Elizabeth Shiels (nee Burrell)
| Town/City | Melbourne |
|---|---|
| First name | Elizabeth |
| Last name | Shiels (nee Burrell) |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Date of Birth | 26/3/1818 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1849 |
| Submitted by | Sally Douglas |
Story
Elizabeth Shiels (nee Burrell/Birrell) born in 1818 at Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland left Plymouth on the “Agenoria” on 7/2/1849 for Sydney; arriving at her destination on 26/5/1849 – after a short period of months the family moved on to Victoria. On board the barque sailing ship was Elizabeth’s husband William Shiels (Shields) an Engineer – they married at the George Parish Church, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland on 1/1/1838. Also on board were their children David, Isabella/Isabel and William and on the journey Elizabeth gave birth to Fanny and that must have been quite an ordeal.
On board too was Elizabeth’s sister Margaret and her husband John Greig a Tailor (who later set up tent cities and became a Gold miner in Ballarat, Victoria; before the Eureka rebellion). Accompanying Margaret and John were their children – Isabella, Agnes, John and Margaret. Agnes later became famous for her account of the Eureka stockade – she was an eye witness – and she also became a poet. Agnes later married William Franks a Gold miner at Ballarat. On the”Agenoria” too was Walter Greig a brother of John Greig (senior).
Elizabeth and Margaret’s father was Henry Birrel (Birrell) a Stone-Mason in 1807 in Neutoun, Edinburgh and a Stone-Mason and Innkeeper in Dunfermline, Fife in 1810. One of this Henry’s direct ancestors, also a Henry Birrell was a Fisherman in Easter Weems Fife in 1705. The mother of Elizabeth and Margaret was Isabel Bowman (alternative spelling is Beaumont) born in Northfod, Dunfermline, Fife. Isabel Bowman’s paternal ancestry was from a long line of Coalminers, Coalhewers and Coal mine owners from Wemyss, Kilconquhar and Dunfermline, Fife.
Elizabeth Shiels (nee Burrell/Birrell) was one of ten children.
A brother Henry Burrell (Birrell) born in 1812 in Dunfermline, Fife moved to Academy Street, Inverness, Scotland by 1842. Henry was a Mason in 1846 but by 1848 was a Road Inspector and by 1851 a Road Surveyor as well. By 1871 Henry was also an Architect and Builder of famous bridges and roads in Inverness Shire, Scotland. Inverness authorities say that he was a “talented man” and … “must have been quite remarkable”. Henry and some of his Architectural legacies are listed in the Scottish Dictionary of Architects (online). Henry Burrell married Marion Marshall in 1842 at Kinghorn, Fife and they had thirteen children.
Another brother Archibald Burrell (Birrell) born 1820 in Dunfermline a Coppersmith and Tinsmith married Elizabeth Telfer in 1843 in Lasswade, Edinburgh – they migrated to Chicago, Cook, Illinois in the United States c1856 – and some of their descendants eventually moved to Wyoming and Montana – they owned Coal mines, Brick works, made Building materials, owned Ranches and were even Politicans and Academics. The Burrell family in the US was joined in c1894 by one of their cousins – Andrew Birrel/Burrell a Joiner born in 1856 in Kilmallie, Argylle, Inverness, Inverness Shire, Scotland.
While Elizabeth’s youngest brother James Burrell (Birrell) an Engineer, joined Elizabeth and her family in Melbourne – James migrated here in 1854 on the “Delgany” with his wife Christian (nee Birrell) and son Henry. At some stage Christian’s father James Birrell also found his way to Melbourne – he was a Blacksmith in 1841 in Abbotshall, Fife a Grocer in 1852 in Fife – but died in 1881 in Hotham (North Melbourne) Victoria!