Margaret Brown
#250, (14 May 1818-22 May 1874)
| Father | John Brown (c 1790-13 Feb 1863) |
| Mother | Margaret Miller (c 1790-1887) |
| Charts | Brown family - descendants Miller Family (Scotland) - descendants Nicholson Family 1 - descendants Mike Hill - ancestors Four generations |
| Last Edited | 1 Jan 2023 |
| Biographical Database of Australia ID: | B#10033214101. |
| WikiTree ID: | https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brown-121158. |
NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
Margaret was born on Thursday, 14 May 1818 at Stirling.1,2,3 She was the daughter of John Brown and Margaret Miller.
At the age of 20 Margaret emigrated from Liverpool on 28 February 1839 on the 'Heber' with her parents and siblings. The ship embarked with 178 emmigrants. The family was brought out by Donald McIntyre of Invermein, one of a number of private Scottish emigrant operators who had settled in Australia - he brought out 57 emigrants on the 'Heber', nearly all country people from the Highlands; shepherds and labourers and their families.4,5,6,7,8 After a voyage of nearly 6 months Margaret arrived at Botany Bay, New South Wales, on 27 July 1839 with her parents and siblings. The ship's first port of call had been the Cape of Good Hope, where they embarked a further two passengers. They left the Cape on the 28th of May 1839. The trip was not without tragedy; 5 children died on the voyage.5,9,4
Margaret lived in March 1841 at Parramatta, New South Wales. Donald, her future husband was also residing in Parramatta at this time. He was to remain a carpenter and joiner for all of his working life.10
She married Donald Nicholson, a Scottish carpenter trained as a boatbuilder, son of Donald Nicholson and Mary Margaret MacDougall, in a Presbyterian ceremony at Free Presbyterian Church in Pitt Street on Friday, 19 March 1841 at Sydney. She was 22 and her husband Donald was 29. It isn't known how they met but perhaps it was through Donald's work. After their marriage Donald and Margaret lived in Parramatta at least until the start of the new year. And Thomas MacKenzie. Others who may have attended the wedding include Margaret Miller as mother of the bride and John Brown as father of the bride. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Fanny Nicholson, Jessie Brown, John Brown, Alexander Brown, Agnes Brown, Donald Brown and Frances Cameron Ross Brown. Together they were to go on to have 10 children over 18 years.10
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Chalmers and Jessie Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Monday, 7 June 1841 at Sydney. John and Jessie went on to have four known children together.11
Margaret, aged 23 and Donald Nicholson, aged 29 became the parents of Malcom Nicholson on Thursday, 30 December 1841 at Parramatta, NSW.12
Margaret's child Malcom received his baptism at St. John's on Sunday, 2 January 1842 at Parramatta, New South Wales. Presbyterian. This seems to be the first baptism of the year in the church.13
Margaret's child James received his baptism at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Friday, 5 May 1843 at Sydney.14
Within two years of their marriage, Donald and Margaret's growing family had moved to Balmain. Also in Balmain were Margaret's family and their growing families.15 Margaret and Donald lived in 1844 at at Waterview Bay in the Sydney suburb of Balmain. Waterview Bay (now called Mort Bay) is an area of Balmain where a few boat builders had established small businesses along the waterfront. There is a Nicholson Street, leading down to the edge of this bay in East Balmain that has been there since the 1880's at least.15
Margaret's child Donald received his baptism on Wednesday, 5 August 1846 at Sydney.16
Another two years found them in the Yass district at Archibald MacCallum's "Good-Hope" homestead. They became close to this family in some way, naming their daughter Susannah after the MacCallums recently died teenage daughter (and later Susannah was to also name her children after this family too).17
Margaret's child John received his baptism at Bungonia on Tuesday, 30 May 1848 at Goulburn, New South Wales. i.17
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Cameron and Agnes Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Thursday, 31 August 1848 at Sydney. John and Agnes went on to have nine known children together.18
Margaret and Donald lived in June 1850 at the NSW country town of Bowning, New South Wales.
