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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: Wiggy on Monday 26 April 10 04:10 BST (UK)

Title: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 26 April 10 04:10 BST (UK)
William and Mary BROWN arrived in Victoria Australia in 1859 aboard the 'Ocean Chief' with four children, Janet, Elizabeth, Robert and George.   Mary's maiden name was JOHNSTONE - they were married in 1846 in Dumfries-shire.   

After arrival in Australia they lived in Ballarat, Victoria,  where William was a miner for a while before returning to farming which was his occupation in Scotland.  They had several more children in Australia but none of them was long lived.

George ,   William died in 1874 and Mary in 1899 and both are buried in Ballarat old cemetery, with two of their children, Elizabeth and Thomas.

Janet married Benjamin FIGGIS,  Robert may have married, (but I don't know who) and George married Rebecca DUNNING.   We are descended from George and Rebecca.

I am looking to find any relatives of this family who may be living in Australia, and who may have photos or information of any members either here or back in Dumfries-shire from where they came.

We'd love to hear from anyone who is connected with this family

cheers,

Wiggy         :D
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 04 November 14 06:14 GMT (UK)
Still hoping some descendants of William and Mary might find this post and make contact.  Other names in this family I've now found are

Janet married Benjamin Figgis (he was from London) and lived in East St Kilda, then Canterbury Victoria.

Robert Brown married Caroline Morgan - they lived in East Ballarat.  There were lots of children but mostly girls - only two boys, Robert and Arthur.

Mary Elizabeth Brown married Andrew Barrie and lived in Melbourne I think - possibly St Kilda - 6 children two boys Reginald and Stanley, and four girls - Beryl, Mary, Alice and Violet..

As Janet Figgis was the oldest of William and Mary's children I am wondering if she perhaps inherited any photos her parents may have owned.

Anyone out there??   ;)

 We were recently in Ballarat finding out a little more about William and Mary Brown and would be happy to share our findings.

Wiggy    :)
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: wivenhoe on Tuesday 04 November 14 08:05 GMT (UK)
The inclusion of JOHNSTONE name is interesting.

WW1 enlistment
FIGGIS Samuel Douglas Johnstone : SERN 2151 
POB Balaclava VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK F FIGGIS Arthur

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search/roll_of_honour/
died 10 Aug 1915....see roll of honour file. Father is Arthur Johnstone FIGGIS. Brother Harold also 1st AIF.
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 04 November 14 08:26 GMT (UK)
It is isn't it - Mary Brown's maiden name was Johnstone and Samuel's grandfather's name was George John Johnstone Brown.

This is a new find - thank you.  I haven't trailed down this family much as they are a side line to mine which comes through George, and this one comes through Janet, George's sister.  Been trying to find stuff today!   :)  It is all grist to the mill.

It is someone with photos I am hoping to find - surely someone took photos in that family.  Odd isn't it how some families have lots of photos and some don't seem to have any.

Thanks Wivenhoe   ;)

Wiggy 
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: wivenhoe on Tuesday 04 November 14 08:45 GMT (UK)

Will for Janet Eskdale FIGGIS d. 26 Nov 1915  of 2 Milton St South St Kilda, written 14 Jun 1907
names children -
Arthur Johnstone FIGGIS, Edwin Clement FIGGIS, Alice Mary KERRY, Sarah Constance WEST and Clara Agnes MATTHEWS.

Argus 27 Nov 1915 death Janet
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/154487963?
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 04 November 14 08:52 GMT (UK)
Hadn't found will - but have found Janet's death and some other marriages and deaths and even births in Trove today.

Will chase up the will.    :)

Thanks.

Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 04 November 14 09:39 GMT (UK)
Just found that Samuel Doulgas Figgis died on his 20th birthday at Lone Pine. 

He was known as Doulgas - his g'father was Samuel so probably to differentiate.    :D
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Monday 09 February 15 10:32 GMT (UK)
Hello  I am researching Andrew Barrie  who married Elizabeth Brown  he was a very well known Melbourne photographer and  studio owner he appears to grow up in Carleton and  dies  after 1936 and before 1945. The family lived in St Kilda mostly. Elizabeth appears to have been a business partner as well  she dies before him.  I have a picture of Andrew Barrie  and various references to the marriages of their children Arthur Stanley dies in WWI  Gael Newton photo historian 
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 09 February 15 10:44 GMT (UK)
Hello Gael,

Welcome to Rootschat.

good to hear from you  - a distant rellie!  I am not sure how much I have on Andrew Barrie and Elizabeth Brown - I am on the wrong computer, but will look more closely tomorrow.  Every little bit of info helps doesn't it.

  - are you in Melbourne? - maybe not - just that Carlton is without the 'e' so maybe you are not from this part of the world.     ;)

Wiggy
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Monday 09 February 15 10:53 GMT (UK)
Dear Wiggy    Thank you for such a prompt reply. I am not a relative Im researching photographers who had an association with Australian painter Tom Roberts.

