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Note: Born July - December 1800
From: They Came on the Brilliant
The precise details of bounty migration varied from ship to ship and voyage to voyage but the basic principle was that, in order to settle workmen in the Australian Colonies, the British Government encouraged speculators to charter vessels for this purpose and subsidised the migrant's fares. There were a total of some three hundred migrants who arrived on that voyage.
The party was assembled at Tobermory, on the northern end of the Island of Mull, in the Scottish Hebrides. The Brilliant was a full rigged ship of 428 tons, registered at Glasgow and commanded by James Gilkinson or Gilkison. It was a relatively new vessel, having been build in Montreal during 1834 and was owned by Samuel Peterson, who claimed 1045 pounds 1 shilling and 9 1/2 pence from the Government as half the charter fee for the ship. There were two cabin passengers (First Class): Duncan McPhee and J. McLure.
When the Brilliant left Tobermory on 27 September, 1837 the bounty migrants numbered approximately 48 married couples, 1 married man, 6 married women, 13 single men, 21 single women, 6 infants, 96 boys and 69 girls.
Originally it had been the shippers' intention to send the Brilliant to Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania, and land her human cargo there. However, the Governor, Sir John Franklin, had advised that the prospects for migrants were then very poor in that Colony. Consequently Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for the Colonies, wrote from London on 4 October 1837 to Governor Sir Richard Bourke of New South Wales advising that the Brilliant was being diverted to Sydney and would land her migrants in that place. The reasons behind this change of plans were quite outside the migrant's comprehension, and something over which they had no control.
The Brilliant touched at Capetown, left there on 2 December 1837 and arrived at Sydney on 20 January 1838 after a passage of 116 days. This was about the average for the voyage to Sydney from Britain at that time. The ship's surgeon, Angus J. Campbell, reported that the vessel was healthy, one boy had died, two have been born on the voyage and three children had died since landing (Ann McLeod was one of these). There are some minor discrepancies in the several lists of migrants as to numbers but the figures given may be taken as near enough for practical purposes. James McLaurin senior was chairman of the passenger's committee and wrote a letter of appreciation on their behalf to Captain Gilkinson, thanking him for his consideration during the voyage.
From Jayne Macleod
Extract from the "Highland Clearances" by Alexander MacKenzie
In the Inverness Courier 11th October 1837 appears the following
"A large body of emigrants sailed from Tobermory on the 27th September for New South Wales. The vessel was the "Brilliant" and its size and splendid fittings were greatly admired.
The people to be conveyed by this vessel are decidedly the most valuable that have ever left the shores of Great Britain. They are of excellent moral character and from their knowledge of Agriculture and management of sheep and cattle, must prove a most valuable acquisition to a colony like New South Wales."
The Rev. Mr. MacPherson of Tobermory, preached a farewell sermon before the party sailed. The total number of emigrants was 322, made up as follows:- From Ardnamurchan and Strontian 105, from Coll and Tiree 104, from Mull and Iona 56, from Morven 25 and from Dunoon 28. There were two teachers and two surgeons. A visitor from New South Wales presented as many of the party as he met with letters of introduction and expressed himself highly gratified with the prospect of having so valuable an addition to the colony. A government agent superintended the embarkation.
The MacLeods of Dalvey are descended from Alexander, the 3rd son of Alexander 2nd son of Roderick MacLeod of Ulinish, who was the youngest son of Donald MacLeod of Greshornish, the youngest son of Sir Roy Mor of Dunvegan.
Notes from Maclean Historical Society on the McLeod family
From the diary of H. W. Ramsay - Handwritten notes
Norman McLeod
His father was Angus McLeod who came out on the "Brilliant" on 24.12.1837
The children of Angus McLeod
D. K. McLeod - born in Scotland and died on the Tweed. He married in Grafton. He died on 18th October, 1915 aged 83 (Burial Register P 49)
John - died at Maclean
Norman (Register Page 71) (perhaps Grafton Register)
William
Rachael - Mrs. Watterson born in Scotland
Annie - Mrs. Cameron born in Australia
Christina - Mrs. Alex Campbell born in Australia
Margaret - Mrs. D. K. McLachlan born in Australia
The last two of the family surviving in 1922
Donald Kenneth and Mrs. Watterson were born in Scotland.
The family settled firstly on the Hunter, then on the Clarence. They attended Maitland Church at first, and later at the church of Mr. McCulloch, Hinton which was nearer to them.
