Archibald Macdonald was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1809. He came out to Otago on the Philip Laing in 1847 with his wife Janet McGregor and three children. Archibald kept a detailed journal during the voyage in which he recorded the experience of passengers in steerage. Unfortunately only part of the diary survives but it provides an excellent counterpoint to Rev Thomas Burns’ diary, written from the perspective of ‘cabin class’ and offering a very positive view of the voyage. Archibald’s account lists many complaints, including the inadequacy of the rations provided for children.
Archibald was a teacher by profession and he was the first master employed by settlers at Andersons Bay for their school. His family lived in a wattle and daub cottage in Stuart Street, a painting of which survives. Looking at the tiny cabin, one wonders where all the children went: the Macdonalds added a further ten in Otago to the three they had brought with them from Scotland. In the 1850s they moved to Wakari where they developed a property they called ‘Hawthorn Glen’.
The Macdonalds seem to have been an argumentative lot. In 1859 they came to blows with their neighbours, fellow Philip Laing passengers the Crawfords, over a straying hen.
George Crawford had shot the hen which was loose in his wheatfield. Archie Macdonald took the dead hen, beat George over the head with it and an all-in brawl developed between the families which ended up in court. After hearing both sides, the Magistrate dismissed the case, incensing Janet Macdonald who was threatened with jail ‘if she did not control her temper’.
Archibald Macdonald died in 1880 aged 70 and Janet in 1902 aged 82.
Archibald Macdonald