Rochedale Station c. 1890.
Margaret McLaren 1838 - 1874
ON THIS PAGE - Major events in Margaret's life in chronological order.
SUBPAGES - 6 subpages, and other pages relevant to her story, may be accessed via links in the following summary.
SUBPAGES - 6 subpages, and other pages relevant to her story, may be accessed via links in the following summary.
Summary of major events in the lives of Margaret McLaren, her husband Denis Sullivan, and their family 1852 - 1956
- 1852 - 1854 Approximate date of arrival of Denis Sullivan in Australia.
- 1853 Arrival of the America and the McLaren family at Moreton Bay.
- 3 Mar 1855 The first McLaren wedding in Australia: Denis Sullivan (24) and Margaret McLaren (17) were married in the Ipswich Catholic Church.
- 1856 The first Australian-born descendant of Malcolm McLaran, Helen (Ellen) Sullivan was born at Weranga Station, west of Dalby.
- 10 Nov 1858 Birth of John Sullivan, second child and only son of Denis Sullivan and Margaret McLaren, at Dalby.
- 11 Jul 1861 Birth of Margaret Catherine Sullivan.
- 1862 Approximate year of John Sullivan's death.
- Jul 1863 Margaret McLaren laid charges against Denis Sullivan in Ipswich.
- 25 Feb 1864 Birth of Agnes Sullivan, at Dalby.
- 1868 Margaret and Denis appeared in court in Rockhampton.
- 1870 Margaret appeared in court in Rockhampton.
- 1871 Around this time Margaret McLaren moved to the Clermont area and may have bigamously "married" James Hurley.
- Apr 1874 Helen (Ellen) Sullivan laid paternity charges against an Alexander McLaren in Dalby courthouse.
- Jul 1874 Death of Margaret McLaren in childbirth at Retro Station. Daniel James McLaren was born.
- 1881 Death of Helen (Ellen) Sullivan at Broadmere Station, Taroom.
- 1904 Committal of Denis Sullivan to Goodna Mental hospital for the insane.
- 1906 Death of Agnes Sullivan at Emerald.
- 1912 Death of James Hurley, father of Daniel James McLaren, in Clermont.
- 1914 Death of Denis Sullivan at Goodna, having outlived his wife Margaret by 40 years.
- Jul 1950 Death of Margaret Catherine Sullivan at Roma.
- Aug 1956 Death of Mary Jane Sullivan, only surviving child of Helen (Ellen) Sullivan, in Sydney.
Margaret McLaren was 15 years of age when the family arrived in Moreton Bay.
Margaret's 21 years in Queensland were not happy ones. She had a difficult life and an early death. Readers who follow the entire story of her family on this and the other six pages will gain an insight into her struggles and the success that followed for her descendants.
Soon after arriving in Moreton Bay, Margaret moved to the Dalby district where she may have met for the first time her future husband. Two years later she and Denis Sullivan married in Ipswich. It was a rocky union which lasted around 15 years. They had one son and three daughters.
Margaret and Denis lived and worked at various cattle stations in the Dalby and Theodore districts (Weranga, Rochedale) and drifted further north in the late 1860's to Gogango and Rockhampton - perhaps separately, but never far apart. It appears they had meagre resources. Their three surviving daughters displayed astounding determination and survival instincts to build fresh lives for themselves free from the influence of their parents.
It appears that Margaret and Denis were still legally married, but living separate lives, when Margaret died in childbirth in 1874.
The movements of the Sullivans and their children between 1870 and 1874 is unclear. However, Margaret had moved to the Clermont area (near the goldfields) by 1873 and was living at Retro Station. Denis Sullivan's movements between 1868 and 1904 are unknown.
Denis Sullivan's exact arrival date in the colony is yet to be determined. It is possible he entered as a sailor, even perhaps aboard the America alongside the McLarens. The information on his 1914 death certificate supplied by daughter Margaret Sullivan stated he had been in Queensland for 60 years, since 1854, which is indeed very close to the 1853 arrival of the America.
Margaret's 21 years in Queensland were not happy ones. She had a difficult life and an early death. Readers who follow the entire story of her family on this and the other six pages will gain an insight into her struggles and the success that followed for her descendants.
Soon after arriving in Moreton Bay, Margaret moved to the Dalby district where she may have met for the first time her future husband. Two years later she and Denis Sullivan married in Ipswich. It was a rocky union which lasted around 15 years. They had one son and three daughters.
Margaret and Denis lived and worked at various cattle stations in the Dalby and Theodore districts (Weranga, Rochedale) and drifted further north in the late 1860's to Gogango and Rockhampton - perhaps separately, but never far apart. It appears they had meagre resources. Their three surviving daughters displayed astounding determination and survival instincts to build fresh lives for themselves free from the influence of their parents.