H. W. Ramsay (Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland)
Anne McLeod married Allan Cameron who was born in Scotland and an emigrant on the "Brilliant" aged 1. He was the son of Angus & Ann Cameron of "Strontion Park" Great Marlow, Grafton. They married on 22.7.1863.
Allan Cameron was born in Scotland circa 1836 and died at Summer Hill "Glenelg" Kensington Road 7.8.1923 aged 86 years.
Annie McLeod of "Dalvey" Ulmarra was born in Australia the daughter of Angus McLeod and Christina McAskill.
Their children
Duncan Alexander b 1871 d 12.4.1872 aged 1
Alexander Henry b 1873 d 28.10.1875 aged 2 Both are burried in Villiers Street, Cemetery, Grafton
Allan Norman b 1876 married a Christian Scientist nurse. They had no family. Norman lost his eye in WW1
Emilie a spinster
Minnie m Ernest Richardson. In 1965 Minnie aged 90 was living in a convalescent home at Bondi
Mary m Brownlow
Notes: Above Allan Cameron was very friendly with historian Duncan McFarlane
. Reminiscences of "Brilliant" in H W Ramsay diary
to South Seas
From the notes of H. W. Ramsay and Gordon Dennes
Norman McLeod of "Dalvey" Ulmarra (page 23 in diary)
Norman McLeod married Sarah McDonald
In 1857 in the flood on the Hunter Mr. McLeod's family took Angus Cameron's family (Argylevilla) to a place of safety.
His father came to the Clarence to build a house, bringing his two son's with him. He (Norman) stayed to work the farm on the Hunter with his mother and sisters and came to the Clarence in 1860 with his mother and sisters.
He was born on the Paterson above Dunmore Bridge, opposite Dunmore Estate at Woodville. His people used to visit McLeods who lived on Upper Paterson (Aunty C's people) [Note: Aunty C must have been a relative of Rev. Ramsay].
Norman held the opinion that Providence seemed to have sent floods to the Hunter to rouse the people who were living on rented farms to secure land of their own. Norman seemed always to have a deep faith in the overruling hand of providence in all things.
Norman died 25th January 1921 aged 79 years
All of the above was handwritten on page 23
In the reminiscences of Allan Cameron - H. W. diary
In Allan Cameron's writing "and the Ulmarra McLeod family you all know" no other mention.
Death of Angus McLeod
DEATH
McLEOD - At his residence, Dalvey, Ulmarra, ANGUS McLEOD, a native of the Isle of Skye, aged 81 leaving a sorrowing widow to mourn her loss.
The Daily Examiner - 22 July, 1882
This respected old gentleman who has been gradually sinking for the lasst few weeks, passed quietly away yesterday at 2.30 pm.
Mr. MacLeod was in his 82nd year, and a very old colonist and settler on the Clarence. All who knew him respected him, as a man witho ut reproach - a true type of honest highlander, who is an acquisition to any country wherever he settles. Deceased leaves an aged partner, and a large family of sons and daughters, who have homes here on the Brunswick and Tweed Rivers. Mr. MacLeod will be buried in the Grafton Cemetery, and the funeral will take place this day, leaving his late residence (Ulmarra) steamer, at 11 am and landing at Dobie Street at noon.
The Clarence Examiner Saturday July 29, 1882
We are enabled to give the following particulars of this gentleman, whose death we briefly announced on Saturday. He was a native of Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, and was born in the year 1800. He served his apprenticeship as a wheelwright and coachbuilder, in the seaport village of Tobermory, Argyleshire, and in course of time started on his own account at his native place where he was married. He subsequently returned to Tobermory, where he worked for about seven years. In 1837, he made up his mind to emigrate to Australia, a decision in which he was influenced by his intimate friend Dr. John McLeod minister of Morven, and the brother of the celebrated Rev. Norman McLeod. He arrived in Sydney by the ship Brilliant, and shortly after proceeded to the Hunter River, then chosen by most of the Scotch emigrants arriving in the colony. He there started to work at his trade in connection with farming pursuits but in a few years devoted his attention solely to farming, and stock raising. In the year 1857 he commissioned the late Mr. Norman Cowan, of Grafton, to purchase a farm on the clarence and the latter secured the portion in Ulmarra, which Mr. McLeod named Dalvey, after an estate in his native country. He came himself, with his family to the river in 1862 and has continued to reside here ever since. The deceased had a most retentive memory, a faculty which he retained up to his latest years, and had many interesting stories of the life and times of his youthful days. He was present in Dunvegan Castle when the present head of the house of McLeod now an aged man himself, was baptised. He relates that on that occasion a knife and fork, once in the possession of Price Charlie, was handed around that every one might cut a morsel with them. He also had a personal recollection of one of the first steamboats which flied upon the Clyde, a vessel called the Henry Bell, in which he had voyaged. His wonderful memory is best illustrated by the fact that he could tell the names of every shop of war in the british navy that had come under his knowledge by reading, and could give her equipment of men, with her armament also. Upon such subjects he took a great interest, no doubt from the