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...do YOUR families link back to first South Australian wheat growers?
Christina and Donald McLEAN from Scotland 1837
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 1864 - 1936 (71 years)
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| Name |
Mathew JOHNSTON [1] |
- His birth certificate has one 't' (Mathew).
- Patricia Long created the memorial headstone and named Matthew with a second name Robert. No evidence found. TBA followup with Pat Long Midland WA 20.02.2018 Lorna Mclean
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| Born |
20 Oct 1864 |
Bremer SA  [1, 2] |
- MATTHEW DIED 28 MAY 1936 IN P;ERTH AND BURIED IN KARRAKATTA. MARRIED PATS GRANDMORTHER ELIZBETH ANN MCLEAN. 17 11 1896 MARRIED MATTHEW JOHNSTON. 9 CHILDREN LAST ONE WAS CLOVER (PATS MUM) AND HEATHER AFTER CLOVER. ONE BORN IN SA AND MAGGIE MARGARET BORN IN SA AND REAST WERE BORN IN WA IN GWALIA LEONORA.
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| Gender |
Male |
| Biography Notes |
"Johnston - McLean. At the residence of Mrs Jeffreys of Strathalbyn, the aunt of the bride, by the Rev. G. C. Love B.D. Matthew Johnston of Kalgoorlie, W.A. son of Mr Johnston of Woodchester WA to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Mr Hugh McLean " Matthew was born on 20/10/1865 [incorrect].
DEATHS: of Matthew Johnston in 1936 at Perth, W.A. interred at Karrakatta Cemetery. He was a son of John Johnston of Woodchester. S.A. 8 his wife Brigette (nee Corrigan). His birthdate has been given as 1865 and by another family member as 1856. Registration in S.A. was 3/11/1864.
Elizabeth Ann Johnston died at hospital on 17/11/1948 aged 74 years. at Merredin, W.A. She was interred at Karrakatta. Perth, according to family.
HISTORY from a descendant:
Matthew had opened a store at Kalgoorlie, W.A. in partnership with his brother Edward during the gold rush there in the 1890s and later one at Lakeside, then a branch at Mt Malcolm where they also set up an hotel. Matthew came back to Strathalbyn to the home of his bride's aunt, Mrs Jeffrey for the ceremony, as her mother was deceased. The witnesses were Mary Ann & Robert Johnston.
It was to arid Kalgoorlie and its environs that Elizabeth was taken to commence her married life. They travelled as far as Albany, W.A. by boat as it was not until 1917 that the railway reached W.A. and by this time the brothers were at Mt Malcolm, Elizabeth 8. Matthew reached there by wagon and the last few days their diet consisted of only ginger biscuits. From Malcolm they moved to Leonora & Gwalia as further gold discoveries were made.
Elizabeth found her life frightening amongst primitive aborigines and she feared to venture out of doors, so the natives advised Matthew to kill her, as they believed that she was sulky & "no good". Her first child survived only eight months. Forthe birth of her second child she returned to Strathalbyn which meant a journey of three weeks by stage coach to reach a boat. The effort was worthwhile as the girl child was strong and healthy (1899).
So it was then back to her husband at Mt Malcolm. Fortunately by the third child's arrival a trained nurse, Hannah Harper came to town 8. commenced a hospital and saw Elizabeth through the next several births. So great was Elizabeth's faith in Hannah Harper, that when she left Mt Malcolm to start hospitals at Armadale 8. Kelmscott (from 1910) Elizabeth followed her for the births of her two youngest babies.
Her fear of the blacks was not surprising as they were primitive & held their corroborees nearby & dispensed their justice that often ended in the death of the accused. When Elizabeth gave her wedding gown to one of the young women as it no longer her, she had to witness other gins in their jealousy, tear it to shreds. When a gold robbery was reported to be imminent the mine manager had the Johnstons hide a large quantity in their chimney. In appreciation a brooch, a solid gold bar, was presented to each of the two eldest daughters, their names being engraved on them. Myrtle's is still in her possession, but Margaret lost hers in 1966 with other jewellery, a ruby & pearl bracelet 8. a brooch Matthew designed for Elizabeth to mark an anniversary, during a break-in by a thief.
