The Descendants of Benjamin John Maclean

John and Christopher Maclean

To recap; Benjamin and Jessie MACLEAN had two sons, John Every MACLEAN, born 08.05.1893 and Christopher Whtye MACLEAN, born 14.03.1896. Both boys were born in New Zealand. The family of four migrated around 1900 to Perth, Western Australia.

To cut to the chase, John Every MACLEAN married Winifred May BURTON (born UK) at Kunnunoppin W.A. in 1933. They had 2 children; Jessie Margaret MACLEAN, who married Garnet Edward WILLMOTT and have 4 children, and John David MACLEAN who married in 1969 and 1988 and has 3 children.

Christopher Whyte MACLEAN married Minnie Victoria LEAKE (born Fremantle W.A.) in Perth W.A. in 1920. They had 3 children; Peter John MACLEAN who married Lola Fay ABRAHAMS and had 3 children, Douglas McElroy MACLEAN, and Christina Roberta MACLEAN who married Geoffrey Colin CAMPBELL and had 3 children.

There are now any number of grandchildren/great-grandchildren. Contact me for their names.

The Education of John and Christopher MACLEAN

The West Australian newspaper of Saturday, Oct 17, 1908 included an exam results article entitled:

“PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS BOARD

PRIMARY EXAMINATION 1908

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CANDIDATES

“The following is a list of the Western Australian candidates at the Adelaide University primary examination, to whom certificates will be issued.”

Included in the list, with passes in English grammar, arithmetic, geography, English history, algebra and geometry was a 15 years old John Every Maclean of Perth Boys School. My father was also awarded an Education Department medal for punctual attendance every school day in 1908. In 1910 he received another award for attendance and punctuality in 1909, and was presented a book by the title The Poetical Works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

I can’t imagine my father ever reading much of Tennyson, but his mother might have. What I am sure of is that his mother would not have been happy that her son’s School spelt the MACLEAN surname incorrectly 2 years in a row.

In the Government gazette of Western Australia, Friday, August 29, 1913 there is a List of Successful Candidates for PUBLIC SERVICE EXAMINATIONS, July, 1913 for 17 year old C Maclean who achieved passes in handwriting, dictation, English, arithmetic, geography and history. Chris came 6^th out of the 23 candidates listed (7 of whom were nominated as Miss). Miss C Johns and Miss F Kline topped the Order of Merit. One J E Maclean is listed as having passed Tabulating and Summarising, whatever that was.

My father retired from the then named Rural and Industries Bank when he turned 65 years, and played a lot of lawn bowls and went surf fishing. This bank had started as a State-owned bank, the Agricultural Bank. My father had joined the State public service on 17^th January 1911 when he was approximately 17 years and 8 months old. In November 1912 he was gazetted as a junior clerk in the Land Resumption Branch of the Public Works Department. During his working life at the bank, he undertook various accounting studies through correspondence education.

Tina Maclean told me her father, Chris Maclean, joined the State Government Lands Department, but later resigned to follow his art career.

The Early Years in West Australia

It is not clear when BJMc and his family arrived in WA but indications are it was around 1900 to 1902. In a letter dated 13^th July, 1989 Tina Campbell summarized the family’s early life as follows:

“Grand Pop [BJMc] went to Kalgoorlie and there was an accident and he never worked again. They came back to Perth and Grandma began teaching, becoming a headmistress (where I don’t know). Dad said they lived in the only house at Scarborough. Later they lived at (80 or 85) St Joel’s Terrace, Mt Lawley on the river [Swan River]. Dad and your father sailed 18 footers [a type of fast yacht] moored at the bottom of the garden and they must have been good as they came to Sydney before the 1^st World War to compete in the Australian Championships for WA.”

