1890: DEATH OF AN AYRSHIRE MAN IN AUSTRALIA

It’s been a long-running joke that there may have been a family relationship connection between my third Great Grandfather James Ferguson, and James Urie, who were business partners in the historic Ferguson and Urie stained-glass company in North Melbourne between 1853-1899.

Some years ago I started a family tree for James Urie to assist me with writing up his biography and one of the coincidental curiosities I found was that his mother’s maiden name was Jean Ferguson who married William Urie at Kilmarnock, Scotland, in 1814. During my research it felt like every second person in Scotland was named Ferguson, so I dismissed it very early as there was no other credible information or family links to join the dots.

On my own family tree research I found a curiosity in the March 1851 Scotland Census, where James Urie was listed as a visitor at James Ferguson’s house in John Street, Wallacetown, Ayr, on the evening the census was conducted. Their professions were listed as Slater & Glaziers and my reasonable assumption was that James Ferguson and James Urie worked for, and had been apprentices of, James’ father, James Ferguson Snr (1777-1886) who had a significant slating and glazing business in Wallacetown and a large slate yard along the river between the Old Bridge and New Bridge.

In 2015 I was looking for research material to post an article about James Urie’s house named ‘Glencairn‘ which was built in Wellington Street, Flemington in 1885. Knowing that many of the old colonists were prolific at naming their houses in Australia after a town or landmark near their place of birth, Kilmarnock was the obvious target area to focus on.

It didn’t take long to find a place in the middle of Kilmarnock named ‘Glencairn Square’ at the intersection of Glencairn and Shaw Streets East and West. This seemed to be a reasonable clue as to the vicinity of where James Urie grew up. The second lucky find was an old map I found online (undated) which not only showed Glencairn Square but also the names of the householders along the streets. Seven houses south of Glencairn Square on the east side of Glencairn Street was the name “Ferguson & Urie”.

This resurrected the credibility of the old relationship joke, but it still didn’t prove anything. It seemed credible that this was where the Urie family must have lived in Kilmarnock but the coincidental name combination of “Ferguson & Urie” on the old map was way ahead of its time. When James and David Ferguson and James Urie arrived in North Melbourne in April 1853 they logically named their plumbing, slating, and glazing firm “Ferguson & Urie”.

There were no other clues to make any positive family tree connection but in May 2021 something remarkable surfaced in the British Newspaper Archives. Here was an article in the Ayr Advertiser in September 1890 titled “Death of an Ayrshire man in Australia” squarely claiming that the men were cousins:

“…It states that Mr Urie was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in May, 1828, so that at the time of his death he was 62 years of age. Early in 1853 he came out to Victoria, with his cousins, the Messrs Ferguson, and other. Mr Urie and Mr James and David Ferguson [sons of the late Mr James Ferguson, slater and glazier, River Street Ayr,] entered into partnership under the title of Ferguson and Urie, commencing business as plumbers and glaziers…”

A jackpot? Not quite.

Despite all the clues and this astonishing article claiming James & David Ferguson and James Urie were cousins, I still haven’t been able to find out how. The first assumption was they were first cousins, but despite my best efforts I haven’t established that James & David’s father, James Ferguson Snr, had a sister named Jean Ferguson, and no luck looking in other directions to find relationships via any second or third cousins relationships either.

The mystery continues.

Ayr Advertiser Thursday 5th September 1890, page 4.

“DEATH OF AN AYRSHIRE MAN IN AUSTRALIA”

“THE ‘West Bourke (Victoria) Times” [1] of July 25 contains a long obituary notice of Councillor James Urie [2], who died their (sic) after a short illness, on Monday the 21st of July. It states that Mr Urie was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in May, 1828, [3] so that at the time of his death he was 62 years of age. Early in 1853 he came out to Victoria, with his cousins, the Messrs Ferguson, and others. Mr Urie and Messrs James [4] and David Ferguson[5] [sons of the late Mr James Ferguson, slater and glazier, River Street Ayr,] [6] entered into partnership under the title of Ferguson and Urie, commencing business as plumbers and glaziers in Curzon-street, Hotham[7]. In course of time their business assumed very large proportions and a palatial factory was erected. [8] Mr Urie entered the municipal arena about five years ago. In the discharge of his public duties. Mr Urie displayed most commendable zeal, and much ability. He won the esteem of his fellow councillors, as he had won the respect of the rate payers by the amiability of his disposition, the uprightness of his character, and a tendency to speak with candour, and judge with impartiality. After being a councilor for two years, he was elected mayor, and performed arduous duties appertaining to that position intelligently, zealously, and ably. When deputation after deputation waited upon the Premier, the well-known form of Mayor Urie was always to the fore, and his gentlemanly bearing and quiet earnestness of manner never failed to exert a beneficial influence. When his term of office as councilor expired, he sought re-election and was triumphantly returned at the top of the poll. His popularity never waned, and the confidence placed in him has never been shaken. His efforts for the welfare of the people of his borough will long be remembered with gratitude. He was a gentleman whom any community could ill-afford to lose. When he was mayor he laid the foundation stone of the Flemington Presbyterian Church [9], of which he was a member, and greatly assisted in the work of its erection. He was never backward in lending a helping hand in every deserving cause. He was Justice of the Peace, a member of the Kensington Masonic Lodge, and also an Oddfellow. His cheering voice, pleas and smile, and kindly presence will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He leaves a wife and nine children – three sons and six daughters. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, and the procession was one of the largest ever seen in the borough.” [10]

Footnotes:

[1] As at 20210530, the West Bourke Times tabloid has not been included in the Australian National Archives ‘Trove’ Collection.

[2] Biography: James Urie (1828-1890)

[3] James Urie was born in Kilmarnock 14^th May 1828, to William Urie and Jane Ferguson.

[4] Biography: James Ferguson (1818-1894)

[5] Biography: David Ferguson (1825-1872)

[6] Sons of James Ferguson Snr (1777 – 1866) & Janet Kay (1791-1860)

[7] Later to be known as North Melbourne

[8] See https://fergusonandurie.wordpress.com

[9] James Urie laid the Presbyterian Church foundation in 1888

[10] The late Councillor Urie, 25th July 1890

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