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Your connection with Scotland in the 1700s, and with pioneers in South Australia in the late 1800s
Jessie & Alexander GORDON - family tree & stories
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 1852 - 1925 (73 years)
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| Name |
Alexander (jnr) GORDON |
| Born |
4 Apr 1852 |
Larbert, Stirling, Scotland, UK  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| General event |
Death : Alexander died on 21st April 1925, at the age of 74 years, in the Wxx Laurences Private Hospital, Wakefield St, Hindmarsh West, Adelaide.
* Death certificate : Issued : 6th May 1925.
* Cause of death : Cancer of stomach for 8 months
* Buried : Westside Terrace Cemetery
* Obituary : The Register on 23rd April 1925
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| General event |
Insolvent : Alexander was declared insolvent in the Adelaide Supreme Court on 23rd November 1881 (ref : p 1739 of the gazette of South Australia). At the time he was described as a farmer in Bordertown. |
| General event |
Obituary: Adelaide Observer, 25th April 1925, p39
Mr Alexander Gordon whose death at the aged of 74 years is announced this morning, was a native of Stirlingshire, Scotland, and, when two years old, was brought by his parents to South Australia in the ship Albatross [actually Eldorado].
His father was engaged for a long period in farming at Beaufort in the neighbourhood of Strathalbyn, where he became very well known.
On leaving school, the son followed in his father's steps, and in course of time acquired expert knowledge of cattle and sheep and wool classing.
He was in the employ of the late Mr. J. H. Angas as a station manager for 10 years, and thereafter, after occupying himself in other activities for a while, he was appointed by the late Mr. Eversley Thomas to the management of the Watulunga Station, at The Finniss, a position which he relinquished after 11 years' service.
As a judge of sheep and cattle exhibits at Royal Agricultural Shows and other shows in the country, he earned considerable fame.
More recently he farmed virgin land in cooperation with two or three of his sons, at Wambi.
Mr.Gordon, from boyhood onwards, was a faithful member of the Church of Christ, and assisted materially the courses of that body at Strathalbyn, Milang, and Point Sturt.
A sister became the wife of Dr. Blue, of Strathalbyn, and was esteemed and popular in later life as the wife of the late Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice, Sir Samuel Way, Bart.
Early in life, the deceased was married to Miss Annie Saltmarsh, of Bugle Ranges, who survives him.
The family, who are all living, comprise eight sons and three daughters. Three of the sons?Coningsby, Gifford, and Lindley? went to the United States, and after a course of theological study, became Church of Christ ministers. Owing to their exceptional oratorical powers?they have rendered notable service, at the instance of various organizations to the cause of prohibition and the peace movement, both in America and Australia. The other sons?Lavington, Ronald, Athol, Roy, and Allan?have devoted their energies to farming in their native South Australia. Two of the daughters (Nathalie and Eva) are married to farmers in the State. The eldest, Miss Jessie Gordon resides with her mother. There are numerous grand-children.
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| Notes for biography |
Advertiser Adelaide, 17th March 1932, p10
Out Among the People, by Rufus: Could Race Phar Lap - LAL Gordon, Tiparra via Paskeville writes:-"Dear Rufus, your talk over the air about your holiday was most interesting to me, as many of the haunts you visited are very familiar to me and many of the people you mentioned are personal friends and schoolmates of mine. When my father was managing Point Sturt for the then owner, Joan Howard Angas, ducks were very plentiful, and we boys shot hundreds of them. You mentioned something about ostriches. I know a little about those same birds. Mr. Angas sent 20 of them to Point Sturt. They proved a rank failure from a money-making point of view, although feathers were fashionable and commanded a high price. They do not work well together with cattle: they tear themselves about too much in the barbed wire. You compared their speed to a fast trotter. Why, Phar Lap at his top would not get near them and they can maintain top speed for half a day. They are the maddest things on earth to yard. They will not go through the gateways without first walking past about twenty times. If there are chicks among them then the job is simplified, as the chicks, being low, lead the way through the gate. I remember we boys chasing one bird that broke away for half a day. It eventually took to the water and walked out until only about a foot of its neck and head were above water. It then resembled a periscope of a submarine "They are very savage at nesting time especially the male bird. I remember my old grandfather. Henry Saltmarsh, who was staying with us on two occasions coming in contact with the ostriches. The first time he had his head cut badly and his coat and pants ripped almost off him. The second encounter put him to bed for weeks with three broken ribs. Out of season the birds are very tame and can be made pets of. They are real gourmands. We boys had to crack stones and cut up bones for them to swallow. They will pick up iron and other metals if they get the chance." |
| Immigration |
5 Oct 1854 |
Scotland to South Australia |
| Migration : 1854 on the 'Eldorado' - see notes of his father, Alexander. |
| Occupation |
Alexander was a farmer in Strathalbyn but later went to Alma. |
| Residence |
Residences :
* Larbert in Stirling as an infant before migrating as a 2 year old in 1854.
