You were previously introduced to my Scottish great-grandfather as mentioned in “The Arrivals – 1883 (1)”. He arrived on board the “Oban Bay” in 1883.
1856.
My name is David Witherspoon Nicol. I was born in 1856. My parents were Peter and Elizabeth Nicol. Mammie was previously a McGregor. I am the eldest son. I do have an older sister who was about a year older. There were two additions to our family: Catherine, born in 1857 and Janet in 1860. In 1861, I was living with Mammie and Papa along with three sisters, Margaret, Catherine and Janet. We are all living at Oldfargie.
Like most bairns, little is known at the beginning of our lives in this world.
Bairns.
The next decade is mostly a blur. I would have attended school. Papa was busy with his ploughing. Mammie was busy producing bairns. The family additions were: Isabella born in 1863. William in 1864, dying the same year. Robert in 1866. Elizabeth in 1868 and lastly James in 1870.
Farm Servant.
I vaguely remember leaving my parent’s hoose between when the youngest bairns were born. I was first employed as a Farm Servant at East Blair, about 2 miles from Duncrieve.
In 1871, I was living with the Millar family and helping out on the farm. I would have been around 14 at the time.
Being engaged as a farm servant had its benefits. I lived on the farm and was able to learn so much more about farming. The weather always played its part.
Being out in the fields in winter was just bearable but it was very, very cold. And for the snow, let’s not natter about that. August and September were always extremely busy. We usually all prayed that it didn’t rain till we were done.
Experience.
Every year, when the harvest was done, then it was time to celebrate. Celebrations over and we would start all over again. Farming is an experience. Before long, Christmas time rolled around. It was always good to see my parents even if only for a couple of days. New Year’s was always a hoot. In the midst of winter – no matter the weather – we always celebrated Burns night on 25 January. A special time for us Scots.
Bothy.
I moved from the Millars sometime in the mid-to-late 70s. I took up further employment, again as a Farm Servant at the Invermay Farm Bothy, still not too far from Mammie and Papa.
I was living with the Morrison family around 1881. Living in the Bothy was rough. I would have been in my mid-20s by now. I would do the usual a laddie in his 20s would do. Sometimes drink a bit too much.
On one of my adventures, I had come across notices about the Australian colonies and in particular the new Queensland colony. It seemed a far-fetched daydream but sometimes dreams come true.
Townsville.
I headed to Glasgow jumped on board the Oban Bay, and set sail for Townsville. I was 27. It was 1883. Most of my early days in and around Townsville are lost in my memories. Mostly I remember how different everything was to Scotland. Townsville was small in comparison to Glasgow. I think this village was about 20 years old. There was a railway station, a prison, a hospital and a lovely botanical garden. There are goldfields to the west of the town – I think the place is called Charters Touers or something like that. The wee villages, I came from in Scotland, were established villages, unlike Townsville. Glasgow on the other hand was huge with a population of over half a million. I think Townsville’s population is around 4000 at this time.
I was a tad excited about being in the colonies. I had no idea what would happen. One thing I must point out is the weather. It was July when I arrived and it was winter! No snow for a start.
Overseer.
I don’t recall what I did and where I went in the first few years after my arrival. I do however remember becoming involved in this industry revolving around sugarcane. From a humble Farm Servant to an Overseer at the Victoria Sugar Plantation near Ingham, about 70 miles north of Townsville.
1890.
In the winter of 1890, I married a Bonnie wee lassie called Jessie. She was a few years younger than me. I will let Jess tell her story and all the details about our bairns born over the next decade or so. In all, we had nine bairns – two wee lassies and the rest boys.
Mackay.
We moved south to the Mackay region around 1893. We set up hoose at a place called Pleystowe.
I became very involved in sugar planting. So much was happening. The wet season always caused issues but we coped. My Mammie died in 1903 back in Scotland. We moved to the other side of the river and set up a new hoose. I did become a farmer. Back in Scotland, Papa died a few months after the European war had commenced in 1914. The world is changing. I was concerned about our sons who may have to be in the Army and fight against the Germans. I do remember they mostly got exemptions as they were involved in farming. It was a difficult time for everyone.
David Witherspoon Nicol never knew the war ended as he died on 5 October 1918 at the Mackay Base Hospital. He was buried at Mackay Cemetery on 6 October. He was 62 years old.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Maps of Scotland: National Library of Scotland:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=14.7&lat=56.27570&lon=-3.40130&layers=171&b=1&z=0&point=0,0
Photos: WordPress
David’s photograph: own collection – unknown date
Ancestor Family 