fact that numbers of his kindred had served his country in India, and other parts of the world. He was strongly attached to his native tongue, the Gaelic, and often indulged himself by composing descriptive poems, which were very clever productions. Mrs. McLeod, as we stated on Saturday, survives her husband, and what the parting must be to her may be imagined when we state they have lived man and wife for 54 years, a period during which they have seldom been absent from the company of one another. The mortal remains of Mr. McLeod were buried on Saturday, in the Presbyterian cemetery, Grafton, being followed to their last resting place by a numerous procession of relatives and friends. At the grave, after the coffin had been lowered into the last resting-place the Rev. I. Mackay offered a few well-chosen words in testimony to the deceased, both as a man and a Christian. We may add our tribute to his honest worth, and say that he was in every sense a man of sterling merit, an affectionate husband, a loving, kind parent, a true friend, and a good neighbour - one who, free from the bonds of narrow sectarianism while fearing his God and honouring his rulers, could respect and love his fellow men of all creeds. His loss will be felt by those who knew him most intimately, and his relatives and friends have the consolation of knowing that he leaves an unsullied name, an honour prized by him above all other possessions. Mr. McLeod had four sons and four daughters living, who were all gathered around him when the end came. The former are well known and respected as some of our most deserving farmers. Two brothers, who had emigrated to Canada, were living at Lake Ontario a short time ago. One of these was 8 years older than deceased.
A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland
by Samuel Johnson
Mull
s we were to catch the first favourable breath, we spent the night not very elegantly nor pleasantly in the vessel, and were landed next day at Tobor Morar, a port in Mull, which appears to an unexperienced eye formed for the security of ships; for its mouth is closed by a small island, which admits them through narrow channels into a bason sufficiently capacious. They are indeed safe from the sea, but there is a hollow between the mountains, through which the wind issues from the land with very mischievous violence.
There was no danger while we were there, and we found several other vessels at anchor; so that the port had a very commercial appearance.
The young Laird of Col, who had determined not to let us lose his company, while there was any difficulty remaining, came over with us. His influence soon appeared; for he procured us horses, and conducted us to the house of Doctor Maclean, where we found very kind entertainment, and very pleasing conversation. Miss Maclean, who was born, and had been bred at Glasgow, having removed with her father to Mull, added to other qualifications, a great knowledge of the Earse language, which she had not learned in her childhood, but gained by study, and was the only interpreter of Earse poetry that I could ever find.
The Isle of Mull is perhaps in extent the third of the Hebrides. It is not broken by waters, nor shot into promontories, but is a solid and compact mass, of breadth nearly equal to its length. Of the dimensions of the larger Islands, there is no knowledge approaching to exactness. I am willing to estimate it as containing about three hundred square miles.
Mull had suffered like Sky by the black winter of seventy-one, in which, contrary to all experience, a continued frost detained the snow eight weeks upon the ground. Against a calamity never known, no provision had been made, and the people could only pine in helpless misery. One tenant was mentioned, whose cattle perished to the value of three hundred pounds; a loss which probably more than the life of man is necessary to repair. In countries like these, the descriptions of famine become intelligible. Where by vigorous and artful cultivation of a soil naturally fertile, there is commonly a superfluous growth both of grain and grass; where the fields are crowded with cattle; and where every hand is able to attract wealth from a distance, by making something that promotes ease, or gratifies vanity, a dear year produces only a comparative want, which is rather seen than felt, and which terminates commonly in no worse effect, than that of condemning the lower orders of the community to sacrifice a little luxury to convenience, or at most a little convenience to necessity.
But where the climate is unkind, and the ground penurious, so that the most fruitful years will produce only enough to maintain themselves; where life unimproved, and unadorned, fades into something little more than naked existence, and every one is busy for himself, without any arts by which the pleasure of others may be increased; if to the daily burden of distress any additional weight be added, nothing remains but to despair and die. In Mull the disappointment of a harvest, or a murrain among the cattle, cuts off the regular provision; and they who have no manufactures can purchase no part of the superfluities of other countries. The consequence of a bad season is here not scarcity, but emptiness; and they whose plenty, was barely a supply of natural and present need, when that slender stock fails, must perish with hunger.
