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Alexander Burnett Diary – August 1875

Notes from Alexander Burnett diary from August 1875 (from Lynda Schroder, Cheviot, NZ.)

Alexander Burnett born 1845 Lochbroom, Scotland and Agnes Linton (dau. of Robert Linton) born abt. 1845 Dores, Scotland were married in Los Angeles 27 April 1874. Witnesses Robert Burnett and Andrew Linton residents of Los Angeles.

August 23rd 1875 they were farming sheep near Julian inland from San Diego California, their first son Alexander Robert Burnett was born 24 August 1875 at Caraceto House, Santa Yesabell Ranch, San Diego County, California.

In Alexander’s diary they had a 3 day horse and cart trip to San Diego sell their wool and buy supplies, on the farm they had Indian’s helping with the sheep and Mexican shearers.

November 22 1876 they left the San Yesabell Ranch for the want of feed for the sheep and money! lost all but 1500 of the sheep for want of feed crossing the desert on the road to Bakersfield.

April 9th 1877 daughter Permelia Helen Starks Burnett was born and she died 2 days later buried in Bakersfield Church yard. July 18th sold remainder of sheep for 9 pence a head at Bakersfield and left for San Francisco.  August 15th 1877 sailed for Auckland New Zealand on S. S. City of New York. Arrived Auckland Sept. 8th 1877 and left Auckland Dec. 1st.  Arrived 4th Dec. Sydney Australia and left Sydney Dec. 31st 1877 and arrived Cootamundra Dec. 31st flat broke! worked for Mr Ward farming sheep.

January 26th 1878 posted 9 letters one to Sir Robert Burnett, one to Bobby Burnett, McArthur, William Stewart and to postmaster Sydney, etc..

March 19th 1888 Helen Isabella Burnett was born at Mr Ward’s house Cootamundra Australia both well.

March 31st letter and cheque arrived from Robert in Scotland for 63 pounds, posted letter to Walter in New Zealand, wrote letter to Mother in Scotland.

Left Australia for New Zealand and sailed from Sydney May 3rd 1878 about 36 people in second cabin and 200 chinese on board for the gold fields NZ. Ship arrived Wellington NZ. May 9th sailed next day to Lyttelton and onto Dunedin, next day onto Bluff harbour and train to Invercargill, met Walter Burnett and family, few days later took a job at Edendale government sheep farm.

October 29th 1879 Walter John Burnett born Edendale. November 1st. 1882 James William Burnett born Edendale and died Nov. 2nd.

Family moved near Timaru engaged in dairy farming, July 7th 1889 Margaret Mary Burnett born and few years later the family moved to Cheviot. Alexander Burnett was one of the early settlers in Cheviot farming 450 acres with his son Alexander Robert Burnett. Alexander Robert Burnett married Jane Linton, their first child James Alexander Linton Burnett b. 1903, Cheviot NZ

Burnett family is still living in Cheviot farming and family members are scattered around NZ

 

Burnetts in New Zealand – Descendants of Arthur Burnett

When we have made further progress with research into Burnetts in Australia, we will turn our attention further towards New Zealand. I have corresponded with several; Burnetts in New Zealand over the last few years and most recently with Lynda Schroder. Lynda is working on a substantial family tree starting with her great grandfather, Alexander Burnett of whom she writes in the article below. More detail can be found on the website which Lynda is building to collect family information, http://free-page.net/web/Burnett.htm

 

The following is from the diary of her great grandfather, Alexander Burnett. What she would like to have is more information on his father Arthur Burnett who she understands was born in the Borders: Ettrick, Selkirk area. She cannot find any information on Arthur Burnett and if any readers can, she would be pleased to hear of it

 

The Editor

 

Notes from Alexander Burnett diary from August 1875 (from Lynda Schroder, Cheviot, NZ.)

Alexander Burnett born 1845 Lochbroom, Scotland and Agnes Linton (dau. of Robert Linton) born abt. 1845 Dores, Scotland were married in Los Angeles 27 April 1874. Witnesses Robert Burnett and Andrew Linton residents of Los Angeles.

August 23rd 1875 they were farming sheep near Julian inland from San Diego California, their first son Alexander Robert Burnett was born 24 August 1875 at Caraceto House, Santa Yesabell Ranch, San Diego County, California.

In Alexander’s diary they had a 3 day horse and cart trip to San Diego sell their wool and buy supplies, on the farm they had Indian’s helping with the sheep and Mexican shearers.

November 22 1876 they left the San Yesabell Ranch for the want of feed for the sheep and money! lost all but 1500 of the sheep for want of feed crossing the desert on the road to Bakersfield.

April 9th 1877 daughter Permelia Helen Starks Burnett was born and she died 2 days later buried in Bakersfield Church yard. July 18th sold remainder of sheep for 9 pence a head at Bakersfield and left for San Francisco.  August 15th 1877 sailed for Auckland New Zealand on S. S. City of New York. Arrived Auckland Sept. 8th 1877 and left Auckland Dec. 1st.  Arrived 4th Dec. Sydney Australia and left Sydney Dec. 31st 1877 and arrived Cootamundra Dec. 31st flat broke! worked for Mr Ward farming sheep.

January 26th 1878 posted 9 letters one to Sir Robert Burnett, one to Bobby Burnett, McArthur, William Stewart and to postmaster Sydney, etc..

March 19th 1888 Helen Isabella Burnett was born at Mr Ward’s house Cootamundra Australia both well.