Image above (click for larger picture): Robert Reid (1842-1904), 1903, merchant and politician, brother of Dr John Lambert Reid, uncle of Henry Newman Reid. Talma Studios, c1903, courtesy of National Library of Australia. nla.pic-an23492347. |
Merchant and politician
Uncle of Henry Newman Reid (1862 - 1947)
Robert Reid was born on 17 Oct 1842 at Parish of Scoonie, Leven, Fife, Scotland. He was listed as the son of Robert Reid in the 1851 census at 36 High Street, Parish of Scoonie, Leven, Fife, Scotland; Bookseller & Printer. Immigrated on the 7 Apr 1855 with the family of Robert Reid snr. on the "Ralph Waller."
On 1st June 1864 Paid to R. H. Bland, being full amount for cottage and land Punt Road Richmond, £111:17:0 He married Mary Jane Clancy, daughter of Maurice Clancy and Ann Rogers, on 2 Feb 1865 at Punt Road, Richmond, Victoria. As of 21 Mar 1870, Robert Reid lived at "Belmont" Whitehorse Road, Boorandarra, Balwyn, Victoria. Paid William Starr Drury, Esq. for property known as Belmont in the Whitehorse Road Boorandarra for £803:03:0
Arr Melb Apr 1855 and worked in a retail store. After experience with several employers he was for 17 years in the wholesale warehouse of William Watson & Sons. He established his own wholesale drapery business in Flinders Lane as Warne, Adair & Reid (1874), Warne & Reid (1876) and Robert Reid & Co. (1887). The latter became limited liability company 1898 with head office in London and branches in Australian capital cities.
President Melbourne Chamber of Commerce 1888 - 1890, 1899 - 1902.
Represented the Chamber at the Indian & Colonial Exhibition 1886, London
Commissioner for the Paris Exhibition 1889 and received the Cross of the Legion of Honour from the French Government.
Supported many charitable institutions and Homoeopathic Hospital, Secretery Baptist Theological College and chairman Baptist Union (one term)
MLC Melbourne Province Oct 1892 - Feb 1903 (resigned)
Minister of Defence and Minister for Health 23 Jan 1893 - 27 Sept 1894
Minister Public Instruction and Minister for Health 10 June 1902 - 3 Feb 1903
Royal Commission Sanatory Conditions of Melbourne 1888
Senator for Victoria 1903 from 1892 to 1903.
Reid had four sons and six daughters, two of whom married Bates brothers. The two known sons were Robert McKenzie Reid (1867- ) and Arthur Maurice Reid (1870-1953)
Agnes Ethel Reid married Edward Albert Bates in Victoria in 1897 [17] and llived at "Mileela". Edward was a partner with Bates Smart McCutcheon, Australia's oldest architectural firm, and one of the world's oldest, established in 1853 by Joseph Reed as the practice Reed and Barnes.
'Belle' Isabelle Bruce Reid (1883 - 1945), veterinary surgeon, was born on 21 December 1883 in Melbourne, youngest of the ten children. She was said to be the first formally recognized female veterinary surgeon in the world when registered by the Veterinary Board of Victoria in 1906. In 1996 her name was included in the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame, Alice Springs, Northern Territory. In 1911 Reid and her sister Mary ('May') had bought one thousand acres (405 ha) of farmland at Bundoora and named it 'Blossom Park'. Belle moved to the farm in 1925. She engaged Edna Walling to landscape the garden of her home, had stables built to accommodate both her own horses and others on agistment, and supervised the construction of a large dairy. Late in life Miss Reid still managed the farm, with the help of Sylvia Kelynack. She died of coronary thrombosis on 13 December 1945 at Canterbury and was buried in Box Hill cemetery; her estate was sworn for probate at £101,603. A formidable woman, she only gained limited status in what was then a conservative, male-dominated profession, partly because she retired from practice early. [18]
Catherine Lambert Reid married William Edward Copeland Bates in 1892 in Victoria [17] and lived at "Larino". He became a Director of Robert Reid & Co and Buckley & Nunn established 1851, as did his wife Catherine Reid in 1893. Buckley & Nunn is now the site of David Jones at 310 Bourke Street Melbourne (1934) and was designed by Bates Smart McCutcheon. On Nunn's death by suicide in 1891, Buckley immediately offered the business for sale in London. He rejected an offer of £300,000 and sold it to Robert Reid for the price he wanted. In 1892 Reid disposed of the business in London for the figure mentioned.
