not too much

This is a picture of the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Robert and Euphemia McKinlay at Clifton Park, Otago, New Zealand, in 1919.

Robert and Euphemia and their 10 day old daughter, Mary, traveled from Scotland to New Zealand in 1860-61 on the newly built ship, the Lady Egidia. Robert and Euphemia had eleven children and many grandchildren. Thus I have dozens of distant relatives in New Zealand whom I have never met.

Robert was born on 24 Dec 1835 at Rhu, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He was an apprentice baker in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He married Euphemia Buchanan, daughter of John Buchanan and Mary Miller, on 25 Nov 1859.

Robert and Euphemia settled at Clifton Bank, Port Molyneux, South Otago where Robert was first employed by Messrs Hunter & Harvie of Balclutha. Later, Robert and Euphemia's names appear on the communion roll of the Inch Clutha/Stirling Presbyterian Church in June 1873, the year they arrived at InchClutha. Over the next few years three of Robert and Euphemia's children's names appear on the roll; Jane in 1874 at age 12, Mary in 1878 at age 18 years was next and followed by Parker in 1892. On 4th October 1884 Robert was ordained an Elder of the Church.

In 1868 "it was resolved as soon as possible to move the Inch Clutha church to a more convenient site." and Robert's tender for £47/18/- was accepted. In 1873, tenders were called for the building of a new two-storied wooden Manse -- again the lowest tender of £495/10/6 was from Robert McKinlay and a Mr Arrol. In 1869, under contract to a local committee, Robert built the Te Houka school building for £179/10/- of which £150 was a grant from the Otago Education Board. At the turn of the century Robert was the builder of the Church Hall, his age at this time would have been 65 and he was still working hard. The hall building was to be 60ft long, 26ft wide and 14ft in height, included an ante room and stage, was completed in seven months. Robert also constructed an additional rooms for the local school, for £224 and £169. He died on 20 Feb 1919 at Stirling, Otago, New Zealand, at age 83.

Robert's younger brother, Donald McKinlay (pictured right), followed him to New Zealand in about 1865. Donald McKinlay was born on 17 Feb 1840 at Helensborough, Scotland. Donald married Margaret Muir, daughter of John Muir and Mary Ann Young, on 23 Aug 1866 at Wangaloa, New Zealand. They became the parents of Alexander Mitchell McKinlay, my paternal grandfather, who was born in Caversham, New Zealand on 10 August 1888.

After their marriage, Donald and Margaret lived for a time at Wangaloa in Otago. Donald was a carpenter and building contractor. Together with his wife or her parents he owned an interest in "McKinlay & Muir Sawmillers". He built the Bridge Hotel in 1878 and the shell of the first Presbyterian church at Kaitanangata in 1863. The second church was built under Donald's supervision in 1877 but was pulled down in about 1980. The records show that Donald owned land in Kiatangata and in Caversham (where my grandfather was born). In New Zealand, Donald was actively engaged in civic life. He served on the Inchclutha Road Board and supported local sporting activities. The local newspaper records his donation of a set of swingle trees as a prize at a district ploughing match. Donald was elected to the committee of a newly formed temperance society in 1871 and began military service on 29 Oct 1874 as a Lieutenant in the NZ Militia.

A year or two after the birth of Alexander, Donald and Margaret moved to Australia. We don't know why they decided to leave New Zealand. For a time, Donald was a manager of a gas works and he had connections with the supply of gas in Kyneton Victoria (where my grandfather became a champion footballer).

Donald died on 13 Dec 1926 in the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum at age 86, three weeks before my father's fourth birthday.

My grandfather, Alexander Mitchell McKinlay began his working life as an engineering blacksmith in about 1906. He was twice awarded the Gold Medal for best and fairest player in the Goulburn Valley Football League. (Australian Rules Football). In 1915, Alexander move the the city and on 22 December 1915, at the Persbyterian Manse in Fooscray, he married Christina Elizabeth Anderson, daughter of John Slater Anderson and Elizabeth Emma Glover. In March 1916, Alec and Chris set up house in Belgrave Road, Murrumbeena, a Melbourne, moving to Bentleigh in 1926, McKinnon in 1934 and Glenhuntly in 1948, just before I was born. Later they moved to a retirment home in Ringwood. My grandfather died on 20 Aug 1973 at age 85 and my grandmother died in 1976. I'll write more about them in another post.

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The fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the voyage of the Lady Egidia were held in 1911 and my great-great-uncle Robert McKinlay was photographed among those attending the celebration. Three accounts survived of the voyage and were published by the Lady Egidia Centennial Committee, for a celebration in Dunedin in 1961 -- The Story of the ss Lady Egidia: an immigrant ship of 1860, edited by William Hodd Davidson. (Dunedin: Lady Egidia Centenary Committee, 1961. 31p)

The Ardrossan Herald of Saturday, September 8, 1860 announced the purchase by Potter Wilson & Co.,of Glasgow, of the large vessel on stocks in Messrs. Barr & Shearers ship-building yard. She was to be named "Lady Egidia", the Lady Edigia Montgomerie who launched the the ship and was daughetr of the then Earl and Countess of Eglinton. Built by Messrs Barr and Shearers, the "Egidia" may have been the largest wooden vessel built in Scotland. She measured 219 1/3 feet long, extreme breadth 37 1/3 feet, depth 22 1/2 feet , registered tonnage 1,235, builders measurements 1,461 tons.

Passengers for the first voyage, 438 in all, came from throughout Scotland and from Northern Ireland. To that time, it was the largest number of passenger to travel to Otago in a single voyage. Under command of Captain Curry, Lady Egidia departed Greenock on 12th October 1860 and arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago at 8.30pm on 26 January 1861. She was towed into Port Chalmer by the tug " Geelong" the next morning, anchoring at 5am, after journey of 104 days.

There were 32 deaths during the voyage. All but two were children, including all three children of one family. The medical officer was criticised at the time. Most of the deaths were of diarrhoea and it now seems unlikely that he could have prevented them. Ther were also 7 births during the voyage.

As the ship arrived, the inhabitants of the city who came down in numbers to welcome friends and see at the new arrivals. By all accounts, demand for the services of the new arrivals was considerable, and no doubt my great-great-uncle would have found work. Temporary work was provided for all, especially as the Egidia had arrived at the beginning of the harvest. Workers were in demand for farm labour and road works.

Sources: Immigrant ships, The Ships list, and The Three Towners.