David MILNE

Notes:

Name:
BISA entry:
David MILNE, Born 27 Aug 1827, ENG., Died 25 Sep 1910, Bordertown.
Arrived 1853 on 'Shackamxon'.
Occ Minister, bush missioner, Res Uraidla, Kingston, Bordertown, Rel Cong., Bapt.
Father George MILNE.
Marriage 1: Phoebe Sarah TAYLOR, marr 25 Dec 1850, Lon Eng.
Born 26 Dec 1825, Lambeth Lon Eng, Died 13 Mar 1861, Uraidla. Parents George TAYLOR and Mary.
Ch David 1851-1853, Phoebe Mary (DRIVER) 1854-1934, Louisa 1855-1856, Sarah Ann (MARSHALL) 1856-1892, James 1858-1858, Teresa (FARROW) 1859-1926, Edward William 1861-1912.
Marriage 2: Grace BRAY, marr 26 Feb 1862, Mt Lofty.
Born 1 Jan 1842 St Austell Con Eng, Died 27 Oct 1928, Bordertown. Parents William BRAY and Catharine.
Ch [as per below].

Died:
As mentioned in one last issue, we now give a biographical account of the life of the late Rev David Milne, Tatiara's grand old man.
The Rev Milne was born in Rotherhithe, London, on August 27,1827, and was the second son of Mr George Milne, a working cutler in Stepney. These particulars were obtained from the baptismal record of the Scotch Church, St Vincent, Stepney, a copy of which is held by Mrs Milne. His early life was spent at public schools, but as was customary in those days, he was early sent to work, utilising the evenings for advancement in education. Mr Milne tried first the trade of bookbinding, but not suiting him, he next attempted the printing, and must have spent several months at it, for (as we know) he was conversant with the technical terms of the trade appliances. This trade interfered with his health, so he had to leave it, selecting for life that of a shoemaker, for which he served his time.
His young life showed a tendency towards the Church, and from 15 years of age he was an attendant at the Methodist Church, being converted at 18. He became imbued with the spirit of Christianity, and in his spare time visited the Ragged Boy's School as a teacher and preacher of the Gospel. For several years he carried this out, and at 23 he was married to Miss Phoebe Sarah Taylor, of Lambeth Walk, London, in December 1850.
With his wife he decided to emigrate to the Golden Land Australia, and set sail in the Shackamaxon (Mrs Scown snr being a fellow passenger of his) and arrived at Port Adelaide in January 1853. They at once went on to Adelaide, taking the car of those days, the bullock dray, over horribly boggy roads, and spent the first night in Adelaide at the Black Horse Hotel in Leigh Street, now demolished. He at once opened in trade of shoemaker, and later had a general store in King William Street, spending his after hours in preaching and visiting the Hills district. In 1858 he left for Uraidla, there to open in shoemaking, taking into partnership, Mr Wm. Radford, a companion in Christian work. Three years of happy life were spent here, and then the wife died (March 1861) leaving four children alive, 3 dying in infancy. The family then were — Mrs Thos Driver (Phoebe), Summertown; Mrs Thos Farrow (Teresa), one time of Nth Leeor, Victoria; Edward William, of Bordertown; and Mrs Andrew Marshall (Sarah Ann), who died near Bordertown.
After the death of his wife, Mr Milne felt that it was his duty to go and preach the Gospel, and he accepted a position of missionary under the Bush Mission, and made his first trip to the South East in December 1861, riding his horse through from Adelaide to Port McDonnell. Whilst in this district, he had the misfortune to sprain his foot, and Mr Cook, of Kingston, conveyed him back to Adelaide in the barque "Swallow." A part of this vessel may now be seen at Kingston.
On his return to Uraidla, he was married in February 1862 to Grace Bray, daughter of Catherine Bray, a widow with four daughters and one son, the father dying in Cornwall, England. A fortnight after the ceremony he left his wife with the care of his four children, and arriving in Adelaide he was again conveyed in the Swallow to his work, this time to Kingston. He then took on what he termed his round trip, starting from Kingston and working to Mount Gambier, then Penola, Narracoorte, Padthaway, Tatiara, on to Wellington and Adelaide, the trip taking three months. He thus journeyed over his district four times a year. His diary gave him as visiting the shepherds hut, the splitters camp, the shearers shed, etc, preaching and teaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus. After three years of these trips using Uraidla as a working centre, he found that that town was too far away from his work, and taking his wife and family settled in Kingston, building what is now known in that town as Vine Cottage.
