FRANCIS ORMOND OF BORRIYALLOAK
FROM “BUT HEARTBEAT IN TIME” BY G Claud Notman, chapter 15, p. 59, “FRANCIS ORMOND”, Rev. C. S. Ross 1912, and INTERNET RESEARCH
Francis Ormond Snr. was born in Arbroath, Scotland (near Aberdeen). His parents were James and Ann (Ritchie). By the age of 19 he was already a Master Mariner. His two eldest children, Francis and Elizabeth were both born at Aberdeen, according to their Death registrations. The family must have moved to Liverpool some time after 1829. It seems reasonable to assume that Captain Ormond would have seen the possibilities that being based in the very busy port would bring to him. In 1836 he sailed for Australia in the barque “Northumberland”, and in 1840 in the “John Bull”, Captain Ormond brought out to Port Phillip a number of immigrants, anchoring off the bluff now named Point Ormond. Ormond was so impressed with the possibilities he saw in Melbourne and the Port Phillip district that on his return to Britain he bought a small vessel, the “Tuscan”, loaded it up with cargo, and with his wife, 15 year old son Francis and 13 year old daughter Elizabeth set sail for Melbourne, arriving in 1842. However, times had changed, and things were not so good economically so the Ormonds headed for New Zealand where they found that things were not much better. Back they came to Australia, where their infant son Alfred died in December 1843 aged 11 months. He is buried in the Eastern Cemetery at Geelong, the first of a line of Ormonds and Ormond relations to be buried in this place. Their daughter, Isabella was born in 1844. The Ormonds made their way to Shelford, (known then as “The Leigh”) where George Russell was representing the Clyde Company on what was to become Golf Hill. Here Captain Ormond took up a lease on 20 acres of land. The conditions of the lease required him to set up an inn on the property. This inn he called “The Settler’s Arms”, the remains of which were still visible near the bridge over the Leigh in the 1970’s. A plaque marks the location now. As an early inn built on the route from Geelong to Hamilton the business did very well, enabling Ormond Snr. to buy a small sheep station, which we now know as Piggoreet West, from Rev. John Gow, putting young Francis in as manager at the age of 19. John Dawson believes that Francis would have learnt quite a bit about sheep handling from the men employed on Golf Hill, and with 20 acres of their own leased, surely they themselves would have had sheep, as well as other animals to keep the inn as self sufficient as possible. They may also have offered a service ferrying people or goods across the Leigh River, though there must also have been a ford.The run was pretty poor with scrubby land and subject to attacks from dingoes, but Ormond battled on until the savage fires of February 6th, 1851 – “Black Thursday”, when the whole property including the home was burnt. After the worst was over, this proved to be a kind of blessing, as all the scrubby land had been cleared and good pasture grew in its place. Shortly afterwards the discovery of gold brought many hungry diggers to the district.On Piggoreet West, Francis employed several workers, and believing that they would be hampered in the future by their lack of education, taught them in the evenings after the long day’s work. In November of the 1851 Ormond married Mary Ann Greeves, the daughter of Dr George Greeves, at Christ Church Geelong. The Greeves family later had a long association with Borriyalloak. When Henry Anderson offered “Borriyalloak” for sale, the Ormonds, father and son, sold both Piggoreet West and the station we now know as Berrybank, to finance this purchase, and young Francis moved onto Borriyalloak. During the Ormonds’ long absence overseas, Mary Anne’s brother took over the station. Much later “Cargi” Greeves of Geelong football club won the first Brownlow medal. Mildred Howley (nee Barr) in her recollections of life at Mingay remembers a youth in a green sweater “rushing about” during a football match when Berrybank was giving Mingay a horrible hiding, and she “felt like kicking him” – the future Cargi Greeves. Mary Anne died 1881 aged 47, and is buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
Francis Ormond became a part of the Skipton community, as a local magistrate and a churchman. As Magistrate he would have sat in our own Courthouse building. He once again tackled the problem of educating the children of his workers, and was involved in the calling of a Presbyterian minister – Rev Thomas McAnlis of Northern Ireland who arrived in 1857, and conducted monthly services at Borriyalloak. (I think also at Baangal). Ormond was also involved with the formation of a local Agricultural and Pastoral Society which led to Skipton holding its own sheep show in 1859, cementing Skipton’s reputation for merino wool. Later came the establishment of the first Presbyterian Church down near the cemetery, (later sold to the A. and P. Society), the Skipton Common School, the Skipton Mechanics Institute and Free Library, and in 1871 the bluestone church of St Andrew, still in use today.Francis Ormond Snr and his wife Isabella (Esson) are both buried in the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong. Capt Ormond died 1875 aged 71, Isabella died 1859, aged 58.
