McCUBBIN FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION
November, 2002
Hello Family McCubbin,
A year has gone by since our flagship THE CUB REPORT was sent to you. Since then our association has amassed & entered into database, 2500 names, spouses included, dating back to the 1600's. Marriage & Deaths starting from 1855 in Scotland were transcribed by paid researchers in Scotland, directly from the Parish registers. Births up to 1889 have been transcribed from the LDS International Genealogy Index & will eventually be confirmed from actual parish register. Marriages & Deaths pre 1855 were also taken from the IGI. Many of the names have been grouped into families. Now, we're finding McCubbins who have ancestors not only in Scotland, but England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, & USA.
News from Australia
Penny McColm, our Australian co-ordinator, has been piecing together families
there. Australia was a major destination for the McCubbins in the 1800's
Penny relates, "Most families came to Australia and New Zealand in search of a better life than they could have had in Scotland. The opportunities to improve their lot were many; basically, hard work and diligence brought success to many.
By the 1850's the Gold Rush had begun and the land
was opening up with Government grants being an inducement to come and settle.
Some McCubbin families settled on the land in the Northern NSW and spread further
south into Victoria and Tasmania. Some operated hotels. Hotels seemed to be
very much a McCubbin occupation. Many had trades, including boot-makers, bakers,
mariners & gardeners, all bringing much needed expertise to the fledgling
colony.
As yet we're not sure which line came to Australia
first but one of the earliest families we have found so far settled in Tasmania,
in the mid 1840's. This was JAMES McCUBBIN and his wife Elizabeth Lowry.
This family then moved on to Victoria and South Australia and finally settled
in the booming mining community of Broken Hill. They worked in the Silver mines
and the male children followed in their fathers' footsteps, working long days
and at times in dangerous conditions. They certainly were pioneers.
There are 2 convicts that were sent here, one being
THOMAS McCUBBIN, aged 48, single, born in Belfast and tried in Ayrshire for
Assault on 15th April 1835. Therefore, Thomas was our first McCubbin to arrive
on our shores aboard 'The Susan'. Thomas's indent shows he was a 'gardener's
laborer & silk dyer'.
Thomas was not the ideal prisoner. He absconded in 1840 from his employer in
Maitland and was recaptured and punished accordingly. Thomas did not marry.
JANET RIDDELL McCUBBIN arrived in Sydney aboard 'Mary
Ann' (5) 13th December 1843."
Janet's tale is still unfolding, but it is known that she married a William
McCubbin in Lanark and had children before she was transported. Two children
we know of - John and James. Can you imagine a young mother with two small boys,
one only 2 years old, being sent off on a convict ship, never to see them again!
Her crime was 'house breaking'. She was sentenced to 7 years. Her husband WILLIAM
McCUBBIN, a 'Master Mason', likely raised the boys along with help from other
members of the family who lived in the Glasgow area.
It seems Janet was somewhat of a martyr in the family back in Scotland. Janet
Riddell McCubbin's name occurs among her descendants.
Janet remarried in Australia after receiving her Certificate of Freedom and
has living descendants there.
News from Scotland
LYNNE McCUBBIN has done an extensive history of her McCubbins that span from
Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, to New Zealand & Canada. This has been added to our
database.
Lynne has also been transcribing censuses & BMD's.
News from Canada
The book Peter McCubbin & Janet McKie Burns of Wigtownshire, Their Descendants
& Ancestors, by Lorna McCubbin was completed & sent to family in
Scotland, Canada, & USA who contributed their family history, photos &
anecdotes. (This book is not for sale). A similar one will be done for the World
McCubbin book.
Canada was not as popular a destination as Australia
for emigrants. However, free land given through the Homestead Program, lured
adventuresome McCubbins. One of the earliest known McCubbins in Canada was ROBERT
McCUBBIN who 'arrived from Galloway to Halifax in 1818. He later settled in
Chatham Twp, Ontario in 1836.
A large McCubbin family settled in North Bay, Ontario. The west coast of British
Columbia drew another few families.
United States of America
In the mid 1600's JOHN McCUBBIN (known as John the Colonist) left Ayrshire.
Apparently his father was Covenanter. This is a large study and we appeal to
Lord John's descendants to help in building up the American database, as well
as tracing & documenting the claimed ancestry to King McAlpine.
New Zealand
We need a co-ordinator for New Zealand. McCubbins arrived there also - in the
1800's. We're in contact with some of their descendants.
England
Some McCubbins have contacted us from England, mainly through message boards
& mailing lists. Next on the list of 'things to do' is send query letters
to as many McCubbins in England as we can find, through phone books & other
lists.
CUB BITS
In each newsletter we hope to add bits of early lore involving the McCubbin
name. We'll also include URLs which may be helpful in your searches for other
relatives.
The following is from Dumfries Jail Books & Bail Bond Registers.
Date:
21/04/1787
Name: MCCUBBIN William
Crime: Paternity Alimony
Place: Dumfries
Subject: Meditatione Fugae
Notes:
William McCubbin, labourer incarcerated in the Tolbooth by warrant under the
hand of John Lawson, bailie proceeding on a petition by Janet Watson that she
had a female child on the 20th Dec last by McCubbin. She alleges that he has
failed to meet the financial burden of the child, except for two shillings and
six pence and is about to leave the country to avoid further payment. To remain
in prison untill caution found.
24 Apr 1787 Liberated from the Tolbooth by his incarcerator, Janet Watson.
Archive
Ref: GF4/26A/35,35A&36 Dumfries & Galloway Archives
Here's a new searchable data base of Australians in
WW2: There are 45 McCubbins listed.
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/
Queries & Help
If you have queries re your McCubbins or would like
information from the McCubbin database don't hesitate to contact me, Penny or
Lynne.
Penny McColm, Penny in Australia will
check her records.
Lynne McCubbin in Ayrshire, LynneMcCubbin@aol.com
may also have your answers.
Do you have photos of your grandparents, great grandparents & other early
McCubbins & would like them included in the McCubbin book? Email them or
contact me via email for my postal address.
Wishing you the very best for the coming
New Year,
Lorna McCubbin mccubbin@one-name.org
Member #3650 Guild of One Name Studies
For McCubbin name & variations worldwide.
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