# Dr Richard Macvean Nicholson and Family.

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2023/12/29/dr-richard-macvean-nicholson-and-family/
- Published: 2023-12-29T00:10:14+11:00
- Author: John Macvean

## my 1st Cousin 3Times Removed

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-richard-macvean-
nicholson-3.jpg?resize=750%2C1020&ssl=1)

_Dr Richard Macvean Nicholson _
_Figure 1: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

Richard is a cousin of Alexander Ballantyne Smith Macvean, my Great-grandfather 
whom I have been posting about recently.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/alexander-ballantyne-
smith-macvean2.jpg?resize=308%2C471&ssl=1)

_Alexander B. S. Macvean _
_Figure 1a: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

Richard’s mother was Margaret Macvean, sister to Alexander Macvean my 2x Great-Grandfather(
father of Alexander above). Daughter of Hannah Macvean, nee Hill, and John Hugh 
Macvean (my 3x Great-Grandparents).

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/margaret-macvean.
jpg?resize=212%2C336&ssl=1)

_Margaret Macvean_
_Figure 1b: Courtesy of  Macvean Family Archives (kindly shared
by Cousin, Sally)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-hugh-macvean-
2.jpg?resize=1100%2C1324&ssl=1)

_John Hugh Macvean _
_Figure 2: Courtesy of Macvean Family Archives (Kindly shared
by Cousin Anne)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hannah-macvean-
nee-hill.jpg?resize=710%2C1209&ssl=1)

_Hannah Macvean nee Hill _
_Figure 3: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives (Kindly
shared by Cousin Ann)_

Richard’s father was Dr John Nicholson MB. (Medicinae Baccalaureus)[https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/registrant-directory/credentials](https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/registrant-directory/credentials)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-nicholson.jpg?
resize=1000%2C1402&ssl=1)

_Dr John Nicholson MB _
_Figure 4: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_ _(Kindly
shared by Cousin Sally)_

Margaret and John married on the 2nd of April 1878 in Brunswick Victoria.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/nicholson-macvean-
marriage-1878.jpg?resize=732%2C227&ssl=1)

_Figure 4: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

What a family affair. Margaret and John were married by her Uncle, the Rev. Allan
Macvean brother to John Hugh above, and her brother, Alexander’s father-in-law, 
the Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne, my 3x Great-grandfather, father to my 2x Great-
grandmother, Jessie Davina Ballantyne.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/macvean-allan-
rev-bruinswick-photo-book.jpg?resize=477%2C572&ssl=1)

_Rev. Allan Macvean _
_Figure 5: Courtesy of the State Library of South Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/reverand-david-
hunter-ballantyne-a.jpg?resize=569%2C849&ssl=1)

_Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne _
_Figure 6: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/jessie-ballantyne-
mcvean.jpg?resize=588%2C890&ssl=1)

_Jessie Davina Macvean nee Ballantyne _
_Figure 6a: Courtesy of the Macvean Family
Archives_

I discovered the most wonderful photo of the church, which according to an article
printed in The Argus, opened in November 1865. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5785509/210612#](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5785509/210612#)

This photo was taken in 1866. Even though it is 12 years before the wedding I’m 
sure it looked very similar to this at the time of Richard’s parent’s big day.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/brunswick-free-
presbyterian-church-1866.jpg?resize=1100%2C903&ssl=1)

_Sydney Road, Brunswick, 1866_
_Figure 7: Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria_
[https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/156d4cp/alma9917198263607636](https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/156d4cp/alma9917198263607636)

I recently had the great fortune of visiting the church (yes, it is still standing)
and stood right where the ceremony took place. It is the bluestone church on the
right in the photo below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231101_121559.
jpg?resize=1100%2C495&ssl=1)

_Brunswick Uniting Church (L) & the former Free Presbyterian Church (R) Oct 2023_

_Figure 8: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

From the time of its opening, the size of the congregation grew, and it was decided
to build a new church right next door to the original one. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67429509#](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67429509#)

This photo below is from 1914 and even though it’s a little blurry I still think
it is a great comparison to the one I took above. I’m pretty sure I inadvertently
stood in the same place as the 1914 photographer.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/new-and-old-presbyterian-
churhes-brunswick-1914.jpg?resize=1100%2C825&ssl=1)

_New Presbyterian Church (L) & Former Free Presbyterian Church (R) 1914 _
_Figure
9: Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria _[http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4243322](http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4243322)

The construction of the new church wasn’t started till 1884, so Margaret, John, 
and the family most likely would recognise the church as it appears in _Figure 7_
above.

As I mentioned I got to stand right where Margaret and John stood for their ceremony.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231101_114500.
jpg?resize=1100%2C495&ssl=1)

_Interior View of the Former Free Presbyterian Church, Brunswick, Oct 2023 _
_Figure
10: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

This view is looking towards the front entrance on Sydney Road from the altar area.
I couldn’t take a photo of the altar area as people were using it to have their 
morning tea. Amongst other things, the building is used as a community drop-in centre
today. It was such a gift to just stand there and drink in the family history. (
Thanks to Cousin, Ann Macvean for organising.)

I haven’t had any luck in finding an article describing Richard’s parent’s wedding
but I’m sure the family would have all been there. All the cast members featured
above were still well and truly alive.

