William Murray Borthwick 1826-1890

With thanks to Nora Borthwick, 2000

Early Life in Scotland / Childhood in Australia / Marriage / Squatter & Settler / Family / Horses & Racing / Drought & Depression / Descendants / Death in 1890 / Anne Borthwick / Anne Borthwick's Estate

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Early Life in Scotland

William Murray Borthwick, the second of this name, was born on 9 April 1826 and baptised a month later at St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh, Scotland.

He was the last child of William Murray Borthwick and Helen Paterson. His sister Jane was just two and a half years old, and Theressa, the oldest in the family, was 17 years old, when he was born. The family had it seems been living in Edinburgh for about three years.

We don't yet know where the family lived between 1826 and 1833, or what William's father did during that time.

WMB II was six years old when the family arrived in Sydney, Australia on the "Lady East" in November 1833.

Childhood in Australia

William Murray Borthwick II must have been with his parents when his father worked for William Cox of Hobartville and then Colonel Dumeresq. Much more research is to be done as we know nothing of those years.

When his parents moved to Inverell in the late 1830s he was still only 12-13 years old. It is of course very likely that he spent a good deal of time assisting his family to establish a home & viable squatting run at Inverell.

It is said within the family that WMB I educated many of his own children. There certainly weren't any schools at Inverell at this time.

Whether he stayed at "Auburn Vale" or worked on different land holdings in the area, by the time he was in his 30s WMB II had moved to Bingara to live on "Cooringoorah" with Charles Bull.

Marriage

The marriage of WMB Jnr & Anne Cameron, known as Annie, is recorded in the Maitland Mercury of 5 September 1855:

The witnesses to the marriage were WM Borthwick, Snr and John Cameron, fathers of the bride and groom. WMB Jnr & Anne Cameron were "neighbours" when growing up as her father had apparently managed "Newstead" for the Anderson family. He later lived at "Copes Creek".

Anne had been born on 15 April 1835 at Ardnamurchen, Argyleshire, Scotland, daughter of John Cameron (1809-1873) & Anne Campbell (1811-1855). Aged just three years she travelled to Australia with her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles & cousins, arriving on the "Brilliant" in 1838. Gradually this large family spread throughout the Colony, many of them becoming owners or managers of large landholdings.

(As an aside, the Camerons were not the only large family arriving in Australia on this ship. Ten members of the McMaster family from Tomacharich in Inverness-shire, were also on the "Brilliant".)

WMB Jnr and Anne Cameron were married by Archibald Cameron, Minister of the Presbyterian Church, Wellingrove (Manning River District) in Anne's home. As far as we know there was no relationship between the Rev Cameron & our Anne Cameron.

Rev Archibald Cameron was the first resident clergyman in the Inverell district & conducted church services in a large room in the home of Mr & Mrs Colin Ross. His parish was enormous & he used to visit his parishioners by horseback. According to Elizabeth Wiedemann "he soon acquired a reputation as an intrepid bushman. He was also remembered for his scholarly sermons based on voluminous reading, his lively interest in all public matters, and the personal interest he showed in all classes of people."

Squatter and Settler, New England

Because of the number of William Murray Borthwicks it is difficult to sort out at times whether it is father, son or cousin who engaged in various land transactions. I have not properly researched these & so the following is just a collection of information, some of it kindly provided by descendants of Charles Bull.

(If you'd like to sort out the 8 different William Murray Borthwicks in this family click here for a Quick Guide!)

It is thought that from 1843 Charles Bull, with William Murray Borthwick, managed Elsmore Station for John Brown and his brother-in-law Edward Alcorn, both of Singleton. At this time the two may also have been squatters on "Cooringoora". (I have assumed here that "William Borthwick" was the son, not the father, but this may not be correct as WMBII was only 17 years old in 1843. We do know that WMBII and Charles Bull became partners in Cooringoora, see below)

Elsmore Station, near Inverell, also known as Ellsmore, Elmore, Ellmore, Elmsmore, and originally Glenmore, was first settled by John Campbell in 1838. In 1843 ownership was transferred to Brown and Alcorn and in 1852 they, in turn, sold it to Alexander Campbell of Inverell Station. (Wiedemann, p.246) Soon afterwards Charles Bull and William Murray Borthwick first appear on official records as partners in "Cooringoora/h".

