Individual Notes
Note for: Hugh Cathcart, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
In papers refering to Conway Heatley, it is mentioned that his
daughter had married a David Cuthbert.
Individual Notes
Note for: Augusta Heatley, UNKNOWN -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Augusta's husband, Thomas Sinclair, came from Belfast.
Individual Notes
Note for: William Campbell Heatley, ABT 1757 -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Records show that a marriage took place between a William Campbell
Heatley and Clara Coughlin in Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland, on the
30th July, 1781. LDS records. Batch. M118964. Source. 1068040.
Printout 6901695.
As Portpatrick and Wigtown are not far apart, it is possible that
William may have been stationed at Portpatrick, as he was an Army
Officer. Clara possibly lived at Wigtown.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Montgomery Heatley, ABT 1759 - UNKNOWN
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
According to the Act Books of the Diocese of Dublin, a Marriage
Licence is listed between Mary Ann Heatley and John Montgomery Heatley
dated 1791. As this was a ML, and she is listed as a Heatley, we can
only assume that Mary Ann (or Marianne) was a relative of John
Montgomery Heatley's.
The Montgomery Manuscripts stated that John was a student in the
Middle Temple. This meant that he was studying to become a Barrister,
therefore following in his brother Conways footsteps.
Ray Leech of Christchurch, New Zealand, relates the story that the
Irish Poet, Thomas Moore, would often stay with the Heatley's in
Ireland. This story would have been passed down from "Monty" Heatley,
his grandson.
Thomas Moore was born in Dublin on 28th May 1779. He later attended
Trinity College to study Law. He graduated as a B.A., and entered as a
law student at the Middle Temple in London to qualify as a
barrister-at-law.
So it was possible that while at the Middle Temple, that they met and
became friends. John Montgomery Heatley would have been possibly a
good ten years older than Thomas Moore.
Moore at one time lived in the Vale of Avoca, and possibly the
Heatley's may have lived not far away. It is interesting to note that
verse 3 of Moore's "Meeting of the Waters", adds a human note to his
endearment; ' Twas that the friends, the beloved of my bosom were
near'.
In August 2001, Rosemary & Allan Dawson visited Avoca and spent a
pleasant afternoon at the Meeting of the the Waters and the Meeting
Hotel where they enjoyed a drink and Irish music played in the
forecourt of the Hotel. This is where the Avonmore and the Avonbeg
rivers join. The remains of the Thomas Moore tree still stands there.
Individual Notes
Note for: Sophia Dorothea Heatley, 1800 - 13 SEP 1887
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Not much is known of Sophia's husband Abraham. He was killed in a fall
from his horse while hunting. It is believed that he was a member of
Parliament in Ireland. This is yet to be confirmed. His death would
have lead to her decision to emigrate to Australia. Her occupation was
a School Teacher.
She arrived in Australia on board the "Falcon" which sailed from
Liverpool on the 15th September, 1854, arriving in Melbourne on the
20th December, 1854. Traveling with her were her daughters Isabella
Everina, Marianne Elizabeth (Marie), Mary Helene and Sophia Louisa.
Her two sons, Abraham Henry Issac and Daniel Montgomery Emerson, had
preceded her, arriving on the "Indian Queen" on 8th August, 1853.
Henry & Montgomery (Monty, as he preferred to be called) having settled
on a property near Belfast (Port Fairy), it was to this area that
Sophia also settled. In 1855, Sophia, who was a teacher, opened a
"Boarding and day school for young ladies", assisted by her four
daughters. According to one report, these ladies ' were highly
educated and accomplished, true gentlewomen, admirable in every way'.
The school was first opened in part of Rev. Craig's building in Albert
St, Port Fairy, but later closed in that location in July that year.
The school was then opened at 24 Villiers Street and continued until
it closed in 1860, after the marriage of her four daughters. Sophia
and her daughters taught English, Music, Singing and Needlework, both
useful and ornamental. Sophia then apparently went to live at
"Waltrim" with her two sons. She died in Melbourne on 13th September,
1887. Sophia Dorothea Heatley is buried in the St Kilda Cemetery,
Grave No 120 in Compartment D of the Presbyterian Section.
Sophia is listed in The Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages under the
surname of Healley (the t was not crossed) No 8883 in the District of
Northcote.
