Alexander MATHIE I

From Tomerong Past Wiki
Alexander Mathie 1846-1903
Ann Watt 1840-1916

Alexander MATHIE (1846-1903) was born in Whitburn, Scotland to Malcolm MATHIE I and Ann BRYCE I. When Malcolm was 13 the family embarked on the 'Conway' arriving in late 1856. Also on the ship was his future wife, 16 year old Ann WATT I (1840-1916). Ann's parents were James WATT I and Ann ROBB and they also came from the village of Whitburn. The Mathies moved to Erowal Farm on the northern banks of St Georges Basin with the Bryces who had arrived in the Colony five years earlier. Malcolm Mathie would purchase land adjoining Erowal and James Watt would purchase land 4.5km west, closer to the village of Tomerong.

Alexander signed the petition for the opening of the Tomerong Post Office when he was just 16.[1] He applied to Conditionally Purchase land in the Andrews Road area in 1875-6; this would become their future home which they would call 'Sunnyside'. The land was 110 acres, Portion 14 on the Shoalhaven to Ulladulla Road, 4km south of the village. Alex is shown applying for timber licenses from 1875.[2] At their new house, 'Sunnyside', in 1879 the members of the "Flowers of the Forest Lodge", an intemperance society, celebrated their first anniversary by singing songs, making speeches and advising "all young ladies to marry total abstainers". The Lodge had 42 members including Alexander and his father Malcolm.[3] A similar celebration was held in 1881 for the Lodge's third anniversary but this time it was held in Alex's Mill Paddock followed by entertainment in the evening at the Union Church. It appears the Mill Paddock was probably near the 'Sunnyside' home. The day included the attendance of 50-75 children from the Tomerong School. The Mill was probably the first Sawmill at Tomerong. Later, a new Mill was built on his father's property at Basin View.[4]

In 1885, a landholders directory shows Alexander holding four horses, 30 cattle, two pigs and 409 acres.[5] Alex's father died in 1888 and the following year Alex was listed as a Trustee of the Presbyterian Cemetery at Tomerong. It is not believed that this Cemetery has ever been used.[6]

Cyril BLACKET and Edward BAYLY commenced a timber trade with limited success between the Basin to Wollongong and Sydney. They sold out to Alexander Mathie and Joseph SUFFOLK and they used the vessel 'Resolute', piloted by Captain Craighead, for cargo before purchasing a steam launch to act as a tug to pilot the vessels from the Inlet to the wharves and return. Despite this the 'Resolute' was almost wrecked when crossing the bar.[7] A similar incident occurred with the flat bottomed Schooner 'Result'.[8]

On the occasion of the School Centenary in 1962 a son of Alexander and Ann recalled “Alexander Mathie, my father, was the first man to build a saw mill at Tomerong, and he employed most of the young men in the district. All logs cut in the bush had to be drawn into the mill by bullock teams and the sawn timber was taken to Huskisson for shipment to Sydney. He later sold it to Mr Reuben MISON, who carried on the business for some time before moving it to Bomaderry. Some years later my father built another saw mill at St Georges Basin”, Mr W Mathie said. He said his father purchased two flat bottom sailing boats from New Zealand, which were sailed across the bar at Sussex Inlet, and across St Georges Basin to the mill. The sawn timber was shipped to Wollongong. The firm traded under the name of Mathie and Watt. Mr Mathie said his father built the church now standing at Tomerong about 80 years ago."[9] The vessel 'Ruakaka', a 44 ton Schooner, was built in Auckland in 1882 and was owned by Alexander between 1899 and 1900.[10] It appears William WATT II and his Uncle, Alexander Mathie, had a sawmill at Basin View from about the middle of 1886. The timber was transported across the basin and bar at Sussex Inlet by flat bottomed boats or scows and then loaded on to ships for transport to Wollongong or Sydney. Over the ensuing years these boats may have included the ‘Result’, the ‘Resolute’, the ‘Ruakaka’ and the ‘Advance’.

In 1890 Alex gave evidence with respect to the condition of the Tomerong Hotel when Thomas Francis MOONEY I was applying for a Licence.[11] Like many prominent locals he gave a valedictory speech on behalf of the Tomerong Cricket Club in the Union Church for George Franklin SMITH in 1899, who was leaving the area. The Smiths were neighbours of the Mathies.[12] Alexander became a Trustee of Tomerong Park in 1901. The park is now the St Georges Basin Football Fields.[13]

Alexander was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church and was ordained as a Deacon. He was the Superintendent of the Tomerong Sunday School, a member of the Public School Board for the sub-district of Nowra, a Justice of the Peace and a Magistrate. He built the the Tomerong Union Church. As well as a Timber Merchant and Sawmiller he was known for bridge construction, including the bridge on Tomerong Creek on the road to Turpentine in 1902, and most likely a bridge at Unanderra and a jetty at Kanahooka.[14]

Alexander and Ann's second daughter, Isabella MATHIE, married John Cole at Sunnyside in 1903, only two months after her brother, Malcolm, had married Ada Alder. Four months later, Alexander unexpectedly died at the age of 57 at 'Sunnyside' after a stroke. [15]

A month after his death the old highway (the Main South Coast Road) that had run through the Mathie Portions 14 and 158 was closed and the diverted highway adopted its current route.[16] In January of the following year, his wife Ann, advertised for sale parts of his mill, including a hub lathe, spoke lathe, tenon and facing machine and an engine and boiler.[17]

Anne Mathie died 13 years later at the age of 76 in Roseville, Sydney at their son's residence. She is buried with her husband in the Nowra Cemetery. [18]

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Notes and References

  1. ↑ NAA SP32/1/0 Box 527 TP2680+.
  2. ↑ Map Allen Price TP2288. LTO Title Deed Research TP5893. SN 3 Nov 1875 TP2490.
  3. ↑ ST 16 Oct 1879 TP387.
  4. ↑ ST 27 Oct 1881 TP74. ST 17 May 1883 TP5550.
  5. ↑ Unknown Directory 1885 TP4220.
  6. ↑ Map Allen Price TP2292.
  7. ↑ ST 18 Apr 1888 TP4733.
  8. ↑ ST 4 Feb 1891 TP4734. SN 11 Nov 1899 TP3133.
  9. ↑ NL 20 Sep 1962 TP382.
  10. ↑ NZ Maritime Museum pers comm Meg Healey 1997 TP3315.
  11. ↑ ST 7 May 1890 TP468.
  12. ↑ ST 28 Jun 1999 TP233
  13. ↑ ST 21 Aug 1901 TP4944.
  14. ↑ ST 13 Aug 1902 TP1578. IM 28 Jun 1898 TP6215. Moruya Examiner 7 Oct 1898 TP6216. Nowra Colonist 13 Sep 1899 TP6213. Daily Telegraph 21 Oct 1899 TP6218. Broughton Creek Mail 26 Oct 1899 TP6214. Tomerong Union Church Centeanry Booklet 1977 TP352.
  15. ↑ SN 28 Feb 1903, ST 4 Mar 1903 TP5932. SMH 10 Jan 1903 TP5232. SN 27 Jun 1903 TP5934. ST 1 Jul 1903 TP1443+.
  16. ↑ ST 22 Jul 1903 TP5937.
  17. ↑ ST 13 Jan 1904 TP6222.
  18. ↑ Tomerong Genealogical Database R11/16. ST 2 Aug 1916 TP739.

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 Mathie on Wikitree- Alexander Mathie- Wikitree
  4. Ann Watt on Wikitree- Ann Watt- Wikitree
  5. MATHIE Family Links to this family's biographies.
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