[this not correct, they went to Sydney to race in the traditional lead-up races and Australia Day Yacht races in January 1921]

Tina later told me the West Australian teams didn’t do much good in Sydney as they did not know the Sydney Harbour waters. Some time later I was able to undertake a newspaper search using the National Library’s Trove search engine and found the following:

“YACHTING: Tomorrow the Western Australian 18-footers Eurus and Eileen will leave for Sydney to contest the Australian 18-footer championship, which will be sailed in Sydney Harbour on Saturday, January 22 [1921]. Cyril Bellion will sail the official representative Eurus, and will have as a crew H Bennett (main sheet hand), F Mather (for’ard hand), C Maclean, J Maclean, M Dunn, J Gow, C Eider, S Male and H Simons; while Eileen [trip self-funded by Eileen crew] will be sailed by Chris Garland, whose crew will be H Hill (for’ard hand). S Hill and W Latham. Extra hands, F Thomas, L Hawke, E Taylor, H Bryon, L Burgess, H Mottram and W Wilkins.”

The article goes on to cover a send-off at the Royal Perth Yacht Club where the travelers’ health was drunk with musical honours and good wishes. The report concluded with:

“It will be remembered that in 1913 on Port Jackson, the Westana, in charge of Chris Garland, was the only boat to finish in a ‘field’ of 23. All the rest either capsized or retired wounded.”

Source: The West Australian, Thurs Dec 30, 1920, page 6.

This little snippet of information provided by Tina, although having the wrong timeframe, allowed me to finally place a group photograph that had puzzled me for some 40 years; who were the people in the photograph with my father and uncle and why was it taken?

As said, unfortunately the West Australian yachties, despite looking admirable in their photograph, did not perform at their best in the three races they faced in Sydney.

From The West Australian, Friday Jan 28, 1921’ article under “Yachting” quoting a telegrammed report from Cyril Bellion, Skipper of Eurus, the State representative 18-footer [yacht] in Sydney:

“Thanks for your wire [telegram] Saturday. Had two accidents in the Australian Championship; jib broke and rudder damaged. Southerly buster [strong onshore blustery winds]. Went out under-canvassed [insufficient sails for the conditions]. Leaving Tuesday.”

There are a couple of other, slightly conflicting reports (which may relate to different races), which drew on information telegraphed to the West. Aust. Home club. Basically the two WA boats had the wrong combination of sails.

            From The Referee, Wednesday, January 26, 1921, a report by “Neptune” titled: “18-Foot Title Goes North, Vision [Qld yacht] Wins Interstate Event. Record Crowd Watches Great Contest: Home [ie WA] Boats Poorly Geared [ie wrong sails].

“The race for the 18ft open boat sailing championship of Australia, sailed on Sydney Harbour on Saturday, was a triumph for the Queensland craft Vision. This flyer was specially constructed to take part in the conteast….in turning out on Saturday, the Vision under a big sail and her sister boat, L. F. H., under a smaller suit [set of sails], they really went to the start prepared for both a moderate and heavy breeze. ….The West Australian boats, Eurus and Eileen, were outclassed on the day. The breeze was too light for them. What may happen when they meet a stronger breeze remains to be seen. They should certainly do better than in the championship…”

In another report, possibly on another race, it would seem Eurus withdrew and Eileen came in last. Whatever, Western Australia performed dismally.

Benjamin John Maclean died on the 21^st of June 1937 at his house in Hastings Street, Scarborough, Western Australia. The details on his Death Certificate are:

Profession – Mining Engineer

Father – Benjamin McLean (sic), auditor

Mother – Elizabeth Ann nee Billing

Buried – Anglican Cemetery Karrakatta W.A., 23 June 1937

Born – England, not known how long he lived in Australia

Married – New Zealand at age 48 years to Jessie [nee] Whyte

Living Issue – John E age 43 years, Christopher W age 40 years

Deceased Issue – Nil.

There are also details of cause of death, medical attendant, undertaker and District Registrar of Deaths. The Informant of the deceased’s details was the undertaker. I would have assumed it would have been his wife Jessie who would have known how long they had been in Australia.

My Father is recorded on his Mother’s Death Certificate as the Informant and he gave their time in Australia as 40 years which would make 1902 as the year in which they arrived.