It is of note that Sophia gave her age as 47 not 54 on the passenger
list of the "Falcon". Was it thought that women over the age of 50 may
not have been productive in the Colony? There was also a discrepancy
in the childrens ages against their Baptismal dates.
Individual Notes
Note for: Everina Isabella Heatley, 1824 - 15 DEC 1897
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
A Bible held by the MacKnight family has the following incription :-
"This Bible belonged to Isabella Campbell, sister to John, Fourth Duke
of Argyle and then to her daughter, Anna Helena Montgomery, who
married William Heatley".
Everina's birth date is not know, nor is the place of birth. She was
not baptised in St Pauls, Bray as were the other children.
Everina was listed on the "Falcon" shipping list as aged 24 years.
This would make her as being born in 1830, not 1824.
Individual Notes
Note for: Charles Hamilton Macknight, 1819 - 1873
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Charles Hamilton Macknight was the fifth son of Dr Thomas Macknight,
D.D. and his wife Christian, nee Crawfurd of Cartsburn, Scotland. He
was Educated at Edinburgh High School and Edinburgh University. After
turning down a Military career, he joined a partnership with two
friends, James Hamilton Irvine and William Campbell. They sailed for
Australia, and arrived in Port Phillip Bay on 1st March 1842 aboard
the "Argyle".
In the same year the partners took up the Strathlodden run of 25,000
acres and Bough Yards of 22,500 acres near Guildford. The following
year they left these properties and settled on "Dunmore" (named after
the Scottish home of William Campbell) a run of 47,288 acres between
Macarthur and Port Fairy. In an epic journey, they overlanded six
hundred cattle and horses from Strathlodden and Bough Yards to their
new run. Three large slab huts were built with stone chimneys. There
was also a dairy & milking shed.
After some initial trouble from local aborigines and by humane
treatment of the natives, the partners gained their confidence. Some
aborigines later became valued servants.
Macknight's daily journal which he kept from 1841 until his death in
1873, is considered to be one of the most reliable accounts of
pastoral settlement of Victoria. The diary is a business journal
containing pratical details of station routines but also mentions
Macknight's visits to Belfast (Port Fairy) for supplies, bushfires,
the weather and the hunting of kangaroos and emus. The world outside
Dunmore barely intrudes on this account.
Macknight held a magnificent library, which he had brought out from
Scotland.
In 1847, William Campbell returned to Scotland. In 1863, Dunmore was
divided into two parts, with the western portion being acquired by the
Trust and Agency Company while Macknight and Irvine retained the
original homestead portion. Ten years previosly, the partners had
purchased a town house at 94 Gipps Street, Port Fairy, with rooms for
visitors and a Billiard room.
The Dunmore Shorthorn cattle were bred from stock purchased from the
Bolden brother of "Grasmere" (see also John Good) after the failure of
their enterprise. They had imported the best stud stock from England,
which formed the basis of many fine herds throughout the Western
Districts. Macknight also purchased several of Macarthur's famous
Camden flock of fine wool Merinos. He also owned many fine racehorses.
Macknight gave valuable service in public affairs, being for many
years a member of Belfast Shire Council and of the Minhamite Shire of
which he was president for a time. He was also a strong advocate of
total abstinence.
On 14th February 1856, Macknight married Everina Isabella Heatley, a
well educated young Irish woman.
In 1867, together with many other early Colonists who had arrived in
the Colony prior to 1843, Charles Hamilton Macnight signed a Loyal
Address to The Duke of Edinburgh.
Macknight's untimely death occured on 9th March 1873. Bushfires had
raged through the district and with his young son, Macknight was
inspecting smouldering timber, when a falling tree knocked him
unconscious. Despite urgent medical attention, Macknight died several
days later after having regained consciousness and made his sad
farewell to his family and peace with God.
It appears that Macknight was comparatively rich. But this was before
he bought out his partners and embarked on a costly plan of
improvements. Years of bad seasons, low prices and the forced purchase
of land had followed Macknight's years of prosperity after the
discovery of gold.
Charles Hamilton Macknight is buried in the Port Fairy Cemetery.
He is listed in the Victorian Pioneer Register No 641.