Robert had suffered from diabetes for ten years and died in diabetic coma while on holiday at St Ermins Hotel, Westminster, Middlesex, England, aged 61. He was buried on 16 May 1904 at Hampstead Cemetery, Hampstead, England. Reid's wife, Mary Jane, née Clancy, whom he had married at his mother's house in Punt Road, Richmond, on 2 February 1865, survived him with four sons and six daughters. His estate was sworn for probate at £196,501. Sons continued the family business and his daughter Isabelle Bruce (1883-1945) was an early woman veterinary surgeon.
Sources:
[1] 'Merrilees Clan Website' Online, Henry's mother, Mary Ann Mirilees, belongs to the Merrilees Clan MFA Tree #9. All of the Merrilees Family Tree branches in Australia and New Zealand are proven by DNA testing to be related through a common ancestor, currently identified by MFA research as James Mirrileyis (born abt 1610) who married Elspeth Blair in Ormiston in 1641. James was a blacksmith in Pencaitland, East Lothian. The first member of this family to go to New Zealand was Henry's sister, 36-yr-old Agnes Reid in 1899. She was the fifth child born to Mary Ann Mireylees and Dr John Lambert Reid in Scotland before the family emigrated to Australia in 1864, where four other siblings were born. Agnes immigrated from Australia to Alexandra in Otago and married Kenneth McLeay Phin. Henry Newman Reid links to the Merrilees common ancestor through Robert Mireylees (abt 1780) and Euphemia Dunbar who married in Edinburgh, 15 March 1799.
[2] '1841 Scotland Census', Name: Mary Ann Mireylees, Birth: abt 1831 - Midlothian, Scotland, Residence: township, Midlothian
[3] '1861 Scotland Census', Name: Mary A L Reid, Birth: abt 1832 - Midlothian, Scotland, Residence: city, Midlothian
[4] 'Australian Births Deaths and Marriages Index', Public Records Office Victoria' Mary Ann Reid (nee Merrilees) Death Reg No: 5211/1918, father Robert Mireylees, mother Catherine Louisa Wright. Children of John Lambert Reid and Mary Ann Mirilees born in Victoria: John Reid, born: 1864 Reg No: 24343; Alison Reid, born: 1868 Reg No: 10018; Edith Reid, born: 1869 Reg No: 21179; Kezia McCallum Reid born: 1873, Reg No: 5950.
Marriage of Kezia McCallum Reid to Thomas Cooper in 1895, Reg No: 2909.
[5] 'Unassisted Immigration to Victoria: Index of Inward Passenger Lists for British, Foreign and New Zealand Ports 1852-1923', Public Record Office Victoria, Fiche 232 pp. 5 and 7, 'Empress of the Seas', arr. Port Phillip Jun 1864 from British Port, passengers: Parents John aged 31 and Mary A aged 30, Children William, aged 6; Mary, aged 4, Louisa, aged 3; Henry, aged 2; and baby Agnes.
The Public Records Office database records the 1961 voyage as 'Empress of the Sea' and the 1864 and onward voyages were 'Empress of the Seas' (plural). The latter ship was an extreme clipper built by Donald Mackay and destroyed in 1861 as noted below. It could not have made the 1864 voyage yet that is how it is recorded in the PRO database. 'Empress of the Sea' was a smaller 1,243 tons wooden ship fastened with iron bolts and also owned by the famous Black Ball line of Liverpool, built in 1863 at Hilyard in New Brunswick. She was a Liverpool to Melbourne ship and probably sailed her maiden voyage on that run under Capt Davis in 1864. When the owners of the shipping line, James Baines & Co, were in financial troubles in the 1860s, Capt. Thomas Williams bought some of the old wooden ships from them, including 'Empress of the Sea', in 1866, which he sold in 1871. Capt. Williams of Parciau, Criccieth and Liverpool, was formerly Master then Marine Superintendant with the Black Ball Line.
'Empress of the Seas' James Baines & Co purchased this large extreme clipper built by Donald Mackay in September 1860 from Wilson & Sons of Baltimore. She soon joined the Black Ball fleet on the Liverpool-Melbourne run. On her second voyage, she made a phenomenally fast passage to Melbourne in 66 1/2 days. One source says she was anchored off Port Phillip at the quarantine station at Port Nepean waiting for the morning tide of December 19, 1861 to begin the homeward passage, when a fire in the fore hold broke out that destroyed her. Mackay also built 'Sovereign of the Sea's and 'Champion of the Seas'.
