Alexander BRYCE II

From Tomerong Past Wiki
Alexander Bryce 1822 - 1898
Isabella Watt 1832-1922

Alexander BRYCE (1822-1898) was born in Whitburn Scotland to Alexander Bryce I and Marion Russell. Whitburn is half way between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Alexander was the youngest of about six children with William BRYCE I his elder brother by two years. Their sister, Anne BRYCE I, had married Malcolm MATHIE I in 1834 in Whitburn. In 1851, Alexander married Isabella WATT also from Whitburn, and the following year William married and the two families separately emigrated to NSW.[1]

Ann, William and Alexander Bryce's Uncle was Ebenezer Russell (1797-1866). He had married Jane Meek (1804?-1873). Both came from near Whitburn and they emigrated in 1839 as bounty immigrants (their passage was initially paid by a colonist). In 1840 Ebenezer purchased the 1280 acre Croom portion (now often spelt Croome), whilst living at the Terry's Meadows Estate at Albion Park. At Croom the Russells' ran a dairy farm, grew wheat and potatoes, ground flour and bred cattle. The farm was near Locking Hill (now a quarry) and was on the route between Albion Park and Shellharbour.[2] Alexander and Isabella arrived in NSW and stayed with Ebenezer and Jane at Croom.[3] William and Mary (nee Stark) married at Whitburn in June 1852 and six months later arrived in the Colony.

In 1854 the Bryce brothers purchased Erowal, part of John Lamb's original grant from 1837. They took out a Mortgage for the 880 pound to be repaid over five years. Here they would farm and eventually formally subdivide in 1886. Alexander would receive Erowal of 1084 acres and William would receive Cockrow Farm to the west of 1063 acres, whilst their brother-in-law, Malcolm MATHIE I would add 426 acres to his Tippet Hill.[4] They made their living by dairying, growing wheat, corn, oats, barley vegetables and raising sheep and cattle.[5]

Alexander and William were signatories to a petition to establish a Post Office at Tomerong in 1860, and Alexander was a guarantor for the Schoolteacher James McLeod Robertson who became Tomerong's first Postmaster, and then again for John James PARNELL after Robertson died after falling from his horse on the way to Nowra.[6] Alexander was granted Slaughtering Licenses and held Picnics at Erowal for the children of Tomerong School; including their own children.[7] He chaired meetings to re-establish Tomerong Post Office after it closed temporarily in 1875 and was the contact for tenders to build a new school and teacher's residence at Tomerong. A delay in the erection of a new residence occurred because the previous Schoolteacher, Matthew Craig who had been dismissed, still occupied the old residence and wanted the Department to reimburse him for the funds expended on the building. Alexander advised the Department that Craig had raised a great proportion of the funds by public subscription.[8]

The Tomerong Union Church opened in 1877 and Alexander gave an address at its opening.[9] Both Alexander and William were participants to the Tomerong Church Dispute that centred on the use, or misuse, of the Church/Hall.[10] When one of the early land holders of Tomerong James BARHAM died in 1879, Alexander was named as one of the Will Executors.[11] He was a member of the Shoalhaven Agricultural and Horticultural Association for 24 years.[12]

In Oct 1883 Alexander wrote to the Postal Department stating that Parnell had absconded from the Post Office. The Postmaster at this time was James Parnell, the third son of publican John James PARNELL. When the Department contacted the PO James' brother wrote back, "I received your letter today, my brother, I believe went away to get married and gave me strict orders to mind the post office which I have done so, He is expected to be in the Shoalhaven today". Alexander had every reason to be concerned as James had eloped with his daughter Isabella Bryce, and got married at Moss Vale. The following year Alexander complained that James Parnell was seldom in the Office and that they sometimes had to get their mail via the Hotel. He supported the replacement of the Postmaster. The Inspector didn't support this and alleged it was out of malice due to the elopement and because the Bryces' had determined that their daughter should marry another. A petition to have the PO moved to the Store was declined.[13]

Alexander was a staunch Presbyterian and a frequent donor to services at the Union Church and in 1889 became a Trustee for the general burial ground at Tomerong.[14] He was one of the first Patrons of Tomerong School and later a member of the local School Board. The family would attend launches of boats built locally and would sail on the Lake (St Georges Basin) attending picnics.[15] Alexander chaired political support meetings at the Tomerong Hotel[16] When Alexander's daughter in law died giving birth to twins (Isabella nee King), the Bryces took two of the children as the father (William Bryce II) was almost blind.[17]

On 8 Nov 1898 Alexander died at Erowal, aged 76, and was buried in Nowra Cemetery.[18] Isabella would live for another 24 years but moved to her son's home at Maleny in Queensland about 1906. On her death in 1922 and at the age of almost 90 her body was buried with her husband, "But there her heart often turned to her old home, and when full of years and honor, the end of her earthly existence came, she begged that her mortal remains should be conveyed to Nowra to be interred alongside those of her loved husband and of her brother-in-law and sister in-law. Her dying request was carried out by her sons, and the body, enclosed in a leaden coffin, was brought from Maleny, some sixty or seventy miles north of Brisbane, the journey occupying three days." In 1908 the 1084 acres that comprised the Erowal Estate was sold to Hugh Pervival Kean for one thousand pounds.[19]

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Notes and References

  1. ↑ Tomerong Genealogical Database R5/R9
  2. ↑ Shellharbour History TP5716.
  3. ↑ Assuming the records are correct, William and his wife Mary arrived in the Colony in December 1852 but the arrival time of Alexander and Isabella is unclear, but it is certainly earlier. They had married in May of 1851 at Whitburn and their first child was born in September 1852 at Terry's Meadows (Albion Park).
  4. ↑ LTO Deeds TP5893. Map 1886 TP5728. 1859 ER TP2605.
  5. ↑ Bryce Manuscript Nowra Museum TP2569.
  6. ↑ NAA SP32/1/0 Box 527 TP2611+.
  7. ↑ KI 30 Jan 1868 TP3394+. SN 9 Jan 1869 TP2614+.
  8. ↑ ibid TP2611+. SN 11 Mar 1876. TP377. AONSW School File TP98+.
  9. ↑ SN 22 Sep 1877 TP2486.
  10. ↑ ST 3 Jul 1879 TP39+.
  11. ↑ NSW GG 4 Jul 1879 TP6070.
  12. ↑ ST 7 Sep 1882 TP5545. Berry Register 12 Nov 1898 TP4731.
  13. ↑ ibid TP2611+. SMH 5 Oct 1883 TP5200.
  14. ↑ Berry 1 Jan 1890 TP3167+. Allen, Price & Assoc Map 24 Apr 1889 TP2292.
  15. ↑ ST 2 Feb 1887 TP4732. ST 4 Feb 1891 TP4734.
  16. ↑ SN 16 May 1891 TP5583.
  17. ↑ KI 21 Sep 1895 TP3873.
  18. ↑ Death Certificate TP4348. ST 8 Nov 1898 TP4730.
  19. ↑ ST 14 Jun 1922 TP3992. LTO Deeds TP5893.

Images

Links

  1. Tomerong Local History Web Page- tomeronghistory.com
  2. Tomerong Past Facebook Album- Tomerong Past Facebook This site may provide more information relative to this family. Check the 'Families' and 'Monuments' albums and those institutions that the family contributed to e.g. 'School', 'Sawmills', 'Clyde Shire' etcetera.
  3. Alexander Bryce on Wikitree- Alexander Bryce - Wikitree
  4. Isabella Watt on Wikitree- - Isabella Watt Wikitree
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