Margaret's child Susannah received her baptism on Sunday, 16 June 1850 at Yass, New South Wales.19
She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Alexander Brown and Mary Ann MacKenzie at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Fort Street on Tuesday, 10 August 1852 at Sydney. Mary and Alexander went on to have 12 known children together.20,21
Margaret's child Mary received her baptism on Sunday, 10 October 1852 at Yass, New South Wales. She was baptised in a Presbyterian ceremony.22 Margaret and Donald lived in October 1852 at Yass, New South Wales.
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Robert Grigg and Frances Cameron Ross Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Thursday, 16 November 1854 at Sydney. Robert and Frances went on to have five known children together.23
Margaret's child Charles received his baptism on Sunday, 18 February 1855 at Yass, New South Wales.24
She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Donald Brown and Charlotte Whyte at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Saturday, 24 February 1855 at Sydney. Charlotte and Donald went on to have nine known children together.25
Margaret's child Frances received her baptism on Saturday, 21 March 1857 at Yass, New South Wales. It is unusual that she was baptised as Church of England - the other children of Donald & Margaret were baptised as Presbyterians.26 They remained in this district, later at Bowning.27 Margaret and Donald lived in January 1859 at Limestone Creek, in the district of Yass, New South Wales.28
Her father died 13 February 1863 at the approximate age of 73. Margaret was aged 44 when this happened. Margaret and Donald lived in October 1865 at South Lead, in Forbes, New South Wales. Donald and Margaret were to remain residents of the town for at least three years.29
Margaret, as the mother of the bride, along with Donald almost certainly attended the wedding of Margaret and Hugh Joseph Sutherland, a wheelwright from Scotland, in a Wesleyan ceremony at the house of Donald Nicholson on Tuesday, 31 October 1865 at Forbes, New South Wales. Although not the oldest child, she was the first to be married - she also seems to have understated her age by as much as two years.. Others who may have attended include and Hector Hugh Sutherland as father of the groom. Margaret and Hugh went on to have nine children together.30
Margaret provided information for the birth of Frederick Hilton William Nicholson, on 13 October 1870 at Forbes, New South Wales, at the age of 52. This first child of Susannah's, born when she was 20, was illegitimate - the father's name was not stated on the birth certificate. Her mother Margaret was present at the birth.31 Margaret Brown and Donald Nicholson moved with their younger children to Bushman's Lead, New South Wales, in 1871. They made the move just after gold had been discovered, when the town 'consisted of a butcher's shop, a bakery and a few houses which the hardy pioneers had constructed from the timber around them.32,33' By the middle of 1871, Donald and Margaret's son Donald had moved to Sydney, and had there married Annie Smyth in a Church of England ceremony. Two months later another son, James, married Lydia Hosnell in Bathurst in a Roman Catholic ceremony.34,35
Margaret, as the mother of the groom, along with Donald may have attended the wedding of James and Lydia Horsnell at St. Michaels and St. Johns Catholic Cathedral on Sunday, 20 August 1871 at Bathurst, New South Wales. James was 28 and his wife Lydia was 18. Lydia was ten years younger than James... Others who may have attended include . James and Lydia went on to have 12 known children together.36 Margaret and Donald lived in September 1872 at Bushman's Lead, New South Wales.32
Margaret, as the mother of the bride, along with Donald may have attended the wedding of Mary and Henry Olliver, a local blacksmith, in a Presbyterian ceremony at her father's house on Sunday, 8 September 1872 at Bushman's Lead, New South Wales. Mary was 20 and her husband Henry was 21.. And William Olliver as father of the groom. Mary and Henry went on to have 10 children together.32 In early may she suferred an accident whilst riding in a spring cart.37
Margaret died on 22 May 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales, at age 56 of heart disease.38 Margaret's death would have been about the time that their daughter Susannah found out she was pregnant again - and still unmarried. Her body was interred at Goobang Creek cemetery on 24 May 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales.38
Margaret was written about in an obituary: on 30 May 1874:
+ + + + + + + + + +
Margaret was born on Thursday, 14 May 1818 at Stirling.1,2,3 She was the daughter of John Brown and Margaret Miller.
