| Notes |
- PRIVATE
- John Macpherson and four children (including Alexander Jamieson Macpherson) arrived at Port Natal in July 1850, aboard the «i»The Conquering Hero«/i» from Glasgow (Byrne emigrant vessel). Note that Natalia vol 6 (1976) quotes historian Alan Hattersley as saying that the rule for Byrne settlers what that when there were more than four children they could not bring another child under 14, they had to stay behind. William was 10 and John 8 in 1850, so he must have had to decide to leave William behind to follow in 1857 when he was 17.
«i»The Conquering Hero«/i» was moored in the roadstead off Port Natal on the night that the «i»Minerva«/i» was wrecked on the bluff, carrying Mary Ann Richards, the future wife of young Alexander Macpherson, and Bessie Burchmore. Bessie's daughter Bessie Helen Bamber, born 1875, would one day marry Alexander's son Frederick. His wife, Christian Hamilton, had died approximately a year before the family emigrated.
At his marriage to Christian Hamilton in 1831 he is listed as a Teacher of Dancing residing in No. 3 Lothian St. They were married by "The Reverend Thomas Liddell, one of the ministers of Lady Gloverly's Chapel of Care, Edinburgh"
He was listed as a Teacher of Dancing, living at number 2 Drummond street in Gray's directory of Edinburgh in 1832.
His occupation on the Scottish census of 1841 is "Teacher of Dancing". At this time the family was living at No. 2 Drummond St, Edinburgh, and consisted of John (age 36, not born in Edinburgh), Christian (age 30, not born in Edinburgh), Ann (age 26, a dressmaker), Christian (age 19, a Milliner), Robert (age 8), Primrose (age 6), George (age 4) and William (age 1). George was most likely Alexander Jamieson, William was probably William Watson. It is not clear who Ann and the younger Christian were (perhaps nieces or sisters of John).
He is again listed in the Edinburgh Post Office Directory of 1846 as a Teacher of Dancing, still at Number 2 Drummond St.
According to the biography of Maude Barlow (his g-grandaughter) he was a violinist. According to Shelagh Spencer, "John Macpherson was described in Conquering Hero passenger list as a 'plasterer, mason and fiddler'. The Natal Independent 30.1.1851 states he was a member of the Society of Dancers in London (he taught dancing in Pmb.in 1850.) By Dec. 58 he had a dancing academy on Erf 8 Church St. Pmb. His dancing academy was still going in Apr. 1865, at 8 Church St. The Govt. register of deaths has him as a teacher of dancing - info provided by son FJ. Teaching dancing must have been a part-time job initially as refs from end of 1852 and Aug.54 describe him as a plasterer. " She also notes that "Barbara Buchanan in her «u»Pioneer days in Natal«/u» says one of Macpherson's sons 'helped with fiddling' at dances"
In c.1857-58 John stood surety for the fare of his son William Watson McPherson (born c.1840) - possibly he's the William McPherson who died in the Harrismith district on 30 June 1876 aged 36.
According to Alan Hattersley in "Portrait of a City" "Dancing classes, juvenile pupils paying for monthly lessons at the rate of half-a-guinea, were advertised by John Macpherson 'in Mr Clarence's rooms, nearly opposite Mr Jung's'. Macpherson described himself as 'professor of dancing from Edinburgh'. He had sailed from the Broomielaw in the «i»Conquering Hero«/i», the ships passenger list giving his trade as that of 'plasterer and fiddler'" (According to «u»www.glasgow.gov.uk «/u»"The Broomielaw Quay has been the harbour of Glasgow since the end of the 17th Century")
Hattersley also mentions John Macpherson in his "The British Settlement of Natal, a study in imperial migration":
"Moreover, the «i»Unicorn«/i» was to convey to Natal William Campbell, Free Church Minister at Alexandria. A Caithness man, Campbell had been educated at Aberdeen University and had begun his ministry in Ireland….
…Campbell set about organizing the Presbyterian Church in the Colony. …and, with subscriptions raised at the Cape and in Scotland, erected the original Presbyterian Church in grey random rubble.
A familiar and welcome figure at social gatherings was that of John McPherson, who, as a mason, had helped the miniter to build the church. On the ship list («i»Conquering Hero«/i»), he is described as a 'plasterer and fiddler'; and it was in the latter capacity that his services were so much in request. He had all the true Highlander's instinct for rhythm; and, unless the regimental band was in attendance, it was McPherson's violin that had to supply the music. In January 1851 he opened dancing classes at Pietermaritzburg, charging half-a-guinea a month for 'juvenile pupils'.. "
An advertisement appeared in the September 25, 1857 edition of the "Natal Witness" newspaper:
"Dancing and Calisthenics. Mr. Macpherson respectfully announces that he has opened a class for Juveniles of both sexes, in Mr Jone's rooms. Lesson Days-Monday and Wednesdays. Hour of Meeting 5 o,clock. Should the Class number sixteen, a Friday lesson will be given. A private class for Gentlemen from t till 9 o'clock. Terms per quarter, for either of the classes- 1 Guinea paid in advance, or one month after commencement. Private parties of eight or more Ladies and Gentlemen, who wish practice and healthful exercise, may have Tuesday or Thursday weekly, they having the selection of their own friends and their vis-a-vis, in la dance de la ville. Private Teaching in families"
On November 27 , 1857, he advertised that he was now able to teach the "Neapolitan Varsovienne,the most fashionable dance in Europe".
