8. The Arthurs - Scottish Through and Through

 

Although the Mullen surname is not Scottish, the Arthur surname is very Scottish. Hannah Mullen’s parents, John Arthur and Hannah Moore, were both born in Ayrshire County – John Arthur in Auchinleck and Hannah Moore in Catrine.  They settled in Catrine and raised their family there. (Catrine is pronounced like Cathrine without the "h") 

I was able to trace John Arthur’s ancestors back to the 1700s and they were all born in Scotland. John and Hannah Arthur had six children – four boys and two girls. John had several different professions – he was a carter (someone who works with horses and carts), a pit laborer in the coal mines, and a railroad worker. 

Catrine is a small village built along the River Ayr in southwest Scotland.  It is best known for the large cotton mill that operated in the village from the late 1700s through the early 1900s.  The mill employed most of the villagers, including Hannah Arthur and her siblings.  Here are some old pictures of the village and the mill, including a picture of St. Cuthbert Street – the street where my great grandfather, John Arthur Mullen, Sr. was born.  The mill and the water wheels are long gone, so old pictures are all that is left.   (Photos courtesy of ayrshirehistory.com)

John and Hannah Arthur left Scotland for New Zealand about 1875 when they were both in their 60s. (Peter and Hannah Mullen left for the U.S. around the same time) Their oldest son Thomas Arthur had emigrated to New Zealand about 10 years earlier with his family.  Sadly, Thomas’s wife died in 1874, leaving him with eight children to take care of on his own, including a newborn baby. I think this is the main reason why John and Hannah went to New Zealand.  They received financial assistance from the New Zealand government for the trip, but they had to lie about their ages and say they were much younger. New Zealand wanted settlers, but only those who could work, and not people who would have to be supported by the government. It was a long, arduous voyage (three months), but they made it and settled in Invercargill, where John found work with the railroad. I don’t think they ever returned to Scotland.

Example of a Sailing Ship to New Zealand in 1875

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John Arthur

Born 1814 in Auchinleck, Scotland

Married Hannah Moore 1838 in Catrine, Scotland

Immigrated c. 1875 to Invercargill, New Zealand 

Died 1893 in Invercargill, New Zealand

Parents:  George Arthur and Christina Campbell, Scotland

Hannah Moore

Born 1813 in Catrine, Scotland

Married John Arthur 1838 in Catrine, Scotland

Immigrated c. 1875 to Invercargill, New Zealand

Died 1897 in Invercargill, New Zealand

Parents:  Thomas Moore and Jane Dowie, Scotland

Children of John Arthur and Hannah Moore:

1.  Thomas Arthur, born 1839 in Scotland, married in Scotland, left for New Zealand c. 1865. 

2.  Hannah Arthur, born 1842 in Scotland, married Peter Mullen, immigrated  c, 1875 to U.S.*

3.  John Arthur, born 1844 in Scotland, remained in Scotland

4.  George Arthur, born 1847 in Scotland, died as a child.

5.  Jane Arthur, born 1849 in Scotland

6/  David Arthur, born 1853 in Scotland, left for New Zealand  c. 1875, and remained in NZ.

*My Great-Great Grandmother