At the age of 20 Margaret emigrated from Liverpool on 28 February 1839 on the 'Heber' with her parents and siblings. The ship embarked with 178 emmigrants. The family was brought out by Donald McIntyre of Invermein, one of a number of private Scottish emigrant operators who had settled in Australia - he brought out 57 emigrants on the 'Heber', nearly all country people from the Highlands; shepherds and labourers and their families.4,5,6,7,8 After a voyage of nearly 6 months Margaret arrived at Botany Bay, New South Wales, on 27 July 1839 with her parents and siblings. The ship's first port of call had been the Cape of Good Hope, where they embarked a further two passengers. They left the Cape on the 28th of May 1839. The trip was not without tragedy; 5 children died on the voyage.5,9,4
Margaret lived in March 1841 at Parramatta, New South Wales. Donald, her future husband was also residing in Parramatta at this time. He was to remain a carpenter and joiner for all of his working life.10
She married Donald Nicholson, a Scottish carpenter trained as a boatbuilder, son of Donald Nicholson and Mary Margaret MacDougall, in a Presbyterian ceremony at Free Presbyterian Church in Pitt Street on Friday, 19 March 1841 at Sydney. She was 22 and her husband Donald was 29. It isn't known how they met but perhaps it was through Donald's work. After their marriage Donald and Margaret lived in Parramatta at least until the start of the new year. And Thomas MacKenzie. Others who may have attended the wedding include Margaret Miller as mother of the bride and John Brown as father of the bride. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Fanny Nicholson, Jessie Brown, John Brown, Alexander Brown, Agnes Brown, Donald Brown and Frances Cameron Ross Brown. Together they were to go on to have 10 children over 18 years.10
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Chalmers and Jessie Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Monday, 7 June 1841 at Sydney. John and Jessie went on to have four known children together.11
Margaret, aged 23 and Donald Nicholson, aged 29 became the parents of Malcom Nicholson on Thursday, 30 December 1841 at Parramatta, NSW.12
Margaret's child Malcom received his baptism at St. John's on Sunday, 2 January 1842 at Parramatta, New South Wales. Presbyterian. This seems to be the first baptism of the year in the church.13
Margaret's child James received his baptism at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Friday, 5 May 1843 at Sydney.14
Within two years of their marriage, Donald and Margaret's growing family had moved to Balmain. Also in Balmain were Margaret's family and their growing families.15 Margaret and Donald lived in 1844 at at Waterview Bay in the Sydney suburb of Balmain. Waterview Bay (now called Mort Bay) is an area of Balmain where a few boat builders had established small businesses along the waterfront. There is a Nicholson Street, leading down to the edge of this bay in East Balmain that has been there since the 1880's at least.15
Margaret's child Donald received his baptism on Wednesday, 5 August 1846 at Sydney.16
Another two years found them in the Yass district at Archibald MacCallum's "Good-Hope" homestead. They became close to this family in some way, naming their daughter Susannah after the MacCallums recently died teenage daughter (and later Susannah was to also name her children after this family too).17
Margaret's child John received his baptism at Bungonia on Tuesday, 30 May 1848 at Goulburn, New South Wales. i.17
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Cameron and Agnes Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Thursday, 31 August 1848 at Sydney. John and Agnes went on to have nine known children together.18
Margaret and Donald lived in June 1850 at the NSW country town of Bowning, New South Wales.
Margaret's child Susannah received her baptism on Sunday, 16 June 1850 at Yass, New South Wales.19
She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Alexander Brown and Mary Ann MacKenzie at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Fort Street on Tuesday, 10 August 1852 at Sydney. Mary and Alexander went on to have 12 known children together.20,21
Margaret's child Mary received her baptism on Sunday, 10 October 1852 at Yass, New South Wales. She was baptised in a Presbyterian ceremony.22 Margaret and Donald lived in October 1852 at Yass, New South Wales.