It appears that Margaret and Denis were still legally married, but living separate lives, when Margaret died in childbirth in 1874.
The movements of the Sullivans and their children between 1870 and 1874 is unclear. However, Margaret had moved to the Clermont area (near the goldfields) by 1873 and was living at Retro Station. Denis Sullivan's movements between 1868 and 1904 are unknown.
Denis Sullivan's exact arrival date in the colony is yet to be determined. It is possible he entered as a sailor, even perhaps aboard the America alongside the McLarens. The information on his 1914 death certificate supplied by daughter Margaret Sullivan stated he had been in Queensland for 60 years, since 1854, which is indeed very close to the 1853 arrival of the America.
3 Mar 1855 The first McLaren wedding in Australia
Denis Sullivan (24) and Margaret McLaren (17) were married in the Catholic Church at Ipswich.
Comment
In 1855, Ipswich was probably the home of Malcolm McLaran, his wife Jane and their son Alexander. Denis Sullivan and Margaret McLaren were employees of Weranga Station, situated near the Moonie River headwaters, west of Daandine and Greenbank Stations, near today's Tara.
Denis Sullivan (24) and Margaret McLaren (17) were married in the Catholic Church at Ipswich.
Comment
In 1855, Ipswich was probably the home of Malcolm McLaran, his wife Jane and their son Alexander. Denis Sullivan and Margaret McLaren were employees of Weranga Station, situated near the Moonie River headwaters, west of Daandine and Greenbank Stations, near today's Tara.
Margaret McLaren's Children
Margaret McLaren had (at least) five children, four fathered by Denis Sullivan and her final child by James Hurley.
Her first son, John, died between the birth of her daughter Margaret (1861) and her Ipswich court appearance in Jul 1863, but there is no record of his death. He may have died in the Taroom area.
There is no record of the fate of Daniel - one of the few remaining mysteries of the McLaren family to be resolved.
Margaret McLaren had (at least) five children, four fathered by Denis Sullivan and her final child by James Hurley.
Her first son, John, died between the birth of her daughter Margaret (1861) and her Ipswich court appearance in Jul 1863, but there is no record of his death. He may have died in the Taroom area.
There is no record of the fate of Daniel - one of the few remaining mysteries of the McLaren family to be resolved.
1850s Weranga photo gallery
Photo 1: Weranga map
Photo 2: Weranga Advertisement
Photo 3: 1855 Sullivan - McLaren wedding certificate
Photo 1: Weranga map
Photo 2: Weranga Advertisement
Photo 3: 1855 Sullivan - McLaren wedding certificate
23 Jul 1874 Death of Margaret McLaren and birth of Daniel James McLaren
Margaret McLaren was living at Retro Station near Clermont when she gave birth to Daniel. She died in childbirth after a 10 hour labour and was buried in Clermont Cemetery.
Daniel’s father was James Hurley, a labourer at Retro Station. See Daniel's page for more information on James Hurley.
Margaret McLaren was living at Retro Station near Clermont when she gave birth to Daniel. She died in childbirth after a 10 hour labour and was buried in Clermont Cemetery.
Daniel’s father was James Hurley, a labourer at Retro Station. See Daniel's page for more information on James Hurley.
1870s Clermont photo gallery
Photo 1: 1873 Main street Clermont
Photo 2: Retro Station 15 years after the death of Margaret
Photo 3: Margaret McLaren's death certificate - part 1
Photo 4: Margaret McLaren's death certificate - part 2
Photo 5: Clermont Museum - stories of Clermont in the early 1870s
Photo 1: 1873 Main street Clermont
Photo 2: Retro Station 15 years after the death of Margaret
Photo 3: Margaret McLaren's death certificate - part 1
Photo 4: Margaret McLaren's death certificate - part 2
Photo 5: Clermont Museum - stories of Clermont in the early 1870s
Questions and (possible) Answers:
Q1. On Margaret's death certificate, why was her father named as "Alexander McLaren"?
A1. Helen (Ellen) Sullivan was living in Dalby and it reasonable to assume the information for the certificate was provided by the illiterate James Hurley. The name "Alexander" may have been foremost in his mind after Ellen's recent paternity battle in Dalby against Alexander McLaren. It is unlikely that Margaret's daughters, Margaret and Agnes, were living at Retro.
Q2. Why was a deceased daughter recorded on the certificate?
A2. Margaret certainly had opportunity to have an extra child in the seven years between Agnes and Daniel. It may be an error or perhaps James Hurley believed Margaret's deceased child was a female, not a male.
