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James Neil, the third child and first son of James and Janet McVicar, was born 19/1/1857 at Chinaman's Flat, registered 3854 at Maryborough, was known as Jamsie, and never married. He was recorded as having made applications for land. James McVicar, (probably father or maybe son) is listed as having one title of land in Glenlogie parish.
He had a timber licence for Redbank for 1876/1878, and for Stuart Mill in 1879. While he was camped with his 14 year old brother Archibald at Redbank in 1878, Archibald wrote the letter which raises some questions about James, who doesn’t himself ask for his boots, ”best shirt and scarf”, and “a few shillings” to be sent to them, but has Archibald ask for them. Was his literacy level low? Did he think that the parents were more likely to accede to the requests of the younger boy, or was there some other reason? What was motivating him to ask for his glad rags - the attractions of a nearby homestead? or a night in Redbank? or in Avoca on the way home to Mountain Hut? See the letter at Archibald's 1878 Letter
A Police Court Report for 18th September 1882, reports that James appeared before Mssrs Goodshaw and Snell, Justices of the Peace, as follows:-
James McVicar was charged with stripping bark at Lamplough. Constable Monks, in answer to the bench, said that McVicar took out the ordinary licence for wood cutting, but he felled over one hundred trees from which he stripped about 50 tons of bark. Some of the trees he stripped while standing, and the remainder he felled.
On being called upon to plead, McVicar said he had done no more than everybody else: if he did wrong others did the same, and he acted in ignorance of the law.
Sergeant Shanklin replied that there was a printed notice on the back of the licence that no one was entitled to fell no more than three trees unless they were cut up.
McVicar – The police did not interfere with Tom Fitzgerald for stripping bark.
Constable Monks – So far from the statement being true, I caused Fitzgerald’s bark to be confiscated.
Mr Goodshaw said ignorance of the law was always pleaded as an excuse in these cases. The penalty that would be imposed was ten pounds, but the bench would let McVicar off with a fine of two shillings and sixpence and the same as costs, which, it was hoped, would be a warning to him and others in the future.
The Avoca Free Press reported the results of the Lower Homebush Grand Annual Sports on St.Patrick’s Day, 1883. James paid a shilling to enter the Handicap Running High Jump, jumped 5 feet, one inch, winning the 5 shillings second prize. The winner, J. Fenton, jumped another inch and won 15 shillings. At the Homebush and Avoca Branch of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association Athletic Sports in Mr Wilson’s Paddock, Lower Homebush on Saturday 27th October 1883 - for the benefit of the Maryborough and Amherst Hospitals - James paid one shilling and sixpence to enter the Running High Jump (no mention of a handicap) and won ten shillings second prize against J. Fenton who won one pound. The reports, by The Avoca Free Press, did not include heights jumped.
On 23/5/1884 The Avoca Free Press reported “Two amateur athletes of some local fame, named J. McVicar and T. Gash had a spin of 100 yards at the Botanic Reserve on Tuesday last for a small stake. Gash won easily.”
For the 1884 Boxing Day Sports, The Avoca Free Press reported the handicaps for the Avoca Handicap. In a field of fourteen, James was listed ninth with handicaps of 6, 10 and 16 yards in the 100, 200, and 300 yard races.
On 6/3/1886 the same paper reported that "Mr. James McVicar, the well known horse breaker and athlete returned to his residence, which was situate about 2 miles from Avoca on the Amphitheatre Road, on Wednesday evening to find that it had been burned to the ground with everything it contained, including a lot of valuable harness and forty pounds in money. No cause has been assigned for the accident. The building was insured in the Royal Insurance Company for fifty pounds, but this amount will not nearly cover the loss."
James was a witness to the will of his (ex?) neighbour in 1906, suggesting that he had not yet moved from Avoca to Mosquito Flat east of Maryborough.
James McVicar at Avoca? Mosquito?
A large oval-framed domed-glass pastel-coloured photo developed from this one is held by Gwen S. It is unknown whether it was commissioned by James, and if so, for what reason, or whether it was created after his death. James died on 21/1/1920 (2404) at Mosquito, near Maryborough, aged 62.
"The Argus" (Melbourne) reported the event briefly on Friday 23/1/20, page 4.
MARYBOROUGH.
James McVicar was found dead on Wednesday morning near his home at Craigie, a few miles from Maryborough. He was suspended in the wires of a fence, with a discharged gun by his side, and it is believed that the gun accidentally went off while he was getting through the fence. He was the owner of several racehorses, and although he was nearly 60 years of age, he rode one of his horses into second place at the races at Redbank of Boxing Day.
"Accidentally shot by his own gun while getting through a fence" was the verdict at the inquest the same day held by H.E. Williams Deputy Coroner. The reference to "several brothers living in the district" was incorrect. Archibald had left Avoca in 1911 for his selection at Underbool in the Mallee, Alexander was at Leongatha by 1915, and John Angus had died as a teenager in Adelaide 20+ years before, in an accident with one of James' horses, leaving only George at Mountain Hut.
James was buried the following day according to the rites of the Church of England, at the Avoca, in the grave which had been dug for his sister, Lil, in 1912, and opened to take his mother, Caroline Janet, in 1916. The grave record was then marked as "full".
Next page:Adelaide Mary McVicar
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