Margaret had five brothers and one sister alive at the time of the wedding and I’m
sure if they could have, they would have all been sitting there in the church.

From what I have uncovered so far, it seems that John, unfortunately, had no family
in Australia at this time. John was born in the county of Cumberland in England 
in 1839. He had five sisters and two brothers and he was the only one out of the
eight siblings to make the trek out to Australia.

Richards ‘ father’s family, the Nicholson’s came from a small area in Cumberland
called Kirkland and Blencare. The map below shows the area and it is from 1576. 
447 years ago, damn!

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/milborne-1576.
jpg?resize=895%2C603&ssl=1)

_Hand-drawn map of Westmoreland and Cumberland by Christopher Saxton from 1576 _

_Figure 11: Courtesy of Wikimedia _[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Westmorlandia_Cumberlandia_Atlas.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Westmorlandia_Cumberlandia_Atlas.jpg)

I learned where the family came from by finding one of Richard’s Aunt’s headstones
on the Find A Grave website, showing that she was buried in the graveyard of St 
Cuthbert’s in Milburn (Milborne).

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-headstone-
full-1.jpeg?resize=1100%2C1205&ssl=1)

_Ann Nicholson Headstone, 1917 _
_Figure 12: Courtesy of Find A Grave member, [](https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/48461240#change-avtar)
Dimitrios Corcodilos

Anne Nicholson is John’s (don’t forget, he is Richard’s father) elder sister, and
she never married. Census records show that she was born, raised, and lived on the
family farm in Lownthwaite for almost 40 years.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/anne-nicholson.
jpg?resize=287%2C406&ssl=1)

_Anne Nicholson _
_Figure 12a: Courtesy of Peter McNab, generously shared by Sally(
Cousin)_

Below is a copy of the 1841 Census for the family, you’ll notice that it doesn’t
have a specific address for where the family lived just a notation of the township
of Kirkland and Blencarn and stating that William is a farmer. Exact addresses became
a requirement for the next Census in 1851, but if the household was rural, the only
information given might again be just a village or parish name. [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/census-records/](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/census-records/)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-census-
1841.jpg?resize=731%2C584&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Family Census 1841 _
_Figure 13: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

William Nicholson, Richard’s grandfather, noted as Farmaer above, passed away in
1848 and the family doesn’t appear anywhere in the 1851 census that I can find.

I discovered these next photos in a family history treasure trove I had forgotten
about, and they were marked as possibly being Richard’s grandparents.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/atkinson-group-
great-uncle.jpg?resize=267%2C360&ssl=1)

_Possibly William Nicholson _
_Figure 13a: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared
by Sally (Cousin)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pict0221-probably-
sarah-atkinson-cropped.jpg?resize=246%2C282&ssl=1)

_Possibly Sarah Nicholson nee Atkinson _
_Figure 13b: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously
shared by Sally (Cousin)_

The family reappears in the 1861 census, minus John, who has already departed the
farm. The copy of the admission ticket below gives us a good indication of where
he was at the time.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1859-session-admission-
card-for-principles-.jpg?resize=1100%2C740&ssl=1)

_Figure 13c: Courtesy of Ancestry.com, The Newer Family Tree, _
_Generously shared
by Peter McNab_

Sarah, Richard’s grandmother is now the head of the family. We also get our first
mention of Lownthwaite (the Farm) as mentioned on Anne’s headstone in _Figure 12_.
A copy of the census is pictured below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-census-
1861.jpg?resize=1085%2C311&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Family Census 1861 _
_Figure 14: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

Then 1871, James took over from his mother Sarah as head of the family and presumably
the running of the farm. William their brother is now off at school and Mary Jane
their other sister has returned from her schooling, the reason why she was missing
on the 1861 census.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-census-
1871.jpg?resize=834%2C243&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Family Census 1871 _
_Figure 15: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

Then by 1881, Sarah (Richard’s grandmother) had passed away (1879) and only James
and Anne remained with the assistance of four servants.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-census-
1881.jpg?resize=889%2C148&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Family Census 1881 _
_Figure 16: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

Again you’ll note the name Lownthwaite on the census forms which matches perfectly
with the inscription on Ann’s headstone. This is where Richard’s grandfather William
was from.

According to “_A Topographical Dictionary of England…_” printed in 1848, Lownthwaite
was a farm on the estate of the Earl of Thanet. [https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/milburn-westmorland-1848/](https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/milburn-westmorland-1848/)

As I mentioned, William died in 1848 and even though the farm is not noted on the
census form in 1841 I think it would be safe to assume that this is where the family
were living. Both of Williams’ parents, that is Richard’s great-grandparents, Sarah
and William were born in the 1770s not 20 miles away from Lownthwaite.