First cousin Christina Campbell, nee Maclean, writing to me on 15^th April 1978 wrote:

“I had no idea Great Grandfather was named Benjamin [Maclean] or that he was in N.Z. Dad was only four when they left.”

As her father, Christopher Whyte Maclean, was born in 1896 this would have put the family’s migration to Australia in 1900.

It would seem he was always interested in art as this early drawing of his father, painted when he was 13 years old, would indicate.

Christopher Maclean moved to Sydney, probably in the 1920s.

Tina Campbell, letter dated 13 July 1989:

“[after finishing school] (Dad) joined the Lands Department [WA]. Then, showing promise as an artist, came to Sydney to study at the Julian Ashton School of Art. Mother came over to nurse the ‘flu after the 1^st War and they were married.”

Two more mature early drawings by Christopher follow, the first is a quick sketch of his mother, Jessie Maclean, and the second is a detailed Indian ink picture presumably for a child’s book.

Victoria (nee Leake) and Chris Maclean had 3 children:

Peter John Maclean, born Perth WA 13.09.1922,

Douglas McElroy MACLEAN born Melbourne 09.07.1924 (killed on active service Darwin 12.12.1941 aged 17 years), and

Tina born 14.12.1926 Sydney.

Chris and Victoria MACLEAN were interred at the General Lawn Cemetery, Northern Suburbs, Sydney.

Family Rift between the 2 Brothers, John and Christopher Maclean

Unfortunately, the two brothers and their families fell out with each other some time in the 1920s or 30s. When I first became interested in family research and tried to establish contact with my cousins in the 1970s my mother was most opposed to the move. She wrote to me on the issue sometime in the 1970s:

1. My Mother’s Recollections.

“As regards the remaining family of you over there I would esteem it a favour if you didn’t get in touch with any of them. We’ve never met any and I don’t ever want to. Mac’s brother was I believe a very nice man, but his wife was a stinker. It was all over money because your father was left 2/3rds and Chris only 1/3^rd. Your father took all the responsibility [for the aged parents] and sent them cash for years to get by even after we were married, but that woman wrote horrible letters to your father and at times asked for money.

“This was years ago and the children Peter and the Campbells are in no way to blame, but I wouldn’t have anything to do with the Campbell boy when he was over here in the West, the last year you were in university [1966].

“His aunt got in touch, but I wouldn’t bite, I was polite but firm. This aunt over here, she is the wife’s sister, tried to get very friendly after your father died, I never knew her before that, she did come out a couple of times, but I gave her no encouragement. As you know there wasn’t much actual money, the property at that time was worth very little and Chris wanted his share right away so it had to be sold [1942?].

“They all thought the old lady [Mrs Jessie Maclean] was a lot better off than she really was and she let them think it.”

2. Cousin Tina’s Recollections

Well sometime in the 1970s my mother relented gave me the name and address of ‘the wife’s sister’ and I contacted her. She gave me my cousin’s [Christina ‘Tina’ Campbell] address in Southport Queensland and I wrote to her on family research matters.

In April 1978 I got a very pleasant reply. A snippet of it is reproduced below.

“It is sad that there was such bitterness in the family and we were strangers. Your father refused to meet me when I was in Perth before my marriage in 1946.”

I was in touch with Tina over the following years, mainly in relation to the preparation of the Maclean family history book. Dianne and I visited her family a couple of times in Queensland. In July 1989 she gave me some further detail on the family feud.

“I’m glad you enjoyed the few things I remember. There was no trouble over money between the Fathers. Dad was in Tobruk [serving with distinction in the middle east with the Australian Army during WW11] when Grandma died [1942] and I think mum received a cheque for 2,000 pounds which she spent before dad got home.

“The trouble was between my Mother, who was very quick-tempered and Grandma Maclean. It happened when Peter was a baby [c 1922/23] and the reason they left WA for good. It was never discussed. Grandma would send us beautiful books for Christmas and birthdays. If there were letters we never received them. Dad didn’t talk about his childhood until after mother died and he only lived two years longer.

