Thomas Gemmell (abt. 1821 - 1897)

Born about 1821 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Inglis) Gemmell — married 22 Sep 1848 in Crafers Inn, Crafers, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1897 at about age 76 in Long Valley, Strathalbyn, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

This person was created through the import of FAMILY.GED on 08 May 2011. The following data was included in the gedcom. You may wish to edit it for readability. ' BIOGRAPHY

This information, at the time of Thomas's Registration for Emigrant Labourers to South Australia, included:- Thomas Gemmel, Ploughman, Blantyre, single, aged 19 and William Paterson, Ploughman, Blantyre, single, aged 20 The names were registered consecutively, and could imply that the 2 young men came to the colony together. [1]

Data Changed

Data Changed:

Date: 11 OCT 2008

Prior to import, this record was last changed 11 OCT 2008 .

Burial:

Date: 11 JUN 1897

Place: Strathalbyn, South Australia, Australia

Date: 2008

He left Scotland on October 5, 1839 on the sailing ship India under the command of Captain Hugh Campbell, and arrived at Holdfast Bay in early February 1840. He was 20 years of age at arrival. He camped in Hindley Street, and drew his water supply from the River Torrens. Mr. Gemmell went to Magill, where he took up a Section of land, and later a Section at Brownhill Creek, Mitcham. From there he went to Morphett Vale, and when the Burra Mine got into production, he carted ore and merchandise between Burra and Adelaide.

In September 1848 he married Elizabeth, the 19-year-old daughter of James Inglis, who had come out from England on the Fairfield with the Rankines. They were married in Crafers Inn by the Rev. Robert Haining, the first minister of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland to settle in South Australia. The young couple settled in Woodside, and when the Victorian gold diggings took prospectors from this State in 1853, Thomas Gemmell and his friend, Archibald Smith, walked all the way there and back with very little result from their work.

In 1854, Gemmell was at Kapunda when he heard of some good land for sale near Strathalbyn, so again he set out walking from Kapunda to inspect this land. He spent the first night with a friend, William Ferguson, at Myrtle Bank, and was off before daylight for Bugle Ranges, where he bought two Sections, which he named 'Springfield'. Here Thomas Gemmell farmed the land and then turned to sheep breeding. When the railway was put through to Victor Harbour, the line went through his property, and a siding was put in which was named Gemmells, as a compliment to this good colonist.

Thomas served on the District Council of Strathalbyn. He had two sons, William and James. William Barr Gemmell remained on his father's property, and James became manager of Arcoona Station in 1895. There were six daughters in the family. Thomas Gemmell died on his farm - June 9, 1897 at the age of 78 years. His death followed an accident when he was thrown from his horse into the Macclesfield Creek whilst on his way to that township, which caused a paralysis from which he died.

The following entry appeared in the Cyclopaedia of South Australia.

'WILLIAM BARR GEMMELL, 'Springfield Estate,' adjoining the Gemmell railway siding, on the southern line, about six miles from Strathalbyn, is the eldest son of the late Mr. Thomas Gemmell, who came to South Australia in 1840 by the ship 'India,' and immediately turned his attention to farming pursuits. In 1847 he married, his wife being Elizabeth (Bessie), daughter of the late Mr. James Inglis, who came to the Province in 1839, being one of South Australia's early settlers, and three years later came to the Strathalbyn district, and took up sections of land at 'Springfield,' which he immediately proceeded to turn to the best account, carrying on general farming operations, and developing the property in every way possible. Mr. Gemmell died in 1897, leaving a family of six daughter and two sons, his wife surviving him by nine years. The eldest son, Mr. William Barr Gemmell, who was born on the estate in 1860, and was associated with his father in the working of the property from his boyhood, resides at 'Springfield,' where he is engaged in the wool-growing and grazing

industries.'

Sources

• Death citation

SA BDM (Secondary evidence) Given Name(s): Thomas Last Name: GEMMELL Death Date: 09 Jun 1897 Gender: M Age: 78y Approx. Birth Year: 1819 Marital Status: N Relative 1: Relative 2: Residence: Gemmells Death Place: Gemmells District: Strathalbyn Symbol: Book/Page: 243/382

• Marriage citation

SA BDM (Secondary evidence) Groom Given Name(s): Thomas Groom Last Name: GEMMELL Bride Given Name(s): Elisabeth Bride Last Name: INGLIS Marriage Date: 1848, September 22 Marriage Place: Crafers Inn Crafers Groom Age: 27 Groom Approx. Birth Year: 1821 Groom Marital Status: S Groom Father: Bride Age: 19 Bride Approx. Birth Year: 1829 Bride Marital Status: S Bride Father Name: District: Adelaide Symbol: Book/Page: 7/157

• Burial citation

GenealogySA Burials database Given Name(s): Thomas Surname: GEMMELL Death Date: 9 Jun 1897 Age: 78y Relations: Husband of Elizabeth Cemetery: Strathalbyn General Notes: Died Springfield, same plot as William & Helen GEMMELL

[1] Register of Emigrant Labourers applying for a Free Passage to South Australia, found in the South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Society, Inc., Unley, South Australia, Australia.