James Ainslie (pastoralist)

James Ainslie (1787–1844) was a Scottish shepherd, best known as the first overseer of the property known as Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory. During his time on the Limestone Plains he is said to have had a relationship with an Aboriginal woman. After 10 years at Duntroon, Ainslie returned to Scotland and after numerous offences committed suicide in jail in 1844.[1]

James Ainslie
Born1787
Sprouston, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died11 April 1844 (aged 60)
Spouse(s)Betty Catteral (1818–1821; her death) Jya Ngambri (1825–1835; he left)
ChildrenJames Ainslie b. 1820 Ju Nin Mingo (or Nanny) b. 1827

The suburb Ainslie, originally a part of Duntroon, is named after James Ainslie, as is Mount Ainslie.

Early life

James Ainslie was born in Roxburghshire Scotland (at the Scottish Borders) in 1787. He married Betty Catteral in Rufford, Lancashire in 1818.

The couple had a son in 1820, also named James Ainslie. Before their child's first birthday, Betty died age 25.

Time in Australia
A view of Mount Ainslie from Parliament House. Mount Ainslie is a prominent landmark in the Australian Capital Territory named after James Ainslie.

Leaving his son behind, James Ainslie traveled to New South Wales, Australia in the ship Admiral Cockburn, arriving in February 1825.[1] He was recruited by Robert Campbell in 1825 to establish a sheep station in the Limestone Plains of New South Wales. On his way from Bathurst to find an appropriate site for a sheep station, Ainslie and his convict labourers came across a terrified group of Aboriginal Australians near Booroowa. It is said that the Indigenous people had never seen sheep or white people before and believing Ainslie to be a dead spirit "sacrificed" a woman to him, who they had earlier "stolen" from down on the Yass plains.[2] Ainslie was guided to the south-east by that woman[3] and established Campbell's property, later named Duntroon in the area of present-day Canberra.

In 1827 the unknown woman and James Ainslie had a daughter, called Ju Nin Mingo - or Nanny.[2][4]

Ainslie ran Campbell's sheep station for around a decade, turning his flock of sheep from Bathurst into a flock of 20,000 (after sales).[2] It was during this time that Mount Ainslie was named after him.[2]

In January 1835, Robert Campbell announced there had been "irregularities and insubordination...occasioned by a [liquor] Store on a neighbouring Farm"[1] and made it known that he would henceforth pay no more orders drawn by Mr Ainslie. Within two months of the announcement, Ainslie was making preparations to leave Australia. He advertised in the Sydney Herald that he was about to "quit the Colony".[1]

Leaving behind his partner and his daughter, Ainslie sailed on the Edinburgh to Liverpool, England from Sydney, departing 16 March 1835.[1] From Liverpool, he made his way back to the Scottish Borders.

After his return to Scotland

Between 1835 and 1844 Ainslie was often in trouble with the law including for assaults and public nuisance.[5] In 1841, court documents were prepared stating that Ainslie had "came home to see his son with the intention of returning to the Colony... but he has not yet found it convenient to return".[6][1]

On 11 April 1844, Ainslie committed suicide in Jedburgh Castle Jail aged 60. He hanged himself while awaiting trial for a charge of assault.[1]

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References
  1. Henderson, Rowan. James Ainslie: Stranger than fiction [online]. Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol. 98, No. 2, Dec 2012: 227-248. Availability: <http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=060895106086673;res=IELHSS> ISSN: 0035-8762. [cited 02 Nov 17].
  2. Paul Daley (2012). Canberra. Sydney: UNSW Press Ltd. ISBN 9781742241210.
  3. Tony Wright (17 November 2012). "Cleavage gives Canberra allure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. Ross Bilton (9 March 2013). "Heart of the Nation: Mount Taylor 2606". The Australian. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  5. Ian Warden (31 July 2012). "After Canberra, it was all downhill for James Ainslie". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  6. National Archives of Scotland, JC26/1842/603 (13) Trial papers relating to James Ainslie for the crime of assault, malicious mischief, breach of the peace at Mill Wynd, Kelso, Roxburgh

Further reading
  • Exploring the ACT and Southeast New South Wales, J. Kay McDonald, Kangaroo Press, Sydney, 1985 ISBN 0-86417-049-1
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