It took me a while to confirm exactly where the farm was, but Lownthwaite sits between
the villages of Milborn to the south and Blencarne to the northwest. I found it 
on this Ordinance Map from 1859.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-map-
1850s.jpg?resize=1048%2C575&ssl=1)

_Westmorland Sheet V (inset I) Surveyed: 1859, Published: 1863_
_Figure 17: Courtesy
of the National Library of Scotland_

If you go back to _Figure 11, _you will see I have placed a black dot in the approximate
location of the farm. Here is an aerial shot of the area from 2021 thanks to Google
Maps. And yep, you guessed it, the farm is still going. I have placed a blue line
above it in the photo below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-2021-
aerial.jpg?resize=1061%2C609&ssl=1)

_Map showing Lownthwaite, in relation to Milburn and Blencarn, 2021 _
_Figure 18:
Courtesy of Google Maps_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-2021.
jpg?resize=1100%2C522&ssl=1)

_Lownthwaite Farm, Cumbria, England 2021 _
_Figure 19: Courtesy of Google Maps_

What a find, Richard’s family’s history and their farm!

Another link to the property has just revealed itself. It too is from that forgotten
treasure trove I had. Specifically, it was resources shared with me by my cousin,
something times removed, Sally, over ten years ago. I have mentioned this treasure
trove many times before. In it, I found some information from a descendant of John
Nicholson and his third wife, Frances Coster, a Peter McNab. The link? specifically
some information from John’s will, which was printed in a document created by the
Benalla Historical Society.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-benalla-
will.jpg?resize=945%2C428&ssl=1)

_Excerpt from Benalla Historical Society Document on John Nicholson_ 
_Figure 19a:
Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

It shows, that Emma, one of John’s daughters is bequeathed a property called Lownthwaite
in Benalla. Emma is John and his third wife, Frances Coster’s youngest daughter.
She is Richard’s step-sister. He was twelve years of age when she was born in 1894.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/emmie-nicholson-
1.jpg?resize=842%2C1034&ssl=1)

_Emmie Nicholson _
_Figure 19b: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared by Sally(
Cousin)_

As you can see the scan of the Benalla Historical Society document above was not
the best so I went looking for the property, and here it is straddling the parishes
of Goomalibee and Benalla as stated.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-benalla-
1889.jpg?resize=1033%2C634&ssl=1)

_Goomalibee Parish Map_, _1889_
_Figure 19c: Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria_
[http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/98143](http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/98143)

The fact that John named it Lownthwaite shows how important the original farm from
Cumberland was to him.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/goomalibee-1889.
jpg?resize=914%2C652&ssl=1)

_Lownthwaite, J Nicholson Property on Goomalibee Parish Map, 1889 _
_Figure 19d:
Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria _

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/benalla-1889.jpg?
resize=1100%2C374&ssl=1)

_Benalla Parish Map, 1915_
_Figure 19e: Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria_
[http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/281723](http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/281723)

There is a reason I’m sharing this background history with you. Not only is it fascinating
but parts of it figure in Richard’s story, which I know we haven’t actually touched
on yet.

So let us start at the beginning, which is the same way Richard’s story ends, with
tragedy.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-death-
and-birth-notice-1882.jpg?resize=681%2C418&ssl=1)

_Figure 20: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Yes, Margaret gives birth to Richard on the 6th of April and then passes away five
days later. Margaret was 26 years of age. I can’t help but think, how sad that this
family notice is, the birth and death notice printed together.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-death-
notice-1882.jpg?resize=1001%2C203&ssl=1)

_Figure 21: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Margaret and John had three children together. Richard, his elder sister, Elizabeth
Atkinson Nicholson and a newborn baby daughter they lost the year before Richard’s
birth in 1881.

John married five years later for the third time in 1887 when Richard was five years
old and Elizabeth was eight. This is when he marries Frances Coster, Emmie’s (_Figure
19b_), mother.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-coster-
marriage-1887-2.jpg?resize=776%2C215&ssl=1)

_Figure 22: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Here is a beautiful photo of Frances.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/frances-nicholson-
nee-costerhead-shoulders2a.jpg?resize=1100%2C1573&ssl=1)

_Frances Nicholson nee Coster _
_Figure 22a: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously
shared by Sally (Cousin)_

How lucky for us, Peter McNab’s folder just keeps giving and to think that it has
been sitting in my Dropbox for a decade.

I have no information on what Richard and Elizabeth’s circumstances were from the
time of Margaret’s death to when Frances joined the family in 1887. I’m assuming
they remained with their father. Perhaps the Macveans might have circled in and 
helped out or other family and friends who might have been closer. The Macveans 
were all in the New South Wales Riverina area and west in Howlong at this stage.

I went looking for census information for Victoria for the 1890s, to see if I could
confirm the family were together. I assumed the Colonial Census probably followed
the UK schedule of the first year of the new decade, so 1891 would be the first 
one to happen since Margaret died in 1882. (I know, controversial but the Gregorian
calendar follows that the new decade starts on the 1, not the 0. The 0 is the end
of the previous decade.) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decade))

Well was I in for a disappointment? This is at the top of the State Library of Victoria
website on their page for the Census data.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/records-of-people-
slv.jpg?resize=1100%2C193&ssl=1)

_Figure 22b: Courtesy of State Library of Victoria_

Oh damn, that stings so much and what a loss for our history especially when you
take into account that New South Wales too lost most of their early census records
in the huge fire that ripped through the Garden Palace on the 22nd September 1882.
[https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/fire](https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/fire)

I jumped to the next census, 1901. No luck, nothing came up for Richard, his sister
Elizabeth or their father John. I did however find John listed in an Electoral role
listing for 1905 along with some other family members.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
electoral-roll-1905.jpg?resize=1100%2C249&ssl=1)

_Figure 22c: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

That is John, his third wife Frances and John’s eldest daughter, Richard’s other
step-sister, Mary Emily from his first marriage to Euphemia Kyle Mceachern.