At Mt Malcolm their residence adjoined the shop 8. the natives were continually robbing them of liquor and butter grease paper which they used to rub grease into their hair with red clay which hardened and rattled and gave them great pleasure. Owing to the heat and to the materials used in the construction of their dwellings was a constant danger, even mice chewing on wax matches causing them to ignite would start a one fire a dressing table with a small drawer on each side used by Elizabeth & Matthew to keep their personal effects safe was burnt in the centre causing the two small drawers to fall together and bum and melted and interlocked their wedding and signet rings. These rings were on display in the window of a Perth jeweller where they had been taken for remoulding into one heavy wedding ring. This was stolen together with the other items in 1966.
Elizabeth mothered two of her grandsons when their mother died shortly after the birth of Russell, the younger. She had cared for children of family members whenever called upon.
Of other reminiscences: during the court case in the town there was no Bible available to swear in the witnesses so a call was made to Elizabeth to lend the Bible given to her on her wedding day at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn (according to the writer of the above) but as has been seen in the newspaper notice the ceremony was at Aunt Ann Jeffreys house.
After the of 1903 at Mt Malcolm Elizabeth & Matthew built a block of shops at Gwalia. This business was sold in 1911 and they settled at Perth where Matthew worked for the council. After his death and during the war Elizabeth lived with her daughter Clover at Wagin. Then while visiting them at Merredin, W.A. in 1948 she died in the hospital.
Both Matthew's parents are buried at the Strathalbyn Cemetery in grave no. 1/225.
His mother Brigette (nee Corrigan) died at the age of 59 on 17/10/1892. His father John Johnston died aged 81 years on 25/9/1911 - so their birthdates were approximately: Bridgette in 1833 8- John in 1830.
[1] |
| Occupation |
c1890's |
Gwalia WA |
General goods store in Gwalia and Mt Malcolm
left Gwalia when a child passed away in 1915 |
| Residence |
Kalgoorlie WA [1] |
| Before he married, his father lived in Woodchester SA |
| Buried |
1936 |
Karrakatta WA [1] |
| Died |
28 May 1936 |
Perth WA [1] |
| Person ID |
I-5690 |
Christina and Donald McLean | Ewen (Hugh the younger) McLean's descendants |
| Last Modified |
19 Mar 2021 |
| Father |
John JOHNSTON, b. 4 Aug 1843, Adelaide SA , d. 25 Nov 1911 (Age 68 years) |
| Relationship |
-1864 |
| Mother |
Bridget CALLAGHAN, b. 1833, Clare Ireland , d. 15 Oct 1892, Strathalbyn SA (Age 59 years) |
| Relationship |
-1864 |
| Married |
23 Apr 1858 |
New Hamburg SA [3, 4] |
- ANCESTRY indicates John and Bridget Callaghan married on 23 Apr 1858 but in Mt Barker SA. Whereas genealogySA state location is at New Hamburg SA. At time of writing -Nov 2020- it is to be noted that New Hamburg is now referred to as Willyaroo-however since we are recording the facts from official records, we enter those details not current details. Any researcher can source current information, but it wont link them back to the original story nor the ORIGINAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS as is practise of genealogy.
Both sites state the wedding is at a private address of James MacKenzie.
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| Family ID |
F-1864 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Elizabeth Ann MCLEAN, b. 9 Dec 1874, Strathalbyn SA , d. 17 Nov 1948, Merredin WA (Age 73 years) |
| Married |
17 Nov 1896 |
Strathalbyn SA [5] |
| Marriage/Wedding |
Adelaide Observer, 21st November 1896, p24 - MARRIAGES.
