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Messages - Nojiri

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Dumfriesshire / Re: Andrew Nicol (born about 1790)
« on: Friday 24 February 23 01:54 GMT (UK)  »
Now retired in Ballarat I visit Portland a few times each year.  Still many history and heritage friends in SW Vic.  My mother, who was strong on Portland's heritage, descends from the youngest son of Glaswegian Robert and Isabella Herbertson who arrived 1841. He was a builder publican and retailer. Many of his buildings are still in Portland e.g Steam Packet Inn, top half of Julia St and Briery. Dad's family was all 75% Argyllshire shepherd stock, 25% Glasgow.  After Laurie's death in 1854 Jane obviously blossomed and became an active member of Bridgewater and Portland life.  Do you live in SW Vic or belong to any Portland FB groups?   

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Dumfriesshire / Re: Andrew Nicol (born about 1790)
« on: Thursday 23 February 23 01:24 GMT (UK)  »
  Have just completed researching the history of Scots Church Portland Vic which includes the tumultuous 1840s of Rev Alexander Laurie and wife Janet nee Nicol. Note lilymo has some relics. would love to make contact. My maternal ancestors arrived Portland 1841. I also stumbled upon this chain of posts as I have a 1610-11 Geneva Bible with metrical psalms and music bound together. which I believe came to Portland mid 19thC.  Nicholson BDM inscriptions 1785-1825. Only one Scottish place name - Leven.  Widened research to include Nicol-Nicolson-Nicholson variations and up popped this very long shot link. 

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Fife / Re: Rhind Family in Leven *completed thank you*
« on: Tuesday 18 January 22 05:18 GMT (UK)  »
Have searched for Nicholsons on the 37 shipping lists of assisted migrants who arrived in Portland between 1851-1857.  There were very few.  From Skye there were 2 families on the  Arabian and 1 on the Edward Johnston.  All agricultural families. Also, one 18YO servant girl on the New Zealander.   Only other family I have previously mention was Daniel Nicholson, wife and daughter on the Shand. Also searched Tasmanian shipping list from UK for Alexander, William and Robert Nicholson of the appropriate ages.  No luck.

A closer look at the two pencil inscriptions in the Bible throw another perspective to the mystery.
•   The writing style indicates that the same person wrote the two inscriptions.
•   Enhancing the Thomas Nicholson born 1828 inscription reveals his death was 1883.
•   Have checked PROV death records for death of Alexander Nicholson.  There are 3 in the 1880s but do not match up. 
It is highly likely the Bible was still in Leven after 1883. If it was, did a subsequent generation or another family bring the Bible from the Leven region come to Portland after 1883.
Do you have any suggestions of any Leven based researchers I could contact to see if they know any families who went to Portland?
P.S having trouble sending other thee jpegs

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Fife / Re: Rhind Family in Leven *completed thank you*
« on: Friday 07 January 22 07:22 GMT (UK)  »
Thanks for your vary informative info.  I am otherwise occupied for the next few days.  When free I will go thru various state immigration records by port looking for Alexander, Thomas and William.  As they were born 1819-28, they were of the right age to benefit from the 1850s immigration schemes. Post 1851 gold in Ballarat there was a huge shortage of basic tradesmen and ag labour plus gold seekers with dreams of richness.   Of particular interest is Tasmania as there was regular trade and passenger movement between Launceston and Portland e.g. Mum's Herbertson family arriving in 1841 and later her grandfather marrying a Tasmanian Annie Whittle. Might yet be able to crack the mystery.  Will also send my research on Daniel to the Cumberland Family History group.  They may have knowledge of any later generations still living. Daniel's story stands by itself.  Regards John U
John Urquhart

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Fife / Re: Rhind Family in Leven *completed thank you*
« on: Wednesday 05 January 22 07:20 GMT (UK)  »
Thank you for your prompt reply.  Appreciate you not at home at the moment. Tomorrow I will send you a detailed report on my latest research.  Have discarded the William Halley link in favour of Daniel Nicholson of Keswick in Cumberland - will spell out in detail tomorrow!  Some home work for you.  You now hold the key to a solving beautiful mystery. Coincidentally both families came to Portland on the Shand January 1855 and developed a relationship of several decades in the building of key Portland buildings that still stand. 
Re Bettsy Nicholson , in SP 1841 census she was in Dundee - with, I think, her mother Jean aged 79
and Betsy's death in Edinburgh 28 April 1843 wife of Robert Nicholson - I think in an infirmary.  Do you want screen shots.  Your reading of 19C script probably better than mine.     

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Fife / Re: Rhind Family in Leven *completed thank you*
« on: Tuesday 04 January 22 04:14 GMT (UK)  »
I have just joined Rootschat to trace the Scottish history of a 1610/11 Geneva bible bound with the 150 metrical psalms, when it arrived in Portland Vic Australia and the family who brought it with them. In three places within the Bible are inscriptions relating to the Rhind Nicholson family.  Leven is the only Scottish placename. 

I hope the following information is helpful to someone and members can help me gain more knowledge of the life of this unique Bible. The task is a labour of love.
??? = difficult to read. Jpegs can be provided
1 Inside the front cover written in pencil
“William Nicholson    Leven”
“A C Cathels Portland” (see below)
2 Immediately after the NT head page
Robert Nicholson was born 7th Nov 1790 and married the 10th ??? 1814 with Betsy Rhind who was born the 21st May 1791
Robert Nicholson the first son of Robert Nicholson was born the 31st January 1815
??? Nicholson born the 1st February 1817 and died 4th February 1818
3  On a page between the end of the NT and a table of names etc. in the NT
Alexander Nicholson was born the 7th October 1787
Robert Nicholson was born the 7th November 1790
Thomas Nicolson was born June the 25th 1792
    ________________________________________
  Robert Nicholson was born January 31st 1815
  Jean Nicholson was born February 1st 1817
 William Nicholson was born July 20th 1819
 Margaret Goodsir Nicholson 7th Sept?  1822
 Alexander Nicholson born  ?? 7th 1825
 Jean Nicholson died Feb? 4th 1819
 Margaret Goodsir Nicholson died Feb 2nd 1827 aged 4 years and 5 months

Written in faint/worn pencil
Thomas Nicholson was born ?? 20 1828 died 5th April  ????

The Bible was purchased by my uncle at a 1956 executor's sale related to the Cathels and Herbertson families.  It was willed to me in 1982. The Cathels, ex- Perth arrived in Portland 1854, are intertwined by marriage to the Herberstons, (from whom my mother descends) who left Glasgow circa 1830 to settle in Launceston and came to Portland in 1841. Both were pillars of the Presbyterian church.  Despite extensive research I cannot link either family to the Nicholsons. 
A possible breakthrough in the mystery occurred when I found a 1909 obituary of William Halley who died in the Cathels Herbertson home.  Born in Muthill Perth he arrived in Portland 1854 and became a leading stonemason.  In the late 1880s he was stricken with rheumatism. His wife died in 1901.  There were no children. In his latter years he lived with the Cathels.   The A C Cathels inscription is Amelia Cooper Cathels one of the two sisters who cared for William Halley, most likely inscribed after his death.
I have explored his ancestry but cannot find a Nicholson link.   

John Urquhart

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