All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own, and if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.
Mr. Boswell's curiosity strongly impelled him to survey Iona, or Icolmkil, which was to the early ages the great school of Theology, and is supposed to have been the place of sepulture for the ancient kings. I, though less eager, did not oppose him.
That we might perform this expedition, it was necessary to traverse a great part of Mull. We passed a day at Dr. Maclean's, and could have been well contented to stay longer. But Col provided us horses, and we pursued our journey. This was a day of inconvenience, for the country is very rough, and my horse was but little. We travelled many hours through a tract, black and barren, in which, however, there were the reliques of humanity; for we found a ruined chapel in our way.
It is natural, in traversing this gloom of desolation, to inquire, whether something may not be done to give nature a more cheerful face, and whether those hills and moors that afford heath cannot with a little care and labour bear something better? The first thought that occurs is to cover them with trees, for that in many of these naked regions trees will grow, is evident, because stumps and roots are yet remaining; and the speculatist hastily proceeds to censure that negligence and laziness that has omitted for so long a time so easy an improvement.
To drop seeds into the ground, and attend their growth, requires little labour and no skill. He who remembers that all the woods, by which the wants of man have been supplied from the Deluge till now, were self-sown, will not easily be persuaded to think all the art and preparation necessary, which the Georgick writers prescribe to planters. Trees certainly have covered the earth with very little culture. They wave their tops among the rocks of Norway, and might thrive as well in the Highlands and Hebrides.
But there is a frightful interval between the seed and timber. He that calculates the growth of trees, has the unwelcome remembrance of the shortness of life driven hard upon him. He knows that he is doing what will never benefit himself; and when he rejoices to see the stem rise, is disposed to repine that another shall cut it down.
Plantation is naturally the employment of a mind unburdened with care, and vacant to futurity, saturated with present good, and at leisure to derive gratification from the prospect of posterity. He that pines with hunger, is in little care how others shall be fed. The poor man is seldom studious to make his grandson rich. It may be soon discovered, why in a place, which hardly supplies the cravings of necessity, there has been little attention to the delights of fancy, and why distant convenience is unregarded, where the thoughts are turned with incessant solicitude upon every possibility of immediate advantage.
Neither is it quite so easy to raise large woods, as may be conceived. Trees intended to produce timber must be sown where they are to grow; and ground sown with trees must be kept useless for a long time, inclosed at an expence from which many will be discouraged by the remoteness of the profit, and watched with that attention, which, in places where it is most needed, will neither be given nor bought. That it cannot be plowed is evident; and if cattle be suffered to graze upon it, they will devour the plants as fast as they rise. Even in coarser countries, where herds and flocks are not fed, not only the deer and the wild goats will browse upon them, but the hare and rabbit will nibble them. It is therefore reasonable to believe, what I do not remember any naturalist to have remarked, that there was a time when the world was very thinly inhabited by beasts, as well as men, and that the woods had leisure to rise high before animals had bred numbers sufficient to intercept them.
Sir James Macdonald, in part of the wastes of his territory, set or sowed trees, to the number, as I have been told, of several millions, expecting, doubtless, that they would grow up into future navies and cities; but for want of inclosure, and of that care which is always necessary, and will hardly ever be taken, all his cost and labour have been lost, and the ground is likely to continue an useless heath.
Having not any experience of a journey in Mull, we had no doubt of reaching the sea by day-light, and therefore had not left Dr. Maclean's very early. We travelled diligently enough, but found the country, for road there was none, very difficult to pass. We were always struggling with some obstruction or other, and our vexation was not balanced by any gratification of the eye or mind. We were now long enough acquainted with hills and heath to have lost the emotion that they once raised, whether pleasing or painful, and had our mind employed only on our own fatigue. We were however sure, under Col's protection, of escaping all real evils. There was no house in Mull to which he could not introduce us. He had intended to lodge us, for that night, with a gentleman that lived upon the coast, but discovered on the way, that he then lay in bed without hope of life.
We resolved not to embarrass a family, in a time of so much sorrow, if any other expedient could he found; and as the Island of Ulva was over-against us, it was determined that we should pass the strait and have recourse to the Laird, who, like the other gentlemen of the Islands, was known to Col. We expected to find a ferry-boat, but when at last we came to the water, the boat was gone.
We were now again at a stop. It was the sixteenth of October, a time when it is not convenient to sleep in the Hebrides without a cover, and there was no house within our reach, but that which we had already decline
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