In 1853, two years before his marriage, William Borthwick Jnr, in partnership with Charles Bull, acquired a river property on the Gwydir, about 18km east of Bingara, which they originally named "Big River Station" & later "Cooringoora". As all the south bank of the river had been taken up by squatters prior to 1848, it is thought that one or both of the partners had assumed squatters rights prior to the date of the actual purchase or lease. Members of the Bull family understand that Charles settled on "Big River Station" as early as 1838.

To encourage rapid settlement, the NSW government, about this time, established a nominal rental of ten pounds p.a. for each holding capable of running 4000 sheep. Cooringoora rapidly grew in size under this policy, as did other holdings. Approximately 3000 acres along the river was freehold as distinct from leasehold & it was on this section that the partners built two homesteads for their families. Because of periodic flooding, they were later to regret their proximity to the river. Fencing of the property was achieved gradually & by 1851 it was substantially completed. Until then, Cooringoora employed a number of shepherds who lived in huts close to their flocks.

The earliest record of this partnership appears to be a "Grant Upon Purchase Under the Pre-Emptive Right" dated 31 December 1862, in which William Borthwick and Charles Bull, both of Bingera, paid £240 for 240 acres on the Gwydir river at "Cororongowra". Identifying exactly which part of "Cooringoora" this might have been would involve tracing right back through old land deeds. Not yet done!

The Squatting Directory for New South Wales 1865, under Gwydir District lists "Big River Station". Rent �22.10 Ass't 67.10. Estimated area 49,920. Grazing capabilities 1440 cattle (seems to be for this run). Lessees Borthwick and Bull.

Baillieres Gazetteer of 1866 records William Murray Borthwick as Leaseholder of Couringoora or Big River Station, Bindara (Gwydir District) with Charles Bull. Area 49,920 acres, grazing capacity 1440 head of cattle. Old charges 90 pounds, new rental 80 pounds.

Over the next 60 to 70 years the station was added to by purchase and lease until, at its peak, it covered 73,000 acres. Eventually the Bull/Borthwick partnership was dissolved, probably towards the latter part of the 1800's; perhaps during the severe depression & drought of the 1890's when the river stopped running & for a time,it became difficult for graziers to sustain a reasonable living. In 1889 the Big River lease was held by the Commercial Bank of Sydney, with 25,814 acres at 53.6.7 pounds (leasehold) and 30,810 at 36.2.2 pounds (licence). About this time however Charles Bull became sole "owner" of Cooringoora station.

The exact date for the dissolution of the partnership is uncertain as another record (made by WMBII's son, WMBIII, in 1907) states that it was from 1856 to 1870. Whatever the dates the parting was apparently amicable as, by this time, members of the Bull and Borthwick families had intermarried. In 1862, Caroline Emily Bull married the first cousin of WMB III, another William Murray Borthwick. (He was the son of Thomas Paterson Borthwick and CEA Mayo, born 1852 and later known as "Grizzly Bill"!) In 1863 Alice Harriet Bull married Grizzly Bill's younger brother, John Mayo Borthwick. Discovering the links between these two families down through the generations has been one of the delights of my Borthwick family research.

Even in the 1920's & 30's Borthwick descendants were regular visitors to the new Bull homestead above the flood level. Two, in particular, Wilfred & Murray, are remembered by Bull descendants. They were both descendants of Thomas Paterson Borthwick, WMB Jnr's brother.

The spellings and misspellings of this property name over the years are quite amazing and are preserved for posterity in the birth, marriage and death records for the Bull and Borthwick families. Just a few of the variants are: Cooringrah (1860, 1862) Kooringra (1863) Coorgra (1863) and best of all Cornupah, Big River (1869).

In about 1876 a W M Borthwick and a D Fletcher were Trustees of Lot 251 Jeebropilly, Ipswich, Queensland. This must have been this William Murray Borthwick, or his son who was then 30 years old, as WMB I had died in 1866. D Fletcher was probably, Donald Fletcher, son of Angus Fletcher & Jane Borthwick who had married at "Auburn Vale" in 1850. (Donald also owned "Balagula Station", Coonamble, NSW.)

