Surname: TOLMIE
Given Name(s): Roderick

Occupation(s): Grocer/Sheep Overseer

Birth Details
Birth Town: Moray
Birth County, Region, Province: Ross-shire
Birth Country: Scotland, UK

Immigration Details
Air/Port Landed: Moreton Bay
Ship/Plane: Rajasthan
Year Arrived: 1862

Surname: MACRAE
Given Name(s): Helena

Occupation(s): Home Duties

Birth Details
Birth Town: Lochalsh
Birth County, Region, Province: Ross-shire
Birth Country: Scotland, UK
Birth Date: 1840

Death Details
Death Town: Toowoomba
Death State/Territory: Queensland
Death Country: Australia
Death Date: 1881

Immigration Details
Air/Port Landed: Moreton Bay
Ship/Plane: Rajasthan
Year Arrived: 1862

Family Stories

Life in Australia:

Roderick and Helena emigrated aboard the "Rajasthan" on 23rd June, 1862 from Birkenhead, England with their infant daughter, Isabella Jessie McRae, who had been born on 17th August, 1860 at Kilmorack. Helen was heavily pregnant with a son, James, who was born on board on the 25th July, 1862. They landed safely at Moreton Bay, Queensland on 1st November. On arrival, Roderick secured a position as a sheep overseer on "Wallan Station", West Darling Downs and their children Helen (Ella), Mary and Christina, were born there between 1865 and 1868. About 1870 the Tolmies left "Wallan" for Toowoomba where their last four children, Sarah, Agnes, Roderick and Margaret were born between 1872-1878. Sadly Helen died three years later. Oral family history differs as to what happened to Roderick. He either left home and abandoned his children, or was speared by aboriginals. The latter story describes that he was fairly able as a medico, and was called to assist a man in the outback. No record of his death has been discovered. Roderick and Helena's children, Isabella and James were 21 and 19 respectively at the time of their mother's death. Both never married, and assumed the responsibility of raising their young siblings. James' career included being a teacher, an editor, a Member of Parliament, an Alderman and a farmer. His sister, Helen (Ella), also never married and was Matron of Toowoomba General Hospital. Mary and Christina became teachers, married and had children. Sarah and Agnes both followed Ella in the nursing profession and remained single. Agnes, the Matron of Maryborough Hospital, was awarded an OBE for her involvement in the World War I Women's Memorial, Red Cross and Girl Guides. Sadly, Roderick junior died in his 30's, unmarried. Margaret married Herbert Yeates and brought up her family. At Blackwater there is a Tolmie Siding which has been brought into town and made the "station" of a small train service in a children's park. A new structure is now at the old siding. Also found, a Tolmie Creek and a Tolmie Station outside Blackwater.

Life Before Australia:

"The MacKenzies of Ballone" by Hector Hugh MacKenzie incorrectly states that Roderick's father was Alexander. Roderick's marriage certificate states his father to have been James and census records confirm this. His mother was Janet (Jessie) Gordon. According to his daughter's birth certificate, Roderick was born at Moray, Ross-shire. James and Jessie were farmers residing at Febait, Gilchrist and Tarradale, in the Parish of Urray, Ross-shire. At the 1851 census they held 50 acres, employing one labourer and their children were all employed on the farm except the younger ones, Janet and Kenneth who were 9 and 7. Two of his sons, Christopher, a baker and Roderick, a grocer were in shops in Beauly in the 1860’s and may have been in partnership. James and John continued an involvement with agriculture, but record has no been found of the other boys. Perhaps like Roderick (my great-great grandfather), they emigrated. At marriage, Roderick was a 23 year old merchant and Helena was 18 years old. "Stone on Stone" by their descendant, Neil Yeates, mentions that the couple were farmers at Kinbeachie in the Black Isle, near Inverness. Perhaps Roderick later worked for Helena's father, Angus, who leased farms at Newhall Mains and Kinbeachie in the Resolis Parish, County of Ross-shire. Helena was born at Kintail, the daughter of Angus and Isabella MacRae (nee MacKenzie). Her ancestry can easily be traced back to the 14th century as her clan formed the bodyguard of the Chief of Kintail and were known as "MacKenzies Coat of Mail", first Constables of the Eilean Donan Castle near Dornie, Ross-shire. They took control of the area and the Clan was involved in many raids and sieges. "The History of the Clan MacRae" by Rev Alexander MacRae includes Helena's genealogy.

Descendants

Children
TOLMIE, Isabella Jessie 1 TOLMIE, James 2 TOLMIE, Helena 3
TOLMIE, Mary 4 TOLMIE, Christina 5 TOLMIE, Sarah Jane 6
TOLMIE, Agnes 7 TOLMIE, Roderick Angus Edward 8 TOLMIE, Margaret Ann McNeil 9

Grandchildren
WIENEKE, Ella Isobel Doris 5 WIENEKE, Iris Ina 5 WIENEKE, Lawrence George 5
WIENEKE, Lorna Helen 5 WIENEKE, Marjorie Wieneke 5

Great Grandchildren
ARMSTRONG, Ronald 5 GARDNER, Gordon Edmund 5 GARDNER, Jean Iris 5
GARDNER, Lorna (Diana) Ferguson 5 GARDNER, Marnock Tolmie (Snow) 5

Great Great Grandchildren
MCGLASHAN, Bruce 5 MCGLASHAN, Gail 5 MCGLASHAN, Jill 5
MCGLASHAN, Ross 5

Great Great Great Grandchildren
DODD, Hayley Sharon 5 DODD, Kane Michael 5

NB: Superscript behind each descendant name represents the lineage number of that descendant.
This family information was last updated by GAIL DODD on the 24 January, 1999.