David GORDON

1824 - 1891  (66 years)

• Name	David GORDON
  Born	24 Apr 1824	Kiltearn, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Notes for biography	David arrived in Victoria in 1852 whereas his older brother Alexander (jnr) arrived in South Australia in 1854. Colin Semmler noted that "Family tradition has it that there was little of no communication between the two brothers. Athol Gordon (son of Alexander junior) knew of David's existence, but not his name, and referred to them as 'the lost Gordons'."
  Immigration	* David and Christine migrated to Victoria 12 months after the wedding and soon after the infant death of their first child. * They embarked on the Marco Polo in Liverpool on 4th July 1852. The master was Captain James Nichol 'Bully' Forbes with 60 crew and 2000 tons of cargo. There were 930 passengers - the largest number of passengers up to that time. They arrived, after the fastest time of 78 days, in Hobson's Bay on 20th Sept 1852. * The Marco Polo was built at St John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1851 by James Smith. This vessel was 1625 registered tons, 185 feet (56 metres), and was twice the size of the other ships in the Blackball Line of Liverpool. For a description of the Marco Polo see https://westerndistrictfamilies.com/tag/marco-polo/ * For a description of the circumstances when they arrived see "Early settlement and employment in the colony of Victoria" (http://www.moidart.org.uk - michaelmurray). This was at the timr of a major gold rush.  [1]
  Died	26 Mar 1891
  Buried	Pleasant Creek Cemetery. The monumental records show no headstone for either David or Christine. [1]
  Person ID	I333	Alexander & Jessie
  Last Modified	21 Dec 2023

  
  

  Father	John GORDON,   b. 27 Feb 1795, Belmaduthy, Knockbain, Scotland ,   d. 16 Sep 1869, Brahan's Ferry, Urray, Scotland, UK  (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth 'Lizy' GORDON,   b. 1791,   d. 8th July 1883, Brahan Mains, Urray, Scotland, UK  (Age 92 years)
  Married	Y  [2]
  Children	* There are records of John and Elizabeth having 9 children - but there might have been others. * The births were over a period of 20 years - from 1814 to 1834. * There is a gap of 6 years between the first 2 (Hugh then Ann) so maybe there was there was another child or two, or miscarriages. * Then there were 8 children born in 14 years - notably 3 (David, Margaret & the first James) in just 31 months. * There were early deaths, including the first James. * David and Alexander were the only ones to migrate. * Locations: The first child was born in Killreanon, the next 5 were in Kiltearn and the last 3 were in Contin. (These notes by Don Gordon in May 2025)
  Family ID	F111	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Christine BRODIE,   b. 1828,   d. 1863  (Age 35 years)
  Married	29 Jun 1851	Coupas Angus   [3]
  	Coupar Angus is 23 kms northwest of Dundee.
  Residence	David and Christine lived around Ballarat, then Stawell.  [1]
  Children	1. John GORDON,   b. 1852 + 2. John Hugh GORDON,   b. 25 Nov 1854, Melbourne, Victoria ,   d. 19 Oct 1911, Broken Hill, Victoria  (Age 56 years) + 3. Robert Brodie GORDON,   b. 18 Jan 1857, Buninyong, Vic ,   d. 22 Mar 1932  (Age 75 years) + 4. Catherine Ross GORDON,   b. 17 Aug 1859, Miner's Rest, Ballarat, Vic ,   d. 18 Jun 1922  (Age 62 years)   5. David GORDON,   b. 17 Aug 1859, Miner's Rest, Ballarat, Vic ,   d. 16 Mar 1865, Miner's Rest, Ballarat, Vic  (Age 5 years)
  Last Modified	17 Dec 2023
  Family ID	F593	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Jessie COUTTS
  Last Modified	21 Dec 2023
  Family ID	F648	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Marco Polo * The Marco Polo left Liverpool on 4th July 1852. The master was Captain James Nichol 'Bully' Forbes with 60 crew and 2000 tons of cargo. There were 930 passengers - the largest number of passengers up to that time. They arrived, after the fastest time of 78 days, in Hobson's Bay on 20th Sept 1852. * The Marco Polo was built at St John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1851 by James Smith. This vessel was 1625 registered tons, 185 feet (56 metres), and was twice the size of the other ships in the Blackball Line of Liverpool. For a description of the Marco Polo see https://westerndistrictfamilies.com/tag/marco-polo/

  
  

  Documents		WW - David Gordon - born 24th April 1824 in Kiltearn.pdf Parents: John Gordon, gardener at Kiltearn & his wife Lizy had a son born to them on the twenty fourth day of April eighteen hundred & twenty four & baptized & named David
  		WW - David Gordon & Christina Brodie - marriage on 29th June 1851 in Coupar Angus 1851 June 29th, David Gordon & Christina Brodie of this parish (Coupar Angus)
  		David Gordon & Christine - migrated on Marco Polo arriving in Victoria in 1852 The Marco Carlo arrived on 20th September 1852 - the master was JN Forbes. David was recorded as a 28 year old farm labourer, and Christine was 24 years old. Both were listed as Scottish adults of course. Altogether, there were 930 passengers who consisted 661 from Scotland, 55 from England and 214 from Ireland - 603 adults, 293 chidren between 1 and 14 years and 34 babies.

  
  

• Sources

  [S84] Colin Semmler, Email on 4th March 2019. [S16] Colin Semmler - these notes can be seen with Documents on the left of the home page, Page 1. [S90] BDM record attached to this profile.