 |
James Maxwell (I6631)
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
Personal Facts and Details
  Events of close relatives | |
| Birth | 24 March 1814  29 Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. |
| Death | 16 December 1898 (Age 84) Kangaroo Creek, NSW |
| Burial | "Maxwelton", Kangaroo Creek, NSW |
| Last Change | 4 July 2009 - 12:55:33 Last changed by: Lynne |
Notes
 Note |
James' death is reg. at Grafton # 13978/1898 Maxwell, James - Parents Thomas & Jane **************************************************************** DEATH CERTIFICATE : Transcription ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Supplied by : Mick & Heather Reed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surname of Deceased : MAXWELL Other Names : James Occupation : Farmer Sex and Age : Male 84 years Marital Status : Date of Death : 16th December 1898 Place of Death : Kangaroo Creek, Grafton Usual Residence : Place of Birth : Kircudbridgtshire, Scotland : 44 years in NSW ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Father : Surname : MAXWELL Other Names : Thomas Mother : Surname : McMEEKIN Other Names : Jane ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Place of Marriage : Kircudbrightshire, Scotland Age at marriage : 24 years To whom married : Janet Fingland Children of marriage : Mary 59 years, Johanna 56, Thomas 53, Elizabeth 49 living. 1 female deceased. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Informant : Thos W. Maxwell, grandson, Kangaroo Creek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cause of Death : Bronchitis. Inquest unnecessary J.A Creagh : J.Pand. Coroner By whom certified : J. Pand. Coroner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Particulars of burial or cremation : 17th December 1898, Private Cemetery. Kangaroo Creek. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Particulars of registration : O(L.)A Edwards. District Registrar Date : 17th December 1898 Number : 110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ********************************************************************* From "The History of Coutt's Crossing & Nymboida Districts" Vol One James Maxwell was born at Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire in south west Scotland, his parents were Thomas and Jane (nee McMeekin) and James grew up on the farm where the family activities were connected with dairy production, some beef production and poultry keeping. Each year an Agricultural Show was held and during the progress of the show a ploughing competition eventuated, the prize being a silver medal suitable inscribed. In the year 1832, James then aged sixteen years, entered the said competition ; as he proceeded down the field an onlooker remarked that the lad drew a very neat furrow, commented favourably on the pair of magnificent horses and remarked that the ploughman with his smooth face (beards were then the vogue) appeared only to be a boy. Jenet Fingland, then a lass of tender years, could restrain herself no longer, the Gentleman was elderly and a complete stranger but pride caused a complete obliteration of inhibitions and she proudly said "that is Jamie Maxwell and I do most fervently hope he wins". Her fervent hopes were justified, the silver medal was duly presented and has been handed down through generations of the Maxwell family. Jenet Fingland, daughter of Robert and Joanna (nee Irvine) of Balmaclellan, must have played her cards correctly as she married James Maxwell a few years later, their family, all born in Scotland, were : Mary, Johanna, Thomas, Jane and Elizabeth. The Maxwells joined the immigration of Scottish Families and arrived in Sydney on 24th April 1853 aboard the "Java", James gave his occupation as a farmer, and his age as 39 years, his wife Jenet 37 years, Mary 13, Johanna 10, Thomas 7, Jane 5, and Elizabeth 3. James paid four pound ten shillings towards the fares of "self and family" and was said to have a brother, Thomas, living in the New England in the employ of Mr Vietch. Unfortunately we have not been able to find any documents which may lead us to Thomas' descendants. James and his family proceeded to Moredun, New England and took up farming there. "Moredun" was a squatterage, consisting of 67,200 acres and was held by Andrew Wauchope, who hailed from Scotland where he had held a position of Provost of Edinburgh. Andrew Wauchope held his land by purchase for many years, eventually selling to his manager, John Mitchell about 1898. The lot of the farmer was certainly of a much higher standard than that of the shepherds who, when washing sheep in the pool before shearing, the men would be up to their waists in caustic their only compensation against discomfort being an issue of free rum. It is reputed that Thunderbolt often camped at the station, the shepherds who were friendly with him, supplying him with a fresh horse which he usually let go at his next haven and it would find its own way back to the station. About 1862, James Maxwell and his son-in-law Thomas Pitkin moved from Moredun and selected adjoining land at Nymboida. James' 100 acres and Thomas' 50 acres were registered in 1862. (Parish of Martin - Portion 2, 100acs. Jas. Maxwell and Portion 3, 50 acs. Thos. Pitkin) James Maxwell moved from Nymboida