McVane

[Alex and Jan]

The family story is that James did not get on with his stepfather so he joined the merchant navy and sailed around the world.
He married in Sydney in 1885

We have the marriage certificate of his parents and his and his siblings births and deaths in Scotland, as told on our first posting.

Alex and Jan

[Gadget]

We think we found the same as you, we put all on our first posting,
It is only family stories that she gave us which do not seem to match up with what we have been able to find.
We found an item saying Mrs McVane arrived nov 1884 on Konoowarra but not sure where that came from.
Alex and Jan

What doesn't ring true, A & J, is that she is still Mrs McVane when she was supposed to have married for a second time. To me, either she would be Mrs <new surname> or Eisabeth Sproat/Sprott.

There is no sign that I can see of her on the 1881 

Gadget

added - I think it would be worth asking on the Emigrants to Australia board:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,165.0.html

[Alex and Jan]

I have just asked that list.
This lady is giving us a headache, and probably you too.
Thanks so much for all your help.
Alex and Jan

[Gadget]

Mmm 

Just one more go - have you found James or any of the other sons in Scotland after 1861?

Gadget

[Alex and Jan]

We could not find any McVanes anywhere after 1862

That was why we put out the posting......they seemed to disappear off the planet !

Alex and Jan