Cameron

Notes:

Received the title deeds to his father's land grant in 1828, aged 11. Attended Cape's school in Sydney. Described as clerk in Sydney, then took up land in New England and Darling Downs, but not successful, so went to California gold diggings. Came back to work with T.S. Mort as financial manager and then partner. Bought "Ewenton", in Balmain, in 1856 (formerly Blake Vale), which he enlarged in 1860 and again in 1872. Some of the family stayed on there until the 1890's.

Ewen married Sophia Usher Nail on 7 Oct 1852 in Balmain, NSW. Sophia was born on 12 Sep 1830 in Mauritius; died on 8 Jan 1878 in Balmain, NSW. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Dau. of George Nail, merchant and formerly private secretary to Lord Minto, and Barbara Lawson

Other Events:

• Immigration ship: Phoenix
• Immigration: 4 Jun 1822

Notes:

A 1953 Australian family tree, based on an earlier tree of 1902 by Arthur Kingston Moore, gives a birth date of 26 Jul 1779.
The parish register records a Charles Cameron b. 4 May 1777, Drimnasallie, Kilmallie, son of Donald Cameron and Catherine Cameron.

Charles Cameron was commissioned an Ensign in 92nd Regt on 18 Feb 1799, serving with his cousin John, and was promoted Lieut. Jun 1799. With the Regt he served with Sir John Moore's Brigade in Holland and was wounded in the Battle of Eamont op Zee on 2 Oct 1799. He entered the 3rd Regt by exchange 12 Apr 1800 and promoted Captain 1804. In the Peninsular War between 1804-14 he fought at the Douro, Talavera, Busaco, Albuera, Vittoria, in the Pyrenees and in southern France. He was wounded 5 times. He was promoted Major 1813 and Lt Col 1819.

In Nov 1821 he sailed from Deptford for NSW in the convict transport "Phoenix" with 3 other officers and 50 soldiers as escort to 182 convicts. He arrived in Sydney with his family on the "Phoenix" on 4 Jun 1822. The family took up residence in O'Connell St, Sydney.

He was appointed Commandant at Port Dalrymple, VDL 14 Dec 1822, arriving with his troops Feb 1823, and moving his station to Launceston in 1824. He indicated a desire to retire in Tasmania. He was relieved and moved with his troops to Sydney in Apr 1825 on the brig "Nercus". He rose to Brigade-Major to the Troops in place of Major Ovens that year.

After purchasing 2000 acres at Merton in the Hunter Valley, he left his wife and children in Sydney on 30 Jan 1827 and went with the Regiment to India. A few days after arrival, he, with 30 soldiers and many of the women and children, died of cholera. Charles Cameron is commemorated in Tasmania by a major street in Launceston and Port Cameron.

His gravestone reads: ¨Sacred to the memory of Lieut. Col. Charles Cameron, Major in His Majesty´s 3rd Regt. of Foot (or Buffs) a brave and distinguished officer, died on 15 May 1827, aged 48 years. This tablet is erected by his brother officers as a mark of their esteem.¨


Immigration:
arrived in Sydney with his family on the "Phoenix" on 4 Jun 1822

Charles married Ludovina Rosa da Silva in 1812 in Portugal. Ludovina was born in 1796 in Portugal; died on 21 Aug 1854 in Adelaide, SA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Family verbal history contends that Charles stole her from a convent.

Birth:
said to be daughter of a Portuguese nobleman

Name:
or Luduvina

Notes:

Of old 78th Regt (1757-1763), gazetted Lieut. 30 Sep 1758, retired on half pay 1763.
Capt. in 1764, died as Lieut on half pay 1817
He was at the fall of Quebec in September 1759, in Capt. Hugh Cameron's company, having arrived in Virginia from Greenock in June 1759. However he is listed as sailing with the regiment for Louisbourg (Cape Breton Island) in 1758. He was wounded at Ste-Foy, Quebec on 28 Apr 1760.

He leased Coanich (Caonich, on the northern shore of Loch Arkaig) in 1764, but was not there that year.

He was unmarried in 1764/5, when letters show he had been paying unwelcome court to the eldest daughter of one Jos. Burrell of Alnwyck (who married Ann Forster 29 Aug 1741. Mary Burrel bapt. 21 Sep 1742, Chatton, nr Alnwyck). However Lloyd's Evening Post of 23 Dec 1765 reports his marriage in Edinburgh to Miss Burrel, dau. of - Burrel of Hetton House, Northumberland. No other record of this marriage has been found. He still felt ill used by the Burrel family in 1868 (letter from Donald the Banker)

No descendants of Donald Cameron appear to be recorded in "official" family histories, but there are several families with apparently authentic claims stemming from early family tradition as detailed below. The third and fourth were probably legitimate.

A letter, written from Westfield, nr Newcastle, in July 1780 to his brother Ewen mentions (but does not name) his wife, probably Catherine.

Donald married Catherine Cameron. Catherine died in ca 1781. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is recorded as Campbell in the detailed family tree of her Australian descendants, which also includes a place and date of birth of her son Charles consistent with the parish register entries as given.

Name:
or Campbell

Notes:

Marriage records begin in Kilmallie in 1783.