John Lawrie

Born: 10 Apr 1810, Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland | Died: 30 Aug 1888, Pinery, South Australia | Buried: Alma South Public Cemetery, Alma, SA | Father: Alexander Lawrie (1776–1847) | Mother: Jean Dunlop (c. 1791–1834) | Spouse: Janet Dunlop Lawrie (1811–1902) | Occupation: Farmer

Family

Life Summary

John Lawrie was born at Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland on 10 April 1810, the son of Alexander Lawrie (1776–1847) and Jean Dunlop. His birth record is indexed as Galston (B-0960876 Sh-6).

He married Janet Dunlop on 20 February 1835 at Riccarton, Ayrshire (M116114). The couple had at least eight children. Two of their children, John (b. 1840) and Janet (b. 1842), died within days of each other in April 1845 — both of diphtheria.

John initially farmed in Galston and at Craigman, New Cumnock, Ayrshire. The family emigrated to South Australia, arriving on 10 November 1853 in Melbourne aboard the Ann Dashwood. John settled first at Myponga Hills above Willunga, SA, then eventually at Pinery near Alma in the Wakefield region.

John died on 30 August 1888 at Pinery, South Australia, aged 78, and was buried at Alma South Public Cemetery. His death notice appeared in the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.

Siblings who also emigrated to SA

Several of John's full siblings emigrated to South Australia:

• James Lawrie (1811–1848) — died at Tonyunga, South Australia
• Robert Lawrie (1815–1895) — died at Henley Beach, South Australia
• Marion Lawrie (1816–1898) — died at Nantawarra, South Australia
• Alexander Dunlop "Sandy" Lawrie (1832–1876) — died at Alma Plains, South Australia

Timeline

Sources

• Webtrees (Trevor Lawrie) — John Lawrie (I0005): https://web.archive.org/web/2025/http://lawriefamily.info/genealogy/individual.php?pid=I0005&ged=trevorlawrie — accessed 28 Jul 2026; full biography, siblings, children, birth/marriage/death with census references
• Webtrees — Alexander Lawrie (I0001): https://web.archive.org/web/20171011030155/http://lawriefamily.info/genealogy/individual.php?pid=I0001&ged=trevorlawrie — accessed 28 Jul 2026; father's profile with full family set
• Webtrees — Janet Porter (I0002): https://web.archive.org/web/2025/http://lawriefamily.info/genealogy/individual.php?pid=I0002&ged=trevorlawrie — accessed 28 Jul 2026; confirms Janet Porter was father's first wife (not his mother)
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114243210/john-lawrie — Memorial #114243210, John Lawrie (1810–1888), burial Alma South Public Cemetery — accessed 24 Jul 2026
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201872053/robert-dunlop-lawrie — Robert Dunlop Lawrie memorial — confirms parentage
• GRO — SA General Registry Office (Reg Butler transcripts): LAWRIE entries from LocalWiki Adelaide Hills — https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/GRO_Merge_%27La%27_-_%27Lev%27 — accessed 29 Jul 2026; land grants, memorials, applications, and probate records for SA Lawrie family, c.1845–1912
• Ozburials — Alma South Cemetery: http://www.ozburials.com/CemsSA/almasouth.htm — accessed 29 Jul 2026; transcriptions of Alma South headstones including John Lawrie (30 Aug 1888, aged 77), Janet Lawrie (12 Jan 1902, aged 90), Alexander Lawrie (2 Dec 1876)
• Lawrie Family - Carslake Connection: Vault file `History/Lawrie Family - Carslake Connection.md`