John Lachlan ROSS [3746]

  General Notes:

by Frances Heyer

JOHN LACHLAN ROSS, his wife Sarah, and son-in-law Robert Cain.

John Lachlan Ross [my great-grandfather] was born on the 5^th May 1866 at Newstead in Victoria. His father was recorded as George Thomas Ross, and was born in Eriboll, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland, and baptised 4^th April 1829. His given name was George Tulloch Ross. He died Echuca, Victoria in 1901. His occupation in Newstead was 'miner".

George Ross and Christina Sutherland were married 14^th July 1851, Bonar Bridge, Sutherland.
George's parents were Lachlan Ross and Ann Fraser. Lachlan Ross was born 1791, Kincardine, Ross-shire to Alexander Ross and Anne MacGregor, who married 2^nd June 1779, Per, Perthshire. Anne MacGregor was born 1762 in Forfar, Angus, and died 1^st February 1845.

Lachlan Ross and Ann Fraser married 11^th December 1819, Creich, Sutherlands. Lachlan was the Grieve/Bailiff [Foreman] for Alexander Clarke, a sheep farmer of Eriboll. Lachlan used the name of Clarke for his son John Clarke Ross.

Ann Fraser was born 1791, Inverness and died 1837, aged 47 at Durness. Lachlan Ross died 4^th May 1879, at Thurso, Caithness. He was buried at Eriboll Burial Ground.

His monumental inscription: Lachlan Ross, native parish of Kincardine, Ross-shire, faithful servant more than 50 years in family Clarkes of Eriboll,
d. Thurso 4:5:1879, aged 88. Wife Ann Fraser d. Eriboll 1837 aged 46, second wife Hanna Mather d. Eriboll 28:6:1872, children Isabella 1829 12, Thomas 14:2:1867 15.

Christy died at Newstead 22^nd May 1899.
[Christy gave the name of Crypool, Sutherland, Scotland as to where she was born, but I have not been able to trace that name, even when I was in contact with a Scottish site. This name is on John Lachlan Ross' birth registration. The name may have sounded like Crypool to the person who registered the birth. It may have been a Gaelic name, or even the name of a farm.]

George 24, his wife Christy 27, and daughter Hughina , arrived Moreton Bay 16^th January 1855, on the "William Miles". George was listed as a labourer, and it was stated that they both could read.
As they had arrived in Queensland they may have been unassisted migrants. Possibly their passages were paid for by the Clarke family.

John Lachlan Ross arrived in South Australia some time before 1887. It appears that his sisters Alexandrina and Hughina, with their husbands, had both lived in South Australia, at least around 1883-1884, as they both had children born there. It is possible he either travelled with them or joined them later.
Sara Bugg, aged 22 and John Lachlan Ross, aged 24 years, were married 15^th September 1887. Her father was listed as William Bugg, however most other records have him listed as Henry Bugg. Her mother was Mary Ann Hams.

Their children were:
Christina Mary Ann born 16^th April 1888, Ruby Grace Ross born 11^th January 1891 [my grandmother], Ernest John born 6^th April 1895, Heugheina Victoria born 11^th April 1902 [name as spelt in record].
Sarah and John also raised Wilbur Mitchell Ross born 4^th June 1909.

Sarah/Fanny Ross died 22^nd July 1938 at Helmsdale. [My mother had said that her grandmother's name was Sarah, but in the Birth Registers her name was always given as Fanny, and in the register of her death and burial. It is only in the Marriage Register is this name given as Sarah].

Christina Ross married Robert Cain on 28^th February 1920. Her age was 31, and he was 35 years old. His father was Michael Cain, and he came from Victoria. Christina died 25^th February 1957, and her husband died 12^th September 1865.

Hughina Ross [known as Nin] married Albert Edward Frankcom on 19^th May 1923. She was 22 and he was 21. His parents were William George Frankcom and Caroline Stacey. The marriage ended in Separation or divorce.
Their children were Constance, Ronald and Malcolm.

Ruby Ross married Frederick James Read. 24^th January 1914.
Their daughter Eileen Gwenda was born 16^th June 1914. [my mother]

Their son Walter Ernest was born 17^th December 1917.

Ruby died on 20^th December 1917, 3 days after the birth of her son Walter.
Walter was raised by Christina and Bob Cain, but Frederick Read, would not allow them to adopt him.

Ernest John Ross [known as Dodger] married Anita Friebe on 2^nd March 1918. Their only child, Ruby, was born 29^th July 1918.
Ruby married Francis Martin McNamara, on 31^st May 1941. Ruby died of Leukaemia five and half months after her marriage.

Story and photos supplied by Frances Heyer ³⁸⁵²