An introduction to the McLarans of Dalby
This 1884 death notice from Queensland Figaro has inspired the name of the website and it offers an excellent starting point.
Reading the notice, one may be excused for wondering if Malcolm had any descendants other than Donald McLaran of Dalby and Haran or any brothers or sisters. He certainly did, in 1884 Malcolm was survived in Australia by 17 descendants: 2 children (both born in Scotland), 12 grandchildren (11 born in Queensland, one born in England) and three great grandchildren (all born in Queensland). In the same year, Malcolm's brother Archibald passed away in Victoria.
His son Donald, in 1884 the father of just three children aged between one and five, was then only a minor contributor to the McLaran lineage.
The fate of Malcolm's elder sons, Archibald McLeoran, John McMillan McLeoran and Malcolm McLeoran, is the subject of ongoing research. Archibald was Malcolm's illegitimate son born in 1822 to Euphemia McConachy. He was raised by Malcolm's sister, Jean McLeoran, married in 1845, raised 2 children but left Southend prior to the 1851 Census. John and Malcolm were recorded in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses but also departed from Southend prior to 1861.
Reading the notice, one may be excused for wondering if Malcolm had any descendants other than Donald McLaran of Dalby and Haran or any brothers or sisters. He certainly did, in 1884 Malcolm was survived in Australia by 17 descendants: 2 children (both born in Scotland), 12 grandchildren (11 born in Queensland, one born in England) and three great grandchildren (all born in Queensland). In the same year, Malcolm's brother Archibald passed away in Victoria.
His son Donald, in 1884 the father of just three children aged between one and five, was then only a minor contributor to the McLaran lineage.
The fate of Malcolm's elder sons, Archibald McLeoran, John McMillan McLeoran and Malcolm McLeoran, is the subject of ongoing research. Archibald was Malcolm's illegitimate son born in 1822 to Euphemia McConachy. He was raised by Malcolm's sister, Jean McLeoran, married in 1845, raised 2 children but left Southend prior to the 1851 Census. John and Malcolm were recorded in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses but also departed from Southend prior to 1861.
Welcome to “McLarans of Dalby”
My name is Geoffrey Martin and I wish to share this story of my great-great-grandfather, Malcolm McLaran (1800 – 1884) and some of his family who arrived at Moreton Bay in 1853.
The story is chiefly about Malcolm, his wife Jane, Malcolm's children by his first wife, Catherine, Donald, Duncan and Margaret, and Malcolm and Jane's son, Alexander, but also offers a brief coverage of the families of Malcolm's two siblings, Jean McLeoran and Archibald McLeoran.
Three other families who emigrated between 1852 and 1864 had a lasting influence upon Donald's family:
After 1880, the stories of the Dockrill, Eversden, McLaran and Brown families were entwined for 75 years.
My name is Geoffrey Martin and I wish to share this story of my great-great-grandfather, Malcolm McLaran (1800 – 1884) and some of his family who arrived at Moreton Bay in 1853.
The story is chiefly about Malcolm, his wife Jane, Malcolm's children by his first wife, Catherine, Donald, Duncan and Margaret, and Malcolm and Jane's son, Alexander, but also offers a brief coverage of the families of Malcolm's two siblings, Jean McLeoran and Archibald McLeoran.
Three other families who emigrated between 1852 and 1864 had a lasting influence upon Donald's family:
- the Dockrills - William Dockrill and Lewis Eversden were brothers-in-law;
- the Eversdens - Clara Eversden, Lewis's only surviving child, married Malcolm McLaran’s son, Donald, in 1879;
- and the Browns - widower Lewis Eversden married widow Jane Brown in 1880.
After 1880, the stories of the Dockrill, Eversden, McLaran and Brown families were entwined for 75 years.
The four immigrant ships:
1852 Argyll
William Dockrill (21) single, born 1830, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
William Dockrill (21) single, born 1830, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
1853 America
Malcolm McLaran (54) born 1800 Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Jane McLaran nee McShenoig (48) his second wife, born 1804, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Catherine McLaren (22) born 1831, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Donald McLaran (20) born 1833, McMillan Estate*, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Duncan McLaren (17) born 1836, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Margaret McLaren (15) born 1838, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Alexander McLaren (5) born 1849, Campbeltown, Argyle, Scotland, the only child of Malcolm & Jane
Note: the name McLaran(en) is spelt differently for various members of Malcolm’s family. See Family Names.
* Donald supplied this information for his wedding certificate - it refers to the Carskey Estate then in the hands of his grandmother's cousin, John McMillan MacNeill.