“Dad was a gentle drawer, loved his books, paintings and music. We struggled through the Depression (and) we didn’t own a house. Mother was very restless, a wonderful writer, the house was always full of journalists, artists, actors and Dad was usually the only one earning money. Nothing was saved, still an interesting childhood. …. Mum and dad, after the War, received a Housing commission flat at Greenway at the end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and spent the rest of their lives there. They left no money.”

3. My sister, Jessie Willmott’s recollections:

When asked by me in 2020 about the bad feeling, Jess repeated much of what has already been recorded – the wife was bitter towards her in laws, that Chris and his wife had cadged money from Ben and Jessie, and that Dad had assisted his parents financially and Chris gave them nothing.

4. My Recollections

I have no direct recollections as both my grandparents died before I was born. I can remember Mum saying that Dad’s brother and family were very mean towards my father and that Dad didn’t get married until his 40’s as he had to help his parents financially.

I was also aware of the ‘grandfather was injured in a mining accident and could not work again’ story.

I also remember as a young boy, Dad walking down to Brighton Road Beach and pointing out to me the old house in which he and his brother and their parents had all once lived – “in the only house in Scarborough” [see Chris Maclean quote above].

BJMs Death Notice for his June 21, 1937 death records his address as ‘Brighton Road, Scarborough’. On his death certificate, however, his address is shown as Hastings Street, Scarborough.

Jessie Maclean’s address on a Karrakatta General Cemetery – Grant of Right of Burial gives her address as Brighton Road Scarborough. Incidentally, the burial plot cost two pounds.

Both my parents and Maclean grandparents are interred in that plot, a photograph of which follows.

Other Trivia

Included in a letter from Tina Campbell, dated 15 April 1978”

“Peter [Peter Maclean, Tina’s oldest brother] visited our Grand Parents as a child. Said Grand Pa looked like George V.” [King George V – died Jan 1936]

As can be seen in the following two photos BJMc had similar facial hair as the then King and a young boy might see a resemblance.

I do not know when Peter Maclean met his grandfather BJMc. I do know from the following photographs that when my sister Jessie was a baby [born May 1934] she and my parents met up with both my grandparents, possibly for Christmas 1934.

What happened to Benjamin’s Brothers and Sisters?

I have extracted the following from The Macleans of Howick and Tamaki. Ages of marriages and deaths are approximate.

1. Mary Elizabeth Kate Billing Maclean. Kate married Harry Kallinder, farm manager, at the age of 36. They had no children. She died in New Zealand in 1918 aged 78 yrs.
2. Edith Louisa Maclean. Edith married Henry Lewis at the age of 30. They had 5 children [including Frank Every Lewis who I missed in the ‘Every’ section]. Husband Henry died aged 43, as an Assistant Commissary General, in England, where Edith then bought up her 5 children as a widow. She died in 1931 aged 90 yrs.
3. [Number 3 is Benjamin John Maclean, married at the age of 49, sired 2 children, died at 94 yrs, longest lived of his siblings]
4. Alexander Henry Maclean. Alex married Harriet Ormond at the age of 50. They had no children. He was a Government Auditor and died in 1929 aged 85 yrs.
5. Christopher Haydon Maclean. Chris married Margaret Williams at the age of 33 and they had an impressive 10 children. He worked in a range of managerial positions in the Bank of New of New Zealand and died in 1913 aged 68 yrs. One of their children, Dorothy Maclean, was killed in the Napier earthquake in 1931, aged 43 yrs. She was not married.
6. Blanche Maclean. Blanche never married and was adopted by her aunt Mary and uncle Sir John in England. She died in 1928 aged 81 yrs.
7. Bertha Alice Billing Maclean. Bertha married William Tisdall at the age of 32. They had 4 children 2 of whom died at birth. William was a missionary. Bertha died, aged 36 yrs, in Lahore, India in 1885 after the birth of her 4^th child, a still-born son. William married again in London in 1887. His eldest son from his second marriage, Arthur St Clair Tisdall, was awarded the Victoria Cross (posthumously) for bravery at the Gallipoli landing. Arthur was a Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
8. Thomas Billing Maclean. Tom (details unknown) married Nina Badcock. They had 4 children. He worked in the Bank of New Zealand before being ordained in 1881 and worked with distinction in several capacities within his church. He died in 1907 aged 56 yrs.
9. Robert Lauchlan Maclean. Bob married Sophia Smith, a widow, at the age of 24. He worked in the Bank of Australasia and moved with his work to Australia in 1893. Robert had no children, but Sophia had a daughter, Amy, who lived with them as their daughter. Robert died in Melbourne in 1916 aged 63 years.
10. Reginald Benjamin Maclean. Called by his father, ‘Bene’, was born in 1855 and joined the Bank of New Zealand in 1877. He resigned while working at the Blenheim branch in 1885. He is thought to have then gone to Australia, but despite copious research, nothing further is known of him.
11. John Hubert Maclean. Hubert married Mary Roe at the age of 35. They had 3 children. He was ordained as a deacon in 1882 and held numerous church positions in New Zealand and later in Australia. He died in Sydney aged 67 yrs.