On December 17, 1858, his advertisement for dancing classes included a letter of reference from "The Right Hon. the Dowager Countess of Elgin: Broomhall, 7 August 1848. Mr. Macpherson has taught in my family for several years. Lady Lucy Grant, Lady R. Keir and Lady Mowbraw's young people frequently received lessons at the same time; they, along with me, feel great pleasure in stating that his pupils made excellent progress under his tuition, I have much satisfaction in recommending him as one of the best Teachers of Dancing that I have met with"
This letter,if genuine, would have come from the widow (second wife) of Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, of Elgin Marbles fame (he brought the Elgin Marbles to London). His widow was Elizabeth Oswald, died 1860. Lady Lucy Grant was the daughter of the Earl by his first wife.
An account of the voyage of the «i»Conquering Hero«/i» is given by Dr. John Clark in his book "Natal Settler Agent" about the career of John Moreland:
"This was the second of the Byrne ships to bring Scottish settlers [«i»the first was the Ina which arrived 8 March 1850«/i»]. William Lesley, a 20-year-old Paisley man, stated that every settler by the «i»Conquering Hero«/i» was Scottish except two Englishmen and an Irishman. A brig of 320 tons she sailed from the Clyde (Glasgow-Greenock) with 127 settlers on 29 March 1850. A slow sailor, too, she took about 90 days but the passengers were satisfied with their treatment at the hands of Captain Cockburn and his mates. Aboard this ship Byrne loaded at Glasgow a consignment of 32000 Scotch slates which proved a drug on the Natal market, according to Moreland. The «i»Conquering Hero«/i» arrived off the Bluff on 28 June 1850. C. P. Speirs [a passenger] , son of Robert Speirs, describes how the passengers came across the bar by lighter on 2 July and got temporary accomodation in the emigration-barracks at the point - two large wooden buildings and several shanties, one of which was composed
This last apparently refers to a problem with his passage money. In a letter from Byrne to Moreland, April 24, 1850 (while the Conquering Hero was still at sea, Byrne writes:
"It appears there was a passenger by the name of McPherson sailed with his family in the «u»Conquering Hero«/u» . This man evaded the payment of the balance of his passage-money amounting to £20 through an oversight of Mr Beveridge's. You will recover this money from McPherson and inform him that if he does not pay it, of course Mr Beveridge must."
Later correspondence detailed the attempts to recover the money:
10 Sep. 1850, Dbn, Moreland to Byrne '96 "have engaged DD Buchanan to get the £20 passage money from McPherson, plus interest."
19 Nov. 1850, Dbn, Moreland to Buchanan '96 "McPherson has given no bill but admits the debt of £20, balance of passage money. Please 'compel payment of him at once'"
In the same book, John Macpherson is noted as being entitled to 80 acres under the Byrne scheme. The «i»Conquering Hero«/i» passengers were granted land on the Cotton Company lands near Verulam on the Natal North coast, but it's not clear whether John McPherson took this up.
He is mentioned in the Natal Witness as a resident of Pietermaritzburg several times
October 8, 1851: "Augustin Marianny vs John Macpherson - For promissory note for 5 pounds. Provisional judgement by default"
Sept 15, 1854: Owner and occupier of plot 8, Longmarket St. His neighbour was an A. Marianne - related to the above?
October 26, 1855: Owner and occupier of plot 8, Longmarket St.
February 15, 1856: Petitioned the Town Council to accept a bill in Lieu of payment for a fine which he is unable to pay. Request was denied.
June 6, 1856: Appears on Burgesses Roll at 8 Longmarket St, a Plasterer.
May 1, 1857: Jury Duty
July 21, 1857: Proposing a candidate for the Town Council
September 25, 1857: Advertising Dancing Classes
October 16, 1857 Living at No 8 Longmarket St
Nov 27, 1857. Advertising he can teach the "Neapolitan Varsovienne"
December 11, 1857 Advertising end of quarter for his students
December 11, 1857: birth of granddaughter Amelia
December 3, 1858: Advertising Dancng Classes
December 17, 1858: Advertisement for dancing classes including a letter of reference from "The Right Hon. the Dowager Countess of Elgin"
December 24, 1858: Appeared for Jury Duty in a defamtaion case against John Moreland alleged to have defamed one Phillip Allen. Objected to by the prisoners Counsel, on the grounds that Mr Macpherson "had given trouble" at a previous trial.
February 4th 1859: Played violin at Burns Night in Durban, Jan 25, 1859. "the admirable violin playing of Mr. Macpherson of Pietermaritzburg"
Oct 26, 1863: Living at 9 Longmarket St
December 1, 1871: Estate of J. Macpherson owned no 8 Longmarket St, occupied by Fred. John Macpherson
August 15, 1873: Sale by auction of subdivision A Erf 8 Longmarket St, with cottage and other buildings, suitable for a private residence or place of business. Estate of the late John macpherson.
When his death was registered by his son Frederick John Macpherson in 1871 his age appears to be given as 84 years. This is in conflict with other sources. Perhaps it is 64 years which would more closely correspond to a birth about 1805
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Abt 1805 - 1871 (66 years)
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