JOHNSTON-McLEAN: On the 17th November, at the residence of Mrs. Jefferis, Strathalbyn (the aunt of the bride), by the Rev. G. C. Love, B.D., Matthew Johnston, Kalgoorlie, W.A., son of Mr. Johnston, Woodchester, to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Mr. Hugh McLean, Strathalbyn. |
| Children |
| | 1. Robert Malcolm JOHNSTON, b. 8 Aug 1897, Mt Malcolm WA , d. 1898 (Age 0 years) [] |
| | 2. Margaret Olive JOHNSTON, b. 8 Apr 1899, Strathalbyn SA , d. 6 Oct 1986, Mt Lawley WA (Age 87 years) [] |
| | 3. Myrtle Annie JOHNSTON, b. 9 May 1901, Mt Malcolm WA , d. 13 Feb 1986, Maylands WA (Age 84 years) |
| | 4. Gordon James b1903 JOHNSTON, b. 22 Aug 1903, Leonora WA , d. 11 May 1986, Perth WA (Age 82 years) [] |
| | 5. Ivy Elizabeth JOHNSTON, b. 4 Oct 1905, Leonora WA , d. 15 Jun 1976, Derby WA (Age 70 years) [] |
| | 6. May JOHNSTON, b. 25 May 1907, Leonora WA , d. 18 Apr 1912, Cottesloe WA (Age 4 years) [] |
| | 7. Ivan Matthew JOHNSTON, b. 5 Apr 1909, Gwalia WA , d. 4 Feb 1936, Collie WA (Age 26 years) [] |
| | 8. Clover JOHNSTON, b. 18 Oct 1912, Armadale WA , d. 22 Oct 2001, Perth WA (Age 89 years) [] |
| | 9. Muriel Heather JOHNSTON, b. 4 Oct 1915, Kelmscott WA , d. 16 Jun 1999, Subiaco WA (Age 83 years) [] |
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| Last Modified |
22 Feb 2018 13:21:53 |
| Family ID |
F-1863 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Headstones |
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HS JOHNSTON; MATHEW father+Elizabeth Ann Mclean mother;4 yoa daughter MAY born c1908, d.7 Apr 1912 and wife of their son Gordon James Johnston; RUTH Weller LONG died 7 Sep 1933 (Ruths Husband=Gordon James Johnston who is son of Mathew and Elizabeth Johnston) |
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Memorial plaque; Created by Patricia Long nee LODER and installed it on the gravesite of the buried family of John Johnston and Bridget Callaghan plus 4 of 5 found records of their children. |
| SMALL PRINT |
 | J23 - Edwin McLean's letter in 1946
This letter was probably to Edwin's cousin, Rachel Hornby. He alludes to Rachel's parents (Catherine & Allan McLean), her brothers (Allan & Jack 'JSD'), uncle (Hugh the younger), aunty (Elizabeth Ann & Mathew Johnston) and the Keoughs.
With notes by Don Gordon in June 2021.
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| Sources |
- [S-3] BRB 'Donald & Christina McLean & Their Descendants', 1995 copies available, Copies of the BRB available Strathalbyn National Trust Museum & Library, several libraries around Australia including State Library SA, and Western Australian Genealogical Society Bayswater WA Request assistance for locating a copy through 'Contact us' on this website. .
- [S-52] http://ancestry.com.au, ancestry.co.au with log in , 9 Jan 2021 Researcher Lorna Mclean.
Birth of Son Matthew Johnston(1864?1936)
20 Oct 1864 ? Bremer, South Australia
- [S-10] Headstone detail transcription, HS image attached, 20 Feb 2018 Researcher Lorna McLean.
dates, names of parents, children and creator of HS great granddaughter Patricia Long
- [S-75] http://www.genealogysa.org.au requires login, https://www.genealogysa.org.au requires log in , 9 Jan 2021 Researcher Lorna Mclean.
JOHNSTON John Bride Surname:CALLAGHAN Bride Given Names: Bridget Marriage Date:23-Apr-1858 Marriage Place:Res of James McKenzie New Hamburgh SA Groom Age:29 Groom Marital Status: N Groom Father: John JOHNSTON Bride Age:22 Bride Marital Status: N Bride Father:Patrick CALLAGHAN District:Mount Barker Book/Page:34/455
- [S-75] http://www.genealogysa.org.au requires login, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=32, 16 Jun 2017 Researcher Lorna McLean.
Matthew JOHNSTON and Elizabeth Ann MCLEAN Marriage Date: 1896, November 17 Marriage Place: Res of Mrs Jefferis StrathalbynSA Groom Age: 31 Groom Approx. Birth Year: 1865 Groom Father: John JOHNSTON Bride Age: 20
Bride Approx. Birth Year: 1876 Bride Father Name: Hugh MCLEAN Book/Page: 189/525
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