[6] 'Register of New Zealand Presbyterian Marriages 1848 to 1930', Alexandra - Clyde Parish Marriages 1868 to 1920, Parish Code 23/2, PHIN Kenneth McLeay, age 36y REID Agnes, age 36y, 2 Aug 1899, Reg No. 23/2/3, Online
[7] 'International Genealogical Index' Old parochial registers for Kirkcaldy, 1614-1867 Church of Scotland. Parish Church of Kirkcaldy (Fifeshire Parish 442) (Main Author), Batch No: M114429, Source Call No: 1040187, Printout: 6901904. Microfilm of original records in the New Register House, Edinburgh. Marriage of Robert Reid and Catherine Lambert on 18 Nov 1830, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.
[8] 'International Genealogical Index' Old Parochial Registers for Scoonie 1667-1854, Fife, Scotland. Church of Scotland, Parish Church of Scoonie (Fifeshire Parish 456) (Main Author), Batch No: C114566; Source Call No: 1040190, Printout: 6900787. Microfilm of original records in the New Register House, Edinburgh.
Children of Robert Reid and Catherine Lambert born at Scoonie, Fife: John b. 18 Oct 1831 (matches age immigration ±2y; matches middle-name of son John 'Lambert' Reid); Agnes b. 10 Oct 1834; possible twins Margaret b. 12 Jun 1836 and Alison Crease b. 21 Jul 1836; Sarah b. 9 Jun 1840; Robert b. 17 Oct 1842; Sarah Isabella b. 27 Jul 1844, bp. 2 Sep 1844; Lydia Catherine b. 2 Jul 1847, bp. 27 Jul 1847; Rachel b. 27 Jun 1850, bp. 21 Jul 1850 The names Alison and Agnes are traditional namesakes for children of John Lambert Reid and Mary Ann.
[9] 'Reid, Robert (1842 - 1904)', Margaret Steven, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, 1988, pp 356-357.
[10] 'Unassisted Immigration to Victoria: Index of Inward Passenger Lists for British, Foreign and New Zealand Ports 1852-1923', Public Record Office Victoria, Fiche 091, p. 003, 'Ralph Waller', arr. Apr 1855, to Port Phillip (Melbourne) from British Port, passengers: Parents: Robert, adult; Catherine, adult; Children: Margaret K, adult; Agnes C, adult; Alison C, adult; Barbara W, adult; Sarah, child; Lydia, child; Robert, child; Rachael, child. One of two daughters named Sarah did not immigrate.
[11] Mirrilees Family Association, New Zealand, Tree 09, 2007. H N Reid's mother: Mary Ann Mireylees b. 15 Mar 1831, Edinburgh, d. 1918, Aus m. 3 May 1854, Dundee John Lambert Reid. H N Reid's brothers: John Reid b. 1864 d. 1865 Aus; William Eliot Reid b. 1858 d. 1939, Aus; Andrew Lambert Reid b. 1868, Aus d. 1889, Aus; Edward Crichton b. 1872. Sisters: Mary Anne Lambert b. 1859 d. 1946; Louisa b. 1861; Agnes b. 1863, England, d. 1956, NZ, m. 1899 Kenneth Phin; Alison b. 1868 d. 1955, Aus; Edith b. 1869 d. 1947, Aus; Kezia McCallum b. 1873 d. 1958, m. 1895 Thos Wm Cooper, ch. Robert, John and William.
[12] 'Merrilees Clan Association', Caroline Merrylees and Joan Painter, Nov. 2007, Merrylees family deaths:
D1881 14-11-1881, Robert Fletcher Mireylees, wife Louisa Catherine Wright, occ commission agent, age 78, father Robert, upholstery master (dec.), mother Euphemia Dunbar, cause: bronchitis 7 days, informant Edward Mireylees, son.
D1891 9-12-1891, Louisa Catherine (Mireylees) Wright, at 270 Leith Walk, age 81, husband Robert Fletcher Mireylees, jeweller (dec.), father Thomas Wright, gold dealer, mother Mary Ann Spencer, cause: influenza 7 days, informant W. C. Mireylees, son usual address, 5 Prospect Place, Edinburgh.
