
...obit for William KIPPEN....


QLD BDM marriage
1865 / C346  KIPPEN Jane  m. MARKS James

death
1897 / C2073  MARKS Jane  parents   BLAIR / Jane

Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser 27 May 1897 p5
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125050613?
...obit for Jane MARKS.....Mrs MARKS was a sister of Mr Gordon BLAIR late of Her Majesty's Customs........

[OZScot]

Interesting Wivenhoe. At the moment I don't know about Mr.Kippen?

More interesting who is that Jane Blair? Not one of Gordon's children -
that hasn't been registered! Maybe an unregistered daughter? There are
two major gays from after Isabella.

I still think he has something to hide. Someone who has education, skills and knowledge
of the law doesn't forget to register so many of his family. I'm sure it would have been illegal
not to even back then.

We just need that speck of information that will maybe tie it all together.
Thanks Wivenhoe.