MY CLUGSTON ANCESTRY

Andrew Clugston

BIRTH 1838 • Ballylinny, Antrim, Northern Ireland

DEATH 25 JAN 1926 • Shepparton East, Victoria, Australia

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Andrew Clugston was born in 1838 in Ballylinny, Antrim to John Clugston and Mary Ross. Ballylinny (from Irish Baile Linne, meaning ‘homestead of the pond’) is a small village and townland near Ballyclare in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Clugston family were Presbyterian, and I believe attended the Ballylinny Presbyterian Church.

At this stage, I have only confirmed one sibling for Andrew, who was Hugh Clugston. My DNA matches on Ancestry for my Clugston line are extensive and quite challenging to connect. I have multiple DNA matches to descendants of William Clugston and Rachel Smith. We also seem to link to the McBride family and have links to the Scottish Clugstons.

I am yet to discover how Andrew travelled to Australia but considering his brother Hugh also came here, I suspect they might have travelled together in the the early 1850’s. I would love to hear from anyone who might know more.

Andrew was a 27 year old bachelor when he married 22 year old spinster Ellen Church on 29 August 1864 in Benalla, Victoria. They were married in the house of Rev. Isaac Hardcastle Palfreyman, Primitive Methodist Minister. Andrew’s occupation is listed as ‘sawyer’ and his father John as a carpenter. Andrew’s residence is recorded as Four Mile Creek, Benalla, and Ellen’s as Violet Valley, Benalla.

Ellen was born on 20th October 1842 and the birth was registered in Geelong, Victoria. She was baptised there also on the 13th May 1843. This differs from their wedding certificate which indicates Hobart, Tasmania as her place of birth. Ellen’s parents Thomas Church and Margaret O’Leary married in New Norfolk, Tasmania on 20 Jun 1836. Thomas was from Middlesex, England and Margaret was from Ireland. Perhaps i’ll explore them further in a seperate blog.

Andrew and Ellen had six children that I am able to find records for.

 

• • John “Jack” Thomas 1866 – 1919

• • Mary Jane 1867 – 1886

• • Margaret “Maggie” 1873 – 1956 (my great grandmother)

• • Agnes 1875 – 1875

• • Andrew 1877 – 1877

• • Frances “Nellie” Ellen 1879 – 1950

After living and farming around the Benalla, the family moved to Youanmite, a rural village and district in northern Victoria, 17 km west of Tungamah and 47 km north-east of Shepparton.

It was here that my great grandmother Margaret, known as Maggie, married John Gawne. I will share more of their story in another blog, but they had a large family of 13 children!

John Thomas, known as Jack, has a story of tragedy known as the ‘Ascot Tank Tragedy’ that I will share at another time.

Andrew died on 25 January 1926 in Shepparton East, Victoria, at the age of 88, at Maggie’s residence. He was buried in the Katandra Cemetery, in Katandra, Victoria. His death certificate states the cause of death as senile degeneration and heart failure.

I do not believe there was a son called William John, and it was an error in the paper.

Ellen died just a few months later on the 21st May 1926 at 87 years of age in Shepparton East. Her death certificate gives her name as Frances Ellen Clugston, but this is the only document that does so. It also confirms her place of birth as Geelong, VIC.

 

Written by Christy Gray.