McMILLAN / McMILLEN – John 51st Regiment – Enrolled Pensioner Force WA

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Northam History by Jeanette Lee – July 2009 EPG Gazette

Indian General Service Medal w Pegu Clasp

Name	McMILLAN / McMILLEN – John
Regiment (s)	51st Regiment
Regiment Number (s)	1031
Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation	28th December 1836 / 18 years / Belfast Antrim Ireland Labourer
Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars	5 Ft 6½ in Fresh / Grey / Brown / None
Overseas Service/Duration	Van Diemen’s Land – 7 years 7 months East Indies – 7 years 5 months
Length of Service	20 years 179 days
Rank/Date/Place of Discharge	Private / 13th January 1857 / Chatham Kent England
Campaign Medals	India General Service Pegu 1852-1853
Intended Residence at Discharge	Newtown Co Down
Pension Districts	1857 1st Belfast 1859 Newry 1860 2nd Belfast 1860 1st Belfast 1865 Tilbury 1865-1891 Western Australia
Pension Paid	8d per diem 1878 Increased to 11½d per diem for service in Enrolled Force
Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland	26th May 1865 Portland England
Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia	RACEHORSE 10th August 1865
Date/Place of Birth	c1818 Grey Abbey Down Ireland
Date/Place of Baptism	Not yet known
Father Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage	Not yet known
Siblings	Not yet known
1^st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism	Unknown Jane
Date/Place of Marriage	Not yet known
Children by 1^st Wife	Not yet known
Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage	Not yet known
Land Grants Western Australia	Northam Lot P1 20 acres
Occupation after Arrival	Farmer on own allotment
Newspaper Articles	The Perth Gazette and West Australian Journal Saturday 5th September 1846 page 3 Inquirer and Commercial News Wednesday 30 August 1882 Death of Jane McMillan West Australian Tuesday 12 September 1882 page 2 sale of Property P1 The West Australian Monday 4 May 1891 page 3 Drowning of John McMillan The West Australian Wednesday 6 May 1891 page 4 Inquest into the drowning
Departure from Western Australia	John McMillan Left Western Australia with his regiment on the Java February 1847 for service in India. Eighteen years later after being pensioned off he returned to Western Australia as a Pensioner guard with his family on the “Racehorse”
Date/Place of Death/Burial	2 May 1891 Perth Western Australia East Perth Cemetery
Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife	27 August 1882 Northam Bur Northam Cemetery
Will or Probate	None known
Further Information	Discharge due to failing activity British Army Worldwide Index 1841 Stationed at Swan River Perth WA 1851 Madras India Discharge: Failing activity, When John was discharged the examining surgeon remarked he complained of a “pain in his shoulder but was robust and apparently in excellent health” 2 detachments from the 51st regiment arrived at the Swan River Colony on 25th June 1840 from Hobart to relieve the 21st regiment; in February 1847 they re-joined their regiment and left Fremantle per Java for Calcutta. On 7th August 1846 John McMillan Corporal 51st regiment in command of the military force at Rottnest gave a deposition into the treatment of prisoners by Superintendent Vincent at Rottnest. It is not known who John married but possible candidates are Jane BLAIR married Newtownars Down 1859 or Jane COOPER married Downpatrick Down 1859. When the land for pensioners was first allotted John McMillan was granted lot 38 beside the river, however, when the local farmers told the pensioners the land near the river would be underwater in the winter John exchanged his allotment for P1. By 23rd June 1876 John had completed building the walls of brick and mortar of his 2 roomed cottage at Northam P1 and applied for the £15 grant. After his wife’s death John offered for sale his substantial 4 roomed brick homestead situated on his 20 acre grant at P1 Northam. Also included in the property were a stockyard, a fowl house, a vegetable garden and 3 wells of “splendid” water. The National Trust have classified the homestead, the following description of the house is in the Valuation report Construction details: All timber hand sawn, all nails handmade, bricks handmade wood fired. Foundations: Local rock, mud mortar. Walls: Wood fired, handmade bricks (from the banks of the Avon River), English bond, mud mortar. External render, sand and lime. Internal render, sand and lime and thin layer of plaster. Ceilings: Timber, hand sawn – T&G pine timber – fibro Roof: Timber frame, corrugated, galvanised iron roof. Floors: Timber, hand sawn planks – concrete –open fire solid fuel. John was residing at the Mt. Eliza Depot at the time of his death.