to Kangaroo Creek shortly after his son Thomas' marriage (1866), leaving Thomas to manage the Nymboida holdings which had increased considerably in acreage since 1862. James first purchase of land at Kangaroo Creek appears to have been portion seven of 64 acres, in the Parish of Koukandowie for the princely sum of sixty four pounds. This land was eventually transferred to Thomas Pitkin in 1882, some years after James and Jenet had moved to "Maxwelton" (a 320 acre property at Back Creek). James was much impressed with the land available for selection and prevailed upon his son, Thomas, to select an area which fronted Back Creek and ran back to Kangaroo Creek. This must have been the maximum permitted one family as it was 1280 acres and incorporated the properties later known as "Toora", "Braeside", "The Shelf' and land adjoining James' "Maxwelton". Jenet Maxwell died at the early age of 60 years, on 24th March 1877. James Maxwell reached the grand old age of 84 years and died 16th December 1898. Both are buried on “Maxwelton”.” James and Jenet’s children were ; 1. Mary Maxwell born c 1840 m.1, 1857 (1271/1857) to James Newby, m.2, 1867 (2164/1867) to Charles Ellis. Her death is registered at Grafton in 1908. (9459/1908) 2. Johanna Maxwell born c 1843 m. 1860 (1164/1860 Armidale district) at Moredun to Thomas Pitkin. Her death is registered at Grafton in 1916.(18308/1916). 3. Thomas Maxwell born c 1846 m. 1866 (1352/1866 Armidale district) at Glenfernaigh (brides parents home) to Christina McLennan. His death is registered at Grafton (9059/1907). Thomas died 3.9.1907, aged 62 years and is buried in Bent St Cemetery,South Grafton. 4. Jane Maxwell born c 1848, died in 1862, aged 15years at Moredun Station where she is buried. Her death is registered at Armidale (2228/1862). 5. Elizabeth Maxwell born c 1850 m.1872 ( 2276/1872 Grafton) at “Maxwelton” to Thomas Mitchell. ********************************************************************* Thanks to Mick Reed's research, which found James & Janet on the 1851 census at Cranoe, Leicestershire, England, we now know that James & Janet some time between 1841 and 1849, left Scotland where James was a farmer (according to 1841 census) and moved to the English Midlands where he became a labourer. See daughter Elizabeth's birth certtificate (supplied by Mick Reed) which proves that the 1851 census schedule he found for Cranoe in Leicestershire, does in fact refer to our James and Janet. ********************************************************************* Thanks also to Mick & Heather we now have a copy of James' will which I will eventually transcribe and place here....if anyone would like a copy - please ask. |
Media
 Multimedia Object | Graves of James & Janet Maxwell at "Maxwelton" Kangaroo Creek
Format: jpg Image Dimensions: 640 x 439 Note: Photo courtesy of Heather & Mick Reed, who has also supplied the MI for James' headstone ..... Sacred to the memory of JAMES MAXWELL Who died 16th December 1898 Aged 84 years ------------------------------------ Not in mine innocence I Trust I Bow Befroe thee in the Dust And through my Saviour's blood alone I look for mercy at thine throne Now the labourer's Task is o'er Now the Battle Day is Past Now upon the farther shore Lands the voyager at last |
Multimedia Object | per M Reed.jpeg "1851 Census - Cranoe, England") 1851 Census - Cranoe, England
Format: jpeg Image Dimensions: 640 x 458 Note: Not being able to find James & Janet Maxwell on the 1851 census in Scotland, Mick Reed writes .... "They had to be in England before they sailed on the "Java", because it sailed from London. I found the attached census document for Cranoe, which is near Market Harborough in Leicestershire in the east midlands of England. It looks good. Ages are spot on for the kids, although Jean should possibly read Jane, and Thomas is missing" and later Mick found Thomas on the Scottish census, staying with his grandparents Thomas & Jane Maxwell nee McMeekin. |
Multimedia Object |  1841 Census - Balmaclellan, Scotland
Format: jpg Image Dimensions: 640 x 472 Note: Courtesy of Mick & Heather Reed. |
Multimedia Object |  James' Ploughing Medals
Format: JPG Image Dimensions: 640 x 480 Note: From James' last will & testament ..."I also will to my son Thomas Maxwell my watch and three medals and that the said medals be given to any one of his sons whom he thinks proper and also that the said medals be kept as an heirloom in the family of the Maxwells" These medals were passed to Thomas' son Alexander Maxwell, to his son Thomas Earle, to his son Earle and now to his son Wayne. |
Multimedia Object |  James' 1839 Medal
Format: JPG Image Dimensions: 640 x 480 Note: Photo courtesy of Wayne Maxwell per Earle Maxwell. |
Multimedia Object |  James' 1842 Medal
Format: JPG Image Dimensions: 640 x 480 Note: Photo courtesy of Wayne Maxwell per Earle Maxwell. |
 |
Family with Parents |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
 |
|
| Brother | |
| Brother | |
| Sister |
|
Family with Janet Fingland |
|
|
| Wife | |
| Daughter | |
| Daughter | |
| Son | |
| Daughter | |
| Daughter |
Research Assistant
Search Engine Spider Detected: CCBot/ http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html
| There are no research logs attached to this individual. |