ON THIS PAGE - Major events in Donald's life 1833 - 1879 in chronological order.
SUBPAGES - the following summary leads to 8 subpages, and other relevant pages.
Donald passed away in 1912.
SUBPAGES - the following summary leads to 8 subpages, and other relevant pages.
Donald passed away in 1912.
Brief summary of the major events in Donald McLaran's life 1833 to 1879
Follow the links to other pages about Donald's activities.
Follow the links to other pages about Donald's activities.
- 1833 Donald McLeoran (aka Donald McLaran or McLaren) was born at Feorlin farm, near Southend, Argyllshire
- 1841 Census: Donald (8) resided at Feorlin with his parents and 4 of his siblings. This confirms his birth year as 1833.
- 1851 Census records Donald (under the name of Donald Leoran, 14) employed on a farm in the Campbeltown parish called "Glenedarachne". This would appear to be an isolated farm in ruins today and sometimes called "Gleneadardacrock". It is located west of Lechnicreive. Donald named his second selection in Australia Kilkevan, perhaps after Kilkivan farm (Kilkevan is the spelling on the 1747 Roy's Highland Map) near Machrihanish in Campbeltown Parish. His brother Duncan lived in the same parish at this time, at the nearby High Lossit.
- 1853 Donald (19) emigrated to Moreton Bay on the America with his father, his step-mother and 4 of his siblings.
- 1853 - 1864 Donald probably spent these years living in and around Dalby, working as a shepherd, carrier and possibly a bush carpenter.
- 1857 Donald purchased a residential block of land in Bunya St, Dalby, spelling his surname "McLaran". The land was located (conveniently) diagonally opposite the Plough Inn, which was then the centre of the township. After the arrival of the railway in the early 1860's, Cunningham Street became the commercial centre.
- c. 1863 - 1866 Donald stated in McLaren v. Wruth that he did not reside in the Dalby area in these years. His whereabouts remain uncertain but it is possible he joined the Clermont gold rush (1863 - 1866). He returned to Dalby in 1866 and continued to live in the area until his death in 1912.
- 1864 Donald McLaran sold his residential block of land in Bunya Street.
- 1866 McLaren v Wruth: this court case revealed that Donald was a (sometime) carrier, the owner of a dray and a team of oxen.
- 1868 the death of Donald's step mother, Jane McLaran: the inquest recorded that Donald was working in the Blaxland area and he employed his brothers, Duncan and Alexander as shepherds.
- 1868 Donald was engaged building O'Keefe's hotel in Patrick Street, Dalby.
- 1869 Donald selected his first grazing property, called Frogmore, located several miles north of Dalby.
- 1869 - 1879 Donald cleared and built improvements (hut, well etc) at Frogmore and Kilkevan and also undertook various other activities such as moving sheep flocks between properties, trading sheep and carpentry work.
- 1872 Donald chanced across an accident while searching for lost horses. See below.
- 1873 Malcolm McLaran was the nominated owner of the racehorse Bronzewing, but it is likely that Donald was the beneficial owner.
- 1874 Donald involved in a late night altercation between a hotel owner and a policeman.
- 1874 Donald selected Lot 294 at Oakey Creek, St Ruth, alongside his father Malcolm's Lot 295. The combined lots along with Lot 296 would become known as Kilkevan.
- 1877 Donald instigated court proceedings in an unsuccessful attempt to recover his stolen watch. The watch had been lost during a time of celebration following a day of Highland Games.
- 1878 Donald purchased the property known as Haran near Tartha.
- 2 Jan1879 Donald McLaran (45) and Clara Sophia Eversden (22) married in Brisbane. Donald claimed to be 38 years of age.
- 1879 Immediately after his marriage to Clara Eversden, the sale of Frogmore to G.M. Simpson, owner of Bon Accord, was finalised. This was a necessary move, as Donald had 2 other properties (Kilkevan and Haran) to finance and operate.
1833 Donald McLaran's birth record
Malcolm McLaran's eldest immigrant son
Donald was born at Feorlin on 9 Aug 1833 and remained a bachelor until he married in January 1879. A complete story of Donald McLaran's life between his birth and his marriage at age 46 years has not proved easy to uncover. He no doubt passed on some details of his early years to his wife and family, however stories of Donald's life prior to his marriage are scant and sketchy at best.
Scotland's People, UK Census, Trove, and the Queensland State Archives have provided glimpses into Donald's first 46 years. Some gaps will forever remain, but a good impression of Donald's bachelor years* has now emerged.
The eight pages about young(er) Donald's exploits linked to this page portray a self-sufficient young man, struggling to further his personal wealth and standing in the community, intent on having a good time, whilst not prepared to be unfairly treated (in his view) by others. He would have been well-known around the Dalby district and probably further west. Surely William Dockrill and Lewis Eversden would have been acquainted with his reputation and his exploits and it is possible Dockrill met Donald in the Dalby courthouse in 1874.
It is conjecture how Donald came to marry an attractive lass 22 years his junior with a strict Christian upbringing. Perhaps it was Scottish charm and the promise of riches. Was he hand-picked by that great matchmaker, family wealth-generator and teenage bride of a 40 year old sea captain, Jane Rider? Or was it the purchase of Haran and the chance for Lewis Eversden to escape Tartha? I suspect all these factors led to the marriage.
* Dale Lehner published that Donald had been married twice and had 2 children by his first wife but this appears to be a misunderstanding.
Donald was born at Feorlin on 9 Aug 1833 and remained a bachelor until he married in January 1879. A complete story of Donald McLaran's life between his birth and his marriage at age 46 years has not proved easy to uncover. He no doubt passed on some details of his early years to his wife and family, however stories of Donald's life prior to his marriage are scant and sketchy at best.
