Oral History of Donald McLaran's Family
'Travels with Herodotus'
This entertaining book about Herodotus, the first historian c. 450 BC, by Polish historian / reporter Ryzard Pakuscinski, has a paragraph which aptly describes the inherent problems of oral history:
So Herodotus wanders the world, meets people, listens to what they tell him. They speak of who they are, they recount their history. But how do they know who they are, and where they came from? Ah, they answer, they have it on the word of others - first and foremost, from their ancestors. It is they who transmitted their knowledge to this generation, just as this one is now transmitting it to others.
The knowledge takes the form of various tales. People sit around the fire and tell stories. Later, these will be called legends and myths, but in the instant when they are first being related and heard, the tellers and the listeners believe in them as the holiest of truths, absolute reality. They listen, the fire burns, someone adds more wood, the flames' renewed warmth quickens thought, awakens the imagination.....
So it seems to be with some of our McLaran Family oral history. Often there is a germ of truth in the story, but the era, the characters involved and the place may have been changed.
This entertaining book about Herodotus, the first historian c. 450 BC, by Polish historian / reporter Ryzard Pakuscinski, has a paragraph which aptly describes the inherent problems of oral history:
So Herodotus wanders the world, meets people, listens to what they tell him. They speak of who they are, they recount their history. But how do they know who they are, and where they came from? Ah, they answer, they have it on the word of others - first and foremost, from their ancestors. It is they who transmitted their knowledge to this generation, just as this one is now transmitting it to others.
The knowledge takes the form of various tales. People sit around the fire and tell stories. Later, these will be called legends and myths, but in the instant when they are first being related and heard, the tellers and the listeners believe in them as the holiest of truths, absolute reality. They listen, the fire burns, someone adds more wood, the flames' renewed warmth quickens thought, awakens the imagination.....
So it seems to be with some of our McLaran Family oral history. Often there is a germ of truth in the story, but the era, the characters involved and the place may have been changed.
Oral history Example #1
Malcolm Lewis McLaran (1886 - 1965) related tales of meeting Captain Thunderbolt in Dalby
However, Captain Thunderbolt died in 1870 and an account of his visit to Dalby in 1864 appeared in the Dalby Herald, 4 Apr 1924:
The new Plough Inn gained a imputation as the "toff" hotel of Daiby, its deep morticed stumps may still be seen, and one at least of its decorated fence posts, while at the path-side is the slab of stone that formed its entrance. Behind the Plough inn, in Bunya street, an opposition hostelry raised its head in the form of the "Red Lion." The whole of this corner, then known as the "Old Corner," passed subsequently into the hands of the R.C. Church, and was used for some years as the convent.
A story is told of Walker, the bushranger (known as Thunderbolt), appearing like an apparition at the door of the hall, which was in charge of Jim Milford, during the progress of a dance, and armed, cap-a-pie, Walker demanded to have the M.C. (Mr. Eastaughffe), sent out to him and ordered him to hand over bottles of brandy to the freebooter. If true, the story adds a tinge of romance to the Old Corner.
Comment: It appears that at some point the story of the famous bushranger has been transformed radically. A recent discovery revealed that Eastaughffe and Thunderbolt were old acquaintances. James Milford was Malcolm Lewis McLaran's uncle and obviously the incident occurred 22 years before Malcolm was born.
Malcolm Lewis McLaran (1886 - 1965) related tales of meeting Captain Thunderbolt in Dalby
However, Captain Thunderbolt died in 1870 and an account of his visit to Dalby in 1864 appeared in the Dalby Herald, 4 Apr 1924:
The new Plough Inn gained a imputation as the "toff" hotel of Daiby, its deep morticed stumps may still be seen, and one at least of its decorated fence posts, while at the path-side is the slab of stone that formed its entrance. Behind the Plough inn, in Bunya street, an opposition hostelry raised its head in the form of the "Red Lion." The whole of this corner, then known as the "Old Corner," passed subsequently into the hands of the R.C. Church, and was used for some years as the convent.
