Mary (Mitchell) Newby (1811 - 1877)

Born 10 Apr 1811 in Barstobrick, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Richard Newby — married 29 Apr 1830 in Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 6 Jan 1877 at age 65 in Paddy's Land, Wellingrove, Colony of New South Wales

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Biography

This profile is part of the Mitchell Name Study.

Mary Mitchell was born on April 10, 1811 in Barstobrick, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, daughter of James Mitchell (1787–1836) and Catherine McMeekin (1787–1833).^[1]

Mary Mitchell was the eldest daughter of the 11 children of James Mitchell and Catherine [Mc]Miken who were tenant farmers at Barstobrick Farm in the parish of Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Near Barstobrick is the small village of Tongland. The ruins of Tongland Abbey remain. It was a medieval Premonstratensian monastic community, existed here during the Middle Ages.^[2] The Premonstratensian order was a strict Catholic order founded in 1120 in Germany and came to England in 1143 with Tongland Abbey one of the first established.^[3]

Barstobrick Farm area 1848-49. Remains farmland today.

Mary (19) married Richard Newby (20) (born on April 16, 1810 in Tongland, Kirkcudbright), a shepherd at Girthon Church in Gatehouse of Fleet in 29 April 1830 and her first child was baptised in October 1830.^[4] As you can work out, she was obviously pregnant when she got married, a bit of a scandal in those days, and probably why she did not get married at home.

Her mother died in 1833 and her father in 1836. I don't know whether this coincided with the end of the lease on the farm but no one of the family took on the tenancy.

Their children were:

• Catherine Newby (1830–1917)
• James Newby (1832–1859)
• Mary Newby (1835–1916)
• Isabella Newby (1837–1872)
• John Newby (1839–1922)
• William Jolly Newby (1841–1936)
• Thomas Newby (1844–1844)
• Richard Newby (1846–1925)
• Thomas George Newby (1849–1864)
• Elizabeth Agnes Newby (1852–1929)
• Janet Newby (1854–1918)

In 1841 Mary and Richard lived at Irelandton Farm, near Gatehouse until they went to NSW. Her elder brother Hugh went to Ayrshire, taking a sister and his youngest brother (probably the cause of his mother's early death) with him. They both died there. Another brother James stayed in Tongland Parish, another sister and brother are a mystery but turn up later, and most importantly, two brothers, Thomas and John, went to NSW in 1840.

The 1841 census has Mary (30) living in Irelandton, Twynholm in TWYNHOLM registration district in Kirkcudbrightshire with her husband, Richard (30); and their children, Cathrine (10), James (8), Mary (6), Isabella (4), and John (2). ^[5]

Mary's family household table follows.

In the previous years the family had lost a mother, father, grandfather, an uncle and a few cousins so it must have been hard for them, close as they all were. At the same time, families were large and the population was growing. They wanted their own farms but the number of farms were not increasing so that is why they emigrated.

On 6 Feb 1848, Mary, husband Richard and their seven children embarked on the ship 'Thetis' at Plymouth as assisted immigrants and arrived in Sydney NSW Australia on 27 May 1848. They proceeded directly to 'Moredun' Station where Richard commenced employment as a shepherd.^[6] The ship log transcribed follows:

Newby family ship log "THETIS"

The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW reported the arrival of the Thetis on Tuesday 30 May 1848. It gives detailed instruction on how the immigrants are to be employed by those interested.
IMMIGRANTS PER THETIS. (From a Supplement to the Government Gazette.) COLONIAL Secretary's Office, Sydney, 29th May, 1848. His Excellency the Governor has directed it to be notified, for general information, that the ship Thetis, with 230 immigrants, arrived on Saturday, the 27th instant, in Port Jackson.

(The callings of the adult immigrants, and the number of each calling, are listed most of the men were Ploughmen and Labourers, 37). On Wednesday, 31st instant, persons desirous to obtain female servants from this ship will be admitted on board between the hours of 10 A.M., and 4 P.M., but it is to be understood that on that day the hiring will be restricted to the unmarried females.

On Thursday, the 1st June next, and following days, between the hours of 10 A.M., and 4 P.M., the hiring of the remainder of the immigrants will be proceeded with. Before 10 o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, the 31st instant, or at any other times than those fixed, as above stated, for the hiring of the immigrants, no stranger or person in quest of servants will be admitted, or allowed to remain on board. Strict orders have been given to the policeman on duty in the ship to enforce the observance of this rule. All applications for servants must be made to the Surgeon Superintendent on board, and the immigrants will be cautioned against hiring themselves to any person without his sanction, and without a formal agreement, to be signed by the two contracting parties, and witnessed by an officer of the Immigration Department, who will attend on board of the ship for the purpose.

Before sanctioning any engagement, the Surgeon Superintendent will be required to satisfy himself of the respectability of the hiring party, either by reference to the Officer of the Immigration Department, who will be in attendance, or by such other means of enquiry as may be available. This rule will observed in every instance, but it will be acted upon with especial strictness in the case of the unmarried females; and these latter will be recommended not to accept situations in inns or other houses of public entertainment, as it is considered that such places are better suited to servants who have been for some time in the colony, than to immigrant girls on their first arrival. No stranger will be allowed to visit the 'tween decks of the vessel unless accompanied by the Surgeon Superintendent. Any person infringing this rule will be ordered to quit the ship forthwith.

