Photographer W. Smith Aberdare 

Photograph from Diane Holmes, granddaughter of James Edward Symington

The eldest son of Andrew Symington, clockmaker, and Isabella Lethangie, William was born in 1839 at King’s Kettle. He died on 1 August 1917 at 85 Alexander Street, North Sydney.

Occupation: Linen Weaver, [1] Rope Works Labourer, [2] Wood grain Painter, Dairy Proprietor. [3]  

Married (1) Helen Anne Elizabeth Adamson [4] [5] [6] 13 December 1861, at King’s Kettle. Her parents were John Adamson, factory worker, and Mary Beveridge. She died from peritonitis aged 39 years on 9 April 1880 at Newtown of Abbotshall. [7]

Married (2) Isabella Thomson, spinster, flax mill worker, aged 37 years, on 9 December 1881, at Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy. Her parents were Peter Thomson, engine fireman and Euphemia Dunsire.

William Symington (1839-1917) first emigrated in about 1857, only to return to his native land. [8] In 1884 he sailed again to Australia. He was accompanied by his second wife, Isabella and sons George aged 15 years, James 12, David 11 and Edward 6. They sailed on the immigrant ship Bann, which departed Glasgow on 15 March 1884, arriving at Sydney on 17 June. Violent storms were encountered off the coast of Ireland and off Tasmania. [9]

The youngest son, Robert, who was adopted out and took the name Adamson, [10] remained in Kirkcaldy. 

The eldest sons, Andrew (1862-1886), a draper, and John (1863-1960), watchmaker, emigrated to Australia in 1881. They sailed in the Loch Tay, which departed Glasgow on 4 October 1881 and arrived in Melbourne on 1 January 1882. [11] William (born in 1866) also appears to have emigrated independently. 

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON (1839-1917) AND HELEN ANNE ADAMSON [12]

ANDREW SYMINGTON 1862-1886

Occupation Draper                

Born at Kettle 3 January 1862. Died in the Sydney hospital aged 24 years from tuberculosis on 28 March 1886. [13] 

His death was reported in the 12 May 1886 edition of the Fifeshire Herald.

He was buried in the Gore Hill Cemetery, St Leonards. The informant named on his death certificate is his brother John of Junee Junction. The occupation of their father, William, is recorded as “Dairyman.”

JOHN SYMINGTON 1863-1960

Watchmaker at Wagga and General Storekeeper, Watchmaker and Hairdresser [14] at Junee. He retired to Chatswood.

Born at Kettle 8 September 1863; he died on 24 July 1960 aged 96 at the Prince Henry Hospital Sydney.

Married Effie Driver in 1897 at Junee. She died in 1942 at Chatswood.

Children of John Symington and Effie Driver

LEONARD JOHN SYMINGTON born at Junee 1899; died on 19 July 1901.

NORMAN JOHN "JOCK" SYMINGTON [15] Infectious diseases specialist. M.B. University of Sydney 1926. Born at Glebe 1902; he died on 3 March 1985. Single. His entire professional career was at the Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay. In 1949 he was Medical Superintendent of the Prince Henry's Infectious Diseases Hospital. His last address was "Orana" 22 Centennial Lane, Chatswood 1976.

MARY SYMINGTON  1865                            

Born at Kettle 23 February 1865. Died at Kettle 22 July 1865 from “brain disease” of short duration

WILLIAM SYMINGTON [16] 1866-1948

Retailer (haberdashery shop) at Hornsby and Orchardist, St. Ives. [17]

Born at Kirkcaldy 1866; died in April, 1948.

He lost an arm in an accident as a child in Scotland. Came to Australia before his father.

Married Isabella Thomson 1888 at St. Leonards. She died in 1925.

Children of William Symington 1866-1948 and Isabella Thomson

WILLIAM JOHN SYMINGTON J. P. [18] born at St. Leonards, N.S.W. 1889; died 8 October 1969 at Chatswood; Married 1 March 1913 Ruby Myra Davis at Kogarah. She died on 11 January 1966. Children: William Alexander "Bill" of Eastwood born in Glebe 1914 (married Kathleen Jean Easterbrook 1936); Roderick Alfred "Dick" born 1918 in Glebe; married 1941 Elsie McCoy.

ROBERT THOMSON SYMINGTON, orchardist, general stores at St. Ives, Manildra, Wagga Wagga, Castle Hill; born at St. Leonards 1897; died 6 February 1977 aged 79; married 1922 Nellie Victoria Higson; [19] children Lancely Walter "Lance" and Gweneth Elva of Castle Hill. Nellie died at Castle Hill on 15 January 1993 aged. 92 Gweneth died on 14 July 2001 aged 77.

GEORGE SYMINGTON 1869-1960

Born at Kirkcaldy 8 March 1869; died 4 July 1960 at Ashfield.

A Brigadier in the Salvation Army, he lived India and Mosman, N.S.W. [20]   

He was an army chaplain with the A.I.F. for a short time. He enlisted in London on 16 April 1919. His attestation papers show that he had been apprenticed as a mechanic.   

