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Inverness / Re: Donald and Mary Campbell (nee Bethune) - "Midlothian" (Skye to Aust) 1837
« on: Monday 19 March 18 05:26 GMT (UK) »
Hi Christina,
You are not alone in being unable to find any official record of Archibald's death. All we have is the inscription on the family tombstone which as you know, says "ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL – Second Son of Donald and Mary, born UIG, Isle of Skye, died on board Midlothian on her passage from Isle of Skye to Sydney, 1937, age 7 years." A couple of years ago I corresponded with Dr James Donaldson the author of that wonderful history "Farewell to the Heather". He went through his not inconsiderable collection of materials and told me "I have no record of Archibald dying at sea. Indeed the records are more confusing and contradictory. For example Reel 4/4821 lists only five children who had died on the voyage. The SMH OF THE 18TH OF December 1837 lists 24 deaths including 18 very young and delicate children .Reel 1287 lists the names of the families who lost a child on the voyage. It includes McLeod ( two children) Mark ( One Child) McNaughton ( Two children) but NO Campbell children) This would agree with the five children on Reel 4/4821. Some children died early after their arrival in Sydney as the 6 month old child of Findlay Nicholson did on 20th December 1837. I have no record of the Campbell losing a child. It is not recorded on their arrival details as is for example the record of the child of the Mark family dying or the two children of the McNaughtons. (Reel 1287) I do not know of any Surgeon Superintendent records for the Midlothian ship. I didn’t find one like I did for the William Nichol ."
Sorry I can't help further on this Christina but if I come across anything, I will let you know.
Regards
Madeline
You are not alone in being unable to find any official record of Archibald's death. All we have is the inscription on the family tombstone which as you know, says "ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL – Second Son of Donald and Mary, born UIG, Isle of Skye, died on board Midlothian on her passage from Isle of Skye to Sydney, 1937, age 7 years." A couple of years ago I corresponded with Dr James Donaldson the author of that wonderful history "Farewell to the Heather". He went through his not inconsiderable collection of materials and told me "I have no record of Archibald dying at sea. Indeed the records are more confusing and contradictory. For example Reel 4/4821 lists only five children who had died on the voyage. The SMH OF THE 18TH OF December 1837 lists 24 deaths including 18 very young and delicate children .Reel 1287 lists the names of the families who lost a child on the voyage. It includes McLeod ( two children) Mark ( One Child) McNaughton ( Two children) but NO Campbell children) This would agree with the five children on Reel 4/4821. Some children died early after their arrival in Sydney as the 6 month old child of Findlay Nicholson did on 20th December 1837. I have no record of the Campbell losing a child. It is not recorded on their arrival details as is for example the record of the child of the Mark family dying or the two children of the McNaughtons. (Reel 1287) I do not know of any Surgeon Superintendent records for the Midlothian ship. I didn’t find one like I did for the William Nichol ."
Sorry I can't help further on this Christina but if I come across anything, I will let you know.
Regards
Madeline