A story is told of Walker, the bushranger (known as Thunderbolt), appearing like an apparition at the door of the hall, which was in charge of Jim Milford, during the progress of a dance, and armed, cap-a-pie, Walker demanded to have the M.C. (Mr. Eastaughffe), sent out to him and ordered him to hand over bottles of brandy to the freebooter. If true, the story adds a tinge of romance to the Old Corner.
Comment: It appears that at some point the story of the famous bushranger has been transformed radically. A recent discovery revealed that Eastaughffe and Thunderbolt were old acquaintances. James Milford was Malcolm Lewis McLaran's uncle and obviously the incident occurred 22 years before Malcolm was born.
Oral history Example #2
Donald McLaran married twice. He had 2 children by his first wife.
This oral history passed on by my aunt was recorded in "In Search of Dad's Country" by Dale Lehner in 2004.
There is no Queensland record of:
Comment: However, Donald's sister Catherine married twice and SHE had 2 children by her first marriage.
Donald McLaran married twice. He had 2 children by his first wife.
This oral history passed on by my aunt was recorded in "In Search of Dad's Country" by Dale Lehner in 2004.
There is no Queensland record of:
- Donald McLaran marrying prior to 1879
- births or deaths of children fathered by Donald McLaran with a mother other than Clara Eversden.
Comment: However, Donald's sister Catherine married twice and SHE had 2 children by her first marriage.
Oral history Example #3
Donald McLaran worked as a miner in North Queensland.
This oral history from my aunt was recorded in an interview by Dale Lehner.
In the court case McLaran Vs Wuth, Donald McLaran stated he was absent from Dalby for 2 years between 1864 and 1866. The Gympie goldfields were discovered in 1867 and the Charters Towers field in 1877. If Donald did try his luck at mining 1864 - 66, it would most likely have been in Victoria. From the frequency Donald is mentioned in the Dalby Herald after 1866, it appears unlikely he was absent from Dalby for any extended period of time thereafter.
Comment: Donald was skilled in well construction and there may well be some truth in this oral history. Donald's sister, Margaret McLaren, died on a property near the Clermont gold field.
Donald McLaran worked as a miner in North Queensland.
This oral history from my aunt was recorded in an interview by Dale Lehner.
In the court case McLaran Vs Wuth, Donald McLaran stated he was absent from Dalby for 2 years between 1864 and 1866. The Gympie goldfields were discovered in 1867 and the Charters Towers field in 1877. If Donald did try his luck at mining 1864 - 66, it would most likely have been in Victoria. From the frequency Donald is mentioned in the Dalby Herald after 1866, it appears unlikely he was absent from Dalby for any extended period of time thereafter.
Comment: Donald was skilled in well construction and there may well be some truth in this oral history. Donald's sister, Margaret McLaren, died on a property near the Clermont gold field.
Oral history Example #4
Donald McLaran spelt his name ending in "an" to avoid confusion at the post office with his brother Duncan McLaren.
This oral history is from a grand-uncle's family.
The story relates that Donald and Duncan used different surname spellings to avoid Post Office confusion. This may very well be the truth, or it may be a long-standing joke to hide an error of spelling or transcription. Evidence of this spelling divergence may be found in 1857 when Donald and Duncan both purchased Dalby building allotments. Perhaps the purchases initiated the different spellings.
Donald McLaran spelt his name ending in "an" to avoid confusion at the post office with his brother Duncan McLaren.
This oral history is from a grand-uncle's family.
The story relates that Donald and Duncan used different surname spellings to avoid Post Office confusion. This may very well be the truth, or it may be a long-standing joke to hide an error of spelling or transcription. Evidence of this spelling divergence may be found in 1857 when Donald and Duncan both purchased Dalby building allotments. Perhaps the purchases initiated the different spellings.