Married Elizabeth "Lizzy" Jane Reed 1895 at Hay, N.S.W. She died in 1960.

Children of George Symington and Elizabeth Reed

VIOLET M. born at St. Leonards 1897; married 1921 Claude Coyle (Son Claude Trevlyn born 14 May 1924).    

DAISY REED born in 1900; died 26 April 1987; married 1920 Thomas Eve, Sunnyside Orchard, Millthorpe.

HAROLD VICTOR born in 1904; died in 1986 at Dubbo; married 1921 Lucy Florence Clifton.

CLIFTON GEORGE “Cliff” storekeeper at Orange; born in Brisbane 11 October 1907; died 1 October 1969 at Orange. Wife Doreen Helen.

JAMES SYMINGTON 1871-1960

Born at Kettle 17 April 1871; died 9 August 1960 at Chatswood.

Dairy Proprietor at Neutral Bay; Retailer at North Sydney. [21]

Married Alice Maud Swinton 24 March 1896 at Neutral Bay. [22] She died in 1957.

1946 17 Clarke Street, Crow's Nest (AER)

Children of James Symington and Alice Swinton

JAMES EDWARD “Little Jim” born in Mosman 1896; died 16 January1984; butter vendor, poultry farmer; [23] married Ethel Lillian White; daughter Jean Lillian born 1925, married William F. Sakey.  

RUBINA “Ruby” born St. Leonards 1900; married 1925 James Arthur Bowcock; children Raymond, Shirley Elaine (married Ron Furlonger), Jim.

[1] 1871 Scotland Census Kettle

[2] Record of marriage to Isabella Thomson

[3] Death certificate

[4] Also known as Ellen-see death certificate of her son Andrew

[5] Born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire (1871 Scotland Census)

[6] Helen Symington died from peritonitis on 9 April 1880, only eleven days after her son Robert was born

[7] GROS Fife 442/98

[8] Information from William Alexander Symington, son of William John Symington (1889-1969)

[9] Evening News (Sydney), Friday 20 June 1884, page 3 and Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 18 June 1884, page 8

[10] See Rankine correspondence

[11] PROV Unassisted Passenger Lists 1839-1923

[12] Much of this information was provided by Lance Symington, son of Robert T. Symington (1897-1977)

[13] Registration Number 564/1886

[14] Riverine Directory 1893

[15] Will No. 995774P

[16] Lost an arm in an accident as a boy in Scotland- information from his grandson, Lance Symington

[17] AER 1913Woodbury Road, St. Ives; 1954-1963 19 Lovell Road, Eastwood 

[18] AER 1937 1 Kent Street, Epping

[19] AER 1937 Sutton Street, Cootamundra; 1963 Derowie Street, Manildra (also Lancely Walter and Gwenyth Elva); 1972 51 Cecil Avenue Castle Hill

[20] AER 1912 Pittsworth; 1919 Ipswich; 1934 SA Boys Home Indooroopilly; 1937 122 Bay Road Crow’s Nest; 1958 3 Ross Street, Waverton

[21] 1913 2 Tucker Street, …;1924, 1933 “Wyvenhoe” Clarke Street, Crow’s Nest; 1946 17 Clarke Street, Crow’s Nest

[22] Sydney Morning Herald  Saturday 23 March 1946, page 32

[23] AER 1930 Naremburn; 1935-1958 poultry farmer, Gordon; 1963-1980 Pymble

[24] Sun (Sydney), Sunday 27 April 1924, page 18

DAVID PRATT SYMINGTON [1] 1872-1949 

Watchmaker [2]              

Born at Kettle 20 November 1872;  died 7 September 1949 at Hamilton, New Zealand.

Married Frances Tyburnia Whitmore 1898 at St. Leonards.

Children of David Symington and Frances Whitmore

ELLEN E. F. born at St Leonards 1899.

DAVID ERNEST born at St. Leonards 1900; died 28 July 1940 at Hamilton.

EDWARD SYMINGTON 1877-1960

Watchmaker and Orchardist, St. Ives, Sydney 

Born in 1877; died at Hobart on 26 June 1960.

Married  Florence Ada "Florrie"; she died in 1949 at Chatswood.

Children of Edward Symington and Florence

EDWARD ALAN born at St. Leonards in 1910; died at Hobart 26 November 1972; married Joan Marion Winter 1951. [3] In 1954 Edward Alan and Joan Marion moved to 25 Stoke Street New Town.

ROBERT MOFFAT BEVERIDGE SYMINGTON ADAMSON [4] 1880-1938

Watchmaker of Kirkcaldy

The youngest child of William Symington and Helen Adamson. He was born at Abbotshall on 27 March 1880; he died from cerebral haemorrhage on 23 March 1938 at Kirkcaldy.

In 1880 George and Mary Adamson (formerly Robertson) adopted him. They were childless. George (1849-1924) was a brother of Helen Adamson.

