Apologies - it's the only photograph of Donald available, taken 20 years after his marriage at age 66 .....
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Donald McLaran
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Donald was Malcolm McLaran's eldest immigrant son. He was born at Feorlin on 9 Aug 1833 and remained a bachelor until he married in January 1879.
Donald McLaran's story between his birth and his marriage aged 46 years is not easy to uncover. He would have passed on some details of his early years to his wife and family. But he was much older than they and passed away when many of his children were quite young. Very few stories of Donald's life have been passed down via older generations in my family. There are a few vague mentions of disputes between McLarans and McLennans, but little of substance can be uncovered today.
Scotland's People, UK Census, Trove and the Queensland State Archives provide glimpses into Donald's first 46 years. Some gaps remain in his story, but a good impression of Donald's bachelor years* has emerged.
The 8 pages about young(er) Donald's exploits linked to this one portray a self-sufficient young man, struggling to further his personal wealth and standing in the community, intent on having a good time along the way and not prepared to be unfairly treated 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. It is conjecture how Donald came to marry an attractive lass 22 years his junior, and 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.
* My aunt advised historian Dale Lehner that Donald had been married twice and had 2 children by his first wife. There is no evidence Donald married prior to 1879. Perhaps she confused Donald with his sister Catherine, who married twice and had 2 children by her first husband.
Scotland's People, UK Census, Trove and the Queensland State Archives provide glimpses into Donald's first 46 years. Some gaps remain in his story, but a good impression of Donald's bachelor years* has emerged.
The 8 pages about young(er) Donald's exploits linked to this one portray a self-sufficient young man, struggling to further his personal wealth and standing in the community, intent on having a good time along the way and not prepared to be unfairly treated 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. It is conjecture how Donald came to marry an attractive lass 22 years his junior, and 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.
* My aunt advised historian Dale Lehner that Donald had been married twice and had 2 children by his first wife. There is no evidence Donald married prior to 1879. Perhaps she confused Donald with his sister Catherine, who married twice and had 2 children by her first husband.
Here is a brief summary of the major events in Donald McLaran's life between 1833 and 1879:
Follow the links to other pages about Donald's activities.
** My aunt also advised Dale Lehner that Donald carried out mining activities in North Queensland. The time of the development of North Queensland mining does not correspond with the only time in Donald's time in Queensland (1863- 66) when he did not reside in the Dalby area.
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 has yet to yield a record of Donald living in Argyle. He may have been employed on a farm in the Campbeltown - Southend parishes. Donald named his second selection in Australia "Kilkevan", so it is possible he was employed at Kilkivan farm (he was a poor speller) near Machrihanish in Campbeltown Parish. His brother Duncan and his parents lived in the same parish at this time, Duncan worked at the nearby High Lossit.
- 1853 Donald (19) emigrated to Moreton Bay on the America with his father, his step-mother and 4 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 diagonally opposite the Plough Inn, which was then the centre of the township. With 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 a mystery to be resolved. 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 Donalds'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 made his first grazing property selection, 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 an incident involving 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.
** My aunt also advised Dale Lehner that Donald carried out mining activities in North Queensland. The time of the development of North Queensland mining does not correspond with the only time in Donald's time in Queensland (1863- 66) when he did not reside in the Dalby area.
This 1876 trespassing charge shows that Donald undertook activities away from Frogmore, on this occasion he stretched the limits of the law.
1873 Change to Livestock Brands
Due to the increase in population and livestock numbers, the Queensland Government decreed that all registered brands needed to incorporate at least 2 letters and 1 number.
Pugh's Almanac recorded the brands for both Donald (DL3) and his future wife, Clara Eversden (CE5).
Due to the increase in population and livestock numbers, the Queensland Government decreed that all registered brands needed to incorporate at least 2 letters and 1 number.
Pugh's Almanac recorded the brands for both Donald (DL3) and his future wife, Clara Eversden (CE5).
1862 Map: Surat to Brisbane and Macalister to Yandilla.
This map shows how undeveloped the countryside was in the early 1860's.
Note: track north from Dalby to Jimbour passing by Frogmore;
the sheer isolation of Tartha on the "Mooni" River, 2 years before the arrival there of Clara Eversden.
This map shows how undeveloped the countryside was in the early 1860's.
Note: track north from Dalby to Jimbour passing by Frogmore;
the sheer isolation of Tartha on the "Mooni" River, 2 years before the arrival there of Clara Eversden.
Q & A: Questions and (possible) Answers:
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 at the time of 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 at the time of 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.
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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. 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. Did Donald have 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 in Southend owned by the Duke of Argyle became privately owned in the 1920's but the breaking up of the Duke's estates remain contentious to this day. ** Selector was owned by a Mr J Clarke when awarded champion stallion status. Q7. Can we gain any insights into Donald's personality from his signature? A7. Donald's bold signature was consistent over many years. The backward slope suggests he was left handed, as was his son Malcolm Lewis McLaran. One Indian 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." The 1900 newspaper account of his daughter's Sophia's wedding day (yet to be released) will show that Parmeet is, in this instance, on the money! |