John Brownlee born c1760 in Carluke Parish was married 27 August 1790[1] in Cambusnethan Parish to Mary Barrie (Barry) of Cambusnethan Parish. John Brownlee was a farmer[2].

They had issue:

1. James Brownlee, born circa 1807, in Wishawtoun, Cambusnethan Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Married Elizabeth Somerville (Somervale[3], Sommerville[4]), born c1811 daughter of (?) Sommerville and Mary Reid (maiden surname Douglas). Elizabeth died at 4:40pm on 24 February 1874 at 113 Main Street Wishaw aged 63 years[5]. She had suffered with heart disease for a period of 5 years. Her son James Brownlie was the informant[6]. James Brownlee’s occupation has been recorded as a Miller, Carter and labourer in distillery[7]. James died of acute bronchitis at 3am on 7 February 1857 (aged 50) in Wishaw. Mary Brownlie his daughter aged 16 (possibly from Hertshank?) was present at his death and was the informant. He was buried at Carluke Churchyard[8]. There was a Mary Ann Reid born c1826 aged 15 staying with them at the 1841 census.

They had Issue:

1. John Brownlee born circa 1836[9], Wishawtoun Cambusnethan Parish in Lanarkshire Scotland.

2. Mary Brownlee, born 14 August 1837[10], Wishawtoun.  Baptised 3 September 1837[11], Wishawtoun. Died of Diarrhoea in Carluke (?) February 1838. Buried Carluke 21 February 1838.

3. Robert Brownlee, twin born 28 December 1840[12], baptised 7 March 1841[13], at Wishawtoun. Robert died in Carluke on 12 June 1841 and buried at Carluke Cemetery on 12 June 1841[14].

4. Mary Brownlee, twin born 28 December 1840[15], baptised 7 March 1841[16], at Wishawtoun.  Died 29 February 1920 at 103 Airbles Road, Motherwell, in Lanarkshire. Buried 3 March 1920 at Bent Cemetery (Lair NSL 24), Hamilton, in Lanarkshire.  Mary was married according to the (?) of the United Presbyterian Church at 113 Main Street Wishaw[17] on 12 December 1864[18] to Robert McCartney, Pitheadman and woodcutter, born 28 February 1842, baptised 20 March 1842, Ayr Ayrshire Scotland[19]. Died 18 January 1914 at 105 Airbles Road, Motherwell, in Lanarkshire.  Buried 20 January 1914 at Bent Cemetery (Lair NSL 24), Hamilton, Scotland. Robert was the son of Hugh McCartney, General Labourer or surface-man[20] and Jane[21] Pollock.  Hugh McCartney and Jane[22] Pollock married 15 April 1838 at Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland[23]. Marriage or banns also recorded on 27 April 1838 at Colyton, Ayrshire, Scotland[24]. Mary Brownlee was Robert’s second wife. His first wife was Jane Simpson, married 5 June 1863 in the manse at Old Monkland in Lanarkshire Scotland[25]. Witnesses at the marriage were (?) Crawford and Elizabeth Reid[26]. Robert and Mary lived at Smith’s Land, Hill Street Wishaw in 1881[27].

Robert McCartney and Jane Simpson had issue:

1. Hugh McCartney, born 3pm 15 January 1864 at Woodlands Cottage, Walkmill Road Old Monkland[28]. Hugh was married on 28 June 1889 at Neilson’s Square[29], Graham Street Wishaw after Banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland to Jessie McCall born c1868. Jessie was the daughter of James McCall, coalminer and Margaret (or Mary) Ramsay. Duff MacDonald BD., a minister from Dalziel performed the marriage. Witnesses to the marriage were George Russell and Nellie Manson. Hugh died at 11:15am on 15 January 1902 at Douglas’ Land Park Street Wishaw[30]. His informant at death was John McCall his brother in law who lived at 19 King Street Wishaw. Hugh was a clerk at age 17[31] and an Engine Driver at the time of his death.

James Brownlee and Elizabeth Somerville also had:

5. James Brownlee, born 24 May 1846, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.  Occupation was Master Bricklayer. Died 26 June 1892[32] at Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown NSW in Australia. James died on the steps of the hospital from Chronic Ulcer of Duodenum, acute Peritonitis.  Buried in Presbyterian Section, Rookwood Cemetery, NSW, on 27 June 1892.  James was married by Reverend Robert Gibson on Tuesday 21 July 1874 at Partick East Presbyterian Church to Catherine (or Catharine) Bell Duncan, born 3 August 1854 in Edinburgh, Scotland, illegitimate daughter of Catharine Bell of Collessie Parish. Her father's name was not recorded. Catherine Bell Duncan's parents were Robert Duncan and Catharine Bell and their Banns of Marriage was recorded in Kennoway on 6 August 1833[33] after a regular proclamation and in Collessie on 9 August 1833[34]. Robert was said to have been a gardener at Edinburgh Castle although not verified. Catherine died 25 January 1934[35] at John Street, Leichhardt NSW, in Australia from a Cerebral Haemorrhage. For more information on the Duncan Bell families go to the following link DUNCAN/BELL

Travelled to New Zealand in c1880 and to Sydney, Australia aboard the Manapouri in c1884.

