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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


  

CLICK HERE for people visiting for the first time - 2 minutes spoken by Oirae Gordon

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CLICK HERE for many ways this website can help you - 7 minutes spoken by Judy Gordon

These stories take us from humble beginnings around Inverness in Scotland to pioneering life around Strathalbyn and other country towns in the new colony in South Australia in the last half of the 1800s.

Alexander Gordon was born in Kiltearn in 1822 and Jessie Matheson was born in Kirkhill on 1823. They were married in 1850.

Their life in Australia began when Alexander and Jessie, with their first three children (John, Kitty and Alexander jnr) arrived on the 'Eldorado' in 1854. This was less than two decades after the commencement of the colony and the family settled in the little farming community around Strathalbyn just 14 years after the first settlers in that area. Before migrating, Alexander had been a railway worker but in the new colony he became a moderately successful farmer.

Alexander and Jessie had three more children (Donald, Hugh and Margaret). When their youngest child was six years old, Jessie died. A few years later Alexander married Ann Campbell and they had two children (James and David).

Of Alexander's eight children, only three (Kitty, Alexander jnr and Donald), had children. CLICK HERE for a biography of Alexander and Jessie.

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Feature Articles

feature 1 HOW TO USE THIS WEBSITE
 ACCESS: This website is open to the public, at no cost. You do not need to log-in to see most of what is on the database. Only the administrator, Don Gordon, can log-in to make any changes.
PRIVACY: Details of living people are hidden - just their initials are visible. Contact us if you want your full name (or any other details) to be seen on your family tree. You are in control of how much, or how little, you want the public to see.
WHERE AM I?: You can find your place in this family tree by: (1) Search for a grandparent or someone who has died (use maiden names) - this will take you to that person's profile, (2) Click 'Descendants' on the row of tabs underneath the name, (3) You will recognize the initials of your close relatives.
ADDITIONS & CORRECTIONS: Share your information through 'Contact us'. Accuracy with names and dates is important, and also you might like to share family stories, photos or documents for a birth, marriage or death.
FEATURES: The website displays information in several ways:- PROFILES: Each individual has his/her own page which has everything we know about that person - including birth, marriage, children, photos, documents and stories. FAMILY TREE: Click 'Descendants' or 'Ancestors' underneath the person's name in their profile. STORIES: The names and dates come alive with narratives about the person's life and times. SMALL PRINT: These are detailed documents which are not quite ready for general public viewing. These include policy and procedures about privacy, copyright etc. You can explore SMALL PRINT and STORIES through the directories on the left side of the home page.

feature 2 ALEXANDER (jnr) GORDON'S descendants: Alexander migrated from Scotland when he was two years old and was brought up around Strathalbyn. He married Annie SALTMARSH and they lived in several locations around the south eastern districts of South Australia. They had 11 children, 27 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. Families connected with Alexander's line include the surnames of PEARLMAN, BRODUS, SEMMLER, JARRET, LAUKE, HEBART, EDWARDS, DUNN, WILSON, REGAN, MADDERN, MAIDMENT, YOUNG and PERRYMAN. CLICK HERE for Alexander's and Annie's biography.

feature 3 DONALD MATHESON GORDON'S descendants: Donald was born in Strathalbyn. He married Annie McLACHLAN and they settled in Owen and had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 19 great-granchildren. Families connected with Donald's line include the surnames of FINLAYSON, HEMMINGS, LOVEGROVE, CROZIER, REED, FISCHER and KIRBY. CLICK HERE for Donald's and Annie's biography.

feature 4 KITTY GORDON'S descendants: Catherine ‘Kitty’ Gillon Gordon came from Scotland as a baby. She was adopted by her aunty, Catherine Gollan. At 18 years, she married a local doctor, Billy BLUE who became the mayor of Strathalbyn. After 24 years of marriage, Billy died and Kitty soon married Samuel WAY. He was a leading figure in Adelaide. As Lady Way, Kitty became prominent in Adelaide society and was appreciated by the general public for her many services to the community. She was with Sir Samuel for 16 years until her death. Crowds lined the streets for what was virtually a state funeral.
Kitty and Samuel married late in life and had no children. Of Kitty's 4 children with Billy Blue, only one, Shylie, had children.
Like her mother, Shylie mixed in 'high society' in Adelaide. She was a successful golfer and was Commissioner of the Girl Guides. She married Herbert Lockett 'Cargie' RYMILL and they had 4 children and 7 grandchilden. Connected families include the surnames of DOWNER, VERCO and YELLAND.
Rather than this Gordon website, have a look at www.samuelway.info for details of Kitty and her family. CLICK HERE for a biography of Kitty and Samuel.

 
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