Private John Grierson (c.1778........1855.)

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Born : c 1778,

Where Born : presumably at the family farm CAIRN (known also as SHAW and later as GLENSWINTON)in the Parish of Parton, Kircudbrightshire,

Baptized : At Parton on 13th May 1778.

Occupation : Soldier

Date Arrived :

Ship Arrived on : "David Clark"

Rank on Discharge : Private

Date of Enlistment : 23rd September 1807,

Where Enlisted : Perth

Date of Discharge :5th Oct 1815.

Where Discharged :England

Died : John died 20 Sep 1855 .

Where Died / Buried : at Simpson's Rd, Collingwood, Victoria buried on 22 Sep 1855 at Melbourne General Cemetery

Parents Names : John Grier (b........d.) and Janet McMonnies (b........d.)

Spouse's Name : Mary Burgess

Born : 27 July 1789

Where Born :

Baptised ; 2 August 1789,

Occupation :

Date Arrived :

Ship Arrived on :

Where Discharged :

Died : 18 Mar1870
Where Died / Buried : Collingwood, Victoria, buried at Melbourne General Cemetery

Date Married :

Where Married :

Spouse's Parents : George Burgess (b........d.)and Jean MacGrigor, (b........d.)

Descendants: Information Supplied by John David Grierson grierson@melbpc.org.au

Area Settled :


Children :
1 . John was born on 12 Feb 1810 (baptized at St John's Parramatta). died 17th Mar 1811 Hobart, 2 . Jane born in Hobart on 4 Nov 1811. 3 . George, was born "at sea"
History & Achievements :
A biographical sketch of Private John Grierson, 73rd Highland Regiment (later 73rd Foot).by John David Grierson grierson@melbpc.org.au
John Grierson was born in 1778, presumably at the family farm CAIRN (known also as SHAW and later as GLENSWINTON)in the Parish of Parton, Kircudbrightshire, the youngest of eight children to John Grier and
Janet McMonnies. He was baptized by the Reverend Nathaniel McKie at Parton on 13th May 1778.
When his father died, John found himself in dispute with his oldest brother about the inheritance, and getting no satisfaction, went to Perth and enlisted in the 73rd Highland Regiment on 23rd September 1807, which became the 73rd Regiment of Foot in 1809 before leaving for Sydney. He was a Private in Capt. Murray's Company in the 1st Bn. He married Mary Burgess (born 27 Jul 1789, bapt 2 Aug 1789, Perth, Perthshire, daughter of George Burgess and Jean MacGrigor, died 18 Mar 1870 at Collingwood, Victoria, buried at Melbourne General Cemetery) on 28 January 1808 at Perth, Scotland. She refused to let him go to the South Seas without her, and so she became a camp follower. When the 73rd arrived in New South Wales John was sent to Parramatta where his son John was born on 12 Feb 1810 (baptized at St John's Parramatta). He and his family went with Murray's company to Hobart, and baby John died there on 17th Mar 1811, the death recorded at St David's, Hobart. Family legend has it that he was buried under where the Sergeant's Mess now stands at Anglesey Barracks. A daughter Jane was born in Hobart on 4 Nov 1811. when the Regiment was ordered to Ceylon in 1814, Mary and her daughter went directly back to England. Another son, George, was born "at sea" before arrival. John was invalided back to England from Colombo on 24th Dec 1814. He was discharged with a pension on 5th Oct 1815. He was described as 'about thirty two years of age, five feet six inches in height, fair hair, grey eyes, fair complexion, and by trade a labourer'. After discharge, he farmed at a farm possibly called STARRYHEUGH, in the Parish of Troqueer, across the River Nith from Dumfries. Whilst there five more children were born to John and Mary. They elected to migrate to Victoria on the first free settlers migrant ship and arrived at Melbourne in 1839 on the David Clark with their unmarried children, having put their ages back to qualify. All other surviving children eventually came to Melbourne. John farmed in the Plenty Valley, but soon retired to Collingwood. In 1850, John's brother died leaving him his property. Thus, the inheritance issue was finally settled. A son went back to Scotland to claim it. John died 20 Sep 1855 at Simpson's Rd, Collingwood, Victoria and was buried on 22 Sep 1855 at Melbourne General Cemetery. He has an estimated 300 descendants living predominantly in Victoria.

e- mail address
bmchapman@iprimus.com.au

Last revised: January 04, 2004.