Married Jane Thomson on 18 July 1907 at Stow, Scotland.

Children of Robert Adamson Symington and Jane Thomson

JEAN SYMINGTON 1908-1988

MARY ADAMSON SYMINGTON 1910-1996

[1] settled in New Zealand; 1940 25 Clifford Street, Hamilton

[2] 1909 manager, Hugh Black and Co., Auckland, advertisement Waihi Daily Telegraph, volume ix, issue 2546, 8 May 1909

[3] AER orchardist, St. Ives 1932-1954; Tasmania 1954

[4] He remained in Scotland and took the name Adamson- see Rankine letters in G. Symington collection

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

A great grandson of William Symington, W. J. Symington of Epping, wrote the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald in honour of WS-

Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 25 January 1936, page 14

WILLIAM SYMINGTON 1839-1917

Sydney Morning Herald  Saturday 25 January 1913, page 20

SYMINGTON—THOMSON. —January 26, 1888, at the residence of the bride’s parents, Loch Leven Cottage, Neutral Bay, North Sydney, by the Rev. W.C. Robinson, William, third son of William Symington, Alexander-street, North Sydney, to Isabella, youngest daughter of the late James Thomson, Present address, Woodbury, St. Ives.

Sydney Morning Herald  Monday 11 June 1917, page 6

SYMINGTON. -June 10, 1917, at 85 Alexander-street, Crow’s Nest, Isabella, beloved wife of William Symington, aged 74 years.

Sydney Morning Herald  Thursday 2 August 1917, page 6

SYMINGTON. —August 1, 1917, at 85 Alexander-street, Crow’s Nest, William Symington, in his 79th year.

ANDREW SYMINGTON 1862-1886

Sydney Morning Herald Monday 29 March 1886, page 1

SYMINGTON. -March 28, 1886, Andrew Symington, aged 24 years, after a lingering illness, borne with Christian fortitude; deeply regretted.

WILLIAM SYMINGTON 1866-1946

Sydney Morning Herald  Saturday 31 January 1925, page 16

SYMINGTON. —January 30, 1925, at her residence, Rosedale-street, St. Ives, Isabella, beloved wife of William Symington, aged 61 years.

GEORGE SYMINGTON 1869-1960

Major George Symington, of the Salvation Army, who has been in India for the past seven years, has reached Australia on the Ranpura on a visit to New South Wales. [1]

MRS. SYMINGTON, a major in the Salvation Army, whom the Maloja brought back to Sydney today from India. She has been stationed in Bombay. [2]

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Monday 15 September 1919, page 5

THE SALVATION ARMY. COMMANDANT SYMINGTON TAKES CHARGE. Commandant G Symington, who has been appointed to take charge of the diocal corps of the Salvation Army, conducted his first meetings in Ipswich yesterday, when he was accorded a hearty and spontaneous welcome. The band was on a visit to Laidley for the weekend, but the Commandant, Mrs. Symington, and members of the corps made up to some extent for this deficiency, and vocal music formed a big part of the services. Commandant Symington was for eight or nine years on duty in the Downs district, which he left to take up work at Taree, Manning River (New South Wales). He offered his services as a military chaplain in connection with the war, and was on service in that capacity in France and elsewhere, for three years, having recently returned. He has met in Ipswich several Salvationists with whom he was formerly associated. 

Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Saturday 8 March 1930, page 27

SALVATION ARMY. Major and Mrs. Symington have just returned after seven years' mission work in India and have taken up their new duties in Queensland at the Indooroopilly Boys' Home. The Major is a Scot by birth, but came to Australia as a youth. For 30 years he has served as a Salvation Army officer. He served with the A.I.F. as a chaplain during the war. On Sunday next, at the morning and evening services in the City Temple, Ann street, Brisbane, the Major and his wife will be leading. They will be clad in their Indian costumes. The services will be of an unusual character.

DAVID PRATT SYMINGTON

Jeweller

In 1909 he was manager for Hugh Black and Co., Auckland [3]

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LVI, ISSUE 17211, 18 AUGUST 1919

Letter

WORKERS’ HOMES.

A better war memorial than the erection of a monument on the old dock site would be for New Zealand to build workers’ homes, say, at £500 to £600 each, and call them the Memorial Workers’ Homes. That would be a worthy memorial of our New Zealanders who sacrificed themselves for us. Happy children would be brought up in them, and New Zealand would be richer and happier. I am sure the people and returned soldiers will back this up to a man. The scheme could be worked in hundreds of cases, and could spread all over the country and go for ever, as those who the cottages would pay a fair rent and the money would be used to build other cottages, until in time there would be no need to cram two or three families in one small house. David Symington. 

[1] Evening News (Sydney, NSW), Monday 24 June 1929, page 12; also, News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Saturday 22 June 1929, page 1

[2] Sun (Sydney, NSW), Friday 2 November 1928, page 20

[3] Waihi Daily Telegraph, volume ix, issue 2546, 8 May 1909