Among the files that I looked at last weekend at the Society of Australia Genealogists (SAG) was the hand written obituary for James McGregor (my great great Grandfather). A photo of James, his wife Margaret and their children and grand-children, can be found on my blog, The Other Half of my Family - stories of my female ancestors, where I have started to write the stories his daughters.
Obituary of James McGregor
Published by local Balmain/Rozelle Newspaper Copied by Miss Hind (Rita)
2nd Cousin of G.A. Kinnear of Willyama Avenue Fairlight, who
has Original.
"The death occurred on Tuesday 19th June 1917, at
7 Booth St. Balmain of Mr James McGregor, a resident of Balmain for 29 years,
as the result of an accident which took place 5 weeks previously.
Mr McGregor was born in Glasgow in 1833 and came out to
Australia in 1849, where he settled in the Braidwood district, on a sheep
Station. He married Miss Margaret McPherson at Braidwood on 213 June
1859. After spending 3 years on the
Station, he followed mining pursuits in Braidwood, Shoalhaven River and New
Zealand until 1878, when he came to settle in Balmain with his wife and family.
While in Balmain he was employed at Vickery’s Tannery, Callan
Park Asylum Buildings and was later employed by the Balmain Council in charge
of Gladstone Park. He retired in 1907 and it was one of the pleasures of his
remaining to spend some of his time in the park and view the growth of the
trees which he had so carefully nurtured in their young days.
Mr McGregor was a thorough Christian in word and deed, being
a member of St Paul’s Rozelle and for the past 18 years of Campbell Street
Presbyterian Church. For many years with
his family, he took an active part in Good Templary as a member of “We Hope to
Prosper” and “Haste to the Rescue” Lodges, and remained a consistent total
abstainer to his death. He was also a
member of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows which he joined 53 years ago.
He leaves a widow, who is in her 77th year, seven
daughters, two sons, 28 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Geo. Cranston of Campbell St Presbyterian Church
conducted the service at the house, and also at the Grave, Field of Mars, where
his body was laid to rest in the presence of a large number of relatives and
friends."
.JPG) |
| Gladstone Park, Balmain, Just across the road from James McGregor's home in Booth Street, possibly where James sat in his last days, enjoying the pleasures of the park that he had cared for while working for the Balmain Council |
No comments:
Post a Comment