David Irvine (1796 - 1871)

Born Jul 1796 in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Husband of Ann (Cort) Irvine — married about 1820 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Husband of Isabella Margaret (Agnew) Irvine — married 12 Dec 1828 in Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Susannah (Softley) Irvine — married 27 Dec 1865 in Taree, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 27 Jan 1871 at age 74 in Dingo Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Stitt [send private message]

Biography

Pronunciation of surname in family said to be "Ervin" not English "Er-vine".

Baptised in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 12/7/1796, son of James Irvine and Jane Airth^[1].

Arrived in NSW on the 'Argyllshire' with (2nd) wife Isabella Margaret (nee Agnew) and four children (3 sons, 1 daughter) on 12/11/1840. Immigration record: age 39, Presbyterian, could read & write, tinsmith from Daviot, father James, a cattle Merchant.

First settled in Paterson River area, was an Elder of St Ann's, Paterson. Lived for a while at Lewinsbrook. then bought land at Yahoo Brush, Lower Dingo Creek. May have been Captain of a coastal sailing ship before going to Manning River.

David Irvine received Crown Land Grant 1830-1861, Portion No 6, Wingham parish, 33 acres in 1850, left bank of Lower Dingo Creek at Yahoo Brush, price 33 pounds. Later bought adjacent 18 acres on northern boundary, portion no. 75, Wingham parish. These were all on western boundary of 'Marchfield' owned by John Wallace.

"Drum Farm" was name of their property (Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire is a seat of the Irvine clan). Irvines later bought more property they called "Wombatina" (Violet Moore has "Wombateena" as its name^[2]).

SAG A26-147-C: newspaper clipping of early Manning River; David Irvine was a sailor who became investor in building the "Manning Packet" at Pelican. Was Captain 'Davie' on maiden voyage when the boat ran aground on the Bar at the mouth of the Manning River. Boat stayed stuck there for more than a year. He went back to the farm, but later the boat floated free on a high tide and drifted up the river. The boat was repaired and saw years of service as the "Concord" trading to Sydney^[3][4].

Info. from old family tree^[5]: David's first wife was Ann Cort, wed in Scotland; his second wife Isabella Agnew, m. in Scotland; his third wife was Susannah Dobson (nee Softly formerly George), m. in NSW in 1865^[6] (this is noted on his d/c).

Mentioned in 'Manning River News' 1865-1873 Index of local content: his appointment Wingham PS board, 9/3/1867; in receipt of "News" 16/3/1867 In Manning River News 1865-1873 Vol 2 (1866) Index of local content: his marriage at Dingo Creek 13/1/1866; notice of intermeddling of branded stock 13/1/1866; no credit to wife notice lodged 8/12/1866, also Mrs Irvine legal dispute 29/12/1866 involving T A Irvine & David Sr; petition to government re Manning River improvement 10/2/1866. In Manning River News 1865-1873 Vol 1 (1865) Index of local content: report on freight charges 22/7/1865.

