Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Stuart Sylvester HARPER
Ancestors of Stuart Sylvester HARPER
16.William HARPER, born 1754 in Strathsligo, Fife, Scotland; died 16 March 1814 in Donibristle, Dalgety, Fife, Scotland.He was the son of 32. John HARPER and 33. Christian.He married 17. Elizabeth HENDERSON 25 March 1786 in St. Cuthbert's Edinburgh, Scotland.
17.Elizabeth HENDERSON, born 25 June 1766 in Scotland46; died 27 January 1839 in 24 Clerk St., Edinburgh, Scotland47.She was the daughter of 34. Thomas HENDERSON and 35. Veronica STEWART.
Notes for William HARPER:
From Deaths in Fife Before 1855, we learn that William and Elizabeth were living with their family at Donibristle, seat of the Earl of Moray when he died, at age 60, in 1814. This same record also has the death of their 2-year -old son, Stuart, in 1807.
We also know hw was bur. in the St. Michael's Kirkyard, under a table stone, near a tree.
William was gardener to the Earl of Moray in his later years, and also farmed at Leuchars, Craig and Beath, Scotland, on land granted to him by Francis Earl of Moray STEWART. (SOURCE: Catherine Hamilton Mary (MITCHELL) HARPER, Death (SOURCE: Notice, Sydney Morning Harold, Australia, 1838 and notes from "William Harper's Life and Work").
Marriage Notes for William HARPER and Elizabeth HENDERSON:
Sarah was baptised 31 DEC 1796, according to the IGI.
Children of William HARPER and Elizabeth HENDERSON are:
| 8 | i. | Lt Col. John HARPER, R.E., born 28 December 1787 in Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland; died 28 December 1837 in Isle of Guernsey, England. | ||
| ii. | Francis Archibald HARPER, born 19 July 1788 in Dalgetty, Fife, Scotland; died 26 July 1788 in Dalgetty, Fife, Scotland. |
| Notes for Francis Archibald HARPER: Francis was baptised 26 JUL 1788, at one week of age, at Dalgety Church. John Girge and Andrew HARPER and others were present. The record said his father was "head gardner" at Donibristlefor the Earl of MORAY. (SOURCE: Old Parish Records Dalgety 422/2). |
| iii. | James HARPER, born 16 April 1790 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland; died 30 April 1790 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland; married Elizabeth WESTWOOD. |
| Notes for James HARPER: James was baptised 30 APR 1790 according to the Old Parish Records at Dalgety, by Mr. Pitter Primros, minister of the gospel of Dalgety. Witnesses were: John GIge and Andrew HARPER and others now dwelling in Dalgety house at present. James also emigrated to Australia along with George, William and Sarah. |
| iv. | William HARPER, born 23 April 1792 in Dalgetty, Fife, Scotland; died 10 May 1836 in Oswald, Luskintyre and Hunter's River,Australia; married Catherine Hamilton Mary MITCHELL 17 April 1817 in Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland; died 1864 in Branxton, NSW, Australia. |
| Notes for William HARPER: In 1817, William was farming at Newington, south of Edinburgh, and Catherine Hamilton MITCHELL lived with her family at Loanhead, daughter of George MITCHELL, deceased. Banns were given for the proclamation of the banns of marriage from Abbotstall, Kirkcaldy, Fife. witnesses at their marriage were: John Fraser, High St., Edinburgh and George HARPER, grocer at Newington. IN 1836, William lived in the Hunter district, and was a Presbyterian. (SOURCE: Old Parish Records pf St. Cuthbert's (685.2/19). William was an early architect and surveyor who arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1820, on the Westmoreland". He prepared early maps of Sydney and Newcastle, but is especially remembered as the builder of "The Judge's House", 529-531 Kent St. in 1821. It was leased to Judge Dowling in 1828, after HARPER received a land grant at "Harper's Hill", when he became blind.It is now the only surviving Georgian cottage in the inner-city. It is currently owned bythe Duke of Westminster through his company Governor International, and David Holding Ply Ltd. William is buried under a flat stone with barely legible writingamong a plot of trees in a creek, just below the site of the old "Oswald" homestead on the property now called "Llana". (SOURCE: Map Ref: 9589/4419, Military Survey map of singleton Sheet No 387 Zone B). William died suddenly in his home, Oswald, 10 MAY 1836, age 44 years. Notice of his death read: "Affectionate husband and tender father. Lost eye-sight in government service, nine years before death. (SOURCE: SMH 19 MAY 1836). |
| v. | Rachael HARPER, born 03 June 1794 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland; died 16 May 1871 in Grafton, NSW, Australia; married Rober TURNBULL 26 October 1822 in Dutch ReformedUitenhage, Cape, S. Africa; born 16 June 1791 in Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| Notes for Rachael HARPER: Rachael was baptised 12 JUN 1794, according to Old Parish Reg. 422/2, at Dalgety. Witnesses were: John Gieg and Andrew HARPER and others. |
| Notes for Rober TURNBULL: Robert was a Surgeon of the 80th Regiment, and died before his wife. |
| vi. | Sarah HARPER, born 28 October 1796 in Dalgetty, Fife, Scotland; died 31 October 1796 in Dalgetty, Fife, Scotland. |
| Notes for Sarah HARPER: She was baptised 31 MAY 1796 by the Rev. Mr. Scott. (SOURCE: Old Parish Reg., Dalgety 422?2). |
| vii. | George HARPER, born 30 June 1799 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland48; died 23 March 1841 in Picton, NSW, Australia; married Margaret Eleanor HOWEY 25 November 1828 in Barnborough, Northumberland, England; born 17 October 1798 in Lilbum Grange,Pasture HIll, Beadnell,Northumberland, England. |
| Notes for George HARPER: George was baptised 26 JUL 1799, according to theOld Parish Records of Dalgety. He may have been a grocer at age 17 at Newington, Fife. He arrived in Australia on board the Westmoreland with his brother William, and took up a job looking after the comissiariat, Liverpool, NSW. That was in 1822. In 1827, he became a farmer at Picton, NSW. George returned to London on the SS Portland on 7 BEF 1827. He then married in 1828 and returned to Sydney on the SS Lord Weston, 3 OCT 1840, with his wife and five children: three sons and two sdaughters. He d. at age 38.(SOURCE: Received from Ron HARPER, of NSW, AUSTRALIA). |
| viii. | Robert HARPER, born 22 December 1801 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland48 | |||
| ix. | Stuart HARPER, born 03 February 1806 in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland; died 24 September 1807 in Donibristle, Dalgety, Fife, Scotland. |
| Notes for Stuart HARPER: Stuart was bur. in St. Michael's Cemetery, Donibristle, Fife, Scotland. On his table stone, it states: Erected By William Harper, gardner to the Earl of Moray, Donibristle, and elizabeth Henderson, his spousee, in memory of their seventh son, Stuart Harper, who died September 24th 1807 aged 2 years 6 months. "Here lies the dust of innocence whose breath Was caught by early not untimely death. Hence he did go just as he did begin, Pain to know befor he knew to sin." His father was buried in the same tomb seven years later, but his mother went back to Edenburgh and was buried there. (SOURCE: Fife Family History Society, "Monumental Inscriptions", Publication 18, Dolphin Press, p. 41). Stuart and Alexander were twins. (SOURCE: Old Parish Records, Dalgety). |
| x. | Alexander HARPER, born 03 February 1806. |
| Notes for Alexander HARPER: Alexander and Stuart were twins. They were baptised 24 SEP 1807, at six months of age, by Rev. Scott. (SOURCE: Old Parish Reg., Dalgety, fife). |