Their marriage

After the death of her first husband, William henry Cox, who died in Ballarat Hospital, Elizabeth milner returned to Mount Jeffcott where she married for the second time.

1821 info11, sheet 2

Forsyth origins

In the 1841 Scotland census there are three William Forsyth's, two born about 1811 and one in 1806. Two live in Glasgow, Lanarkshire; of these one lives in the Parish of St Thomas and is a Cotton H[and] L[oom] W[eaver] (Ref: Parish: Glasgow St Thomas; ED: 6; Year: 1841). There are three Mary Taylor's, all born in Lanarkshire in 1821. Two live in Barony Bridgeton and Renfield but one is employed as a Cotton carder in Glasgow St Thomas. The practice of rounding ages to the nearest five years makes further identification difficult.

A more positive identification appears in the 1851 census. Although William Forsyth's occupation in 1851 is given as Shepherd this must be Thomas taylor's family because the census location is Inverness[shire] and because Margaret Taylor, a visiting niece has Mary's maiden name and Thomas' middle name.

1851 Scotland Census Sun/Mon 30/31st March 1851
Source:     Parish: Kilmallie; ED: 6; Page: 1; Line: 3; Roll: 484; Sched: 7; 
Dwelling:   Achnasaul Farm     
Place:      Kilmallie, Inverness, Scotland

Name               Rel   Mar  Age  Occ                  Birthplace 
William Forsyth    Head   M   42   Shepherd             Lanark, Douglas
Mary Forsyth       Wife   M   28                        Lanark, Douglas
Margret Forsyth    Dau         8   Scholar at home      Argyll, Kilmallie
Jannet Forsyth     Dau         6   Scholar at home      Argyll, Kilmallie 
Christian Forsyth  Dau         4   Scholar at home      Argyll, Kilmallie  
Elizabeth Forsyth  Dau         1                        Argyll, Kilmallie  
Margret Taylor     Niece      16   Visitor (seamstress) Lanark, Crawfordjohn
Christian Kerr     Vis        55                        Sutherland, Assynt
John Cameron       Board      47   Assistant Foxtrunter Inverness, Kilmonivaig
John MacQuat       Board      22   Ploughman            Lanark, Douglas
Thomas Scott       Board      24   Shepherd             Inverness, Kintail 
Catherine Munro    Serv       24   House servant        Inverness, Wrynhart, 

Right: Annexed Estates plans and surveys Plan and survey of Achnasaul (Auchnasaul Farm), Lochiel, Kilmallie, 1774 National Archives of Scotland 000-000-547-855-C
The National Archives of Scotland reference to Achnasaul Farm also contains refers to the 1851 census place of Kilmallie in Invernesshire. Reference is also made to Lochiel. The modern town of Corpach, in the administrative district of Highland, stands on the shore of Lock Eil. In the middle of the forest is Lochan Kilmallie. It is possible to consider that the southern boundary of the 1774 map is the shore of Loch Eil. It may be that the valley of Allt Dogha is etched in to the 1774 map. This is the best location for Achnasaul Farm found.

1821 info11, sheet 3

Right: A map locating Achnasaul in 1895

From Clan Cameron of Achnacarry  - Source: Clan Cameron Reference

A second location places Achnasaul near the home of the Chief and Captain of Clan Cameron. Cameron of Lochiel's principal residence is in Achnacarry. This is fifteen miles from Corpach and north east of Lochan Kilmallie.

ACHNASAUL / ACHNASOUL / ACHNASSUL / ACHADH NAN SABHAL:
"The Place of the Barn" or "The Field of the Barns/Graneries." A portion of land covered with healthy pasture, dwelling house and farm steading (in 1875) and formerly a small settlement, located approximately one mile beyond the foot of Loch Arkaig, on its north shore, just north-west of Achnacarry. Upon the Estate of Lochiel, circa 1745, with MacPhees as tenants. When surveyed in 1772 Achnasaul consisted of stone houses near the burn side, with "indifferent pasture."  The gravelly soil was fertilized by tathing (confining livestock to manure the land) and laying fern fronds.  It was then used to sow oats and corn.  The Allt Dubh used to overflow its banks routinely, flooding some of the farm land here. A burial ground used to be located near the junction of the Allt Dubh and Loch Arkaig, and was still in used in the late 18th century.

1821 info11, sheet 4

Above: Map location Douglas, Lanarkshire where William Forsyth was born

Neither a William nor Mary Forsyth, with the appropriate year of birth, is to be found in the 1861 census.

1821 info11, sheet 5

Elizabeth and Thomas' life at Mount Jeffcott

When William Henry died the Mount Jeffcott farm transferred to Elizabeth milner and then, by marriage, to Thomas taylor, who expanded the settlement. The Local Land Board hearing, reported in the Donald Express of 4 April 1884, that:

Thomas Forsyth asked for Sarah Strickland's block Allot. 104a saying that he was 
a labourer on his wife's section. This was granted.

This block of 160 acres, originally 'pegged' on 19 November 1880 by the 19 year old Francis J Bolden, was subsequently forfeited to Sarah Strickland in 1884. On 20 February 1885 the Donald Express reported from the Local Land Board of 1 January 1885 that:

Thomas T Forsyth granted licence of allotment 104bd, not previously opened for 
selection

of an additional 161 acres, making a total of 541 acres.

Above: Thomas taylor Forsyth's lands at Mount Jeffcott in 1885 Source: Fella RP

There is no definite evidence about when Thomas Forsyth and Elizabeth left the Jeffcott area. Allotment 103, the original settlement, was transferred to T Clarke in 1899. They were certainly gone before 1905 when the title of allotment 104b.d was granted to M McConville and Allotment 104a to Sarah Moore. There is no further reference to the family in the local papers.

1821 info11, sheet 6

The allotments today

Above: Two views of the remains of the Forsyth house
Above: Looking from the Cox's land to the Forsyth's land	Above: Looking towards Mount Jeffcott
Photographs courtesy Ian Stephens of the Pearson line.

Thomas Forsyth is reported to have died in Melbourne East in 1900.

Elizabeth milner Crompton/Cox/Forsyth is buried at Box Hill, Victoria (to the east of Melbourne).

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A7 Updated 21 November 2009