Died at his property on Dingo Creek, 27/1/1871.^[7] Buried in Wingham Cemetery, Wingham, NSW.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "The Genealogical Records of the Family Irvine and Parker 1765 to 1992" (self-published booklet on the Parker-Irvine family) written by Violet Moore, Taree, November 1992
2. ↑ "The Genealogical Records of the Family Irvine and Parker 1765 to 1992" (self-published booklet on the Parker-Irvine family) written by Violet Moore, Taree, November 1992
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145796771?searchTerm=dingo%20david%20irvine The Australian Worker (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1950) Wed 28 Nov 1923 Page 13 THE MANNING PACKET. THE MANNING PACKET.
   Nothing played a more Important part in making the North Coast the garden of New South Wales than self-help and independence; and among a thousand grand old men that are listed on the proud roll of track-blazers was Davie Irvine, of the Manning River.
   Davie was a sailor, who gave up the sea for a farm on Dingo Creek. Like his neighbours he had a rough passage, and lived almost entirely on the resources of the plantation and the surrounding bush. His substitute for tea or coffee was maize coasted and ground; and it was sweetened with bush honey.
   On one occasion a wandering parson called on Davie when he had run out of maize. A girl was sent in haste to another farm to get a cob. She had to go about two miles, and when she returned the cob had to be roasted and ground. Then the parson was refreshed with afternoon tea.
   Those farmers built their own little ships to take their produce to market — like the timber-getters, who pioneered that scrubby region. They cut their own timber in the scrubs, and they manned their own ships. Their transport necessities, however, eventually developed an important shipbuilding yard at Pelican.
   The little vessel in which Davie's hopes were centred was the 'Manning Packet'. She was owned by a company of local farmers and settlers, of which Davie was one. They loaded her with their year's produce, mostly maize, and made Davie captain.
   He was commissioned to bring back a much-needed cargo for the farms, including flour and sugar, and threshing machines. The company, in short-sleeved flannels and patchwork pants, stood on the river bank and cheered happily as she moved off on her first eventful voyage.
   But their happiness was short-lived. The vessel stuck on the Manning bar. All efforts of crew and owners failed to shift her, and she was left there, a supposed wreck. Poor Davie returned, disgusted and disappointed, but not disheartened to his farm on Dingo Creek, to drink the beverage of roast corn again, and grub hard to retrieve the little winnings that had been given to the sea.
   For a year or more the 'Manning Packet' remained on the bar, buffeted by the vicious seas of many storms. They howled at least a compliment to the fine work manship of the hard-toiling builders. But the stranded ship, a gaunt ghost of his vanished hopes, was not a pleasant sight to Davie.
   Then, to the great surprise of the company, an extra high tide lifted her, and she floated up the river, silently and un-manned, to her home port. Her jubilant owners subsequently repaired her, and for years afterwards, she traded to and from Sydney as the 'Concord'.
   From the time that lost ship came back, Davie's fortunes went ahead.
   E. S. SORENSON.
4. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172818294?searchTerm=dingo%20david%20irvine The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 - 1954) Sat 25 Mar 1905 Page 6 The Manning in the " Fifties." The Manning In the " Fifties."
   Written for the Manning River Times (by "Rustic.")
   The earliest settlers were, or course, cedar-getters, and a few pastoralists on a small scale. These cedar-cutters must have been sturdy fellows, for the hardships and privations they endured are inconceivable today. I can remember the great rafts borne down by the swollen waters of the river, and piloted over the rapids by the hardy owners, for shipment to Sydney. What a waste of cedar took place! Only the very best portions of the trees were taken. The rest was left to rot in the scrub.
   The shipping facilities were of the most primitive kind. Two vessels did all the trade. A small schooner named the 'Thistle' came as far as Tinonee, and a little ketch named the 'Emma' came on to Wingham, where, at that time, no house had been built. The nearest settlement was Parkhaugh, the aboriginal name of which was Curry-beek.
   Captain Mclntyre arrived at Wingham wharf with the 'Emma' about once a month, and I can still recollect watching the sailors towing the little vessel up the river behind the ship's boat. The golden wealth of Bendigo tempted the captain to forsake his ship, and the old favorite, under a new captain, soon found a last resting-place on one of the sand banks that formed the Manning bar, where the timbers of many of her predecessors lay rotting.
   Wingham was thus no longer connected with Sydney by a regular trading vessel, and a company was formed to have a ketch built expressly for the trade. The principal shareholder was Mr. William McLean, of Mondrook; and the building of the vessel was entrusted to Mr. Snowden, of Purfleet. Never was ship more urgently needed ; and when the little craft — christened the "Manning Packet" — was launched, there was great rejoicing. It was arranged that when the company's vessel took up the trade, Mr. McLean should proceed to Sydney and open up an agency business there, for the disposal of local products.
   Two or three successful trips were made by the 'Packet', when Mr. David Irvine, of Dingo Creek, a retired sea-captain, was appointed master. Captain Irvine was to assume charge in Sydney; but the trip by which Mr. McLean and his family and the new captain were to proceed to Sydney was fatal to the boat. The 'Manning Packet' was driven ashore on the beach, her cargo of maize was lost, and the craft was abandoned as a hopeless wreck.
   By the irony of fate, however, years afterwards an extraordinarily high tide raised the deserted ship from the sands on which she had so long rested, and bore her triumphantly up the river, where she was secured, and subsequently repaired ; and for many years afterwards traded to the Manning as the 'Concord'
5. ↑ "The Genealogical Records of the Family Irvine and Parker 1765 to 1992" (self-published booklet on the Parker-Irvine family) written by Violet Moore, Taree, November 1992
6. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?31 2222/1866 IRVINE DAVID DOBSON SUSANNAH MANNING RIVER
7. ↑ NSW BDM Death Registration 4141/1871 IRVINE DAVID JAMES JANE MANNING RIVER
8. ↑ Burial Australian Cemeteries Index: Inscription Number 8895296 - David Irvine

• "Pre 1860 Pioneer Register Book 1", Manning Wallamba Family History Society Inc., 2001.