Q3. Why was the birth of Daniel James McLaren not recorded on Margaret's death certificate?
A3. Perhaps Daniel died at the same time (but there is no death certificate) and he was the "1 dead male" and John Sullivan was recorded as female by mistake. It is most likely that the information was provided by James Hurley and he may not have been in possession of accurate or complete facts.
Q4. Why was Margaret listed as "not married"?
A5. Refer Daniel McLaren's page for possible answers.
Q5. Who was James Hurley?
A5. See Daniel McLaren.
Q6. Why were daughters, Margaret's and Agnes's ages in error by several years?
A6. Ellen's age was correctly recorded so it appears whoever provided the information was not well versed with the other two daughters.
Q7. Were Margaret and Agnes living at Retro?
A7. The questions and (possible) answers above support the idea that Margaret and Agnes were not living with their mother at Retro and thus James Hurley was unable to provide accurate birth and death details about Margaret's family for her death certificate.
Q8. How would Margaret have travelled to Retro?
A8. By horse or foot along the route below from 1867 Pugh's Almanac.
Q1. On Margaret's death certificate, why was her father named as "Alexander McLaren"?
A1. Helen (Ellen) Sullivan was living in Dalby and it reasonable to assume the information for the certificate was provided by the illiterate James Hurley. The name "Alexander" may have been foremost in his mind after Ellen's recent paternity battle in Dalby against Alexander McLaren. It is unlikely that Margaret's daughters, Margaret and Agnes, were living at Retro.
Q2. Why was a deceased daughter recorded on the certificate?
A2. Margaret certainly had opportunity to have an extra child in the seven years between Agnes and Daniel. It may be an error or perhaps James Hurley believed Margaret's deceased child was a female, not a male.
Q3. Why was the birth of Daniel James McLaren not recorded on Margaret's death certificate?
A3. Perhaps Daniel died at the same time (but there is no death certificate) and he was the "1 dead male" and John Sullivan was recorded as female by mistake. It is most likely that the information was provided by James Hurley and he may not have been in possession of accurate or complete facts.
Q4. Why was Margaret listed as "not married"?
A5. Refer Daniel McLaren's page for possible answers.
Q5. Who was James Hurley?
A5. See Daniel McLaren.
Q6. Why were daughters, Margaret's and Agnes's ages in error by several years?
A6. Ellen's age was correctly recorded so it appears whoever provided the information was not well versed with the other two daughters.
Q7. Were Margaret and Agnes living at Retro?
A7. The questions and (possible) answers above support the idea that Margaret and Agnes were not living with their mother at Retro and thus James Hurley was unable to provide accurate birth and death details about Margaret's family for her death certificate.
Q8. How would Margaret have travelled to Retro?
A8. By horse or foot along the route below from 1867 Pugh's Almanac.
1867 Pugh's Almanac : travel information Rockhampton to the Peak Downs Diggings.
Note the mention of Skardon's Inn at Retro and "Hurley's Rush" north west of Clermont - a coincidental name, the initial discovery was not made by James Hurley.
Note the mention of Skardon's Inn at Retro and "Hurley's Rush" north west of Clermont - a coincidental name, the initial discovery was not made by James Hurley.
The Legacy of Duncan McLaren
COMMENT
What was Margaret McLaren's legacy? Margaret's three daughters and nine surviving grandchildren (out of 13) provided a base for a large contingent of Sullivan - McLaren descendants. The Sullivan family name did not survive as the only son John died in childhood. The fate of Margaret's son Daniel, and perhaps a lost family of McLaren descendants, remains a mystery waiting to be solved. But one fact is inescapable: Margaret's descendants inherited an ability to survive.
One prominent grandchild of Margaret McLaren's was Agnes's son, George Twine (1891 - 1936). George was a brilliant metallurgist who played a vital role in explosives in England during World War 1. On his return to Queensland, he became the manager of Queensland Cement and Lime Co. and a member of the Great Barrier Reef Committee.
COMMENT
What was Margaret McLaren's legacy? Margaret's three daughters and nine surviving grandchildren (out of 13) provided a base for a large contingent of Sullivan - McLaren descendants. The Sullivan family name did not survive as the only son John died in childhood. The fate of Margaret's son Daniel, and perhaps a lost family of McLaren descendants, remains a mystery waiting to be solved. But one fact is inescapable: Margaret's descendants inherited an ability to survive.
One prominent grandchild of Margaret McLaren's was Agnes's son, George Twine (1891 - 1936). George was a brilliant metallurgist who played a vital role in explosives in England during World War 1. On his return to Queensland, he became the manager of Queensland Cement and Lime Co. and a member of the Great Barrier Reef Committee.