She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Robert Grigg and Frances Cameron Ross Brown at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Thursday, 16 November 1854 at Sydney. Robert and Frances went on to have five known children together.23
Margaret's child Charles received his baptism on Sunday, 18 February 1855 at Yass, New South Wales.24
She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Donald Brown and Charlotte Whyte at St. Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church on Saturday, 24 February 1855 at Sydney. Charlotte and Donald went on to have nine known children together.25
Margaret's child Frances received her baptism on Saturday, 21 March 1857 at Yass, New South Wales. It is unusual that she was baptised as Church of England - the other children of Donald & Margaret were baptised as Presbyterians.26 They remained in this district, later at Bowning.27 Margaret and Donald lived in January 1859 at Limestone Creek, in the district of Yass, New South Wales.28
Her father died 13 February 1863 at the approximate age of 73. Margaret was aged 44 when this happened. Margaret and Donald lived in October 1865 at South Lead, in Forbes, New South Wales. Donald and Margaret were to remain residents of the town for at least three years.29
Margaret, as the mother of the bride, along with Donald almost certainly attended the wedding of Margaret and Hugh Joseph Sutherland, a wheelwright from Scotland, in a Wesleyan ceremony at the house of Donald Nicholson on Tuesday, 31 October 1865 at Forbes, New South Wales. Although not the oldest child, she was the first to be married - she also seems to have understated her age by as much as two years.. Others who may have attended include and Hector Hugh Sutherland as father of the groom. Margaret and Hugh went on to have nine children together.30
Margaret provided information for the birth of Frederick Hilton William Nicholson, on 13 October 1870 at Forbes, New South Wales, at the age of 52. This first child of Susannah's, born when she was 20, was illegitimate - the father's name was not stated on the birth certificate. Her mother Margaret was present at the birth.31 Margaret Brown and Donald Nicholson moved with their younger children to Bushman's Lead, New South Wales, in 1871. They made the move just after gold had been discovered, when the town 'consisted of a butcher's shop, a bakery and a few houses which the hardy pioneers had constructed from the timber around them.32,33' By the middle of 1871, Donald and Margaret's son Donald had moved to Sydney, and had there married Annie Smyth in a Church of England ceremony. Two months later another son, James, married Lydia Hosnell in Bathurst in a Roman Catholic ceremony.34,35
Margaret, as the mother of the groom, along with Donald may have attended the wedding of James and Lydia Horsnell at St. Michaels and St. Johns Catholic Cathedral on Sunday, 20 August 1871 at Bathurst, New South Wales. James was 28 and his wife Lydia was 18. Lydia was ten years younger than James... Others who may have attended include . James and Lydia went on to have 12 known children together.36 Margaret and Donald lived in September 1872 at Bushman's Lead, New South Wales.32
Margaret, as the mother of the bride, along with Donald may have attended the wedding of Mary and Henry Olliver, a local blacksmith, in a Presbyterian ceremony at her father's house on Sunday, 8 September 1872 at Bushman's Lead, New South Wales. Mary was 20 and her husband Henry was 21.. And William Olliver as father of the groom. Mary and Henry went on to have 10 children together.32 In early may she suferred an accident whilst riding in a spring cart.37
Margaret died on 22 May 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales, at age 56 of heart disease.38 Margaret's death would have been about the time that their daughter Susannah found out she was pregnant again - and still unmarried. Her body was interred at Goobang Creek cemetery on 24 May 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales.38
Margaret was written about in an obituary: on 30 May 1874:
"An old and respected resident, the wife of Donald Nicholson, died on Friday night. She was buried vesterday [May 24]. There was a very large funeral. She met with an accident some three weeks since, while out riding in a spring cart, from which she never completely rallied; but nothing serious was anticipated till a day or so before she died."37
Family | Donald Nicholson (12 Jan 1812-3 Nov 1899) |
| Children |
|
Citations
- [S50] Margaret Brown, "Heber."
- [S1] New South Wales, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1859 No.14301.
- [S1] New South Wales, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1857 No.12375.
- [S1358] Ancestry.com Ancestry.com, (https://www.ancestry.com/) State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314; Reel: 1302 Arrival Date: 27 Jul 1839; Vessel Name: Heber.
