Dr. James Murdoch M.D. of Craigow 1785-1848
Early Pioneer of Medicine in Van Diemens Land

FOREWORD

In setting out to produce this booklet, for the Murdoch family reunion in March 1998, I was aware that other researchers had, at different, times, gathered information on the life of Dr. James Murdoch, our founding father in Tasmania. Therefore, my task was made much easier as, beside my own research, it was largely a matter of gathering together all the material and arranging it in some sort of order. I have endeavoured to acknowledge the sources below.

While it is relatively easy to gather data, dates, etc. in the lives of a person, it is most unfortunate that it is not possible to obtain information on the character and every day attitudes and habits of a person which alone can make that person come to life in a written document.

In reading this document I ask you to try and imagine the society in which Dr James lived. It was a convict dominated society and, as such, a penal society with all its problems of poverty, immorality and harsh discipline, cut off from the rest of the world for essential supplies by weeks of unreliable shipping arrangements and thus needing to be self reliant in the basics of survival such as food, water and housing.

Given this background you can well understand what a pioneer Dr James Murdoch must have been.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Murdoch Family - Prof. R.L. Dunbabin

• A Farm at the World's End - T. Dunbabin

• Research in Scotland by Hazel Weir

• Journal of Dr. James Murdoch

• The Murdochs of Craigow - Compiled by Government Offices

• Archives of Tasmania

• James Murdoch and Grace Beveridge by Terri Post

• Settlers in Tasmania - Reminiscences of Mrs Williams (Jane Reid)

• (Clyde Company Papers) Mercury Newspaper Tasmaniana Library

Max G. Linton #826
1997

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Note from the WebAdmin:
The narrative has other appendices not reproduced on this site.

• Record of Birth of Dr James from the Parish Records Orwell Church of Scotland, Milnathort Scotland

• Notice of Banns for Marriage of Dr James and Grace Beveridge

• Typical Entry in Dr James Journal, Edinburgh Sept 1815

• Medical Certificate issued by Dr James for Miss Rumney 6 Dec 1824

• Typical Entry in Dr James Journal, Craigow VDL July 1828

• Copy of Document of the Administration of Dr James Estate

These are (mostly) photocopies of hand-written documents, and I was unable to transcribe them from the quality of the copies. Perhaps someone can provide a transcript.

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