It would be good to have Andrew Barrie' birth and death - he looks like he grew up in Carlton so maybe born here. It would be nice to find a descendant.

Im in Canberra, hence the goof up with Carlton.

I have a reference to a 19th article on Barrie that I shall chase up tomorrow at the National Library.  I have not worked out how to load a picture of him I found in the newspaper but will give it a try   Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 09 February 15 23:48 GMT (UK)
Well unfortunately I don't have too much more info for you Gael.

He married Mary Elizabeth Brown in 1886 and he remarried to Mary Wyndham, 20 April 1920 at St Kilda Victoria.  His first wife died in 1912 at St Kilda.  He and Mary Elizabeth had 6 children - but I expect you know that. 

I thought I'd found his birth in Scotland - but no - not the right one.


 - Only death I can find is Andrew Robert Barrie in Rylstone NSW in 1939 - this might be a possibility - correct father's name of Andrew as per marriage notice in paper.  (??) 
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 00:54 GMT (UK)
Thanks again and  I was intrigued by the Rylstone death  and will check it out further if I can.
Andrew Barrie is still in St Kilda in the 1936 electoral role but had died by 1945 when 'Beris Wyndham Barrie daughter of late Mr and Mrs Barrie' marries in 1945. The Wyndham children Beris and Colin may have been his step children. I think there is a chance that Andrew Barrie was born in Australia  he is exhibiting his photography as a school boy in 1879 with address as Carlton.

Perhaps he went to live with one of the children in Rylstone in old age. I am contacting the St Kilda Historical Society his house was  called Rosedale in Foster street.

Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 10 February 15 00:56 GMT (UK)
Just found a tree on Ancestry which says Andrew was born about 1859 in Campsie, Stirlingshire Scotland.

Seems to be right person has both first and second marriages correct.   Also says there were two children from second marriage.  Dates are Colin 1921 and Beris 1923.

According to this tree he died in 1937 - so ??.  Don't know if you can access this but . . .   There is no citation for this death though.

http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/36437953/person/19112656409?ssrc=

The Barries arrived in 1861 from UK.=  on Oithona - there is a sister Mary 10 years older than Andrew with them.   

The Rylstone death is not right I don't think

- Andrew's parents were Andrew and Mary - not Jane - just found his birth certificate  in 'Scotlands People' records.
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 04:07 GMT (UK)
wow you are amazing thank you so much. I can now post  a birth and death date and origin in the Andrew Barrie entry in Dictionary of Australian Artists online DAAO and in my forthcoming article in the Tom Roberts retrospective catalogue at the National Gallery of Australia.  I have written to Richard Newman  through the ancestry link below. Once I have my article done Ill do a biography for Barrie and update the DAAO.   Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 10 February 15 04:23 GMT (UK)
Glad to be of help - You have made me go further into this than I'd done too. 

Would love to see the photo of him, if you have one - are you able to you post it on here?   ;)

Wiggy 
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 04:53 GMT (UK)
Wiggy  I found one in a Melbourne paper newspaper but Im going to see if I can call up the actual paper out at the National Library and make a photo myself for better quality.  Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 10 February 15 05:09 GMT (UK)
Must see if I can find it myself -  ;)

This the one?


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01eq0/
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 06:50 GMT (UK)
Yes that is it..  Table Talk 31 May 1923
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/146570176?searchTerm=%22Professional%20photographers%20%22&searchLimits=dateFrom=1923-01-01|||dateTo=1923-05-31|||l-advstate=Victoria

and another  19 March 1925
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/146555773?searchTerm=%22andrew%20barrie%22&searchLimits=exactPhrase=andrew+barrie|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

a curious in the papers was from 1890  a formal notice that partnership dissolved with Elizabeth Brown in both  Barroni & Co and Stewart & Co

Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 10 February 15 07:50 GMT (UK)
Wonder what that was about - they were still having children at regular intervals until 1900!  Mary Elizabeth's death notice says beloved wife of . . .  etc.

Yes I found the second photo too - but even harder to see really!  ;)
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 09:06 GMT (UK)
Trying to sort out who owns what and when with Stewart & Co and then  the next studio he had with Henry Weedon called Talma studios is very confusing. The Argus feb 11 1890 says he and Elizabeth have dissolved their partnership and sold Stewart & Co and Barroni studio ( another studio) to T Baker ( who started a photographic factory at Abbotsford that became Kodak Ausrtalasia Pty Ltd  Yet in 1929 Barrie is defending himself  in Sydney for not putting in tax returns for Talma & Co Sydney.  Then hes back having quite a jolly time in melbourne in the 1930s being a judge at photo salons  Strange there is no death notice  given that  all his childrens' marriages are duly noted in the paper. Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 10 February 15 09:09 GMT (UK)
'Tis strange isn't it! 