Peter McNab had a photo of Euphemia in the file as well, which was just amazing.
It looks like it was taken on what looks to be her wedding day. He also had one 
of Mary Emily as a child.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/euphemia-kyle-
mceachern.jpg?resize=480%2C641&ssl=1)

_Euphemia Kyle McEachern _
_Figure 22d: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared
by Sally (Cousin)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
may-n.-eldest-child-of-john.jpg?resize=404%2C468&ssl=1)

_Mary Emily Nicholson _
_Figure 22e: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared 
by Sally (Cousin)_

I’m going to take a stab here and firm up a theory about what happened with Richard
and Elizabeth after their mother’s death.

On closer inspection of Peter’s file, he had another photo of a baby that had been
cropped from this photo of Mary above. You can see she is clearly holding the baby
when you match the two up and the baby is labelled in the file as Baby Elizabeth.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
baby-elizabeth.jpg?resize=636%2C568&ssl=1)

_Baby Elizabeth, _
_(I’m proposing it is Elizabeth A_t_k_i_nson Nicholson, Richard’s
Sister)__Figure 22f: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

I think we can safely assume that Richard and Elizabeth stayed on with John, their
father, and their step-sister Mary Emily and then Frances would have taken over 
their care once she and John married. To cement this theory I just found a transcript
of a couple of letters that Richard sent home from Edinburgh, (yes our Richard) 
dated the 7th of October 1902 and the 10th of October. (How great is that?, we have
found Richard, and he is in Edinburgh.) Back to the letters.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/richard-macvean-
nicholson-letters-1902.jpg?resize=798%2C154&ssl=1)

_Richard Macvean Nicholson, Letters 1902 _
_Figure 22g: Courtesy of Peter McNab,
Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

Wow, pinpointing where Richard is and then reading that he is writing the letter
three days later to “my Dear Mater” that is his stepmother, Frances, I think we 
can safely assume they had a close relationship. This probably came about because
they lived together in Benalla as a family.

Did you also notice Richard sending the best love to all at “Kyle”? That is the 
name of the house in Benalla, and it is also Euphemia’s second name. That is Richard’s
father’s first wife. Wow, the sentimentality is just flowing. I love it when you
can make these connections.

And here is the house, Kyle and standing out the front is Richard’s other step-sister
and brother, Emma (Emmie) and William and I’m pretty sure that is Frances their 
mother with them.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-house-
benalla.jpg?resize=1100%2C731&ssl=1)

_Emmie, William and I think Frances Nicholson, standing in front of “Kyle”, Benalla,
1896 _
_Figure 22h: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

Before we started delving into Mary Emily, Euphemia and the children, we were looking
at the Electoral role for 1905 and this stemmed from my search for a mention of 
the family in the census of 1901.

With this in mind, I thought searching the UK Census for 1901 might be a good idea.
Especially now we know Richard was in Edinburgh in 1902, (from his letter above)
and also that other great piece of information about Aunty Anne and Bibbie and that
they would be returning back to Clifton, these will be John’s sisters. I was hoping
these clues combined might give us the chance to uncover something.

Armed with this new information I started searching, and look what came up almost
immediately.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-census-
1901.jpg?resize=1100%2C179&ssl=1)

_Figure 23: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

There listed, are three of Richard’s Aunts, Margaret, Mary and Elizabeth, (I think
she might be Aunt Bibbie), all living at Clifton or more precisely, Carlton House.
And there on that last line of the Nicholson listings is their _“niece”_ from Benalla,
Victoria, Richard’s sister, Elizabeth Atkinson Nicholson. Just brilliant.

Aunt Anne, I discovered at this stage is actually living with her brother William
on a Farm in Milburn but obviously would be joining the sisters at Clifton the following
year, going from the information in Richard’s letter above.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ann-william-a-
nicholson-census-1901.jpg?resize=891%2C188&ssl=1)

_Figure 23a: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

It is sad but I was able to confirm that they weren’t on their father’s beloved 
Lownthwaite any longer. After more than a century Lownthwaite passed into the hands
of one Thomas Wales sometime before the 1891 census.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lownthwaite-1891-
census.jpg?resize=1100%2C291&ssl=1)

_Figure 23b: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

I think the Nicholsons all moved to the new farm on mass when this handover to Thomas
Wales happened. I found them in 1891 with no address or farm name mentioned.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
1891-uk-census.jpg?resize=1100%2C245&ssl=1)

_Figure 23c: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

Going back to _Figure 23_, we are so lucky, Carlton House still stands today and
is about 11 miles from the Lownthwaite farm, so the family is still very much keeping
to the area.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/carleton-house-
2016.jpg?resize=1100%2C539&ssl=1)

_Carlton House, Clifton, Cumbria, UK, 2016 _
_Figure 24: Courtesy of Google Maps_

Now the 1901 UK Census had more to share. I actually found a listing for Richard,
yay!