Individual Notes
Note for: Elizabeth Marianne (Marie) Heatley, 1826 - 17 MAR 1905
Index
Baptism: Date: DEC 1826
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Elizabeth Marianne was listed on the "Falcon" as being 20 years old.
This would make her as being born 1834. Marie is listed in family
record as being Baptised 1826.
Individual Notes
Note for: James Alexander Lynar, 29 AUG 1829 - 1891
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
James Lynar appears in the Victorian Pioneer Register. No 1090. Also
the Federation Index No 16403.
From Papers in the possession of the Lynar family it appears that they
came from Dublin, Ireland. The Paper dated 8th May 1862, from the
Landed Estates Court, Ireland, is to do the "Matter of the Estate of
Dame Isabella Lynar and the Rev. William King Lynar" owners and
petitioners. This was in regard to Properties at No's 49,50 & 51 on
the east side of William Street, Dublin and land on the north side of
Summerhill, Dublin on which are erected two dwelling houses and nine
two story high houses. The Annuity was to be sold.
These premises would be of great value this present day (2006).
James Arrived in Port Fairy in 1858 from Melbourne and was the first
Operator of the Electric Telegraph Office. This was a stone building
at 11 Cox St. James was later the Postmaster at Port Fairy until 1877.
The family then moved to Melbourne.
Individual Notes
Note for: Mary Helena Agnes Heatley, MAR 1829 - 31 JUL 1870
Index
Baptism: Date: MAR 1829
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
On the shipping list of the "Falcon", Mary was listed as aged 20
years. This would make that she was born 1834 not 1829 as originally
recorded. Which date is correct?
Mary and Richard were married in the Manse of thePresbyterian Church,
Napier St, Collingwood, Melbourne, by Rev. Robert Hamilton. Register
entry No 3289.
On her death Helena Mary Wightman was buried at Lower Thornton, Vic.
Cause of death was listed as Disease of Heart.
Individual Notes
Note for: Richard Wightman, 1828 -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Richard Wightman was a farmer. When his son William Montgomery was
born, Richard Wightman gave his address as Deep Creek, Eltham. Vic. He
was Registered at the Schoolhouse, Whittlesea, Vic. 1859
Individual Notes
Note for: Abraham Henry Isaac Heatley, 1832 - SEP 1881
Index
Baptism: Date: NOV 1832
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Abraham Henry arrived in Melbourne on the M.V. "Indian Queen" August,
1853. His age on the shipping list was stated as 30. Records state
that he was Baptised 1832. Together with his brother Montgomery, they
leased "Waltrim" Pastrol Station, north of Belfast (Port Fairy) in
south west Victoria. Waltrim was possibly named after the town of
Ballywaltrim in Ireland.
Abraham and his wife Alice moved to Geraldine, South Canterbury, New
Zealand in 1866-7.In 1869 Montgomery moved from Australia to
Geraldine. Abraham together with Montgomery, purchased a property
called "Thornbank" - section 11567 on the Waihi River. They farmed
together at "Thornbank" until they sold the property in 1875,
following a bad outbreak of "scab". Abraham was a farmer/contractor
and later a hotel/boarding-house keeper, in Geraldine. In 1878 he
moved from the hotel in Geraldine to one in Woodbury. This was sold
in 1886, 5 years after his death. Geraldine and Woodbury are only a
few miles apart.
He died at the age of 49, accidently of a gun-shot in 1881, while on a
hunting trip on Monty's farm at Woodbury. It was that same year that
Abraham & Alice's last child (Bryan) was born.
The Belfast (Port Fairy) Gazette, September 27th, 1881 reported:-
"we regret to learn that Mr Henry Heatley, brother of Mrs C.H.
MacKnight, who was well known in this District some ten years ago, met
with a fatal accident in New Zealand about a fortnight since. From the
information received it appears that the deceased gentleman was out on
a shooting expedition and whilst in the act of crossing a fence with a
loaded gun in his hand the weapon exploded and shot him dead"
Individual Notes
Note for: William Montgomery Heatley, 1830 -
Index
Baptism: Date: DEC 1830
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
William arrived in Melbourns on the S.S. Covenanter in December 1852.
William was listed on the "Convenanter" as being 19 years of age. This
would make that he was born in 1833, yet he was Baptised in 1830.
After his arrival nothing more was heard of him.