From 1882-83 William Murray Borthwick is recorded as a Freeholder at Menedebri, Somerton. This property had been in Borthwick family since the mid-1800s. It was probably "owned" originally by William Murray Borthwick Snr, but the squatting lease taken out in the name of his son, Thomas Paterson Borthwick. At some point it was transferred to William Murray Borthwick, Jnr. Was this as part of a division of property following his father's death in 1866? A nephew of WMB II, Angus Linwood Fletcher, purchased a part of Menedebri Station, near Manilla, in 1907 and named it "Bandiloo". He lived there for 60 years.

Lynne Cousens wrote: "Grandfather Borthwick became too involved with the bank, and they made him bankrupt. After a family consultation, Will, his brother John and Grandfather decided to take up selections out at Narrabri, as that country had just been thrown open to new settlers.

William Murray Snr called his selection "Morven", and his son named his "Mascotte". Together they built homes there over the next few years.

Much later when Theressa Borthwick and Jack Johnston were married in November, 1892 [actually 1893], they went to live on Jack's selection out from Narrabri, which formed a seven mile triangle with Morven and Mascotte as the other two points, With the combined efforts of the whole family, a three roomed house had been built and furnished for them with odd pieces from the various homes. (Lynne Cousens) This selection was probably "Laurie, Millie" described in other records. Later WMB III is described as coming from Millie so perhaps he purchased the Narrabri selection of his brother-in-law and sister. Jack Johnston's brother Norman was also a squatter in the Narrabri/Moree district.

There are 1916 photographs of "Mascotte" in Borthwick family albums and it is said that the place was leased out after the Borthwicks left. More mysteries to be resolved!

"Retreat", near Uralla

The date of purchase is not yet known but by 1886 the Borthwick family lived at "Retreat" about 25 miles west of Uralla, NSW, on the McDonald River between Uralla and Bendemeer. One view is that it was in the 1870s that they left "Auburn Vale" and went to "Retreat". (This actually fits with the story of the break-up of the "Cooringoorah" partnership, above. If the date is correct it was probably "Cooringoorah" that they left, rather than "Auburn Vale". I also think that they went to "Menedebrie" before "Retreat".)

The family had increased to eleven children by the 1880s, and WMB II decided it was time to get a bit closer to civilisation, so that they could be educated more suitably.

Anne Cameron's family also lived at Uralla and in 1887 her brother Dugald died at "Retreat Station". Her father John Cameron was killed in October 1873 by a fall from his horse and is buried at Uralla. Anne's brother John died in 1896 aged 55 years and is buried beneath an isolated headstone on the property "Terrible Vale".

It was at "Retreat" that the Borthwicks had a visit from Thunderbolt the bushranger. Thunderbolt wanted fresh horses as his own were exhausted and the police were hard on his tracks. William Murray Borthwick was away from home and Anne Borthwick gave Thunderbolt the horses and some food. He wanted to take the young William Murray's new saddle, but as it was the first he had ever owned and his most cherished possession, he burst into tears. He was twelve years old, and the bushranger decided he didn't want it after all. He left a very grateful little boy behind him. [WMB III would have been 12 years old in 1868 so a little more research is required to get this story into context.]

Interestingly, when Anne Borthwick's father, John Cameron, died in 1873 in a fall from a horse at Uralla, NSW he was buried right next to Thunderbolt's grave!

While living at "Retreat" the family must have retained "Morven" as well. It is understood that WMB II spend a great deal of time at Narrabri, running "Morven" while his family stayed at Uralla. WMB II died at "Morven" in 1890.

As mentioned above, another Narrabri property which had originally been settled by WMB III's sister Theresa and her husband Jack Johnston was apparently purchased by WMB III. This may have been named "Millie".

WMB II and Anne Cameron had a very large family. Of 13 children 10 survived & this branch of the Borthwick family is now the largest, with well over 500 direct descendants. I will create more pages for the family but briefly the children were:

A number of generations of the Borthwick family had a very strong interest in racing, horses, especially thoroughbreds, and gambling. There are still many descendants today who have a strong love of racing. Where did this begin? Perhaps with the Picnic Races that were an important social event in country NSW in the 1800s.