- [S590] The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1839 '[No heading].', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 30 July, p. 2, viewed 1 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page693767
- [S615] The Colonist, Sydney, NSW, 1839 'Shipping Intelligence.', The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), 31 July, p. 2, viewed 12 April, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31723492
- [S1296] Biographical Database of Australia Biographical Database of Australia, (https://www.bda-online.org.au/) Passenger Entitlement Certificates for persons on Bounty Ships 1838-1841
Miss Jessie Brown, Gender: F; Arrived per Heber Ship Captain: William Thomas; Arrived: 27 Jul 1839; Arrival Status: Free Passenger, at Sydney;, Embarked from: Liverpool [LAN ENG] Embarked for Australia: 28 Feb 1839; Family: Y; Marriage Status: Single; Aged: 17 years; Child; Born at [PER SCT]; Religion: Protestant; Father: John Brown, Employment: Farm Labourer; Mother: [Given name unreadable] Miller, Employment: Farm Servant; Editor's Remarks: Mother's given name torn off; Original number: 020; State Records Ref.: 4/4843 [Biog Item No. 100332135]. - [S613] Michael Watt, Descendents of Daniel Brown, April 2013, New Zealand (Tim Hill's collection, \namesBrown) p.9-10.
- [S272] Assisted Immigrants to NSW, Archives Office of NSW the 'Heber' 27 Jul 1839.
- [S21] Parish Registers for Scot's Church Sydney, 1788-1856 Vol. 75 entry 932.
- [S245] Parish Registers for Sydney, 1788-1856 Marriages - County of Cumberland 1841 Vol.75 No.960.
- [S65] Parish Registers for St. John's Parramatta, 1788-1856 Vol.47, No.2154 (1841).
- [S65] Parish Registers for St. John's Parramatta, 1788-1856 Vol.47, No.14301 (1842).
- [S21] Parish Registers for Scot's Church Sydney, 1788-1856 Vol. 45 Entry 635.
- [S208] City of Sydney Directory (Francis Low),Sydney, NSW (various dates), 1844-1845.
- [S245] Parish Registers for Sydney, 1788-1856 Vol. 45 entry 900.
- [S209] Parish Registers for Goulburn, 1788-1856 1848 Vol. 49 No. 948.
- [S245] Parish Registers for Sydney, 1788-1856 Marriages - County of Cumberland 1848 Vol.73B No.1173.
- [S248] Parish Registers for Yass, 1788- 1856 Vol. 50 entry 1231.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1852 Volume V.
- [S613] Michael Watt, Descendents of Daniel Brown, April 2013, New Zealand (Tim Hill's collection, \namesBrown) p.9.
- [S248] Parish Registers for Yass, 1788- 1856 Vol. 51 entry 1305.
- [S245] Parish Registers for Sydney, 1788-1856 Marriages - County of Cumberland 1854 Vol.73B No.1494.
- [S251] Parish Registers for the County of King, 1788 to 1856 Vol. 56 entry 2385.
- [S245] Parish Registers for Sydney, 1788-1856 Marriages - County of Cumberland 1855 Vol.73B No.1522.
- [S248] Parish Registers for Yass, 1788- 1856 Vol. 155 entry 2114.
- [S1] New South Wales, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1857 No. 12375.
- [S1] New South Wales, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1859 No. 14301.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1865 No.2533.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1865 No. 2533.
- [S1] New South Wales, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1870 No. 9613.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1872 No.2094.
- [S644] The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser, New South Wales, Australia, 1934 'GENERAL NEWS.', The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser (NSW : 1876 - 1948), 8 October, p. 3, viewed 3 August, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112820901
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1871 No. 637.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1871 No. 1637.
- [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1871 No.1637.
- [S593] The Australian Town and Country Journal (New South Wales), Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, 1874 'PARKES.', Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907), 30 May, p. 34, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70475005
- [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1874 No. 4743.
- [S65] Parish Registers for St. John's Parramatta, 1788-1856 Vol 47 No. 2154 1842 (H36).