Five years in all he was with the Bush Mission, two years being spent with Kingston as a centre. This organisation then closed up, the composers recognising his sterling worth by presenting him with a large illustrated Family Bible as a token of esteem of his services on their be half. Mr Milne then decided to form a church at Kingston, and adopted the Congregational, preaching in the old school room near the police station. He was ordained in this room by the Revs F W Cox and C Manthorpe in 1866. He labored at Kingston for 7 years, building the church now held by the Church of England denomination, yet continuing his trips through Robe, Narracoorte and Tatiara, Mount Gambier then being well served. Finding the Tatiara becoming well settled, and with the pioneering blood well in his veins, he came to these parts, and with his wife and family landed here in February 1873 to establish the Congregational movement.
He saw the first settlement of the Tatiara with such men as Messrs Adamson and Wiese. In his early trips he used to preach in what was known as the Green Room of the Woolshed Hotel (premises now held privately by Messrs C. Lewis and Connell), the landlord supplying him with a washstand as a pulpit. After a time the landlord protested against the services being held in his house, and the rev. gentleman then preached in a room at the police station.
A school being required in the district, he stirred among the settlers, and a wooden building was erected on the site now occupied by the school residence. It was used on week days as a school and on the Sunday for Divine service. This place was afterwards taken by the Education department. Messrs Thos Adamson and A G F Wiese then associated with him in the building of the present Congregational Church, which was erected in 1880, the Rev W. Roby Fletcher, then leading Congregational preacher of the State, performing the opening ceremony. When Mr Milne came to the Tatiara, he abolished the round trip with the exception of Padthaway.
He first met the Lawson family on his first trip through the South East, and the loving friendship was continued through life, Mr Milne paying his last visit to the station in July of this year. He continued as Pastor of the Bordertown church until 1894, four years previously to this date accepting an appointment under the Parkin Mission Board to make preaching and visiting trips throughout the Desert from Frances to Murray Bridge, and his name is revered throughout all these parts as a friend of the settler, one who gave advice willingly and was ever ready to cheer on the efforts of the mighty fighters of the then virgin country.
In 1894, the time he closed his pastorate in Bordertown, he found his double task too heavy, and thinking the local church would get on better with a younger man, resigned, but held his appointment under the Board. The Rev Pearse, who takes the Anniversary services here on Sunday, followed him. Mr Milne retained the Parkin appointment until 1902, when he felt that he was too old, and that his life of usefulness had ended.
From this period until 1906 he practically rested then he carried out a long cherished wish of going to England to see the people of his district. Disappointment availed him as he only saw one face of the days of his youth. However, a happy time was spent, and he and Mrs Milne returned in October same year, thus spending 6 months away from their home of adoption. We might mention that Mr Milne's wish was to return home to see his four sisters whom he had left 54 years before. Since his return two have crossed the bourne.
After relinquishing his charge, he urged on the congregation the necessity of obtaining a manse, and after a big fight gained his purpose, and the premises one time occupied by the National bank was secured. Both buildings are freehold and out of debt. Whilst in church work Mr Milne started churches at Pooginagoric and Mundalla, the latter charge being afterwards relinquished in favor of Cannawigra.
Apart from church work, Mr Milne was a strenuous worker in the interests of the district, and was a member on hundreds of deputations to the district council and to ministers of the various governments. He was a striver in securing the railway to the district. Privately, he was a travelling encyclopedia, a man of reference, for the settlers of the huge district, as he had to carry out the land transactions, arrange for loans, and goodness knows what, and not one instance is recorded where his judgment was at fault. He was one of the workers in the Institute movement, and was the first to urge such a building for Bordertown. His suggestion was seized on instantly, and with such men as Messrs Adamson, Boothby, Wiese, Scott, Watson and Cleggett, an institute soon became an accomplished fact. He adhered to the institute, and when a couple of years ago his fellow trustees hesitated over the erection of a new building, he ridiculed their timidity and urged faith in the people and the district. Constancy of purpose
gained the trustees in favor, and we have now one of the few fine Institutes in South Australia. When the foundation stone was to be placed in position, the committee unanimously resolved that the honor should be his, and on May 24th of last year he performed the ceremony in the presence of an immense number of people. At the opening of the building he was present, and all speakers referred to the pleasure it had given them to see Father Milne present and his desire consummated.
Need we speak further of his life? A book could be written and then many important items left out. The life was revered wherever felt, and the people showed their expressions by love and the showering of gifts. Mr Milne received three illuminated addresses and heavy purses of sovereigns from the people, and a host of smaller donations. Even when leaving the London Ragged School for Australia, the inmates marked his kindness of heart and presented him with a copy of Calmen's Bible-Dictionary. The book is now a much-prized relic in the home of his son, Mr Herbert Milne, to whom he handed it on.
Mr Milne's outside hobby was gardening, and his home about a mile from the township testifies that he was an expert at his recreation. Ever practical, his gardening shows of this order, the plots being filled with recognised market topping fruit trees and vines, and vegetables of the choicest. Blooms were also cultivated, giving a cheeriness to the home. Mr Milne loved his garden and could always be found caring and tending. Just before his illness he pruned all the trees and with his fork dug around each.
