Jessie Jane Symington 1892-1967

Jessie Jane Symington was born at Clifton Hill in 1892 (Reg No 31240); she died at Ballarat on 24 September 1967 aged 78. She married Rev. John Patrick MacDougall at the Huon Lane Church on 15 May 1914. Her husband's father officiated at the ceremony which was followed by a reception at Teviotdale. [1]  They had three children: Sheila, born at Seymour on 14 March 1915; Sheila married Maxwell Stewart Lamb on 18 April 1939 at Scots Church, Melbourne; Sheila had vascular dementia and died in a car crash on 9 April 1989; Allan Douglas MacDougall, born at Sale in 1918, killed in action in World War 2; and Margaret, born in 1922, she married McKay Whittle in 1944. Jessie's daughter Margaret said that Jessie was a fine pianist. She had Dupuytren's contracture, as did her daughter. [2]

She was admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital, Ballarat, on 4 March 1964, suffering from dementia.

Rev. MacDougall died on 1 September 1950 aged 72 at his residence "Killawarra" in Sturt Street, Beaufort.

[1] Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic.), Friday 10 April 1914, page 2

[2] Personal communication, Jane Whittle, grand-daughter of Jessie October 2018

Rev. JOHN PATRICK MACDOUGALL 1878-1950

Rev. MacDougall was born on 26 December 1877 at Mooroopna (Reg. No. 10513), the son of  Rev. Daniel Allan MacDougall and Ellen Jackson Robertson.

His siblings were:

Catherine 1876

Allina 1879

Ellen Robertson 1881

Elizabeth Alexandra 1883

Daniel Allen 1884, died 1885

Theodora 1886

Susie 1887

Donald Alexander, died 7 July 1949 aged 62

Allan Kirklands, died 1913

He attended Scotch College in 1897 (admission number 4445), entry address Pine Grove, Malvern. In the 1897 Matriculation Examination of the University of Melbourne he gained honours in Latin and Greek. [1] He entered Ormond College in 1898 and graduated in 1903 as MA in the University of Melbourne.

He was ordained at Kergunyah in 1907. [2]

In 1913 he was inducted to the pastoral charge at Seymour. [3]

In 1917 he departed Seymour for Stratford. [4]

In 1923 he departed Gippsland for Beaufort. [5]

[1] Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 8 January 1898, page 37

[2] Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic.), Friday 29 November 1907, page 2

[3] Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times (Broadford, Vic. ), Friday 17 October 1913, page 2

[4] Seymour Express and Goulburn Valley, Avenel, Graytown, Nagambie, Tallarook and Yea Advertiser (Vic. ), Friday 21 September 1917, page 3

[5] Argus (Melbourne), Saturday 17 February 1923, page 30

AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL ROLL

1914 Seymour HD

1931-1963 The Manse, Beaufort

Sheila Lamb

1968-1980 "Carinyah" Rhinds Road, Wallington

WEDDINGS

The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express Friday 22 May 1914 page 31

The church at Huon was the scene of a wedding recently, the contracting parties being the Rev. J. P. McDougal, M.A., in charge of the Presbyterian Church, Seymour, and Miss Symington, the eldest daughter of Mr. P. Symington, “Teviotdale,” Huon. Rev. Chisholm, of Wangaratta, officiated. The bride wore a cream serge costume with dainty fur trimmings, a hat of shell pink velvet trimmed with, mole fur and feather mount, and carried a posy of pink and white roses and asparagus fern. The bridesmaid wore a dress of pale pink crepe de chine, with black velvet hat, and carried a posy of white roses. The bride's mother was gowned in black voile with rich black trimmings, and black tagel hat with feather mount. The bride travelled to Lorne, where the honeymoon is to be spent, in a brown donegal tweed costume, squirrel fur, and smart felt hat.

The Argus Thursday 13 April 1944 page 6

MacDOUGALL—WHITTLE. —The marriage of Margaret, younger daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. J. P. MacDougall, The Manse, Beaufort, to Flight-Sgt. McKay Whittle, only son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Whittle, Brisbane, will be celebrated at Scots Church, Collins street, on Tuesday, April 18, at 3.30 p.m.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Age (Melbourne), Thursday 9 January 1936, page 12

BULLOCKS STAMPEDE,

Two Drop Dead; One Destroyed

BEAUFORT, Wednesday. — When a mob of fat station bullocks were coming into the town boundary of Beaufort for the purpose of being trucked to Ballarat market they took fright and stampeded, charging madly in all directions. R. Davis, one of the men accompanying the cattle, was charged. The bullock missed, and it went headlong into the creek and became bogged. Another bullock then charged, felling Davis and his horse. Davis was severely bruised, but the horse was uninjured. One bullock got into Rev. J. P. MacDougall’s garden, doing extensive damage. Several people had narrow escapes. Two bullocks dropped dead. Another had a broken leg and was destroyed. The bullock in the creek was removed alive with block and tackle, the others being rounded up.

Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic.: Moama, NSW), Tuesday 5 September 1944, page 2

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Following the Board of Management meeting at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church last night members of the Board and other members of the congregation, met and welcomed the Rev. J. P. MacDougall who, with Mrs MacDougall, has come from Beaufort to spend a month in Echuca. Mrs MacDougall is recuperating from a long illness and could not be present. During the remaining Sundays in September and the first Sunday in October, the Rev. J. P. MacDougall will conduct the St. Andrew’s services and the Rev. Menzies Miller will conduct those at Beaufort. Mr and Mrs Miller and Mrs MacInnes will leave for Beaufort today.

In welcoming Mr MacDougall, Mr Miller said that he was one of the friendliest of men and it was a pleasure to meet him at any time, and particularly in his home. Mr Miller added that he had lived in the parish of Beaufort 30 years ago and had then experienced the greatest friendliness and kindness there. It was there that Mr MacDougall had spent the best years of his life and was beloved by all who knew him.

Mr Curtis, on behalf of the Elders and congregation, joined in the welcome and also expressed appreciation of the work that Mr and Mrs Miller Were doing at St. Andrew’s. He trusted that their stay at Beaufort would he a pleasant one and that they would come back refreshed and ready for the work that lay ahead.

In his response, Mr MacDougall spoke of the happy time he had had in Echuca four years ago and expressed regret that on this occasion Mrs MacDougall would not he able to take part in Church activities. He thanked Mr Miller and the church officers for making it possible for them to come to Echuca to stay with their daughter and son-in-law (Mr and Mrs Max Lamb) and he trusted, thus help to restore Mrs MacDougall to health. He had spent 22 happy years at Beaufort. He hoped to continue there until he could retire and conduct services occasionally. During the evening Miss E. Scott rendered items and, with Miss Ann McLennan at the piano, conducted community singing. Supper was served by the ladies.