Mary Jane (Chant) McLean (1906 - 1969)

Born 1906 in Beachport, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Lindsay Donald McLean — married 22 Jun 1926 in South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 1969 at about age 63 in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lisa Thurston [send private message]

Biography

• Mary (known as "Madie") was born in 1906 to Mary Louisa (nee Oates) and James Henry Chant at Beachport, South Australia in the cadastral county of Grey (South Australia's south east).^[1]
• In 1924 was witness to the tragic accident that killed her infant sister, Alma Grace.
• She married Lindsay Donald McLean on 22 June 1926 in the cadastral county of Grey.^[2][3]
• Their first child was born just 4.5 months after their marriage, suggesting the marriage was a "shotgun" or forced in a hurry, according to the traditions of the time following the discovery of Madie's pregnancy.
• First child, Vernon, born in 1926. Second, Laurence, born in 1928.
• According to research by the Donald & Christina McLean Genealogical Council, after he married Lindsay and his new family resided at Brinkley near Murray Bridge, South Australia, until they were forced to return to Kongorong in 1929 as the great depression hit:^[3]

"Lindsay worked on a wheat properly out from Murray Bridge and then share farmed for 2 years at Brinkley in the same area. Lindsay won a cup for his wheat crop at this time. They had good seasons and in 1928 bought a new A Model Ford car. When the depression struck in 1929 they had to leave Brinkley and couldn't get other work and ended up losing everything as the depression deepened. They returned to Kongorong and lived with Lindsay's parents for a time and eventually Lindsay got work with one of the Government schemes of the day."

• Next three children, Donald, Brian and Robert (aka Bruce) were born in 1930, 1932 and 1935, respectively.
• From 1935 to 1943 the family (now with five boys and two more children to come) resided in different localities in the Mount Gambier area: Mount Schank in 1935, Allendale East around 1940 and German Creek at Kongorong in 1943. In 1937, Elga was born and then John in 1940. According to the Donald & Christina McLean Genealogical Council, Lindsay then "worked for Jim Chant, Madie's father.":^[3]

"In 1946 the [Chant] property was divided among the family and Lindsay and Madie took over a portion of the eastern end of the property and continued to work part of it until Lindsay died in 1960."

• The family of seven children was complete:^[3]
  1. Vernon Lindsay (b. 1926)
  2. Laurence Elliot (b. 1928)
  3. Donald James (1930-1950)
  4. Brian Maxwell (1932-1949)
  5. Robert Bruce (b. 1935)
  6. Elga Jean (b. 1937)
  7. John Graham (b. 1940)
  8. (stillborn child, 1942, buried at Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mount Gambier, SA, Australia)^[4]
• In late 1949 and early 1950 two of her sons, Donald and Brian, died within two months of each other following a tragic motorcycle accident between the two.^[5][6] According to the family story, the brothers were racing toward each other on motorcycles as they crested a hill on private land. Given little time to think they both swerved in the same direction, resulting in a head-on collision and hospitalisation for both. Brian died in Hamilton, Victoria in December 1949 and Donald died in Newcastle, New South Wales in February 1950.^[7]
• According to the Donald & Christina McLean Genealogical Council, Lindsay and his family bought a property known as Louden Hill, a dairy farm, at OB Flat (just south of Mount Gambier) in 1953 and the son Bruce launched a Holstein Freisian (dairy cattle) stud on the property. (Geo coordinates: -37° 53' 37", 140° 46' 02"). The McLean family sold the property around 1963.^[3]
  • In her mother's 1954 obituary she is named as living at Louden Hill, O.B. Flat.
• Died 1969 at Pinaroo, SA, Australia.^[8]
• Middle name sometimes transcribed at "Janet".

Sources

• DCMGC (1995): Lindsay Donald McLean in 'Donald & Christina McLean & Their Descendants' (aka 'Big Red Book'). Published by Donald & Christina McLean Genealogical Council Inc, Strathalbyn, South Australia in 1995.
• City of Mount Gambier: www.mountgambier.dcw.lga.sa.gov.au
• Border Watch newspaper, 22 December 1949
• Border Watch newspaper, 4 February 1950
• South Australian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registry (online database)

Notes

1. ↑ SA BDM births index registration # 767/46:

   YEAR: 1906; SURNAME: CHANT; GIVEN NAME: Mary Jane; FATHER NAME: James Henry CHANT; MOTHER NAME: Mary Louisa OATES; DISTRICT: Grey REG: 767/46

2. ↑ SA BDM marriages index registration # 307/614:

   YEAR: 1926; REG: 307/614; SURNAME: MCLEAN; GIVEN NAME: Lindsay Donald; SPOUSE SURNAME: CHANT; SPOUSE GIVEN NAME: Mary Janet; DISTRICT: Grey

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} DCMGC (1995)
4. ↑ City of Mount Gambier: Cemetery Search: McLEAN, MARY JANET CHILD OF

   McLEAN, BABY

   Surname: McLEAN, BABY

   Cemetery: Lake Terrace Cemetery - Mount Gambier

   Section: A

   Plot/Grave/Niche: 39

   Age at Death: STILLBORN

   Date of Burial: 26/09/1942

   Comments: Child of Mary Janet McLean.

5. ↑ Border Watch, Thursday 22 December 1949 Family Notices page 4:

   McLEAN—On December 20, at Hamilton Base Hospital, Brian Maxwell, dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Donald McLean of Kongorong. Aged 17 years. (Result of accident). The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Donald McLean of Kongorong, are respectfully informed that the remains of their late loved son, Brian Maxwell McLean, were peacefully laid to rest in the Mount Gambier Cemetery this Thursday afternoon. ERN JAMES, Phone 281. Funeral Director.

6. ↑ Border Watch, Saturday 4 February 1950 Family Notices page 6:

   McLEAN—On February 2 at the Royal Hospital. Newcastle, N.S.W., Donald James, dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Donald. McLean, of Kongorong. Aged 19 years. Result of accident. The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Donald McLean, of Kongorong, are respectfully informed that the funeral of their late loved son Donald James McLean, will leave the residence of Mr. McEachern, of Benara Road, Moorak, Tuesday, at 2 p.m. for the Mount Gambier Cemetery. ERN JAMES, Phone 281. Funeral Director.

7. ↑ As remembered by family tradition via L Thurston, February 2015
8. ↑ SA BDM deaths index registration # 76A/7125:

   YEAR: 1969; REG: 76A/7125; SURNAME: MCLEAN; GIVEN NAME: Mary Jane; RELATIVE NAME: Lindsay Donald MCLEAN [deceased husband]; DISTRICT: Pinnaroo