The rigours of his early life's work — the riding through miles and miles of country in nature's grandeur in all weathers, the distances travelled in (as Mr J B Makin once remarked in a public testimony to the old gentleman) the "hob-nailed express" visiting the settlers — had no effect on his physical life; rather, it hardened him as the sturdy oak, and sickness was unknown to him. Even within the last year of his life he invariably walked the distance to and fro to worship and also took a class in the Sunday school. He frequently filled the local pulpit, and at times journeyed over his old country — Frances to Coonalpyn — preaching and renewing friendships of the pioneer days. The youngest to the oldest all experienced a pleasure in meeting Father Milne, and the much loved figure now lost will long remain a monument in the brain of the people of the Tatiara and Border Downs.
The family by the second wife now living are — Mr George Milne, Bordertown; Mr William, Hergott Springs ; Mrs Jenner, Renmark; Rev David, of Sedan; Frederick Louis, Bordertown; Alfred Ernest, of Bordertown; Mrs Gilbert Ferguson, Glencoe; Herbert, Bordertown; Arthur Horace, Adelaide; Clement, Adelaide; Ethel Catherine, Bordertown; Percy Bray, Parkside, There are 47 grandchildren and 2 great grand-children.
Rev David Milne. (1910, October 7). Border Chronicle (Bordertown, SA : 1908 - 1950), p. 3. Retrieved April 29, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212440436

David married Phoebe Sarah TAYLOR on 25 Dec 1850 in Lambeth, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Grace BRAY on 26 Feb 1862 in Mount Lofty, South Australia, Australia. Grace (daughter of William BRAY and Catharine KNIGHT) was born on 1 Jan 1842 in St Austell, Cornwall, England; was christened on 6 Feb 1842 in St Austell, Cornwall, England; died on 27 Aug 1928 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married Eliza MARSHALL on 18 Apr 1885 in Willunga, Soouth Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Catherine SEARLES on 31 Jan 1901 in Mount Benson, South Australia, Australia. Catherine (daughter of Henry SEARLES and Durham LEITCH) was born on 15 Jul 1880 in Kingston SE, South Australia, Australia; died on 22 Jun 1970 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Ethel May HARVEY on 10 Oct 1893 in Salisbury, South Australia, Australia. Ethel (daughter of John HARVEY and Ada WINZOR) was born on 10 Dec 1870 in Peachy Belt, South Australia, Australia; died on 22 Jun 1964 in North Unley, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Grace married Charles James JENNER on 2 Jul 1897 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. Charles (son of George JENNER and Anne JAMES) was born on 5 Apr 1864 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; died on 4 May 1946 in Woodside, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Mabel Florence CANT on 5 Sep 1900 in Medindie, South Australia, Australia. Mabel (daughter of George CANT and Elizabeth Ann WILLIAMS) was born on 14 May 1874 in Prospect, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frederick married Eva Florence SCOWN on 11 Oct 1899 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. Eva was born on 2 Apr 1875 in Meadows, South Australia, Australia; died on 22 Mar 1962 in Semaphore, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alfred married Elsie Olive WINFIELD on 12 Apr 1900 in Borderown, South Australia, Australia. Elsie (daughter of Edmund WINFIELD and Amelia TILLEY) was born on 21 Jul 1875 in Yacka, South Australia, Australia; died on 9 Jul 1948 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maria married Gilbert Forrester FERGUSON on 1 May 1902 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. Gilbert (son of Gilbert FERGUSON and Jane FORRESTER) was born on 10 Nov 1875 in Inglewood, South Australia, Australia; died on 16 Sep 1966 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Herbert married Sarah Ethel MATTINSON on 19 Nov 1901 in Pooginagoric, South Australia, Australia. Sarah was born in 1879; died on 21 Nov 1948 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Arthur married Hilda May HUBBLE on 24 Jan 1907 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Hilda (daughter of Frederick James HUBBLE and Amelia Ellen BARROW) was born on 8 Aug 1881 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; died on 14 Dec 1962 in Thebarton, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clement married Florence Annie WARREN on 15 Mar 1904 in Gilberton, South Australia, Australia. Florence (daughter of Charles Edward WARREN and Florence Adelaide CAMPION) was born on 20 May 1882 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; died on 25 Mar 1953 in North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; was buried on 26 Mar 1953 in North Road Cemetery, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clement married Ruth WORK on 6 Oct 1953. