5th Great Grandparents Donald Cameron and Anne McPherson

Donald Cameron (1777-1867)

When Donald Cameron and his twin brother Alexander were born in 1777 in Ardnamurchan, Argyll, Scotland, their father, Alexander, was 25, and their mother, Mary, was 20. He was from a family of chieftains and was otherwise known as Donald Cameron of Lochiel. According to John Milham Towns, https://www.geni.com/people/Alexander-Cameron-12th-of-Glen-Nevis/6000000011727578604 he was the son of Alexander Cameron 12th of Glen Nevis and Mary Cameron of Dungallon.

Note quoted from Mid North Coast Pioneers, from Clan Cameron:

"Records regarding the early generations of this family contain several conflicting details. Some of the facts recorded in the several accounts of the family are not backed up by primary documentation, rather representing oral tradition, which is known to often get distorted. The order and details of Donald Cameron's children given below represent my best guess, having considered the merits of conflicting documents. RSC

This family has reason to accept a connection with the Dungallon family, but the details have yet to be discovered. Donald is said to have called Jean Cameron (who was wife of Dr Archibald Cameron) "Aunt". According to (link) "he was a nephew of Jean Cameron, wife of Dr Achibald cameron, Brother of Donald Cameron the "Gentle Lochiel" later 19th clan chief". This indicates that the family was part of the wider clan but not from the main chiefly line. 

"Dungallon" was certainly used as a house name, and stud animal name, in the later family.

One reading is that "Aunt" Jean Cameron was in fact a first cousin once removed of Donald, who was grandson of Donald or Ewen Cameron of Camusaine, (half) brothers of Archibald Cameron of Dungallon (father of the standard bearer) - ref. Alf Wood

A further possibility is that descent is from Donald Cameron, natural son of Alexander, 3rd of Dungallon. If so, then on dates Donald (of Australia) would be grandson of this Donald, either through Alexander or Mary Cameron".

Interesting notes about Donald's life are also found on Kelly Anne Spicer's forum page (link). She concludes that Donald was from a family of tenant farmers in Camusaine. 

When Donald was 20, he married Ann MacPherson 1798 and they had nine children together (Allan, 1801, Archibald 1803, Alexander 1805, Ewan (Hugh) 1807, John 1809, Sarah 1809, Sophia 1813, Ann 1817). He was a stonemason and was employed by his father-in-law "Donald of the Road McPherson".  (There is a surviving bridge built in Ardmmurchal that he built). The family estate at Swordale had been mortgaged to a Mr Riddel and forfeited in support of the war effort to reinstall Bonny Prince Charlie (defeat at Culloden) so perhaps the only occupation open to him was stone mason.  It was then the Camisaine Estate. It was mortgaged by the Donald's family.  In 1832 there was a cholera outbreak and famine in 1836, which would have added desperation to their living conditions. Perhaps this is when Ann died.

When Ann died he then married Catharine McPherson (her sister) in 1836 and they had five children together. 

They emigrated on the ship "Brilliant" in 1838. In Australia, he was first employed by he became the under manager of the A.A. Company (Australian Agricultural). There is reason to suggest that he was assisted by the owner of the Camisaine Estate, Mr Riddell, who was then Colonial Secretary. 

After 1844 Donald and Ann established a home at Waterhole Reach, on the Karuah River upstream from Booral, probably where Cameron's Creek joins the river. Waterhole Reach is now known as Allworth. The site of their home is where the quarry is now. The Cameron family owned the land for approximately 90 years, beginning in the mid-1800s.

He died on May 12, 1867, in Karuah, New South Wales, Australia, at the impressive age of 90.

*I have always wondered about my pioneer free settler ancestors and their role in the dispossession of the native Australian aborigines. According to a  website published by the Australian National University Archives, the A. A. Company, of which Donald was under manager, treated them fairly. Most aborigines had already been dispersed and displaced by previous logging interests. Aboriginal workers were employed and paid an equivalent amount to other workers. (see link here)

It is true that the Camerons did have an Aboriginal "companion" called Susan Bamblett, who actually died on their property at Waterhole Reach, (although born at Limeburner's Creek). Susan's occupation was stated as 'Companion Aboriginal' working for the Cameron family after her convict husband died in 1859. She had originally come to the property to visit her son, Daniel, who was there with his wife, and had stayed on as a companion.The informal burial of Susan Bamblett on the Cameron family's property challenges traditional narratives of colonial history. Instead of a purely transactional relationship, it suggests a more personal, and perhaps more complex, bond between the family and Susan. (https://www.facebook.com/stroudhistoricalsociety/posts/just-a-long-shot-for-allworth-residents-or-anyone-else-who-might-know-over-the-y/791176639715981/)

Ann MacPherson.

Catherine MacPherson (second wife).

Catherine was born 25 Dec 1807 in Tobermory, Argyll, Scotland, to John and Ann.

She married Donald Cameron in 1836 in Ardtoe, Scotland after his wife (her sister) had died.

DESCENDANTS 

Mother of Dugald Cameron, Donald Cameron and Sarah Louisa (Cameron) Mills

Died 30 Apr 1903 at age 95 in Stroud, New South Wales, Australia. Buried in Stroud Cemetary.

(Death NSW BDM Index 7935/1903 CAMERON CATHERINE (parents) JOHN & ANN (Reg. STROUD)Burial Australian Cemeteries Index Inscription 7814579 - Catherine Cameron died 30 April 1903, buried Stroud Anglican Cemetery, New South Wales Australia ).