MacFarlane’s Lantern Newsletter of the Clan MacFarlane Society, Australia, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No.129 March 2014 Website: http://www.clanmacfarlane.org.au MacFarlanes in Kilmaronock Parish Old picture postcard photograph of Mains Castle and Kilmaronock House, Dunbartonshire. The rural parish of Kilmaronock lies at the south-east corner of Loch Lomond, bounded in the south by Dumbarton and Bonhill parishes and in the north-east by Buchanan and Drymen parishes (Stirlingshire). The western boundary embraces four islands on Loch Lomond. Total area of the parish is recorded as 10,339 acres plus some 4,000 acres under water (Third Stat. Account Scot. 1959). Anciently the parish formed an important part of the medieval Earldom of Lennox, from which sprang our own Clan MacFarlane. Similarly, two important seats of the House of Lennox were located within the parish: one on the island of Inchmurrin and another inland at Catter – these, and yet another stronghold at Balloch in the neighbouring parish of Bonhill gives some idea of the sphere of influence held by the old Celtic earls. The name Kilmaronock is derived from “cell, chapel, or burying-place of St Marnoch,” who died in AD 737 (3rd Stat. Acc. Scot.); this being also the root origin of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, thereby at times causing some confusion between the two! In our MacFarlane archives, primarily based on “History of Clan MacFarlane” by James MacFarlane (Glasgow 1922) we find reference to George MacFarlane th (1568-1616) a younger son of Andrew MacFarlane 14 Chief, having “received as his patrimony the Mains of Kilmaronock where the ruins of his castle still survive. George died without issue before 11 May 1616 when his elder brother was his heir. However, in the general written history of the Barony of Kilmaronock there is no apparent mention of MacFarlane presence. The district has remained largely as rich farming land, and although having only two villages, appears always as home to numerous farming families, sometimes styled “bonnet lairds” bearing various Scottish surnames – of which the name MacFarlane never dominated. Indeed, the castle (now ruins) pictured above, dates back to the mid-14th century, when the land was held by the Dennistoun family. (Continued next page) 1 (Continued from page 1) (1863); Agnes (1866); Jessie Margaret (1868); Some MacFarlane families were in fact settled James Ross (1872); Cuthbert (1875) and Isabella in the area. There are four prominent graves in Evelyn “Bell” (1878). However, the youngest Kilmaronock Churchyard, one of which should be (10th) child of the family was John Robert “Ian” of particular interest to present-day MacFarlanes Macfarlan, born 1881 at Carlton Melbourne, who living in Victoria, Australia. rose to become Premier of Victoria (pictured The headstone inscription at Lair No. 70 reads: below). Andrew Macfarlane for 42 years schoolmaster here, 25-9-1831, Age 85; wife Annie Macneilage 31-10-1844, Age 82. We know very little about Andrew, although being the local schoolmaster (more often styled Dominie) he and Annie would no doubt be regarded highly within the parish community. They were married in November 1784 at Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, where the first three of their twelve children were born – Catherine (1786); John (1787) and Ann (1789). Andrew and Annie appear to have moved to Kilmaronock around 1790 where their other nine children were born – being five sons and four daughters – the youngest born in 1805. Named John Robert, he was educated at Princes Their eighth child, son Alexander MacFarlan Hill State School and the Melbourne Education (1798-1867), married Mary Ross (b.1799, Forres, Institute. In 1897 he joined the Victorian Railways Morayshire), and they produced a brood of ten where he worked as a clerk. He later won a children. Their first-born would appear to be twin scholarship to Ormond College, University of sons, namely Alexander and Andrew (b.1824, Melbourne (LL.B., 1907), topped his final year Kilmaronock). Doubt exists as to where the next and was awarded the Supreme Court judges' prize. four siblings were born, between 1827 and 1834 It was about this time, that he chose to be called (three sons and a daughter), but the family would ‘Ian’, being the Gaelic version of John. Similarly, seem to have moved from rural Kilmaronock to he chose the ‘Macfarlan’ spelling. Part of his the more industrial Old Kilpatrick, Duntocher and biography includes the following. Glasgow areas where between 1836 and 1845 “Articled to E. J. Guinness, the crown solicitor, the last three children (a son and two daughters) in 1907, he was admitted as a solicitor by the were born. Clyde-side was then heavily engaged Supreme Court on 4 May 1908 and to the Bar on in engineering and shipbuilding, providing great 4 August. He earned a reputation for wide legal employment opportunities. It is also worth noting knowledge and telling expository skills that were that with this generation the surname was spelt the more effective for