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Many family members, and even experienced genealogists, have been completely confused and deterred by the number of William Murray Borthwicks in this family - eight in all since 1833. So, here is a Quick Guide to WMBs, in birth order.
1. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1782-1866. (WMB I) The first of this name and the first in Australia. Born near Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Printer and publisher in Scotland. Arrived Sydney, NSW (via Hobart, Tasmania), Australia on 15 November 1833 with his wife Helen Paterson and six children, aged six to 23 years. Pioneer squatter and settler at "Auburn Vale", Inverell, NSW. Buried at Inverell.
2. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1826-1890 (WMB II) Son of the above. Born Scotland. Was six years old when the family arrived in Sydney, Australia on the "Lady East" in 1833. Married Anne Cameron. WMB II was partner with Charles Bull in "Cooringoorah", Bingara. Lived "Menedebrie", Somerton, "Retreat" near Inverell/Bendermeer, and was a Stock and Station Agent in Tamworth for a time. A keen racing man. Selected "Morven" Narrabri in 1880s. Died at "Morven", buried "Mascotte" but his remains were removed to Waverley Cemetery in 1904 and his headstone is there.
3. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1852-1939 (Bill, Grizzly Bill, Big Will, Big Red) Son of Thomas Paterson Borthwick, so grandson of WMB I. Born Hunter River Hotel, Maitland. Married Caroline Emily Bull, daughter of Charles and Emily Bull, and lived "Cleremont" Warialda. Was also a Stock & Station Agent in Inverell. Was the first Church of England WMB. Buried Inverell. 4. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1856-1926 (Will) Son of William Murray Borthwick II. (On this site I have called him WMB III as he is the third in a line of WMBs, even though his first cousin was born a few years earlier.) Born at "Auburn Vale". Married Maude Mary Alexandra Johnston. Lived Tamworth. Stock & Station Agent with his father then selected "Mascotte" Narrabri. Stood for Parliament as a Protectionist in 1897, but unsuccessful. Lived "Mascotte" Narrabri, "Surveyors Creek" and "Maidstone" near Tamworth, "Bergen-op-Zoom", Walcha. Also purchased large landholdings in partnership with his brother-in-law, Justin Laycock. WMB III bred and raced horses including 1918 Melbourne Cup placegetter, Kennaquhair. Buried Walcha. 5. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1859-1912 (Billy) Son of John Borthwick and Anne Clift. Born Maitland. Never married. Suffered from Bright's Disease. Grazier. Lived at "Fernhill" Inverell with his brother John, an Inverell solicitor. Enjoyed sport and owned some racehorses. Buried Inverell. 6. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1886-1974 (Ray) Born Tamworth. Son of William Murray Borthwick III and Maude Mary Alexandra Johnston. The fourth in a straight line of WMBs! Married Lillian (Betsy) Leah of Cobar. Served in Army in World War I. Lived "Bergen-op-Zoom", "Yarrobindi", "Oneo", "Hole Creek" and "Myamba", all in Walcha district. Loved reading & was inventive - "should have been an engineer". Buried Walcha. 7. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK 1891-1958 (Murray) Born Warialda. Son of William Murray Borthwick No 3 and Caroline Emily Bull. Stock and Station Agent Inverell. Also sold Buick cars. Never married. Enjoyed shooting, fishing and his dog, Baron. When he became ill he lived with his nephew Bob Borthwick at Balgowlah. Bob's wife Thelma Borthwick nursed him. Died at Manly Hospital and cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium. 8. WILLIAM MURRAY BORTHWICK (Bill) Born Walcha, NSW. Son of William Murray Borthwick IV and Lillian (Betsy) Leah. Is the fifth in his line of William Murray Borthwicks in Australia, and great-great-grandson of William Murray Borthwick I. Married Elizabeth Helen Macdonald. Grazier "Tallwood" and "Yerrawun", Walcha. From the above it can be seen that between 1852 and 1874 there were never any fewer than three William Murray Borthwicks alive at the one time. All lived in the New England district of NSW & although they were known by different names, or nicknames, there must have been some fascinating mix-ups at various times. Each must have known of the existence of the others but the different branches of the family lost contact with each other over the years. The Walcha Borthwicks had the longest straight line of William Murrays, five altogether, stretching from our "Auburn Vale" pioneer to Bill Borthwick of Walcha, who in 2001 is the only remaining William Murray Borthwick in the family. There were two William Murray Borthwicks in the Thomas Paterson Borthwick branch of the family - "Grizzly Bill" and his son, known as Murray Borthwick. And there was one William Murray Borthwick in the John Borthwick/Anne Clift branch of the family. He was known as Billy and lived at Inverell.
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