John McCaskie and Catherine Neillings
John and Catherine were my great great grandparents. They started from humble beginnings.
When they came to Australia, John was a farm hand and Catherine was a nursemaid, however
they worked their way up to a very comfortable life. They became business owners and
landholders in the inner Sydney suburb of Balmain and in Sydney itself during the 1860's.
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Irish Cottage |
John was born in 1818 in Creevy,
Ardstraw, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland |
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Old McAskie House
in Creevy |
He
died on 18 Jan 1895 at his home in Crescent St, Balmain and was buried on 19 Jan 1895 in
Rookwood, in the Presbyterian section. He was one of the sons of James McCaskie and Anne
Moore. He married Catherine Nealings on 24 Sep 1850 in York St Chapel, Sydney.
Notes for John McCaskie
John's ancestors were probably Scottish. There is very strong evidence to show that the
McAskies/McCaskies came from Scotland to settle in Northern Ireland in the late
seventeenth century, according to James P McCaskie, in his book "Shadows in the Mist
- The McCaskies", self published in 1989 and other sources.
James P. McCaskie author of "Shadows in the Mist" asks the question -
"What of the family which changed the spelling to "McCaskie"?
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The Derg Valley, Ardstraw, Co Tyrone - fertile
farming area where the McCaskies lived |
He states there is now a large family of McCaskies in Northern Ireland, living
principally in Omagh, Drumquin and Castlederg. Some members told him that several
brothers, who were born in 1790s or early 1800s, immigrated to Australia when they were
young. (We now know that these were John, who was born in 1818, and James born in 1829 at
Creevy, Castlederg).
Presbyterians
The evidence that John came from a staunch Presbyterian family is shown by the fact that
at least four of his close relatives were Presbyterian ministers, including his brother
Joseph who went to Philadelphia.
John leaves Ireland
John worked at farming in Ireland, then at age 20 he sailed to California. He then came to
Australia on the ship "Moffatt" and arrived here on 31/5/1841. His shipping
record showed that he was born in Ireland in 1818.
According to "Australian Men of Mark" page 44, Vol.2, appendix p.44.
"John McCaskie was born in county Tyrone, Ireland in 1818 and worked for some time at
farming. In 1838 he immigrated to California and three years later came to N.S.W. He
settled in Balmain and became a Grocer and Draper. Mr.McCaskie is a considerable property
holder in Balmain, and his business is in a flourishing condition". His occupations
were farmer, weaver, groomsman, dairyman and businessman. He owned several shops in
Balmain and the city.
Shipping records show he arrived by the ship Moffatt, was single aged 20, and a
native of Ardstraw, county Tyrone. His parents were James and Anne and he called himself a
Labourer. He was brought out by Nicholas James Esq., as an Assisted
Immigrant. His state of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness was good. His
religion is shown as Protestant. He could read and write and made no complaints during the
voyage.
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What is an
assisted immigrant?
The term 'assisted immigrant' refers to those people whose passage was subsidised
or paid for through one of the several assisted immigration schemes which operated to New
South Wales from the United Kingdom and other countries. State Records holds records of
assisted immigrants from 1828 to 1896 which can provide valuable information such as
native place and parents’ names. All of the records of assisted immigrants are
indexed. |
His sister Elizabeth
came out on the same ship and under his protection. Her calling was Housemaid, aged 18
years. Later, his brother James arrived unassisted on the "Sea" 29/9/1849.
Shipping records show he was 20 years old and a Farm Labourer from Ardstraw, County
Tyrone, Ireland. That both his parents, James and Nancy (Anne) were deceased. Religion C
of E. that he could read and write and he was in good health. |
Sands
Directory shows that between 1861 and 1887 John owned several businesses. He was a
dairyman at White Bay and Crescent St Balmain and 84 Market St, Sydney.
George St Sydney |
John McCaskie |
He
owned The Fancy Bazaar (Drapery) at 837 George St, Sydney and also was a Paper Bag Maker
at the same address. He was a Gardener, at Crescent St, Balmain (probably supplying his
shop with fruit and vegetables), Greengrocer at 837 George St Sydney and Crescent St
Balmain, Fruiterer at 837/865 George St Sydney and Storekeeper at Crescent St
Balmain.
His sons Robert and Thomas (McCaskie Bros. & Co) had a Blacksmiths and Coachsmiths
business on the corner of Weston St and Parsons St., Balmain.
John died 18/1/1895 at Crescent St Balmain and he is buried in the Presbyterian Section at
Rookwood.
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Nineteenth Century Gravestones
in Rookwood Cemetery
the largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world's largest preserved example
of a Victorian garden cemetery, Rookwood Necropolis, located in Sydney's west.
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