being understated. The ‘MacFarlan’. contrast with his brother, the socially genial but judicially irascible (Sir) James Macfarlan, future The Australian connection. senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, was The fifth child of Alexander and Mary (Ross) marked.” was their son James MacFarlan (1832-1898) who On 12 August 1918 at St George's Presbyterian married Mary Nairn (b.1835, Dalmuir). Church, East St. Kilda, Ian Macfarlan married They were married (April 1857) in the United Beryl Johnstone Wardill King (b. 1893) by whom Presbyterian Church, Duke Street, Glasgow. and he had two sons. their first child was Alexander MacFarlan, born During 1945 Ian Macfarlan was the Deputy that same year, also in Glasgow. Their second Leader of the Australian Liberal Party in the state child was Jean Laing MacFarlan (b.1859) in of Victoria. He was briefly commissioned as the Hepburn, Victoria, Australia, which gives some 35th Premier of Victoria by the Governor and idea of when they migrated – although I have not formed a government which brought about the yet discovered the name of the ship that brought end of the then Dunstan Ministry. The full and them ‘Down Under’! lengthy political details of which I choose to James and Mary settled in Glenlyon, Victoria circumvent in this report. In some reports he is where their next seven children were born, styled Sir John Robert ‘Ian’ Macfarlan – although namely: Mary “Polly” (1861); Annie Elizabeth evidence of his knighthood remains (Next page). 2 (From Page 2) unclear. Similarly, the only photograph I could News Frae Here & There! find is, respectfully, borrowed from Wikipedia. The guest Chieftain at this year’s Bundanoon Highland High Court Judge Gathering, NSW, is to be James Ross Macfarlan was the seventh child of Valerie Cairney, publisher Scottish immigrants James and Mary Macfarlan. and editor of the Scottish The following details are from the Australian Banner. Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 10. Valerie says she is very happy “Sir James Ross Macfarlan (1872-1955), judge to be returning to the 2014 Bundanoon event born on 30 April 1872 at Glenlyon, Victoria, son which she calls “one of the most special Scottish of James Macfarlan, storekeeper and post- events in the world”. Valerie will be travelling master, and his wife Mary, nee Nairn, both from with her husband Jeff Moore (Clan Morrison, Scotland. Of Presbyterian upbringing, he USA) from Florida, USA to be a part of attended Wesley College, Melbourne, and after ‘Bundanoon is Brigadoon’. Valerie is also looking winning the Walter Powell scholarship, became forward to joining her son Sean (the Australasian a student at Queens College, University of editor of the Scottish Banner) at this year’s Melbourne. He graduated B.A. with first-class Gathering, who will be at the Scottish Banner tent honours in 1893 and taught as senior classics throughout the day, being:- master at Geelong Church of England Grammar SATURDAY 5 APRIL 2014 School before obtaining his LLB and MA in This year also marks thirty-eight years since 1896. He was admitted to the Bar that year, reading with (Sir) Leo Cussen.” Valerie launched the Scottish Banner In December 1902 he married Hilda Charlotte, newspaper, then a publication for the local daughter of William George Gibson, member of Toronto Scottish market in Canada. Today the the Legislative Council of Tasmania; they had Scottish Banner has readers across the world four sons and a daughter. with its major distribution in Australia, Available space does not permit me to deal at Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and the USA. length with all the Macfarlans (MacFarlanes) The Scottish Banner has been printing each referred to in this article. Indeed, the primary aim month in Australia for nearly twenty years of this story is simply to highlight a genealogical and is available in all states and territories. link which brings together family members in the On Valerie’s last visit to the Bundanoon small parochial community of Kilmaronock in Highland Gathering she was recognised by the Scotland with numerous descendants down here Celtic Council of Australia and was awarded the in Australia. Celtic Honour Cyfaill y Celtiad (C y C) (Welsh- In preparing this article, I often wondered if the Friend of the Celts) for service to the Celtic two prominent Aussie-born Macfarlans knew the community, Valerie is also a past recipient of the identity of their great-grandfather, Andrew, the Flora MacDonald Award in the USA for services humble schoolmaster back in Dunbartonshire. to the Scottish community. As usual, I am indebted to our New Zealand Whilst it’s a long trip from Florida to Australia, member, Andrew Macfarlane, in whose valuable Valerie is looking forward to meeting as many website can be found considerable extended data Australian Scots as possible on her third visit to on the collateral branches of the Macfarlan family the Gathering and is greatly honoured to be asked featured in this report and, indeed, numerous other to be the Chieftain of the Day.