My Mcmillen, McMillan, Family History, Robert James McMillen, Dundee, Scotland, to Victoria, Australia, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Clare Ireland, parents Steven John and Sarah Jane Mack, McNamara, Guthrie, Bray and many more.

My Mcmillen / McMillan Family History

As I Know it

I have traced my McMillan family back to our first settler in Australia

Robert James Mcmillen & Elizabeth Fitzpatrick

The original spelling of our MacMillan name was Mcmillen, as signed by James (as he was always known) on the original land records for the property brought by him, at Dean near Ballarat. 

The information provided by James's son John (Stephen John) on his death certificate lists James's parents as William McMillan and Mary Jane McMillan nee Kearns, his birthplace on this and other certificates I hold was Dundee, Scotland. I have been unable to find any trace of the above couple in Scotland. His death certificate has James living in Victoria for 31 years, again I have been unable to find any shipping record for our Robert James. As a likely candidate I found a John McMillan arriving into Victoria aboard the Conway in 1858, he went straight to Kyneton having purchased his own passage. 

James and Elizabeth were living in Woodend near Kyneton when they started their family around 1860. Sometime after 1864 they moved to Kingston as it was from here that James applied for the land at Dean. The application was made in 1867. I have no record of a marriage taking place but on various certificates, Elizabeth and James have differing information, (see below) this leads me to suspect they may not have married. Their first three children's births weren�t registered but the place of birth, of all, was listed on their marriage records as Woodend...
The eldest children, a daughter, then son, were named for Elizabeth's parents Stephen John (Fitzpatrick) and Sarah Jane (nee Mack, which could be McNamara), As this was not a general naming pattern for the time it could indicate that these first two children were Elizabeth's before she met James? The next child (my great grandfather) Robert James after James then William after James's father. Thomas for ? and then Annie, If we follow the naming pattern Annie should be the name of James's mother? The last child was Elizabeth, although she was christened Andray and known as Neen! On the children's birth registrations all have one first name and their second names were given sometime after.

Sarah married Angus CAMPBELL, a 'Dealer'. the family lived in Bath Street, Clunes between 1885 -1891
John married Florence MacDONALD in Creswick, 1886
Robert married Bridget GUTHRIE in Ballarat. These are my great grandparents, see obituary below
William born and died in 1866
William married Margaret Penman DANSON, their family lived in Swan Hill
Thomas married Mary Jane GUTHRIE (Bridget sister), This family still has descendants in Mildura.
Annie married James Bernard KEATING, a neighbour in Dean, they lived in Creswick
Elizabeth born and died in 1873
Elizabeth registered as Andray, known as Neen, married Henry Arthur CONNELL

I will be happy to exchange information on any of these family's. Contact Kaye Mac,

Roberts obituary
Bunyip and Garfield Express: Friday February 5th 1932.
Friends of Mr Robert McMillan, a well-known and popular farmer of Cora Lynn, will regret to learn that he passed away at the Bunyip Private Hospital on Saturday last, at the age of 68 years. The deceased, who was born at Woodend, has been in indifferent health for a number of years, but about a week previous to his death, he was admitted to the hospital, heart failure being the immediate cause of death. The late Mr McMillan was of a genial disposition, and always took a keen interest in sport and matters appertaining to the welfare of the district. Much sympathy has been expressed for the bereaved widow and family (Robert, Thomas, Mary, Willie, Mathew, Eileen, Steve, Elizabeth, Pious Annie and Joseph.) in the great loss they have sustained by the death of a devoted husband and loving parent. The funeral took place to the Bunyip cemetery on Sunday, and was largely attended by sympathising friends


"No Bearing on the Truth"

A great way to gain information for a Family History is by purchasing some Birth, Death and Marriage certificates. The cost of these prohibits us from getting to many, but they are a great resource in gaining information. So far the only certificates I have purchased have been in Australia. These give a good deal of information but are only as good as the information supplied. I decided to include these in my pages so you can see that by getting just the one certificate and believing the information supplied, you could get on the wrong track quite easily.


WILLIAM Mcmillen
When & Where Born�
14 Feb.1867 BULLAROOK, Vic.
Name
William
Sex
Male
Fathers Name
James McMillen
Fathers Profession
Farmer
Fathers Age
38y = born 1829
Father Born?
Dundee, SCOTLAND
When & Where Married
1st Jan. 1859, Melbourne, Vic
Issue Living & Dec. & age
Sarah 7.5 = b 1860
Stephen John 6 = b 1861
Robert James 4 = b 1863
William Dead
 
 
 
Mothers name
& Maiden Name

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Mothers Age
24y = born 1843
Mothers Birth Place
Limerick, Ireland
Signature, Description
& Residence of informant.

James Mcmillen,
Father, DEAN
 
Registration Date & Place
13th Jan 1868, CRESWICK
ANN McMullen
When & Where Born�
30 June 1870 BUNGAREE Vic.
Name
Ann
Sex
Female
Fathers Name
James McMullen
Fathers Profession
Farmer
Fathers Age
39y = born 1831
Father Born?
SCOTLAND
When & Where Married
1852, Melbourne, Vic
Issue Living & Dec. & age
Sarah 9 = b 1861
Stephen John 7 = b 1863
Robert James 4 = b 1863
William Dead
William 2 = b 1868
Thomas 1.5 = b 1867
 
Mothers name
& Maiden Name

Betsy McMullen nee Fitzpatrick
Mothers Age
25y = born 1845
Mothers Birth Place
Clare, Ireland
Signature, Description
& Residence of informant.

