James "Seanair" Murray

   Another name for James was Seanair (pronounced "Shenna", Gaelic for grandfather).

  General Notes:

Known as "Seanair" which is Gaelic for grandfather, he disembarked from the "Aurora" at Geelong in 1848, and went to work for James Rutherford at Avoca River, Avoca. He returned to Geelong and married Catherine McDonald in Geelong in 1854, then moved to Skipton where he was publican and his first child (John Murray) was born. The family moved to Learmonth around 1856 to live near Catherine's family, and their next 5 children were born at Learmonth (23km west of Ballarat) or Burrumbeet nearby. In 1865, Seanair and his family moved to Lake Bolac, where he was employed by the Austin family at their property "Eilyer" working as a fencer. On 10th August 1866, Seanair purchased 10 acres on the western perimeter of the Lake Bolac township, which was the beginning of the Murray farm.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Emigration, 1848. "Seanair" and his sister Helen emigrated to Australia on the "Aurora" arriving at Port Phillip, Geelong on 7th December 1848 -
http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/shipping/mig-vic.htm

The reason for Seanair's emigration is thought to be the result of pre-arranged employment with James Rutherford at Avoca River in Victoria.
Helen returned to Marrel, Scotland, after working as a houseaid for 6 months for John Leigh, a pioneer farmer establishing an estate in the fertile Barabool Hills 10km west of Geelong..

• Sponsor: Sponsored the emigration of his mother's brother, Angus Polson, and his family, 1857. BARBARA2 SUTHERLAND (JOHN1) was born 4 March 1813 in Kildonan, Sutherland, SCT, and died 12 March 1866 in Daylesford Hospital, VIC, AUS. She married ANGUS POLSON 2 January 1835 in Helmsdale, Sutherland, SCT, son of ANGUS POLSON and JEAN POLSON. He was born 14 October 1808 in Marrel, Loth Parish, Sutherland, SCT, and died 20 April 1893 in "Purleigh", Keilambete, Garvoc, VIC, AUS.

More About BARBARA SUTHERLAND:
Burial: Beaufort ( Fiery Creek)

Notes for ANGUS POLSON:
Victorian Shipping Records: Book 12 Fiche 96 Nov 1857
Ship: "SHALIMAR"
81 Angus POLSON (Labourer) 48yrs Illiterate p. 432
82 Barbara POLSON (Wife) 44yrs " "
83 William POLSON 7yrs " "
84 James POLSON 4yrs " "
85 John POLSON (Infant) " "
384 Margaret POLSON 21yrs Read Only p. 442
385 Jane POLSON 19yrs Read & Write p. 442
386 Johanna POLSON (Nursemaid) 14yrs Read Only p. 442
387 Anne POLSON 12yrs Read Only p. 442
436 Angus POLSON (Labourer) 16yrs Read and Write
Origin: Sutherland.
Denomination: Presbyterian.
"Shalimar": Sailed from Liverpool, England - 16th August 1857.
Arrived at Geelong, Victoria - 11th November 1857.
Family went to nephew/ sponsor, James Murray at Lake Learmonth, Victoria.

James married Catherine McDonald, daughter of John MacVarish and Mary MacIsaac, on 7 Jun 1854 in St Mary's Church, Geelong. (Catherine McDonald was born in 1832 in Scardoish, Moidart, Inverness-shire, Scotland, died on 4 Jun 1897 in Lake Bolac, Victoria and was buried on 7 Jun 1897 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.)