John Bain (21 Jul 1812 - 18 Aug 1858)

John Bain was born at Kilbagie, near Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland on 21 July 1812 to parents James Bain (labourer) and Margaret Luke.

Birth Certificate of John Bain

 John married Margaret McLaren on 15 February 1834 at Balquidder Parish Church, Balquidder, Stirlingshire, Scotland. At the time John was from the parish of Dunipace and Margaret from the Balquidder parish.

Marriage Certificate of John Bain and Margaret McLaren

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 - John (aged 24) is living at Bankend Road, Dunipace, Falkirkshire, Scotland with his wife Margaret (aged 23) and children Janet (aged 4) and James (aged 1). 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 - John (aged 34) is living at Tollroad, Alva, Scotland with his wife Margaret (aged 33) 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). 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

In 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.

Four years later on the 18 August 1858, John Bain dies in a tree felling accident at Glen Para.

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 headed directly to Mount Crawford.

  

John is buried in Mount Crawford Cemetery, South Australia, Australia with his wife Margaret .

Grave of John Bain and Margaret Bain (nee McLaren)

Mount Crawford Cemetery and the grave at dusk 2011