First Generation  

1. James "Seanair" Murray, son of Lewis Murray and Marrion Polson, was born on 25 Dec 1830 in Marrel, Loth Parish, Sutherland, Scotland, died on 5 Dec 1912 in Lake Bolac, Victoria at age 81, and was buried in 1912 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria. 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 unknown, but it may have been the result of pre-arranged employment in Victoria.
Helen returned to Marrel, Scotland, 6 months later.

• 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 friend, 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 was born in 1832 in Scardoish, Moidart, Inverness-shire, Scotland, died on 4 Jun 1897 in Lake Bolac, Victoria at age 65, and was buried on 7 Jun 1897 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

Noted events in her life were:

• Emigration: 20 Jun 1852. Emigrated (because of the clearances of the McDonald Estates at Scardoish - see below) with mother Mary, brothers Ewan and Archibald, and sister Sarah on the "Araminta" which sailed from Liverpool on 20th June 1852 arriving at Port Phillip on 4th October 1852. On the same boat were John and Flora Graham and their infant son Neil from Skye. The eldest daughter of Catherine (and Seanair), Merran, later married Neil Graham and lived in Lake Bolac.

Among the 408 passengers on the Araminta, there were 56 Roman Catholic McDonalds, all from Moidart, Inverness Shire, members of "Clanranald" and few could speak, read or write English, but used their language "Scottish Gaelic".
- Frank McDonald (letter 27/01/1977).

"Scardoish is a small glen running approximately eastwards from the shore of Loch Moidart about 500 metres north of the Shiel Falls. It runs up to a group of lochans above Blain and a path up the glen links up with the route from Blain to Port a'Bhata. Although several people were said to have lived at Scardoish, the only old buildings I have found are above the west end of the glen on the north side, I have no idea which, if any, of these was inhabited by Father Rankin. There is still a modern house called Scardoish above the public road to Dorlin.
- John Dye"

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 M    i. John "Jack" Murray was born on 6 Apr 1855 in Skipton (formerly Emu Creek), Vic, died on 2 Feb 1939 in Cheltenham Old Man's Home, Heatherton at age 83, and was buried in 1939 in New Cheltenham Cemetery, Wangara Rd, Cheltenham.

+ 3 F    ii. Mary Anne "Merran" Murray was born on 6 Aug 1856 in Learmonth, Vic, died on 10 Feb 1929 in Lake Bolac at age 72, and was buried in 1929 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

+ 4 M    iii. Louis Murray was born on 31 Mar 1858 in Learmonth, Vic, died on 12 Jun 1929 in Ballarat at age 71, and was buried in 1929 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

+ 5 M    iv. Ewen Murray was born on 7 Dec 1859 in Learmonth, Vic, died on 28 Oct 1911 in Nhill at age 51, and was buried in Cathcart Cemetery (near Ararat).

+ 6 M    v. Angus Murray was born on 30 Nov 1861 in Learmonth, Vic and died on an unknown date.

+ 7 M    vi. Alexander "Alex" Murray was born on 14 Aug 1863 in Learmonth, Vic, died on 17 Dec 1927 in Fitzroy, Melbourne at age 64, and was buried in 1927 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

+ 8 M    vii. Robert Murray was born on 9 Apr 1866 in Lake Bolac, died in 1947 in Ballarat at age 81, and was buried in 1947 in New Ballarat Cemetery.

+ 9 F    viii. Mary Murray was born on 22 Jun 1868 in Lake Bolac, died on 23 Apr 1944 in Lake Bolac at age 75, and was buried in 1944 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

+ 10 M    ix. George Connor Murray was born on 19 Jun 1870 in Lake Bolac, died on 9 Jul 1939 in Lake Bolac at age 69, and was buried in 1939 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.

+ 11 F    x. Sarah Murray was born on 12 Jul 1872 in Lake Bolac, died on 3 Aug 1950 in Streatham at age 78, and was buried in 1950 in Streatham Cemetery, Streatham, Vic.

+ 12 M    xi. James Murray was born on 22 Feb 1874 in Lake Bolac, Vic, died on 24 Aug 1944 in Lake Bolac at age 70, and was buried in 1944 in Lake Bolac Cemetery, Lake Bolac, Victoria.