Picnic Racing was quite different to the professional racing we are used to today but could still become an obsession, absorbing a great deal of the time and money of those involved.

Walcha Picnic Race Club held its first meeting at Half Moon Swamp near Walcha, in 1855. After two meetings there they met at Mr M E Norton's Waterloo Station, later owned by the Dangars. Racing went on for a week and then a dance was held in the woolshed. At the first meetings the races were for station horses carrying 14 stone, and every member of the Club who came to a meeting without a horse to race was fined £5! Owners sometimes rode their horses. The first prize in Walcha was a silver teapot and only two horses competed for it. The Sydney Mail of 17 February 1904, waxes lyrical on the joys of picnic racing at Walcha, and explains the

The WM Borthwick referred to here was probably WMB III (1856-1922). At some point William Murray Borthwick II (1826-1890) became a keen "picnicker". His interest in horses was shared by his son William Murray Borthwick of Walcha, who in 1918 raced "Kennaquhair", a second place-getter in the Melbourne Cup.

There must have been some financial crisis in the family in the last quarter of the 1800s, quite some time before the Australian depression of the 1890s. One descendant wrote that "when the banks closed" WMB II selected, with his son William Murray III, 20,000 acres of land near Narrabri, NSW. I don't yet know what date that was. The two properties were called "Morven" and "Mascotte". Fact & fiction about the settlement of these properties are intertwined in the manuscript of a book written by one descendant, some of which will be included later in these pages.

A Supplement to the NSW Government Gazette published on 10 July 1889 listed people who applied for, cancelled, transferred or received brands from others during the first quarter of 1889. Included are two records for this family. The reason for the transfers at this time is not known.

There was another bank crash and depression in the 1890s. With the end of the gold rushes there had been a halt in the rapid expansion of Australia . The depression that followed in the 1890s affected many but it seems that this time the Borthwicks had avoided disaster. It was thought initially that the family sold both Narrabri properties in the 1890s but another descendant has a photo of his father visiting the Borthwicks at "Mascotte" in 1915 so "Mascotte" must have been sold later than that. "Mascotte" and "Morven" were both apparently sold at a profit.

The Sands 1890 NSW Directory lists William Murray Borthwick Snr (as he was at that time) as Grazier at "Menedebri", Tamworth, & Borthwick & Sons, graziers, at "Menedebri Station", Tamworth. WMB II died in September of that year. It is not yet known whether his estate felt the impact of the world-wide depression of the early 1890s. (For example, two of Inverell's three banks closed during this period.)

In 1907 "Menedebri" was sub-divided and part of it was purchased by Angus Linwood Fletcher, WMB Jnr's great-nephew. Angus Fletcher received financial assistance from the Borthwicks for the purchase and named his holding "Bandiloo".

If any reader knows more about the landholdings of William Murray Borthwick II or subsequent ownership of those properties I would love to hear. Please email me as I'd be happy to share information.

1. William Murray (Will) Borthwick Born 27 August 1856 at "Auburn Vale", Inverell, NSW, Australia. He became a Grazier of "Menedebri", "Maidstone", "Bergen-op-Zoom", and "Surveyor's Creek", among other holdings. He was also a Stock & Station Agent at Tamworth & a racehorse breeder. On 15 September 1885 he married Maude Mary Alexandra Johnston in the Church of England at West Tamworth, NSW. He died on 19 July 1926 at Walcha, NSW, Australia (aged 70 years) & is buried in Walcha Cemetery.

2. John Borthwick (infant) Born on 12 June 1858 (registered Wellingrove, NSW) William & Anne's 2nd son did not reach adulthood. He died on 1 May 1863 at "Cooringoora", Bingara, NSW, Australia (aged 4 years 11 mths). He was buried two days later at "Cooringoora".