They had Issue:

1. Catherine Bell Brownlee, born 24 June 1875 at Smiths Land, Hill Street, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.  Died 30 October 1876 at 21 Portland Square, Hamilton, Scotland.  Buried 1 November 1876 at Bent Cemetery (Lair NSL 24) Hamilton.

2. James Brownlee, born 5 April 1877 at 21 Portland Square, Hamilton, Scotland.  Was a Milk Vendor and became a director of the Milk Board in Sydney, Australia.  He was a keen sailor (18 footers) and had trotters.  Died 22 August 1954.  Married Emily Borley, born 25 June 1883 at Tenterfield, N.S.W.  Emily was the daughter of William John Borley, Dairyman and Mary O’Neill.  Emily died 24 June 1959. EXPAND CHART

3. Robert Duncan Brownlee, born 25 January 1879, at 52 Union Street, Hamilton, Scotland.  Married Annie Johnson, born 29 March 1877, daughter of William Arthur Johnson.   Annie Johnson was born in Cheshire, England and migrated to Australia with her parents.  She died 28 February 1960.  Robert started a box factory in Annandale around the turn of the century.  In 1908 he founded R. Brownlee & Co. Ltd. Sawmill at Ourimbah, N.S.W.  This Sawmill was taken over by his son Robert William Brownlee after his death on 27 October 1935[36].  He also had shares in Taylor Brothers and Brownlee boatshed at The Entrance, N.S.W., where he was involved in building and repairing boats for hire.  Robert Brownlee also shared an interest in trotters, with his brother, James Brownlee. EXPAND CHART

4. John Brownlee, born 19 March 1881 at Dunedin, New Zealand[37].  Migrated to Australia with parents in 1884.  Worked at R. Brownlee & Co. Ltd. at Ourimbah.  Married in 1908[38] (Marriage registered at Annandale) to Bertha May Franklin born at Petersham on 17 December 1887[39], died 14 July 1972 buried at Ronkana Cemetery.  Daughter of Joseph Franklin and Elizabeth A(nn?) Milner or Hilner[40]. Refer Marriage Certificate registered in Concord 1740/1880[41]. NB: Other siblings of Joseph Franklin and Elizabeth Ann Milner or Hilner were Alfred George Franklin born 1881 in Petersham[42], Lizzie Franklin born 1883 in Canterbury[43], and Mary A(nn) Franklin born 1889[44]. (There is an entry in the NSW Birth records, showing that a Joseph Franklin[45] was born to Joseph Franklin and Johanna (?) in 1849, along with two other siblings, Robert Franklin[46] born 1847 and James Franklin[47] born in 1856, who were both born to the same parents. Editor) EXPAND CHART

5. William Somerville Brownlee was born 12 June 1883 at Ravensbourne[48] (Rothesay)[49] Dunedin New Zealand.  Died 13 June 1960 at Leichhardt, NSW.  Worked as Boot maker, worked on sheep stations as a slushy (cleaned the shearing sheds), drove meat wagons for Riverstone Meat Works, worked on Glebe Island, worked for R. Brownlee & Co. Ltd. Sawmills at Ourimbah for 10 years (1917-1927) as a saw sharpener.  Married at “The Parsonage”, Wellington Street, Bondi by the Reverend Eustace Coplin Thomas. Witnesses were Elisabeth Lang and Mabel Thomas[50]. Married to Maria Bessie Chadwick born 19 April 1893, died 31 May 1981.  Maria was 2nd child of Edward Chadwick born in Kings County, Ireland circa 1859. Edward’s parents, Frederick and Julia Chadwick, were farmers. Edward had come to Australia in the 1880’s and was a van proprietor in Sydney. Edward married Elizabeth Ralph, born c1861 in Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland. Edward and Elizabeth were married at St Phillips Church of England, Sydney by Rev. H. Izod Richards on 20 August 1890[51]. Elizabeth died on 14 November 1901 of Typhoid Fever[52], and after her death, Catherine Bell Brownlee, by now, a widower, looked after young Maria Bessie and William Edward Chadwick.  On 31 January 1905[53], Edward Chadwick suffered a fractured skull and passed away as a result of a collision between his van and a tram in Sydney. In his will[54], Catherine Bell Brownlee was sworn as Guardian of his children. It was through my grandmother’s love and inspiration that I developed an interest in the Brownlee family history. I remember spending many days and nights sitting with her as she told me stories of how it was when she was a child. I treasure those stories and without them, this book would not have been possible. I am also grateful to her for teaching me some qualities that have helped me through many personal challenges. They were persistence and perseverance. Her words still play in my head whenever I need them “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again[55].” Thanks to her, I learned, that if you persist with your dream and never, ever, give up, no matter what is said against that dream, then that dream can be yours. King Robert the Bruce I was born at Lochmaben Castle in 1274. He was Knight and Overlord of Annandale. In 1306 he was crowned King of Scotland and henceforth tried to free Scotland from the English enemy. After being defeated at a battle, Bruce escaped and found a hideout in a cave. Hiding in a cave for three months, Bruce was at the lowest point of his life. He thought about leaving the country and never coming back. While waiting, he watched a spider building a web in the cave's entrance. The spider fell down time after time, but finally he succeeded with his web. So Bruce decided also to retry his fight and told his men: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again". This comment was written into this history on 19 April 2004, while I was reflecting on the 111th anniversary of Grandma Brownlee’s birth - Ian Edward Brownlee, editor. EXPAND CHART