THE FOUR CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN FRANCIS ORMOND AND ISABELLA ESSON WERE: Francis, b.1827, Aberdeen, Scotland. Died 1889, Pau in the French Pyrenees, buried Eastern Cemetery, Geelong. Elizabeth Esson (Robertson) b. 1829, Aberdeen d. 1861 aged 32, buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Alfred b. December 1843, died aged 11 months, buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Isabella Esson (Sutherland) b. 1844, Geelong d. 1871 aged 27. Buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
In 1851 FRANCIS ORMOND married Mary Ann GREEVES who died in 1881, there were no children. Buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery. In 1885, in London, FRANCIS married Mary OLIPHANT (Daughter of Ebenezer Oliphant. Oliphant and Robertson were at one time partners). Elizabeth ORMOND born c. 1829 married Adam Swanston ROBERTSON of Gnarpurt, in 1846. Several children were born, though not all survived. Mary 1847, Francis 1849, Isabella – 1851, 1854, 1855, Elizabeth 1857, Lewis 1859 and Arthur 1861. Elizabeth died in 1861 aged 32 and is buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery.
ADAM SWANSTON ROBERTSON was a lay preacher and in 1867 built the stone chapel at Gnarpurt for the use of his family and employees. Previously they had used a special “chapel room” in the homestead. This room had high vaulted ceilings and massive beams.
Children of the first marriage:Mary Robertson1847; Francis Ormond Robertson1849; Isabella Ormond Robertson 1851; U/N female 1853; Edith Robertson 1854, died aged 6m; Isabella Edith Robertson 1855 d. 1859 aged 5; Elizabeth Adeline Robertson 1857; Lewis Robertson 1859; Adam Swanston Robertson 1861Adam was married for a second time in 1863, to Rose MYLRAE. – 1 child found, Alan Mylrae Robertson d. 7m, Newtown.Adam Swanston Robertson died 1873, and is buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Tracking the family name: Lewis ROBERTSON m. Annie WILKIE in 1879, seven children recorded, one son, six daughters, two born at Skipton: Isabella b. 1880, Ballarat, Lavinia Robertha b. 1882, Skipton, Mary Esson b. 1884, Skipton, Struan b. 1886 Inverleigh, Adrenea May 1889, Birregurra; Adeline Janet 1891 Geelong; and Francie Lewis 1899 Geelong.
Francis Ormond Robertson m. Margaret McVean in 1874, and Jane Oates in 1887. From the second marriage came a son, Francis Ormond Robertson, b. 1893.
The fourth child of Captain ORMOND and Isabella ESSON - Isabella ORMOND born 1844 at Newtown, Geelong, married Alexander Sutherland in 1871. Isabella died in the same year, aged 27. I can find no birth registrations of children to this marriage.
The Ormonds adopted three children: These were Elizabeth Ann GORDON and George Ormond GORDON, the children of a cousin living in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, and Alice BOSTOCK. All three are mentioned in Francis Ormond’s will, and are left annuities. Elizabeth Ann, known as Lizzie Ann married ? Foster, and C. S. Ross records that she was with Mrs Ormond at Pau at the time of Francis’ death.
Alice AITKEN, born Tasmania, daughter of James Aitken (Langi Willi ?) m. James BOSTOCK in 1875. Can find no record of births. Alice Bostock d. of James Aitken died 1896 aged 53. A James Bostock died 1880 aged 32, born Manchester. Was Alice the daughter of Ormond’s fellow settler, and was she left a widow after 5 years of marriage?