Here he is boarding with the Mitchell family in Edinburgh, and he is studying medicine
at I’m presuming here, the University of Edinburgh.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/r-m-nicholson-
census-1901.jpg?resize=636%2C583&ssl=1)

_1901 UK Census Information for Richard Macvean Nicholson_
_Figure 25: Courtesy 
of Ancestry.com_

Here we are with the luck again. I just checked Google Maps and Richard’s house 
he was boarding in with the Mitchell family is still standing.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/75-morningside-
road-edinburgh-2022.jpg?resize=1008%2C607&ssl=1)

_75 Morningside Road, Edinburgh 2022 _
_Figure 26: Courtesy of Google Maps_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/75-morningside-
road-edinburgh-2022-2.jpg?resize=894%2C541&ssl=1)

_75 Morningside Road, Edinburgh 2022 _
_Figure 27: Courtesy of Google Maps_

I do have a confession to make here. I was actually aware that Richard was in Edinburgh
sometime in the early 1900s and studying to become a Doctor but I didn’t want to
share any spoilers earlier in the post. I became aware of what Richard was up to
because it was mentioned in his obituary. Yes, here is the bookend tragedy of Richard’s
birth, his death, and it was a tragedy.

I put together a few of the headlines of the day, that were printed about the incident.
It was obviously big news as it featured in most of the nation’s papers over the
next couple of days from its initial reporting.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/edinburgh-fatality-
1910.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/boating-tragedy-
1910.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/tragedy-while-
duck-shooting-1910.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/benalla-student-
1910.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

_Tiled Gallery 1: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

This is how I first learned of Richard, through these headlines. I was searching
for other nieces and nephews of Jessie and Alexander Macvean when I was researching
for a post on them and came across this really sad story.

The article below is the obituary I first discovered.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-r-macvean-nicholson-
pg1.jpg?resize=626%2C487&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-r-macvean-nicholson-
pg2.jpg?resize=616%2C393&ssl=1)

_Article 2: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

How bloody sad is that just about to find out if he passed all his exams and hopes
to come back and take over the medical practice from his father in Australia, and
he dies.

This obituary is a little nugget of gold as it is the only article that I have come
across that mentions when Richard and Elizabeth leave for the UK. I unfortunately
can’t find either of them on a passenger list anywhere but of course, counting back
twelve years from Richard’s death in 1910 this means they would have set out from
Australia and headed for England sometime in 1898. Richard would have been sixteen
and Elizabeth eighteen years old at the time.

With Richard passing away in January 1910, he obviously missed the next census taken
in 1911, which is useless to us. I did however find a medical student registration
for him from 1904 on Ancestry.com.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/r-m-nicholson-
medical-student-reg-1904.jpg?resize=699%2C407&ssl=1)

_Figure 28: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

This is the only register he appears in despite the fact he is studying up until
the time of his death, six years later.

Now this is interesting, having just shared with you that I couldn’t find Richard
or Elizabeth on a passenger list anywhere, I ditched the official lists and thought
I might see if they appeared in the newspaper lists and you guessed it, I found 
them.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-departure-
1898.jpg?resize=747%2C543&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Because I didn’t know what month in 1898 they might have departed, I just had to
start searching in January of that year. Of course, there were no guarantees they
would be listed, I mean a couple of teenage kids, why would they be listed? But 
I was wrong. This took a couple of hours to find but when I saw it, it was the same
old feeling of excitement and as usual, it was like early in the morning again so
no Alex to share it with.

The Gera, the ship the siblings travelled aboard, was a City Class ship belonging
to the Northern German Lloyd shipping company. It was launched in November 1890,
sold to an Italian shipping company in 1909, renamed the **“**_Valparaiso_**“** 
and torpedoed by a German U Boat in October 1917 off the coast of Libia and sunk.
[https://www.karl-may-wiki.de/index.php/Gera_(Schiff)](https://www.karl-may-wiki.de/index.php/Gera_(Schiff))

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lazarettschiff_gera_batavia_java_1901.
jpg?resize=912%2C504&ssl=1)

_The Gera circa 1902 _
_Figure 28a1: Courtesy of Wikimedia _[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Lazarettschiff_Gera_%28Batavia%2C_Java%2C_1901%29.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Lazarettschiff_Gera_%28Batavia%2C_Java%2C_1901%29.jpg)

The photo above shows the Gera operating as a hospital ship to German troops involved
in the Boxer Rebellion, just four years after the Nicholson siblings were aboard.

The other surprising thing here is the extra, Miss E Nicholson on the list. Miss
E. A. Nicholson is Richard’s sister but who is the other Miss E? I then remember
I read somewhere and of course, I can’t find it now, that their elder sister Mary
Emilie was known as Emily in the family. It looks like all three siblings took the
journey together.