D1905 9-6-1905, William Crichton Mireylees, at 5 Prospect Place Edinburgh, wife Mary Kent, occ. mercantile clerk, age 67, father Robert Fletcher, publican (dec.), mother Louisa Catherine Wright (dec.), cause: acute congestion of lungs, 5 days, sudden cardiac failure, informant R. Mireylees, son, usual residence Rossire? Place.
[13] 'Scottish Book Trade Index (SBTI)', National Library of Scotland, Online, Transcript:
REID, Robert bookseller and stationer Leven, 36 High Street. October 1834 and printer same address 1839-August 1854. Robert Reid was the son of John Reid of St Cuthbert's parish in Edinburgh, and was born in 1808. On 18 November 1830 he married, in Kirkcaldy, Catherine Lambert, daughter of Andrew Lambert, weaver in Linktown. His occupation at that time is given as bookbinder. He possibly came to Leven because of the death in February 1834 of John Elder, Pastor of the Congregational Chapel in Leven also acted as librarian, bookseller and stationer. In 1852 he was recorded as bookseller, stationer, printer, sub-distributor of stamps and circulating library. He went bankrupt in August 1854, and he and his family emigrated to Australia. Unfortunately, about 1000 miles out of Melbourne, the ship sprung a leak, and everyone had to take turns at the pumps. He survived the ship's arrival in Melbourne only six weeks, dying on 3 June 1855.
Campbell Leven; Pigot 1837; Slater 1852.
[14] 'International Genealogical Index' Old Parochial Registers, Parish Church of Dundee. Batch No: M112825 Source 0993404 Printout 6902959, John Lambert m. Mary Ann Mirreylees 3 May 1854 Dundee, Angus, Scotland.
[15] 'Rootsweb posts by Bill Bell of Brunswick, Victoria'. Online. 3 Dec 2005: In 1893 The Honorable Robert Reid, Minister for Defence and Health from the Colony of Victoria Australia gave a lecture in Vancouver; 27 Dec 2006: Re Table Talk article [59]: Now as far as I can work out the Uncle would have been either John - who was a merchant with ties to South America or Alexander who was a Master Gardener in Angus Scotland. The Robert Reid I am looking for would have been born in 1846 [1746?]. There are two Reid's in the First Fleet who are not convicts that I can find: Robinson Reid Carpenter HMS Supply; Reid H first mate Storeship Borrowdale. Now allowing for the difficulty of reading many old records that have been hand written both Reid's could fit the bill particularly Reid H as it would be easy to see a R as H. The first Reid is more problematical as it would be harder to fit Robert into Robinson. 17 Sep 2006: Robert Reid and his children and Edward and William Bates who married into the Reid family. Robert Reid lived at "Belmont" in the Balwyn/Deepdene area. Edward Bates at "Mileela" and was a partner in Bates Smart McCutcheon. William Bates lived at "Larino" and was a Director of Robert Reid & Co and Buckley & Nunn as was his wife Catherine Reid in 1893. 17 Sep 2006: bibliographical details of Robert Reid.
[16] 'Table Talk', Melbourne, November 25 1889 p 5 to 6, extract reproduced in main body.
[17] Australian Births Deaths and Marriages Index, Public Records Office Victoria; births to Robert Reid and Mary Ann Clancy: Agnes Ethel, 1874, Reg No. 16377; Annie, 1865, Reg No. 24328; Robert McKenzie, 1867, Reg No. 4263; Catherine Lambert, 1868, Reg No. 25792; Arthur Maurice, 1870, Reg No. 23536; Mary Lydia, 1872, 16671; Caroline Massey, 1876, Reg No. 9887; Nellie Isabel, 1878, Reg No. 23417. Possibly William Henry Carlile (surname Carlile not Reid?), 1886, Reg No: 3288; born to parents Robert and Mary Clancy. Children's marriages: Reg No. 7144, 1892, Catherine Lambert Reid and William Edward Cope Bates; Reg. No. 6944, 1897, Agnes Ethel Reid and Edward Albert Bates. Children's deaths: Arthur Maurice Reid, 1953, Reg No: 2769 (parents Robert and Mary Jane Clancy; no marriage record)
[18] Hugh J. Wirth, 'Reid, Isabelle Bruce (Belle) (1883 - 1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, pp 73-74.