Annie McLennan
1850-1928
Born: Fodderty, Ross-Shire, Scotland
Died: Scottsdale, Tasmania, Australia
<p>"Kenneth's first journey (to The North-East of Tassie) was not with his family but with one of his younger brothers or a cousin. This brother or cousin accompanied him and when Kenneth asked directions to 'Scott's New Country' he was told to travel north-east and be sure to go around the western side of the mountain. Now there being two mountains north-east of Launceston, namely Mt Barrow and Mt Arthur, but only Mt Barrow is visible from Launceston, Kenneth and his brother/cousin set out and skirted the western foothills of Mt Barrow and then found they had to traverse a very steep Range of hills to keep on a north-east direction. This took them four days to reach the summit of what is now called "The Sidling". When he reached the summit he found that the north-eastern side of the hill were prescipitous, so they camped there whilst looking for a valley that would give reasonable access to the rolling country of 'Scott's New Country'. They eventually did (find a route) and when they reached the foothills, set out for Ellesmere, and it was the Campbell family with whom they made their first contact at what is now known as North Scottsdale. It was here that Kenneth selected land for himself and brother/cousin. He erected a small house using 'Oldman Tree fern' trunks for the walls, and then returned to Launceston via Lilydale to collect his family, goods and chattels. At this point in history the eldest, William, was nineteen, Isabella 17, Grace 13, Donald (Dan)10, Annie 7, Jane 5, John 6, and Roderick an infant.</p><p>They did stay with the McKerrows and the two younger brothers/cousins lived in the house that Kenneth and his brother/cousin had built earlier. The reason for the first trip was due to the fact that Kenneth had to return to Launceston to register his land claim, pay the prescribed fee, and arrange payment, and though the yearly sum was small by present day standards it was a hard sum to find, for immigrants.</p><p>Kenneth's first home was of split palings and had an outdoor 'dutch-oven', and after this his two younger brother's/cousins accused him of selecting the best land for himself, a row developed, so they left. I (Alva McLennan) have been told by my father, Kenneth William McLennan, that they were younger brothers, not cousins, and that after the row they never spoke to Great-Grandfather again, but he acknowledged the kinship and told his family they were distant cousins. There is no idea where they went, however there is a family of MacLennans living at Lilydale. The younger generation grew apart and do not know if they were cousins or not." End of letter.</p><p>Kenneth was a Tailor by trade. Kenneth and his family spent their first year at John McKerrow's (1822-1906) farm, which was just off Cameron Street, Ellesmere, and helped with the farming. His son, Daniel (Donald) became the owner of a property called 'Cairn Brae'. A story told in 'The North-East Advertiser' about Annie MacLennan (1850-1926) was written by a Grand-daughter in 1926 (possibly as an obituary). Annie married Thomas Campbell. Kenneth (1816-1873) used to entertain at dances and weddings around Ellesmere with his violin, beating time with his feet upon the floor.</p><p> </p><p> </p>