I found a passenger list that suggests Richard, Elizabeth, and Emily actually boarded
the ship from Sydney on April 20th. But I think maybe the newspapers printed the
full list of passengers not worrying about who was joining at what port, as Benalla,
where they were living, is so much closer to Melbourne’s port than it is to Sydney.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-departure-
sydney-1898.jpg?resize=556%2C257&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a2: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I next tracked them onboard the Gera, to Adelaide, and then Fremantle, and then 
eventually they arrived at Colombo on the morning of the 16th of May.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gera-leaves-adelaide-
1898.jpg?resize=499%2C324&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a3: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gera-arrives-departs-
fremantle-1898.jpg?resize=371%2C296&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a4: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gera-arrives-colombo-
1898.jpg?resize=481%2C216&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a5: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I found this very interesting advertisement for the company running the Gera showing
exactly the route the ship took to get to the UK.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gera-ports-1898.
jpg?resize=659%2C393&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a6: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Aden the first stop after leaving Colombo in Sri Lanka, is a coastal port in the
country of Yemen, the ship then travels the Suez Canal stopping at Suez, Port Said
and then traversing the Mediterranean reaching Naples and Genoa in Italy.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/colombo-to-southampton.
jpg?resize=1100%2C635&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a6i: Courtesy of Google Maps_

It looks like the ship then travels the length of the East coasts of France, and
Spain passing through the Straits of Gibraltar and then heading back up the west
coast of Portugal and straight on to England.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gera-arrives-southampton-
1898-2.jpg?resize=564%2C200&ssl=1)

_Figure 28a7: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

That is a voyage of 52 days from Sydney to Southampton. What a trip and all without
any other family to accompany them.

I didn’t need to wonder too long to find out if Emily joined them on the voyage.
I found a listing from the 1911 UK census that maybe confirms that it was.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rg14_07211_0253_03.
jpg?resize=1100%2C646&ssl=1)

_Figure 28b: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

Here is a close-up for us of the names.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1911-census-close-
up.jpg?resize=908%2C587&ssl=1)

_Figure 28c: Courtesy of Ancestry.com_

There is Mary Emilie Nicholson, Richard and Elizabeth’s older sister living with
her younger sister and her family at 42 Ravensdale Mansions, Haringey Park, Crouch
End, London N. How fantastic. I know this is thirteen years after that journey in
1898 but it shows that Emily had made the journey and I’m happy to call it that 
she did it earlier as well.

There is also a great example here of exactly how much Richard obviously meant to
his sister Elizabeth. She and her husband, Richard, (I know damn confusing, the 
husband is Richard too) named their firstborn son after him and that was four years
before his death. Richard Macvean Graham Pole.

Also, did you note her husband’s last name? Graham Pole. You might recall from _Figure
22g_ above that in Richard’s letter to home, in 1902, he mentioned that he took 
a clerking job for his friend David Graham Pole, who the author of that note, assumed
to be a relation to Richard Graham Pole. And here he is finally turning up in 1911.
We don’t need to assume that he is related anymore, I found an article on Elizabeth
and Richard Graham Pole’s wedding and David Graham Pole is mentioned as a brother
to Richard and his best man.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pole-nicholson-
wedding-1904-pg1.jpg?resize=475%2C395&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pole-nicholson-
wedding-1904-pg2.jpg?resize=453%2C342&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pole-nicholson-
wedding-1904-pg3.jpg?resize=451%2C144&ssl=1)

_Article 3: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

This article has so many wonderful links to the information we already know. First,
Elizabeth and Richard are married in St Cuthbert’s Church at Clifton.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-clifton-
2016.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)

_St Cuthberts, Clifton, Penrith, 2016 _
_Figure 28d: Courtesy of Geograph UK, generously
shared by J Thomas_[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5201936](https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5201936)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-clifton-
2018.jpg?resize=1100%2C825&ssl=1)

_St Cuthberts, Clifton, Penrith, 2018 _
_Figure 28e: Courtesy of “The Friends of
St Cuthbert’s Clifton” Facebook Page_[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=936376349855247&set=pb.100069412271819.-2207520000](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=936376349855247&set=pb.100069412271819.-2207520000)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/interior-of-st-
cuthberts-clifton-2005.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)

_Interior of St Cuthberts Clifton 2005 _
_Figure 28e1: Courtesy of The Lakes Guide
UK _[https://www.lakesguides.co.uk/html/lgaz/lk10821.htm](https://www.lakesguides.co.uk/html/lgaz/lk10821.htm)

And of course, you will remember that Clifton is where Carlton House is, where most
of the Nicholson Aunts live. In fact, you can see the house from the front entrance
of the church.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-to-
carelton-house-2022.jpg?resize=1100%2C539&ssl=1)

_St Cuthbert’s to Carelton House, Clifton 2022 _
_Figure 28e2: Courtesy of Google
Maps_

The wedding article also tells us that this is where Elizabeth and her new husband,
Richard have their wedding reception, hosted by the Aunts and Uncle Willie.