Malcolm McLaran (54) born 1800 Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Jane McLaran nee McShenoig (48) his second wife, born 1804, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Catherine McLaren (22) born 1831, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Donald McLaran (20) born 1833, McMillan Estate*, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Duncan McLaren (17) born 1836, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Margaret McLaren (15) born 1838, Southend, Argyle, Scotland
Alexander McLaren (5) born 1849, Campbeltown, Argyle, Scotland, the only child of Malcolm & Jane
Note: the name McLaran(en) is spelt differently for various members of Malcolm’s family. See Family Names.
* Donald supplied this information for his wedding certificate - it refers to the Carskey Estate then in the hands of his grandmother's cousin, John McMillan MacNeill.
1854 General Hewitt
Jane Rider (16) single, born 1837, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire
Captain Thomas Huntley Brown (39) previously married, first Mate on the General Hewitt, born 1815, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
Note: I have adopted “Rider” but sometimes Jane's name was spelt “Ryder”. See Family Names.
Jane Rider (16) single, born 1837, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire
Captain Thomas Huntley Brown (39) previously married, first Mate on the General Hewitt, born 1815, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
Note: I have adopted “Rider” but sometimes Jane's name was spelt “Ryder”. See Family Names.
1864 Flying Cloud
Lewis James Eversden (29) born 1835, Foxton, Cambridgeshire,
Clara Sophia Eversden (7) born 1856, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Laura Eversden (5) born 1859, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
Lewis James Eversden (29) born 1835, Foxton, Cambridgeshire,
Clara Sophia Eversden (7) born 1856, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Laura Eversden (5) born 1859, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
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Other family names
Woven into the stories, and often related by marriage to the immigrants, are the following families:
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There are many other significant families in the story of the McLaran(en)s and in the future some may be added to the website.
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The Limited Scope of this Website
The Purpose of this Website
The oral McLaran family history passed on by my mother's family contained just a few stories, such as the 1864 voyage of the Flying Cloud and the heroics of my great-grandmother, Clara Eversden. Clara’s eldest son, Duncan, related second-hand tales of the 1893 Brisbane floods and treacherous bullock waggon descents of the Tollbar. My Dalby cousins were fortunate to share stories from the 19th century told by our grandfather, Malcolm Lewis McLaran (1886 – 1965) and the family memorabilia he passed on to them. Down the generations, the oral family history has been beset with compounding errors, misunderstandings and many deliberate omissions. And the Scottish history of the family has been lost or forgotten. |
The Flying Cloud
1907 Malcolm Lewis McLaran (1886 – 1965)
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My Approach
The majority of the articles in the website are direct from newspapers or archives. They are self-explanatory and generally require few comments.
I have written various introductory passages, comments, some Q & A sections throughout most pages, along with several obituaries when newspapers of the time have been unavailable, or the obituaries considered to be inadequate. They are my own views of the events and hopefully they assist the reader understand the living conditions and attitudes of the times. Should you disagree with or are able to add to my comments, please let me know. Your input is always welcome.
If you have any images relevant to this site which you would like to share with Malcolm McLaran’s descendants, please send them to me.
Readers of this website will have various levels of knowledge (and, dare I say, misunderstanding) about McLaran family history. The history has been presented in an informal manner, all information - readily available to the public - is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but I am happy to be corrected.
The majority of the articles in the website are direct from newspapers or archives. They are self-explanatory and generally require few comments.
I have written various introductory passages, comments, some Q & A sections throughout most pages, along with several obituaries when newspapers of the time have been unavailable, or the obituaries considered to be inadequate. They are my own views of the events and hopefully they assist the reader understand the living conditions and attitudes of the times. Should you disagree with or are able to add to my comments, please let me know. Your input is always welcome.
If you have any images relevant to this site which you would like to share with Malcolm McLaran’s descendants, please send them to me.
Readers of this website will have various levels of knowledge (and, dare I say, misunderstanding) about McLaran family history. The history has been presented in an informal manner, all information - readily available to the public - is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but I am happy to be corrected.
Acknowledgment of Assistance
This website would not have been possible without the generous assistance, resources, input, and encouragement of the following people:
This website would not have been possible without the generous assistance, resources, input, and encouragement of the following people:
- my sister Leigh.
- second cousin Veronica and her family.
- my ever-patient wife and sons.
- a local Ryder family historian.
- Dale Lehner for her inspirational work on Kupunn.
- Angus Martin, Southend and Campbeltown historian and author. Angus, you are a legend!
- third cousin Marilyn (unrelated to the McLarans).