3. Annie Cameron Borthwick Born in 1860 (also registered at Wellingrove). She married George William Bloodsworth on 1 September 1893 at "Balagula", Coonamble, NSW. George died after falling from his horse & Annie lived with her sisters in Sydney for many years. She and George did not have children. She died, aged 57 years, at Randwick & was buried on 28 June 1922 in a family plot at Waverley Cemetery, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

4. Helen Anne Paterson Borthwick Born 16 March 1860 at "Cooringoora", Bingara, this Helen must have died as an infant.

5. Helen Paterson Borthwick Born on 6 July 1862 at "Cooringoora". This Helen did not marry & not a lot more is known of her life at this stage. She lived in a home named "Earnshaw" Randwick, Sydney with her sisters, & later her mother. She died on 17 July 1915 at Randwick,& was buried at Waverley Cemetery.

6. Jean Fletcher Borthwick On 24 June 1864 Jean was born at "Cooringoora". When the family were affected by the bank crashes of the late 1800s she became a Governess. She married William Edmund Potts, at "Hazeldenn", Tamworth, NSW, on 31 July 1890. (A Potts descendant has provided a wonderful wedding photograph of the bride & groom and their families which I will post here shortly.) Will Potts was a solicitor at Narrabri. Jean died on 3 October 1934 at Narrabri but is buried in the family plot at Waverley Cemetery, Sydney.

7. Marion Borthwick (infant) The second infant death in the family was that of Marion who was born about 15 July 1866 & died on 1 August 1866 (aged 16 days). She was buried at Bingara, NSW.

8. Teressa Elizabeth (Tressa) Borthwick Born in 1867 (registered at Warialda) Tressa, as she was known (like her aunt who had died young, and her great-grandmother in Scotland), spent some years at Narrabri living with her brother & sister-in-law, Will Borthwick & Maude Johnston. It was here that she met Maude's brother, Alexander, known as Jack. Teressa Elizabeth Borthwick & Alexander John (Jack) Johnston married on 20 November 1893 at "Mascotte", Narrabri. They lived in Tamworth, where Jack was an Accountant & Stock & Station Agent. Tressa died in 1939 in Tamworth Base Hospital (aged 72 years). She was buried in the grounds of St John's C of E, Tamworth, a church she had attended many times, but her remains were relocated later to a lawn cemetery.

9. Amelia Sarah (Minnie) Borthwick Born on 28 October 1869 Minnie did not marry, but lived with her sisters in Sydney. She was a Florist at Kings Cross in 1917. She died on 19 November 1940 at Kings Cross (without issue) & was cremated on 20 November 1940 at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, NSW.

10.Ada Margaret Ruth Borthwick By 20 August 1871 the family was living at "Menedebrie", Tamworth as Ada was born there. She too became a Governess in the late 1800s, teaching at Coonamble, NSW. There she met her future husband, Justin Laycock, son of John Brigg Laycock and Alice Craven, born in Bingley, Yorkshire, England. In the late 1800s, after coming to Australia, the family lived on "Terembone Station" at Coonamble. Justin Laycock & Ada Borthwick married on 26 December 1895 at "Balagula", Coonamble, the home of Ada's cousin Donald Fletcher. Was this following a family Christmas? Ada died in 1939 in Sydney, NSW. It is not yet known where she was buried.

11. John Cameron (Jack) Borthwick Born 3 February 1874 at "Menedebri", Tamworth, Jack Borthwick became a Station Manager in NSW & Qld. He married Margaret Josephine (Pearl) Ryan, of Bingara, on 28 December 1909 at Bingara. , He died on 24 November 1938 at Tamworth, NSW (aged 64 yrs). He is buried in the Presbyterian Portion of Tamworth Cemetery.

12. Angusina Fletcher Borthwick Born on 2 November 1875 at Menedebrie", Tamworth. Ada's descendants believe she was baptised at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tamworth. She married Cecil Gordon Farquharson in 1902 at the same church. They lived in the Tamworth district. Ada died in 1945 & was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium.

13. Arthur Edwin Harold Borthwick By 23 December 1877, when Arthur was born the family was on "North Menedebrie Station", Tamworth. What had happened to the rest of "Menedebri" at that time? Arthur became a Dentist & practiced at Moree & Bingara but didn't enjoy that profession & in the early 1900s went to Queensland & took up "Whynot", near Quilpie. He had married another Bull descendant, Ethel Mary Byrnes, on 8 July 1903 at"Niara", Bingara. Arthur died on 15 April 1935 at Quilpie (exactly 100 years from the day his mother had been born in Scotland). He is buried in Quilpie Cemetery, Qld.