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Percy married Elsie Monica PALMER on 10 Jun 1909 in Parkside, South Australia, Australia. Elsie (daughter of Alfred Breeze PALMER and Elizabeth Vining SHOGG) was born on 18 Jul 1885 in Parkside, South Australia, Australia; died on 28 Oct 1973 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Millicent Alice VERCO on 9 Jul 1919 in Blackwood, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Doris married Ernest John Agar KENCHINGTON on 6 Jan 1934 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Ernest died on 5 Aug 1966 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Colin married Hilda May NICHOLAS on 24 Oct 1936 in Norwood, South Australia, Australia. Hilda was born on 13 Aug 1911 in Fitzroy, South Australia, Australia; died on 6 Dec 1986 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Geraldine married Arthur James CLARIDGE on 10 Sep 1921 in Medindie, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ivy married Archibald Hector CAMPBELL on 21 May 1927 in Medindie, South Australia, Australia. Archibald was born on 12 Apr 1900 in Solomontown, South Australia, Australia; died on 9 Mar 1968 in Broadview, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Douglas married Daisy Frost LONGMIRE on 21 Aug 1926 in Koolunga, South Australia, Australia. Daisy (daughter of Walter Wilden LONGMIRE and Elizabeth FREEMAN) was born on 17 Aug 1903 in Koolunga, South Australia, Australia; died on 4 Oct 1993 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Kenneth married Vera Violetta PHILLIPS on 27 Oct 1931 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Vera died on 29 Jun 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frank married Mary Honorah FLANIGAN on 23 Apr 1923 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia. Mary (daughter of Michael FLANIGAN and Ellen BARRY) was born on 4 Jan 1893 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia; died on 27 Dec 1960 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Vera married Edwin Godfrey DIBBEN on 11 Feb 1928 in Woodside, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jessie married Wilfred Thomas GALE on 16 Jul 1932 in Hawthorn, South Australia, Australia. Wilfred (son of William GALE and Edith DONOGHUE) was born on 21 Oct 1902 in Woodside, South Australia, Australia; died on 30 Mar 1987 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Winifred married Frank Arnold FISHER on 24 Dec 1924 in Cowandilla, South Australia, Australia. Frank (son of Henry FISHER and Annie Eliza MARSHALL) was born on 23 Mar 1901 in West Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; died on 5 Aug 1976 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Leslie married Gertrude Jean NICHOLSON on 21 Dec 1929 in Fullarton, South Australia, Australia. Gertrude (daughter of Frederick Arthur NICHOLSON and Annie Evelyn MILLER) was born on 7 Sep 1906 in Norwood, South Australia, Australia; died on 24 Nov 1986 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Grace married Horace Samuel Ranford COLBOURNE on 3 Apr 1930 in Saint Morris, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Claude married Annie Amelia PADDICK on 10 Dec 1932 in Unley, South Australia, Australia. Annie died on 3 May 2008 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Florence married Edwin George Lincoln WORMALD on 9 May 1934 in Saint Morris, South Australia, Australia. Edwin (son of Henry WORMALD and Emilie Maria WELLINGTON) was born on 16 May 1907 in Firle, South Australia, Australia; died on 3 Jan 1982 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Franklyn married Alma Clara ROBINSON on 25 Mar 1931 in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia. Alma was born on 31 Jan 1908 in Penola, South Australia, Australia; died on 23 Sep 1971 in Tranmere, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elliott married Isabella Margaret MCLEAN on 14 Feb 1934 in Bordertown, South Australia, Australia. Isabella (daughter of Loudon John MCLEAN and Susan WEIR) was born on 26 Sep 1903 in Mundulla, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Grace married C.H. KENTISH [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gilbert married Gladys Irene AGNEW on 18 May 1935 in Glencoe, South Australia, Australia. Gladys (daughter of Robert AGNEW and Susan TELFER) was born on 30 Nov 1902 in Millicent, South Australia, Australia; died on 29 Nov 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Linda married G.J. AGNEW [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Colin married M.D. MENZIES [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Raymond married Florence May ANDREASSEN on 24 Jul 1937 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Florence was born in 1919; died on 7 Sep 2000 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Lorna HISGROVE on 21 Nov 1928 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Lorna (daughter of John HISGROVE and Maud TEMPLE) was born on 2 Feb 1908 in Renmark, South Australia, Australia; died on 28 Dec 2002 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clement married Isla Constance COOPER on 22 Oct 1931 in Gilberton, South Australia, Australia. Isla (daughter of George Alfred COOPER and Alice Jane HARRY) was born on 10 Feb 1906 in Houghton, South Australia, Australia; died on 11 Aug 1993 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; was buried on 12 Aug 1993 in Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Albert married Grace Audrey FIELD on 30 Jan 1937 in Medindie, South Australia, Australia. Grace was born in 1917; died on 27 Apr 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jack married I.A. LUDWICK [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: P.J. WIESS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

I.R. married S.A. ABSALOM [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: T.A. STEVENS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]