Margaret Bain (nee McLaren) (27 Oct 1814 - 5 Jan 1893)

Margaret Bain (nee McLaren)

Margaret McLaren was born at Easter Auchrew at Lochearnhead, Scotland in 27 October 1814 to parents Archibald McLaren and Margaret King.


Birth certificate of Margaret McLaren

Margaret married John Bain on 15 February 1834 at Balquidder Parish Church, Balquidder, Stirlingshire, Scotland.  John Bain is from the parish of Dunipace and Margaret from the Balquidder parish.

They had 4 sons and 3 daughters as follows:

• 1834 - Margaret Bain at Denny 
• 1837 - Janet Bain at Denny
• 1840 - James Bain at Denny
• 1842 - Catharine Bain at Denny
• 1845 - John Bain at Alva
• 1849 - Archibald Bain at Alva
• 1852 - William Bain (my great, great grandfather) at Alva

1834 - Margaret christened on 5 July in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland

1837 - Janet born in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland

1840 - James born in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland

6 June 1841 Census - Margaret (aged 23) is living at Bankend Road, Dunipace, Falkirkshire, Scotland with her husband John (aged 24) and children Janet (aged 4) and James (aged 1). Husband John is listed as a Cal Prin which means a Calico Printer (of dyed or coloured calico).  This means he was engaged in the trade of printing linencloth at the local mill.  It was a common occupation in the area at that time.  The cottage they were living at is listed before the steading (farm) and local schoolhouse.  Daughter Margaret Bain is staying at Easter Auchrew with her grandparents this night.

1842 - Catharine born in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland

The family move from Denipace, Stirlingshire, Scotland to Alva.  They stay at Alva until 1855.

1845 - John born in Alva, Scotland

1849 - Archibald born in Alva, Scotland

1851 - Margaret (aged 33) is living at Tollroad, Alva, Scotland with her husband John (aged 34) and children Janet (aged 14 and a scholar), James (aged 11 and a scholar), Catherine (aged 9 and a scholar), John (aged 6 and a scholar, born Alva) and Archibald (aged 2, born Alva).  Husband John is listed as a General Labourer as is listed as being born at Alloa, Clackmannanshire. 

1852 - William Bain, my great-great Grandfather born in Alva, Scotland

On December 1854, the Bain's family board a ship named "Northern Light" from Liverpool.  It was the 10th ship fro England to South Australia with government passengers for 1855.  There were 8 births and 3 deaths on the passage.  It was states that with the exception of some of the single women, the immigrants seemed to be, according to the surgeon-superintendent on board, a well selected class of persons.

The records state of the Bains that they were from Alva, Stirlingshire and travelling were:

• John, aged 42.  Agricultural Labourer
• Margaret Bain (nee McLaren), aged 39 
• Mary (real name Margaret) Bain, aged 20.  Farm Servant.
• Janet, aged 18.  Farm Servant.
• Catherine, aged 15
• John Bain, aged 8
• Archibald Bain, aged 5
• William Bain, aged 3

James, the eldest son (who would have been 14) stayed behind but came out later to Australia (see below).

The ship arrived in Port Adelaide on Monday 9 April, 1855 with 445 people on board. 

Margaret Bain (nee McLaren's) knitting needles held by Lisa Alexander

Four years later on the 18 August 1858, Margaret's husband, John Bain died in a tree felling accident.

In newspaper dated Wed 25 August 1858 - "A most distressing accident occurred on Wednesday last at Glen Para, the residence of David Randall, Esq, JP, which resulted in the death of one of his workmen, named John Bain, a native of Scotland, who had been upwards of three years in the employment of Mr Randall, and was a remarkably quiet steady man.  It appears that deceased and another man were cross-cutting a fallen tree, from which projected almost perpendicularly a high limb; when the cut was nearly complete, the log rolled, influence by the weight of the limb, in a direction contrary to that expected, and thus in running from the danger the unfortunate man was struck to the ground, and so firmly fastened there by the ponderous limb that he could not be extricated before it was cut through.  Life must have been immediately extinct, as he never moved or spoke afterwards.  I understand that an inquest has been held, but the only verdict that can be given is accidental death.  Deceased leaves a wife and seven children to deplore his untimely end."

Word as obviously sent to the eldest son James still living in Scotland because he departed Liverpool and arrived in Adelaide on March 1859 aboard the "Shooting Star". He came with his niece Margrit.  He headed directly to Mount Crawford.

Margaret Bain's bible now in the hands of descendants of son John Bain

Agnes Florence Bain this booked belonged to my Dear Grandmother who died 5 January 1893

In the newspaper - "Fri 13 January 1893 - "BAIN - On the 5th January, at her residence, Williamstown, Mrs Margaret Bain, aged 78 years, a colonist of nearly 38 years.  She leaves 6 children, 50 grandchildren, and 34 great children.  She was beloved by all who knew her."

In the newspaper - "Mon 14 Aug 1893 - In the Estate of Margaret Bain, late of Williamstown, Widow.  Deceased - Pursuant to the Property Act 1860 - Notice is hereby given that all creditors and other persons having any claim or demands upon or against the estate of the above-named Margaret Bain, who died at Williamstown on the 5th January 1893, and whose will was duly proved by the Honourable John Warren, of Springfield, near Mount Crawford, stockholder, James Bain, or Blackhills, shepherd, and Donald McLeod, of Williamstown, carpenter, in the Supreme Court of South Australia, on the 10th day of May, 1893, are hereby required to send in writing the particulars of their claims or demands to the undersigned, the solicitors for the said John Warren, James Bain, and Donald McLeod, at the office of the undersigned etc."

Margaret is buried in Mount Crawford Cemetery, South Australia, Australia.



Grave of John and Margaret Bain

.

Mount Crawford Cemetery and the grave at dusk 2011