Many of the descendants of William Murray Borthwick & Ann Cameron gathered together in 1890, just a few months before WMBII died, for the wedding of Jean Fletcher Borthwick & William Edmund Potts.

Death of William Murray Borthwick, II

WMB II was of "Retreat" near Uralla, NSW when he made his will on 21 October 1886. He appointed his son William Murray Borthwick and nephew Donald Fletcher as executors. Witnesses to the will were Alex Donaldson, Overseer, "Retreat" and Jas R Mitchell, Farmer of Somerton. He left all his personal effects and a life interest to his wife Ann Borthwick and the remainder of his estate to be divided amongst his children, or grandchildren.

William Murray Borthwick died on 1 September 1890, aged 62 years, & was buried 2 days later at "Mascotte Cemetery", near Boggy Creek, Narrabri. He must have contracted pneumonia as the cause of death is "inflammation of left lung 5 days". When his widow died in Sydney in 1904 she was buried at Waverley Cemetery & it seems that WMB II's remains were then moved from Narrabri to Sydney.

Probate of the will of "William Murray Borthwick, the older, of Boggy Creek via Narrabri" was granted on 17 February 1891 to William Murray Borthwick, the younger, of Boggy Creek near Narrabri, grazier, and Donald Fletcher of Balagula near Coonamble, Grazier. (NSW 129-4) The estate was sworn at just £274.

The ages of his children when WMB II died in 1890, ranged from William Murray who was 34, to Arthur (named as Alfred in the death certificate) who was just 12 years old. Angusina was 14, Jack 16, Ada 19 and Tressa 23. Still quite a large family for a widow to care for.

Her oldest son, Will, helped in many ways. He was devoted to his mother, as she was to him and she spent many days of her life at Morven. Will & Maude took the youngest Arthur to live with them, as Tressa had done since the early days at "Mascotte". Tressa was it seems still living with them in 1893 when she married Jack Johnston, as she gave her home address then as "Mascotte".

One story has it that Will wanted to invest part of his father's estate in a hotel in Tamworth but the rest of the family protested & this didn't happen.

Did Annie Borthwick, nee Cameron, stay on at "Morven" or "Mascotte" or "Menedebri" until 1893 or later, and what happened to "Retreat"? It is understood that at some point she moved to Tamworth & then later to Randwick to live with her daughters.

Anne Borthwick died at Randwick on 17 September 1904 & was buried at Waverley Cemetery. Some notes found amongst family records (notes for a eulogy perhaps? or for the minister conducting her funeral service?) provide a tiny glimpse of her personality:

Waverley Council records indicate that on 6 June 1907 the remnant remains of William Murray Borthwick 1825-1890 were interred in the grave with his wife. Later their daughters Helen Borthwick, Annie Bloodworth & Jean Potts were buried in the same grave. The last family member to be buried there was their nephew Edmund Potts (Bussie) who died in 1944. (For any family members who would like to visit, this is Grave 564A.)

Her will, made in October 1903, when she was "of Brighton le Sands", was witnessed by M Borthwick, Walcha (her daughter-in-law?), Elizabeth Gray, Servant, Bexley and Kate Hill, Nurse, Walcha. She provided a life interest for her unmarried daughters, Helen Paterson Borthwick and Emelia Sarah, and gave £500 each to her youngest sons, Arthur and John. On the death of Helen and Emelia the estate was to be divided amongst her children, or grandchildren, except William Murray Borthwick of Walcha. (He and Donald Fletcher were her Executors.)

A codicil made in November 1903, but signed in January 1904, altered things slightly and expressed a wish that Helen and Emelia should assist any married daughter reduced to "necessitous circumstances". The codicil was witnessed by Henry Mayo, Pensere St, Brighton Le Sands and William Gow, of Bowning, Teacher.

Another Codicil on 9 September 1904, just two weeks before Anne Borthwick died, substituted as Executor George Hine Newman, solicitor, of Tamworth for Donald Fletcher of Balagula, Coonamble. This codicil was witnessed by Ellen M Monson, Port Chalmee, New Zealand, and Maud M A Borthwick, Walcha.