So, by my reckoning BJMc was an uncle to 24 nieces and nephews from his 10 sisters and brothers, 5 of whom did not reproduce. With BJMc’s 2 children, this makes a total of 26 grandchildren for Benjamin and Ann Maclean.

One other fact comes to light from the above, that is, the earlier children lived to an above-average age (even by today’s standards), while 4 of the last 5 males died before reaching 70. The exceptions are Bertha who died in childbirth and No. 10, Reginald Benjamin, who disappeared.

Electoral Rolls

I have found that Electoral Roll information can be unreliable due to people not notifying address changes or in identifying the right person where there are others of the same name. Anyway, I think the following are correct:

New Zealand Electoral Rolls

Benjamin John Maclean: 1874-75 electoral year, electorate East Coast; 1881 Tauranga; 1893, Waikato; 1896 Ohinemuri Supp B and Supp C??

Benjamin John and Jessie Maclean, 1893 electoral year, Waikato.

Western Australia Electoral Rolls

1909, Sub-division of North Perth, BJMc gentleman and Jessie Maclean (JMc) married, both of 220 Bulwar Street, Perth.

1912 and 1913, Sub-division of South Fremantle, BJMc civil engineer and JMc teacher, both of 102 Solomon Street, Fremantle.

1914, Sub-division of East Perth, BJMc retired, JMc home duties, both of 136 Joel Terrace, Mount Lawley.

1915, Sub-division of East Perth, BJMc retired, JMc home duties, John Every Maclean, civil servant, all of 136 Joel Terrace, Mount Lawley.

1916 and 1917, BJMc and JMc only at 17 Wright Street, Perth

[JEMc then in Army overseas. On his Enlistment papers [27 July 1915] JEMc gave his father BJMc as next of kin, of 136 Joel Terrace, Mt Lawley, WA, later amended to BJMc 17 Wright St, Highgate Hill, WA and finally to c/o C Maclean [JEMc’s brother] Accountants Branch, Colonial Secretary’s Office, Perth, WA]

[On 19/9/1916 BJMc received the following telegram from Army Base Records at his Joel Terrace address: “Regret reported son Private John Maclean admitted Third London General Hospital twenty ninth August [with] gunshot wound face and fibula. Severe. Will promptly advise if anything further received.” and 5/10/16. “Now reported son Private John Maclean convalescent. Will promptly advise if anything further received.”

JEMc’s service record shows he rejoined his unit in France on 13/2/17. So, a bit over 4 months to recover.

On 1/7/17 his brother Chris Maclean received the following telegram: “Private John Maclean wounded.” This time the wound was minor as he was back with his unit after 4 days.