Betsy Mcmullen,
Her X Mark, Mother
BUNGAREE
Registration Date & Place
20th Aug 1870, BUNGAREE
ANDRAY McMillan
When & Where Born�
29 June 1874 BUNGAREE Vic.
Name
Andray
Sex
Female
Fathers Name
James McMillan
Fathers Profession
Farmer
Fathers Age
43y = born 1831
Father Born?
SCOTLAND
When & Where Married
23 Dec 1858, Collingwood, Vic
Issue Living & Dec. & age
Sarah 14 = b 1860
John 12 = b 1862
Robert 11 = b 1863
William Dec
Thomas 6 = b 1868
Ann4 = b 1870
Elizabeth Dec.
Mothers name
& Maiden Name

Elizabeth McMillan nee Fitzpatrick
Mothers Age
32y = born 1842
Mothers Birth Place
Clare, Ireland
Signature, Description
& Residence of informant.

Elizabeth McMillan,
Her X Mark, Mother
BUNGAREE
Registration Date & Place
12 Dec. 1874, BUNGAREE

Here are the Death records for Robert James McMillan and Elizabeth Guthrie.
No one had ever mentioned Elizabeth had remarried after James died. Note the differences in her given age...
Elizabeth married her daughter in laws father (Bridget and Jane), Patrick GUTHRIE. His wife Mary TIERNEY died in 1875.
Elizabeth Guthrie is buried in Creswick with first husband Robert James McMillan and supposedly Patrick is buried with Mary

ROBERT JAMES McMILLAN
When & Where Died
31 Jan 1885
Clarks Hill, BUNGAREE, Vic.
Name and Profession
Robert James McMillan, Farmer
Sex & Age
Male, 54y = b 1831
Fathers name and & Profession
William McMillan, Farmer.
Mothers name
Mary Jane Kearns.
Signature, Description &
Residence of informant.

John McMillan, Son,
Clarkes Hill, Bungaree.
Note: Stephen John
When & Where buried
2 February 1885
Creswick Cemetery
Note: Presbyterian, Row 2, Plot 181,
With Grand daughter Mary
2 Hrs Old & Elizabeth Guthrie.
Where Born
Dundee, Scotland
How long in Australian States
Vic. 31years = arrived, 1854
Married? Where,
What age, to Whom.

Melbourne, Vic. 30y,
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick. = married for 24y
Issue in order of birth
Sarah Jane 23y = b 1862
John 21y =b 1864 Robert James 19y= b 1866
William Deceased
William 16y =b 1869
Thomas 14y =b 1871
Annie 12y =b 1873
Elizabeth 7y =b 1878

ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
When & Where Died
24 October 1909
NORTH CRESWICK, Vic.
Name and Profession
Elizabeth Guthrie, Housewife
Sex & Age
Female, 72y = b 1837
Fathers name and & Profession
not known,.
Mothers name
not known.
Signature, Description &
Residence of informant.

James Keating, Son in Law,
CRESWICK
Note: husband of Ann
When & Where buried
26 October 1909
Creswick Cemetery
Note: Presbyterian, Row 2, Plot 181,
With Grand daughter Mary
2 Hrs Old & Robert J McMillan
Where Born
Ireland
How long in Australian States
Vic. 50years = arrived, 1859
Married? Where,
What age, to Whom.

1 x 2,Unknown McMillan,
2 x 2, Ballarat, 60y, P Guthrie
Issue in order of birth
Sarah
John
Robert James
William
Thomas
Annie
Elizabeth
Ages not known
No issue from 2nd marriage

Below is the marriage record for Elizabeth to Patrick Guthrie. Note that neither could read or write. From the former certificates I assume the birthplaces are turn about.
 

ELIZABETH McMILLAN
Where & When Married
73 Lydiard Street
BALLARAT
8th Feb.1897
Names of the Parties
Patrick William GOTARY
Elizabeth McMILLAN
Condition of the parties
Widower 1881
Widow 1884
Children by each
former marriage

6 living 1dead
7 living 2 dead
Birthplace
County Clare, Ireland
Derrymoor, Irelan
d
Rank or Profession & age
Labourer, 50
Farmer, 49
Residence: Present & Usual
Springhill, Warrenheip
Springhill, Springhill

Names of parents
Matthew Gotary (dec.)
Mary Unknown (dec.)
Stephen John Fitzpatrick (dec.)
Sarah Jane Mack
(dec.)
Fathers Rank or Profession
Farmer
Farmer

Service preformed by
Arthur Davidson
Minister, Church of Christ
73 Lydiard St Ballarat
Witnesses
William Roberts &
Emily Mildred Roberts
ROBERT JAMES McMILLAN
Where & When Married
St James & St Marth's
Parsonage, BALLARAT
27th Nov 1885
Names of the Parties
Robert James McMILLAN
Bridget GUTHRIE
Condition of the parties
Bachelor
Spinster
Children by each
former marriage



Birthplace
Kyneton, Victoria
Warenheip, Victoria
d
Rank or Profession & age
Carter, 21
Domestic Servant 20
Residence: Present & Usual
Dean, Dean
Dean, Dean

Names of parents
James McMillan
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Patrick Guthrie
Mary Tierney
(dec.)
Fathers Rank or Profession
Farmer
Labourer

Service preformed by
Christopher Gibson Allenby
In Holy Orders
Ballarat
Witnesses
Patrick Guthrie (his mark)
C. A. Allanby

Robert James McMillan married Bridget Guthrie (1885)

 Thomas McMillan married Mary Guthrie, Bridget's Guthrie's sister (1892).

Two sons of Thomas McMillan and Mary nee Guthrie, Thomas William and John Francis married BRAY sisters.

 Ruby Myrtle Bray and Ivy Emma Selina Bray were the daughters of James BRAY and Emma Jane ROONEY

James BRAY being the son of John BRAY and Selina HORE originally from Cornwall


Robert James McMillan and his wife Elizabeth Guthrie's
resting place at CRESWICK in Victoria Australia

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