Scotland's People, UK Census, Trove, and the Queensland State Archives have provided glimpses into Donald's first 46 years. Some gaps will forever remain, but a good impression of Donald's bachelor years* has now emerged.
The eight pages about young(er) Donald's exploits linked to this page portray a self-sufficient young man, struggling to further his personal wealth and standing in the community, intent on having a good time, whilst not prepared to be unfairly treated (in his view) by others. He would have been well-known around the Dalby district and probably further west. Surely William Dockrill and Lewis Eversden would have been acquainted with his reputation and his exploits and it is possible Dockrill met Donald in the Dalby courthouse in 1874.
It is conjecture how Donald came to marry an attractive lass 22 years his junior with a strict Christian upbringing. Perhaps it was Scottish charm and the promise of riches. Was he hand-picked by that great matchmaker, family wealth-generator and teenage bride of a 40 year old sea captain, Jane Rider? Or was it the purchase of Haran and the chance for Lewis Eversden to escape Tartha? I suspect all these factors led to the marriage.
* Dale Lehner published that Donald had been married twice and had 2 children by his first wife but this appears to be a misunderstanding.
This 1876 trespassing charge shows that Donald undertook activities away from Frogmore, on this occasion he stretched the limits of the law.
1862 Map: Surat to Brisbane and Macalister to Yandilla.
This map shows how undeveloped the countryside was in the early 1860's.
Note:
1. Track north from Dalby to Jimbour passing through Frogmore.
2. The sheer isolation of Tartha on the "Mooni" River, two years before the arrival of Lewis and Clara Eversden.
This map shows how undeveloped the countryside was in the early 1860's.
Note:
1. Track north from Dalby to Jimbour passing through Frogmore.
2. The sheer isolation of Tartha on the "Mooni" River, two years before the arrival of Lewis and Clara Eversden.
Questions and (possible) Answers about Donald's bachelor years
Q1. What did Donald have in common with his brothers, Duncan and Alexander?
A1. Duncan appears to have been an independent man who travelled throughout southern and central Queensland, working for others as a shepherd, shearer or blacksmith. He was rarely mentioned in the newspapers of the time, suggesting he led a more abstemious life than Donald.
Alexander, 16 years Donald's junior, appeared to be emulating Donald's life path with land selection near Rangers Bridge when he met his untimely and alcohol-fueled death. Donald honoured Duncan by naming his first born son after him, but no such honour was given to Alexander. It is likely that Donald's influence assisted in Alexander's acquittal on charges of abandoning his illegitimate child in 1874. All 3 brothers were good bushmen. Duncan and Alexander were in Donald's employ in 1868.
Q1. What did Donald have in common with his brothers, Duncan and Alexander?
A1. Duncan appears to have been an independent man who travelled throughout southern and central Queensland, working for others as a shepherd, shearer or blacksmith. He was rarely mentioned in the newspapers of the time, suggesting he led a more abstemious life than Donald.
Alexander, 16 years Donald's junior, appeared to be emulating Donald's life path with land selection near Rangers Bridge when he met his untimely and alcohol-fueled death. Donald honoured Duncan by naming his first born son after him, but no such honour was given to Alexander. It is likely that Donald's influence assisted in Alexander's acquittal on charges of abandoning his illegitimate child in 1874. All 3 brothers were good bushmen. Duncan and Alexander were in Donald's employ in 1868.
1861 Dalby Town population
1861 Dalby Rural population
1875 Dalby Electoral Roll - Donald McLarrin
"Selector" for sale
Donald McLaran's flamboyant signature
Q7. Can we gain any insights into Donald's personality from his signature?
A7. Donald's bold and firm signature was consistent until his final years. The backward slope suggests he was left handed, as was his son Malcolm Lewis McLaran. One study of handwriting by Parmeet Kaur Grewal says heavy pen pressure is indicative of: "Very deep and enduring feelings, a person who may forgive but will never forget and feels situations intensely." Sophia's wedding day - see 1900 McLennan - McLaran Wedding 1900 McLennan - McLaran Wedding - suggests that Parmeet is, in this instance, on the money! |
Q2. Was there a shortage of females in Dalby in the early 1860's?
A2. Yes. 1861 populations for Dalby town and rural area are shown on the left. Approximately 1500 people lived in the Police District of Dalby, about a third of whom were female. Q3. Where could Donald have been working 1863 - 1866? A3. Some options for his whereabouts are:
The railway line or the Toowoomba area may be the more likely options, but oral family history suggests otherwise. Q4. Why would Donald have left Dalby 1863 - 1866? A4. There was a general shortage of work in the early 1860's in the Dalby area. Donald may have left town to avoid paying debts. Q5. Is Donald McLaran on any early electoral rolls? A5. Donald McLaran is on the 1875 Dalby Electoral Roll, his name is spelt "McLarrin" and his residential address is Wabba Ridges i.e. Frogmore. Q6. Would Donald have had a "business plan"? A6. The potential to own property was one of the reasons the McLaran family emigrated. There was little chance of this in Southend*. Prior to his selection of Frogmore in 1869, Donald earned income via his own physical labour and by employing others. The Homestead Act of 1869 aimed to break up the large land holdings of the squatters into smaller parcels capable of supporting a family. Donald embraced selection as a passage to wealth, he even owned a draught-horse named "Selector"**. * Some farms around Southend, owned by the Duke of Argyle, became privately owned in the 1920's. The breaking up of the Duke's estates remains contentious to this day. ** Selector was owned by a Mr J Clarke when awarded champion stallion status. Donald's choice of names such as Selector, Frogmore, Kilkevan, Victoria Park are indications of a wry sense of humour. |