The ship will be anchored on the western side of Sydney Cove, near the landing place between the Water Police Office and Campbell's Wharf, and will be provided with an external accommodation ladder. By His Excellency's command, E. DEAS THOMSON.^[7]

Fellow passengers who were aboard the Thetis and profiled in Wikitree can be found at Thetis 7 May 1848. This category updates when a new entry is added with this category.

Later, the family joined their father Richard, a squatter on 'Paddy's Land' station - an isolated 45,000 acre cattle run 50 miles NE of Armidale. Legend has it that they encountered an aborigine, known as Paddy, whom they learned to know and respect. He showed them the spot where they later built their home, hence the name Paddy's Land. At times over two hundred aborigines camped on the station. ^[8] The family remained there for the next 50 years. Two sons, James and Thomas George, died there in 1859 and 1867. Mary died in 1877 at 'Paddy's Land' from the effects of a stroke suffered 5 years earlier. She was buried in the lonely station cemetery on 6 January 1877.

Paddy's Land received attention from The Maitland Daily Mercury, Friday 17 June 1898.
PADDY'S LAND, ARMIDALE.
This location is named after an Aboriginal of that ilk who resided here in the olden time. It is part of the well-known gulf country, and its approaches from the station known as Ward's Mistake are picturesque in the extreme. A region of Iofty mountains, precipitous gorges, and dashing cascades, with here and there cedar-scrub. A promising copper mine is being worked 3½ miles distant, 5 miles away is the golden area known as Bear Hill, and 8 miles apart the once-famous gold fleld known as Kookabookra. Mr. John Newby has held the Paddy's Land cattle run for over 40 years. It is a cattle ranch, with a few sheep, is fairly grassed, and, owing to its proximity to the mountains, and its comparative nearness to the sea (only 5O miles straight from Coff's harbour) it is not subject to prolonged drought. The mining township of Kookrabookra is only the shadow of its former self, but it still maintains a public house Mrs. McBrides; a state school, Mr Gibbons; a police camp, Constable Kelly; a small store, Mr R. Meehan's; with a contingent of reefers, diggers, and fossickers. June 15.^[9]

Mary's two brothers, Thomas and John who also immigrated went to Moredun Station just north of Armidale, to work for Andrew Wauchope, an Edinburgh lawyer. The Wauchope family was probably friendly with the Campbells (whose land Barstobrick was on) and their in-laws, the Maitlands (local landowners). This would explain why the Mitchells ended up at Moredun.

Andrew Wauchope and his family went back to Scotland in the 1850s and spent the rest of their lives renting various castles to live in. By this time all the rest of the Mitchells, including Richard and Mary Newby had gone out to join Thomas and John and eventually got their own properties.

Mary died on January 6, 1877 in Paddy's Land, Wellingrove, Colony of New South Wales, aged 65.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth or Baptism: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 881; Ref: 10/74; Frame: 80
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 21 November 2023)
   Mary Mitchell born or baptised on 10 Apr 1811, daughter of James Mitchell & Catherine McMeeken, in Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
2. ↑ TONGLAND
3. ↑ PREMONSTRATENSIANS
4. ↑ Marriage: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 866; Ref: 20/258; Frame: 290
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 21 November 2023)
   Mary Mitchell marriage to Richard Newby on or after 29 Apr 1830 in Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
5. ↑ 1841 Census: "1841 Census of England, Scotland and Wales"
   The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England; Reference: HO 107; Piece: 883; Page: 3
   FreeCen Transcription (accessed 21 November 2023)
   Mary Newby (30) in Irelandton, Twynholm in TWYNHOLM registration district in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Born in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
6. ↑ Immigration: NSW Govt. Assisted immigrants (digital) shipping lists. Number: INX-109-1177. Title: Thetis [1] 27 May 1848. Description: Thetis [1] 27 May 1848. Ship: Thetis [1]. Date of Arrival: 27 May 1848. Series: NRS-5316. Item No: [4/4786]. Reel No: Reel 2135. Index Number: INX-109 PERMALINK
7. ↑ Arrival of Thetis - 1848 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia"
   The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tue 30 May 1848, Page 3 : IMMIGRANTS PER THETIS
   Trove Article (accessed 20 November 2023)
8. ↑ Waymarking - identifies and reorcds Australian sites
9. ↑ PADDY'S LAND 1898 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia"
   The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1939), Fri 17 Jun 1898, Page 4 : PADDY'S LAND, ARMIDALE
   Trove Article (accessed 21 November 2023)
10. ↑ Death Index: (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 21 Nov 2023), index entry for MARY NEWBY; Father's Given Names: JAMES, Mother's Given Names: CATHERINE; District: WELLINGROVE; Registration Number: 9366/1877

See also:

• Webber, Donald (1996). 'Mitchell of Barstobrick'. Standard Publishing House Pty Ltd, Roselle NSW. ISBN 0 949203 58 0.