Alexander Frazer Cameron (abt. 1823 - abt. 1898)

Born about 1823 in Dingwall, Scotland

Husband of Barbara (Simpson) Cameron — married 7 Jan 1865 in Church of the Holy Trinity at Merriwa, New South Wales.

Descendants

Died about 11 Jun 1898 at about age 75 in Merriwa, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Alexander Cameron was born in about 1823. He was the informant for the birth of his first daughter in 1865 and the stated that he was aged 40 years and had been born in Inverness in Scotland. Family tradition had recorded his birth as in approx 1823 in Dingwall, Scotland. Dingwall is a smaller settlement not far from Inverness so it is probable that he nominated Inverness as the largest town near his birthplace.

According to a family source, teenage Alexander emigrated to New South Wales with his family on the ship "Asia" in 1839.

On 7 January 1865, Alexander Cameron married the widowed Barbara Leggett in the Church of the Holy Trinity at Merriwa, New South Wales.^[1] Alexander is identified as a labourer; and whereas Barbara was able to sign the marriage register, Alexander made his "X" mark, indicating he was not able to write his name. Barbara Leggett had seven children so Alexander was taking on responsibility for a large family.

Alexander fathered a further five children.

From information about the births of the Cameron children, it appears the family relocated to Inglewood a farm where Alexander was probably employed.^[2] According to information in the death certificate of his son, John Cameron, Alexander's occupation was "carpenter".^[3]

It is not known when his wife Barbara moved to live in Maitland. After his wife died in 1882, a court granted her possessions to Alexander whose address was stated to have been "Brindley Park, near Merriwa".^[4]

Alexander Cameron died on 11 June 1898 at Merriwa.^[5] The following obituary was published in a local newspaper, but the information about his surviving children appears to be inaccurate:

Death of Old Identity

Mr Alexander Cameron, 75 years of age, a resident of the Merriwa district for about 35 years died rather unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon last, at Mr W J Gallagher's Hotel where he had been employed for the past five years. The cause of death was inflammation of the lungs, and the deceased was buried on Sunday afternoon at the Church of England Cemetery, Mr J B Bettington, Lay Preacher, conducting the service, both the Rector and the Curate being away from home on that day.

A good number of towns people attended the Funeral. The deceased has as unmarried daughter living in the District , and also two sons, Alexander and John, the former being a Miner at Wyalong and the latter in Western Australia.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales marriage registration 1933/1865
2. ↑ see the location of Inglewood in OpenStreetMap
3. ↑ New South Wales death registration 12150/1938
4. ↑ Supreme Court of New South Wales. Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, New South Wales Government Gazette, Sydney, Fri 27 Oct 1882, [Issue No.430], Page 5715 accessed at Trove, National Library of Australia
5. ↑ New South Wales death registration 6130/1898
6. ↑ Merriwa and Cassilis Standard, Saturday 18 June 1898. Original not sighted but content reported by Kathy Jackson, a descendant of Alexander.