Talking of the Aunts and Uncle Willie, Peter McNab’s folder had a few other photos
in it that could possibly be Uncle Willie and his sisters. Except Elizabeth (Aunt
Bibby). There doesn’t seem to be a photo of her, unfortunately.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
william-snr.jpg?resize=612%2C1328&ssl=1)

_William Atkinson Nicholson, (Possibly) _
_Figure 28f: Courtesy of Peter McNab, 
generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
mary.jpg?resize=272%2C380&ssl=1)

_Mary Nicholson, (Possibly) _
_Figure 28g: Courtesy of Peter McNab, generously shared
by Sally (Cousin)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
margaret.jpg?resize=276%2C416&ssl=1)

_Margaret Nicholson, (Possibly) _
_Figure 28h: Courtesy of Peter McNab, generously
shared by Sally (Cousin)_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
sarah-snr.jpg?resize=512%2C876&ssl=1)

_Sarah Nicholson, (Possibly) _
_Figure 28i: Courtesy of Peter McNab, generously 
shared by Sally (Cousin)_

This section of the post that you are reading I wrote weeks ago from what I’m typing
now. I have actually finished the post and am doing my final grammar and spelling
checks but then I just stumbled upon another amazing discovery. It is concerning
Elizabeth and Richard’s wedding, hence the reason for the interruption from the 
future.

I was browsing through hints on Ancestry that had come up for the Graham Pole brothers,
David and Richard and this phenomenal montage of information popped up.

A wedding photo for Elizabeth and Richard, a handwritten note of those people in
the photo and a copy of the wedding article I posted above. It was shared by another
Ancestry user named Dorothy Lander, from Canada and it was over a year ago. I couldn’t
believe I hadn’t seen it before this.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-pole-
wedding-1904-names-in-photo-1.jpg?resize=1100%2C838&ssl=1)

_Figure 28j: Courtesy of Ancestry.com, generously shared by Dorothy Lander_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/wedding-of-richard-
pole-and-elizabeth-nicholson-july-1904-via-sarah-hymas-pshopped.jpg?resize=1100%
2C820&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Pole Wedding, 2nd July, 1904 _
_Figure 28k: Courtesy of Ancestry.com,
generously shared by Dorothy Lander_

This is a phenomenal find as not only does it give us our second photograph of Richard,
and our first of Aunt Bibby (Elizabeth) but it also features nearly all the main
cast from the family. In case you can’t read the handwriting above:

**Back row**: Aunt Maggie (Margaret), Aunt Cloie (Sarah), Uncle Mac, (Richard Macvean
Nicholson) Georgia (Elizabeth and Mac’s cousin), Aunt Phennie (unsure who this is),
Uncle Willie, (William Atkinson Nicholson), Uncle David, (David Graham Pole), Aunt
Mary, Wilbert (Wilbert Gordon, Georgia’s father and Aunt Sarah’s husband) and Aunt
Ann.

**Sitting: **Mrs Pole (David and Richard’s mother) Richard Graham Pole (Groom), 
Elizabeth Nicholson (Bride) and Aunt Bibby (Elizabeth)

I did send Dorothy a message thanking her for this amazing find. She replied which
was wonderful and explained that she married the son of Richard Macvean Graham Pole,
the son of Elizabeth and Richard, bride and groom above and below, in later life.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/parents-of-richard-
macvean-graham-pole.jpg?resize=1100%2C775&ssl=1)

_Elizabeth Atkinson Pole, nee Nicholson & Richard Graham Pole _
_Figure 28l: Courtesy
of Ancestry.com, generously shared by Dorothy Lander_

Dorothy also had a couple of photos of her father-in-law, Richard Macvean Graham
Pole, Uncle Mac’s nephew. On the left is what he looked like around the time Uncle
Mac drowned and on the right is when he was at London University in 1925 posing 
with his football team.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rm-gp-studio-photo-
large-framed-circa-1910pshop.jpg?resize=1100%2C1255&ssl=1)

_Richard Macvean Graham Pole_, _circa 1911_
_Figure 28m: Courtesy of Ancestry.com,
generously shared by Dorothy Lander_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmgp-1925.jpg?
resize=438%2C678&ssl=1)

_Richard Macvean Graham Pole_ (Center top),_ 1925_
_Figure 28n: Courtesy of Ancestry.
com, generously shared by Dorothy Lander_

With the next find, well I’m just going to share it. There is no point in summarising
as it is an amazing article describing the circumstances of this tragic event, Richard’s
death.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg1.jpg?resize=498%2C568&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg2.jpg?resize=472%2C422&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg3.jpg?resize=469%2C520&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg4.jpg?resize=485%2C472&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg5.jpg?resize=490%2C326&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg6.jpg?resize=472%2C436&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg7.jpg?resize=464%2C273&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-death-of-dr-
nicholson-pg8.jpg?resize=475%2C506&ssl=1)

_Article 4: Courtesy of Trove, National Libray of Australia_

What an amazing record to have and so detailed.

