Biography

James' father, John, was born in 1816 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His mother was born in 1826 in Rosshire, Scotland. They married in 1849 at La Rose, Victoria, and the marriage produced 11 children - but sadly not all lived to adulthood. They were: Ann, born and died 1850; Agnes, born 1851, died 1859; Catherine born 1853, died the following year; John born 1854 also died the following year; Margaret born and died in 1855; Annabella born 1857, died 1859; Ann born and died 1860; Mary Christina born 1862, died 1864; John George born 1863; and William Donald Duncan born 1866. Both parents died in Victoria, John in 1884 and Christian in 1900. James was working as a miner in Mulwarrie in 1903 before moving to Davyhurst in 1908. He had a heart attack while working at the Golden Pile Mine. He left an estate valued at £571 2s 2d to John Robert, his eldest son, under attorney to James' wife, Sarah. He had spent 36 years in Victoria before arriving in Western Australia.