John Fleming’s Web Site

Nil Illigitimus Carborundum

William Tannahill Fleming married twice. His first marriage was in Kilmarnock where he married Catherine Walsh (FFFW1) on 29 Apr 1863. They had two children, William Fleming (FFFW1D1 (B 9 Jun 1864 D 10 May 1946) and John Fleming (FFFW1D2) (B 1 Mar 1866 D 18 Mar 1866). Catherine died in childbirth delivering John who followed her to his grave some 18 days later. William left Scotland for Australia some time later, leaving his son William in the care of relatives.

Some years passed then, when his son was old enough, he returned to Scotland and, on the way back to Australia met, Margaret Mackinnon (FFM) (B 11 Jun 1833 D 12 Jun 1900) and subsequently married her on 3 Nov 1869, when young William would have been 5 years old. It is been stated that she treated her stepson rather poorly and he left home as soon as he could. Nonetheless, he raised a fine family whose descendants are well regarded to this day.

William and Margaret had five children, Martha Smith Fleming (FFS1) (B 30 Aug 1871), Agnes Lowe Fleming (FFS2) (B 20 Apr 1873 D ~ 1894), John Mackinnon Fleming (FF) (B 6 Jan 1875, D 14 Sep 1950) James Millar Fleming (FFS4) (B17 Jan 1877 D 1879) and Grace Maggie Fleming (FFS5) (B 22 Sep 1880). Note the interesting middle names. The names Millar and Mackinnon are obvious but what about Smith, Lowe and Maggie? These remain a mystery.

Now we are approaching the 20th century. John Mackinnon Fleming (FF) born in Carisbrook, Talbot, Victoria was a school master and taught at schools in Central Victoria. It was while he was at Boort school that he met and married Elizabeth Jane Stewart (FM) (B 9 May 1882 D 12 Aug 1982). To their grandchildren they were known as “Pa” and “Ma”.

We’ll pause now and look more closely at these two remarkable people and their five sons. Fleming Tree