 - Joyful or Wivenhoe might see this thread again and have access to indexes - maybe/hopefully might have the indexes.  (I don't.)    ;)
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Gaen on Tuesday 10 February 15 09:15 GMT (UK)
Yes lets hope. Ill get to do more on directories when Ive got the essay done. Gael
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: neilb1 on Wednesday 30 May 18 05:42 BST (UK)
I am a little unsure of how Roots Chat works but was persuaded by this post to linki up.

Janet Eskdale Brown (father William, born Dumfries in 1846) who married Benjamin Johnston Figgis, was my great great grandmother. I have some details of descendants etc but I notice that some are already there.

The details of children etc are available on the Maturin website.

Don't hesitate to let me know if you need more.

Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Albow on Wednesday 04 July 18 11:32 BST (UK)
Same same neilb1...

Benjamin Johnston Figgis is my Great Great Grandfather, so I have a bit of info on the Figgis side albeit there aren't that many of us.

Let me know if I can help at all
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 04 July 18 12:22 BST (UK)
Welcome to Rootschat both of you.

My line goes down the George John Johnstone line of William and Mary Brown's family, so I don't have more information on the Figgis line apart from Janet and Benjamin's immediate children.   I haven't chased further down that tree as I have been following up my own line.

If you two want to communicate with each other via this forum, you need to make two more posts each - just replying here  for example - then you can send private messages to each other via the little green box under your avatar - or on this thread is fine too.   ;) ;)

Just be aware that no living people should be mentioned on the thread but rather by private message.

Cheers
Wiggy   
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: neilb1 on Wednesday 04 July 18 21:28 BST (UK)
Wiggy, Wivenhoe: many thanks! Just acknowledging these two and will provide some further info. I was wrong by the way: Benjamin Johnston Figgis is only three generations ahead of me. As a child - I am 70! - my grandmother Clara Agnes Matthews (nee Figgis), spoke of her mother Janet Eskdale Brown and her birth in Dumfries. So I have more or less complete info on Clara and her brothers and sisters.

I notice the mention of Samuel Douglas Figgis. I have a copy of his diary up to when he was killed at Lone Pine and there is a family history deposited at the State Library of Victoria. (There are several versions of this, by the way, but it has very interesting material on the family's arrival in Australia and Ballarat.)

I am absolutely delighted to hear more of Janet's brothers and sisters of which I have been able to find nothing. Please keep me posted!
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: neilb1 on Wednesday 04 July 18 21:32 BST (UK)
Albow, my apology: I was writing out my reply without looking closely enough at your comment about the Figgis line. I think you can work out from my previous post where I fit in: my grandmother Clara Agnes Matthews (nee Figgis) had two children Honor Clara Janet and Norman Percy Figgis. I will look forward to comparing notes!
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 04 July 18 22:00 BST (UK)
Must try to find that family history in the State Library.   Do you happen to know the title/s?
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: neilb1 on Wednesday 04 July 18 23:17 BST (UK)
Yes, I do. Here is the SLV reference:
A family saga, [between 1953 and 1973?]. [manuscript].
Marion Olive Reid
[between 1953 and 1973?].
Available  Phone 03 8664 7009 to arrange delivery from Manuscripts Collection  MS MSB 579

•   Title:
A family saga, [between 1953 and 1973?]. [manuscript].
•   Author / Creator: Marion Olive Reid
•   Date: [between 1953 and 1973?]
•   Description: 112 p. (1.0 cm.)
•   Access conditions: Available for reference.
•   Identifier(s): Accession no: MS 9430
•   Subjects: Reid, Marion Olive -- Family; Figgis family; Victoria -- Genealogy; Genealogies
•   Notes: Photocopy of original typescript, and photographs.
•   Contents / Summary: Comprises Marion Reid's family history which is substantially a history of the Figgis family. Includes 13 family photographs.
•   Link to this record: http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/MAIN:Everything:SLV_VOYAGER1637925

I can provide by email a copy that I have prepared from a copied manuscript.

Let me know!
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 04 July 18 23:33 BST (UK)
Have sent you a personal message (PM) Neil  (I presume Neil)  see the line of brown tabs towards the top of the topics section.

Would love a copy of what you have done.  Will PM you my email address.
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Albow on Thursday 05 July 18 10:33 BST (UK)
Thanks Wiggy!

Appreciate the welcome (and heads up on the rules )

I fully understand chasing down your own tree first as its easy to get distracted and i'm still a newbie.

Have found some of your info helpful for my family's bigger picture

Cheers
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 05 July 18 10:38 BST (UK)
Thanks for all the info Neil!


Glad you have found some useful stuff, Albow.
Title: Re: BROWN William and Mary from Scotland - Australian family?
Post by: Albow on Thursday 05 July 18 10:53 BST (UK)
G'day neilb1

No need for an apology!

Haha looks like we're 3rd cousins or something like that!?!

Samuel Douglas was my great uncle, he had 3 brothers and a sister and only my grandfather had children - i.e. not a lot of offspring from that generation!

By the way, I found on another tree your grandmother Clara Agnes had in brackets in her name (Poga) do you know what this might refer to?

Yeah happy to share notes