6. Elizabeth Mary Somerville Brownlee was born 30 July 1885[56] at John Street, Leichhardt, N.S.W. Lived in White Street, Annandale. Died 11 September 1973.  Married Edward Thomas Lang.

They had Issue:

1. Catherine Anne Lang, born 13 February 1911.   Married Edward Bourke.

They had Issue:

1. Gregory Bourke, born (?) (Unknown).  Married (?) (Unknown).

Elizabeth Mary Somerville Brownlee and Edward Thomas Lang also had:

2. Mavis Christina Florence Lang, born 28 November 1918.  Married Harley Tucker.

They had Issue:

1. Graham Tucker. Married (?)

Elizabeth Mary Somerville Brownlee and Edward Thomas Lang also had:

3. Edward Thomas Lang, born (?) (Unknown).  Married Eileen (?) (Unknown).

They had Issue:

1. Christopher Lang. (Adopted)

2. Jonathon Lang. (Adopted)

3. Elizabeth Lang. (Adopted)

COLLAPSE CHART

James Brownlee and Catherine Bell Duncan also had:

7. Thomas Duncan Brownlee, born 7 February 1888[57] at John Street, Leichhardt, N.S.W.  Died 1969.  Married Jessie Violet May Fraser, born 16 March 1886[58] at Hordern Street, Newtown, N.S.W.  Died 16 March 1962[59]. Jessie is the daughter of Adam Russell Fraser, a stonemason, born 1861 at Manly[60] and Virginia Christina Kidd[61] Murray, born 1862 at Shoalhaven, NSW. Adam and Virginia were married on 25 April 1883, at St Stephen’s Church in Newtown by Rev Robert Taylor[62]. They also had other children and their names were David Fraser born c1884 and Lilly Fraser born c1889. Adam Russell Fraser was the son of David Fraser, who was also a stonemason, and Margaret Russell. Virginia Kidd Murray was the daughter of James Kidd Murray, who possibly died in 1889[63]. James was a baker. Virginia’s mother was Sarah Mary Arnold. They also had other children as follows. James Murray born in 1860[64], Eliza E Murray born in 1861[65], Arthur J Murray born in 1863[66], Gladys L Murray born in 1865[67], Lillias A E Murray born in 1866[68] and Alfred E A S Murray born in 1868[69]. EXPAND CHART

8. Christina Brownlee, born 25 August 1890[70], John Street, Leichhardt, N.S.W. died 18 November 1957.  Married 6 January 1911[71] at Congregational Church, 141 Botany Street, Waterloo by the Reverend John Bickenham to Thomas George McMahon, butcher, born 17 February 1883[72] at Moss Vale, N.S.W., died  (Unknown). Thomas is the son of Nicholas Howard McMahon, farmer, and Mary Ann Bryan, home duties. Witnesses at marriage were Amelia Pettit (or Veltit) and Lizzie Field. EXPAND CHART

Compiled by Ian Edward Brownlee
Please send any alterations or additions, copies of Births, Deaths, Marriage Certificates and photographs to
78 Stuarts Road, Katoomba NSW 2780 Australia
PO Box 378, Katoomba NSW 2780 Australia
Phone 61 2 4782 2794 Fax: 61 2 4782 9559 Mobile 0414 822 794
Email: research@brownlee.com.au Website: www.brownlee.com.au
Photographs can be sent digitally as follows:
Scan at 600DPI at setting of High Resolution same size as original. Save as a JPEG.