* Belvidere - 'Beaufort' as a child and youth.
* Alma Plains at the time they were married 1875 and birth of Coningsby 1876
* Torrie Bank on the Paris Creek Road, about 10 kilometres north west of Strathalbyn - when Lavington was born in 1877.
* Strathalbyn - cottage near the Lutheran Church - when Jessie was born in 1878.
* Dry Plains - south west of Strathalbyn - at the time that Ronald was born in 1879.
* Tatiara near Bordertown - at the time that Gifford 1881 and Linley 1883 were born.
* Naracoorte when Nathalie was born in 1885. See also notes about brother John's residences.
* Point Sturt, near the shores of Lake Alexandrina - when Eva 1888, Roy 1891 and Allan 1894 were all born.
* 'Watulunga'
* 'Glengarrie'
* 31 Candover St, Geelong
* He was a farmer in Strathalbyn but later went to Alma?? -
* Warbie??? on death certificate
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| Died |
21 Apr 1925 |
Wxx Laurences Private Hospital, Wakefield St, Hindmarsh West, Adelaide |
| Buried |
Westside Terrace Cemetery |
| Person ID |
I4 |
Alexander & Jessie |
| Last Modified |
18 Apr 2018 |
| Father |
Alexander GORDON, b. 19 Feb 1822, d. 5 Sep 1895, 'Beaufort', Belvidere, SA, Australia (Age 73 years) |
| Mother |
Jessie MacKinzie Kennady MATHESON, b. 17 Apr 1823, Inverness, Scotland, UK , d. 12 Jun 1866, Lake Plains, SA, Australia (Age 43 years) |
| Married |
18 Feb 1850 |
Kirkhill, Scotland, UK |
| Wedding |
18 Feb 1850 |
Kirkhill |
| OPR marriages 103/0020 0133 - Kirkhill on 18th February 1850: "Married of this date Alexander Gordon Brahan Parrish of Urray to Jessie Matheson Inchberry Parish of Kirkhill witness Alex Fraser? esq Inchberry and Alex Douglas schoolmaster Keswick?" |
| Family ID |
F2 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Annie SALTMARSH, b. 28 Oct 1853, Bugle Ranges via Hahndorf, SA, Australia , d. 4 Nov 1932 (Age 79 years) |
| Married |
31 Mar 1875 |
Christian Chapel, Groote St, Adelaide, SA, Australia |
- They might have been married in 1876 rather than 1875.
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| Children |
As well as their own 11 children, they also raised Alexander Duff Gordon whose mother died in an accident soon after he was born and his father, Coningsby, went to America. Baby Alexander was Alexander's and Annie's first grandchild - he was born in 1902, just 8 years after their youngest child |
| Residence |
Annie and Alexander farmed around the Strathalbyn district. They lived at 'Watulunga'. |
| Wedding |
Wedding : Alexander and Annie were married on 31st March 1875 at the Christian Chapel in Grote St, Adelaide.
The witnesses on the marriage certificate were Mary McGREGOR of Alma, Henry SALTMARSH of Lake Plains, and Robert D LAWRIE of Alma.