JEMc, when being discharged from Army 3 June 1919, gave his intended place of residence as YMCA, Forrest Chambers, St George’s Terrace, Perth, WA

1921, Sub-division of Perth, Christopher McLean draftsman and John Every McLean civil servant [both YMCA?].

1921, 1925 and 1926 Sub-division of West Subiaco BJMc gentleman, JMc married and Christopher Whyte Maclean [CWMc], civil servant, of Beaufort Street, Scarborough

      [CWMc married 1920, so his electoral address probably not updated]

[assume JEMc posted to country town/s as part of his employment]

BJMc and JMc recorded at Beaufort Street, Scarborough in 1928, 1931, 1934 and 1936. JMc only in 1937, the year BJMc died.

Newspaper Mentions

1. Call for tenders to build 2 Brick villas in Saladin Street, Claremont for B J Maclean Esq, The West Australian 28 July 1906
2. Winner of Consolation Prize “Why do Books make the Best Xmas Gifts”, Jessie Maclean, Post Office, Scarborough. The West Australian 5 Jan 1925.
3. “Notice to Agents – My House in Beaufort Street, Scarborough is Withdrawn from Sale Jessie Maclean.” The West Australian 11 April, 1930.
4. “OPERETTA COMPETITION West Australians Successful” Lists Operetta Competition results, including – best libretto without music (prize 10 pounds), Mrs Jessie Maclean, of Scarborough, (WA). The West Australian 8 April 1932. The Australian Operetta Competition was held in Sydney or WA. The report begins; “SYDNEY, April 7”.

Family Crest

I have already mentioned that one of the books that came down to me (Brett’s Historical Series – Early New Zealand, published 1890) had a family crest pasted on the inside of the front cover. I believe my grandmother, Jessie Jones Maclean won the book in a newspaper competition.

I have also referred to 3 wax seal rings bearing the Maclean Clan coat of arms. Sir John Maclean gifted his ‘old armorial family seal’ to his New Zealand relatives to be passed on as a family heir loom. Sir John’s Will is the earliest mention that we have a Maclean coat of arms, which of course we don’t.

I will not spend much time on this. The Macleans of Howick and Tamaki, Revised 2009, at pages 1 and 2, embarrassingly presents a Maclean Coat of Arms for Benjamin John Maclean. I am embarrassed as I found a painting of the Coat of Arms amongst my inherited papers and offered it to the Maclean History compilers, almost as a joke. Although undated, I believe the Coat of Arms was painted by Christopher Whyte Maclean who was a professional painter. If not by him then it has been clearly painted by a talented artist.

In the New Zealand family history publication previously referred to, The Macleans of Howick and Tamaki, Revised 2009, the shield quarters (family Quarterings) are given as:

1. Maclean
2. Rogers of Somerset
3. Haydon of Devon and Somerset
4. Billing of Blisland and Lanke, Cornwall
5. Bluet or Blewitt
6. Possibly Raglan
7. Prideaux of Netherton in Devon and Somerset
8. Hocken

I also have an older undated and unsigned and amateurish Coat of Arms for Benjamin Maclean which includes the Maclean Clan and Billing family Coats of Arms.

I guess the only distant link that the existing Macleans have in terms of ‘pedigree’ is that of the Billing family, Sir John Maclean having married Mary Billing, joint coheir of the Billing line, and his brother Benjamin Maclean having married the other coheir, Elizabeth Ann Billing. In his publication The Deanery of Trigg Minor, 1873 edition, Sir John gave the following Billing Pedigree.

I say no more. The Billing family inherited a long history, the Lean/Macleans created their own. I would argue we do not need to add a spurious Scottish Coat of Arms and miscellaneous Southern England families to achieve an identity. Time has moved on. But there is always the tourist Maclean Coat of Arms, available for all to purchase (mine below), to fall back on.

Cheers,

John David Maclean B. Econ (WA) LLB (UC) and GDLP (ANU).