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| Children |
| + | 1. Coningsby Matheson GORDON, b. 16 Jan 1876, Alma Plains, SA, Australia , d. 29 Jul 1957 (Age 81 years) [Birth] |
| + | 2. Lavington Alexander Lindsay GORDON, b. 18 Aug 1877, Torrie Banks, Strathalbyn, SA, Australia , d. 9 Jan 1958 (Age 80 years) |
| | 3. Jessie Olive Effie GORDON, b. 24 Aug 1878, Strathalbyn, SA, Australia , d. 24 Jan 1960 (Age 81 years) |
| + | 4. Ronald Erskine Gower GORDON, b. 27 Nov 1879, Dry Plains via Strathalbyn, SA, Australia , d. 9 Sep 1937, Dry Plains, SA, Australia (Age 57 years) |
| | 5. Gifford Avondale Clyde ('Giff') GORDON, b. 24 Aug 1881, Bordertown, SA, Australia , d. 4 Jan 1973 (Age 91 years) |
| | 6. Linley Vincent Glenroy GORDON, b. 10 Dec 1883, Bordertown, SA, Australia (or Tatiara?) , d. 15 Dec 1967 (Age 84 years) |
| + | 7. Nathalie Cyrilla Floy GORDON, b. 7 Oct 1885, Naracoorte, SA, Australia , d. 2 Sep 1969 (Age 83 years) |
| + | 8. Eva Florence Annabel GORDON, b. 21 Jul 1888, Point Sturt, SA , d. 16 May 1969 (Age 80 years) |
| + | 9. Athol Beaufort Stirling ('Bob') GORDON, b. 16 Sep 1889, Port Sturt, SA, Australia , d. 13 Aug 1969 (Age 79 years) |
| + | 10. Roy Dudley Strathern GORDON, b. 19 Nov 1891, Point Sturt, SA, Australia , d. 13 Feb 1962 (Age 70 years) |
| | 11. Albyn Huntley Dunallen GORDON, b. 26 Feb 1894, Point Sturt, SA, Australia , d. 12 Sep 1977 (Age 83 years) |
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| Last Modified |
5 Apr 2018 |
| Family ID |
F36 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Photos
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 | Alex jnr Gordon & Annie, nee Saltmarsh in 1908
Notice how tall Alex is - and that he is balding by the age of 56 years. |
 | Alexander Gordon & Annie nee Saltmarsh
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 | W - Alexander Gordon (jnr) - as a young man
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 | Alexander Gordon (jnr) - middle aged
Baptized by W Judd in 1870 |
 | WW - Churches of Christ in Milang 1908 - group photo with Mrs & Mr Alex Gordon, Mrs Will Saltmarsh, Mrs & Mr Murdoch McBain
"The Southern Conference of the Churches of Christ was again held in Milang on Tuesday 18 February 1908, fifty delegates being in the town, representing churches at Willunga, Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Point Sturt, Stiring East, Aldgate Valley and Milang. After the afternoon session the delegates adjourned to the Institute where the Jubilee anniversary tea of the Milang Church took place." |
 | Angus Plains school
Alexander, Donald, John, Catherine, Hugh & Maggie might have attended this school as there was probably not a school at Belvidere. |
 | Alexander, little Alex & Coningsby
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| Documents
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 | Alexander Gordon - born 4th April 1852 in Larbert
OPR 485-2
Father - Alexander Gordon, labourer
Mother - Jessie Mathieson |
 | Alexander Gordon & Annie Saltmarsh - marriage on 31st March 1875 in Adelaide
Wedding at the Christian Chapel, Grote St, Adelaide. Witnesses were Mary McGregor (of Celamy?), Henry Saltmarsh (farmer of Lake Plains), and Robert D Lawrie (farmer of Alma).
Alexander was a 22 year old [c1853], bachelor, a farmer of Alma, whose his father was Alexander Gordon.
Annie was a 21 year old [c1854], spinster of Lake Plains whose father was Henry Saltmarsh. |
 | Alexander Gordon - Will - died 1925
* Will signed 13th March 1925
* “I give and bequeath the whole of his real and personal estate to my wife Annie Gordon for her use and benefit absolutely”
* Died 21st April 1925
* Probate on 22nd May 1925
* Estate not to exceed 4100 pounds
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 | Alexander Gordon - death on 21st April 1925 in Adelaide
* Alexander Gordon, male, aged 74 years [c1851], grazier, usual residence Wanbi, born in Stirling, migrated 70 years ago, age at marriage 22 years [c1903]
* Living children 8 boys & 3 girls, none deceased.
* Cause of death cancer of stomach for 8 months.
* Place of death Miss Lawrence's Private Hospital in Wakefield Street, Hindmarsh Ward, Adelaide.
* Undertaker Vekuabe? Rundle Street Adelaide.
* Extract of death certificate, registration 152992 |
| Our places
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 | Life at Watulunga
Watulunga was about 5 kms from the village of Finniss. The home was constructed of stone. It had 12 rooms - all warmed by 5 fireplaces - and a long passageway. It stood on a rise above the Finniss River and overlooked a large lagoon. It has been demolished.
Alex managed this property after 1893.
Annie said that the Watulunga years were the happiest of her life.
The young people were always welcome in the large home where there was much family entertainment.
Old Pantoni demonstrating his fire skills. He was probably a workman at Watulunga.
Alexander Campbell Duff Gordon is the little boy in three photos - in front of the women near the homestead, sitting on the wheatbags, and sitting on the hay cart. |
 | Watulunga - homestead, stables, driveway and bedroom door
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 | Farming at Watulunga - the Gordon boys at work
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 | At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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| Sources |
- [S13] Family search, family search MM9.1.1/XT2F-5MK, 2:17VZG88, FHL microfilm 1041953).
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