I’m just picking out those addresses mentioned for Richard in the article above.
Here is 9 Alvanley Terrace in Edinburgh. This is where Richard and Roland Bell set
off from on the Friday before the duck shooting trip. I can’t find a historic photo
of the building, but lucky for us once again, it is still standing.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/alvanley-terrace-
edinburgh.jpg?resize=1100%2C563&ssl=1)

_Alvanley Terrace, Edinburgh 2022 _
_Figure 29: Courtesy of Google Maps_

And here is a beautiful black and white shot of Gillespie’s Terrace where Richard
was staying while studying. This one is dated circa 1900, so definitely Richard’s
time. Gillespie’s Terrace is the row of terraces on the right of the photograph 
funnily enough.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gillespie-terrace-
edinburgh-1900.jpg?resize=1100%2C708&ssl=1)

_Gillespie Terrace Edinburgh 1900_ 
_Figure 30: Courtesy of Canmore _[https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1314761](https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1314761)

And here is a amazing aerial shot of the full terrace, it is 38 years after Richard’s
time but I’m sure this view would have been familiar to him. Not the aerial view
of course.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/gillespie-terrace-
edinburgh-1948.jpg?resize=1100%2C835&ssl=1)

_Gillespie’s Terrace Edinburgh 1948 _
_Figure 31: Courtesy of Canmore _[https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1314761](https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1314761)

I next went looking for Barnbougle Castle, where Richard’s body was discovered and
I found it. The castle sits on the shores of the Firth of Forth in between the towns
of Cramond and Queensferry. It is about a nine-mile journey from Mrs Bell’s house
in Alvaney Terrace where Richard and Roland set off from. I also found an amazing
photo of the castle from 1895, just fifteen years before Richard and Ronald’s visit.
I can imagine this view probably didn’t change much in that time.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
1895.jpg?resize=680%2C580&ssl=1)

_Barnbougle Castle, by J. E. Ellam 1895 _
_Figure 32: Courtesy of Press Photoman_
[https://pressphotoman.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/barnbougle-castle-.jpg?w=2045](https://pressphotoman.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/barnbougle-castle-.jpg?w=2045)

The castle stands today too. It has been restored and is now a function centre.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
2022.jpg?resize=1100%2C734&ssl=1)

_Barnbougle Castle, Scotland, 2022 _
_Figure 33: Courtesy of Herald Scotland _[https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/17692484.barnbougle-castles-new-incarnation-wedding-party-venue/#gallery1](https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/17692484.barnbougle-castles-new-incarnation-wedding-party-venue/#gallery1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
shoreline-2022.jpg?resize=1100%2C609&ssl=1)

_Barnbougle Castle, Scotland, 2022 _
_Figure 33a: Courtesy of Google Maps _

It is funny to think that within 600 yards of this function centre, somewhere on
that shoreline Mr John Ballie found Richard’s lifeless body over a century ago. 
A fact that none of these couples would be aware of at all today.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
wedding-125.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/56a823ea0b5709f7172e01f9cd898fbf14bc20be-
2400x1600-1.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
wedding-91.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/jnd-957_websize-
1.webp?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbougle-castle-
wedding-118.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-blue-sky-photography-
barnbougle-scottish-pakistani-american-wedding-740x560-1.webp?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10-a-bride-and-
groom-kissing-on-the-beach-with-barnbougle-castle-in-background-740x560-1.webp?w
=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/scottbecca-0716-
1300x866.jpg.webp?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/scottbecca-0707-
1300x868.jpg.webp?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/barnbouglecastle_auniquestunningcastlebythesea_0025.
jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/images.jpg?w=1100&
ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/scottbecca-0694.
jpg.webp?w=1100&ssl=1)

_Tiled Gallery 1_

[https://blueskyphotography.co.uk/wedding/barnbougle-castle-wedding-5455/](https://blueskyphotography.co.uk/wedding/barnbougle-castle-wedding-5455/)

[https://tietheknot.scot/tag/barnbougle-castle/](https://tietheknot.scot/tag/barnbougle-castle/)

[https://luxuryscottishwedding.com/blog](https://luxuryscottishwedding.com/blog)

[https://www.facebook.com/RoseberyVenues/](https://www.facebook.com/RoseberyVenues/)

[https://martinvenherm.com/wedding-photography/barnbougle-castle-wedding/](https://martinvenherm.com/wedding-photography/barnbougle-castle-wedding/)

[https://www.alijayphotography.com/blog/barnbougle-castle-wedding-venue-photography](https://www.alijayphotography.com/blog/barnbougle-castle-wedding-venue-photography)

I know, you are probably thinking, what the hell John! I know, but I think this 
just highlights in a small way how life just keeps moving on and it really struck
a chord with me when I started searching for information on the castle. Something
as traumatic as losing a son, nephew, brother, friend and the place where he actually
died becames a beautiful vista for newly wedded couples.

I have an amazing obituary for Richard and his friend Ronald Bell, which was printed
in “_The Student” _a campus publication from Edinburgh University. It was shared
with me by the same generous Cousin who started me on this family history journey,
Sally. It is also where the wonderful photo of Richard comes from.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-mcvean-nicholson-
edinburgh-uni-mag-death.jpg?resize=1100%2C1298&ssl=1)

_Figure 34: Courtesy of _Ancestry.com

And there in those few lines was another gift, just sitting there for us, a description
of Richard. Or more specifically a mention of his cheerfulness and him having a 
hearty laugh. They are slivers of information but they say so much about him in 
the absence of anything else.

The other sliver of gold that stands out for me from this article is the fact that
it states that Richard was a Lieutenant in the Edinburgh Queen’s Rifles. This started
me on a search for information on what the Edinburgh Queen’s Rifles actually was
and in the process of this search I discovered a few other sources I already had
that confirmed Richard’s links with the organisation. The first source is Richard’s
headstone.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nicholson-family-
grave.jpeg?resize=1100%2C1467&ssl=1)

_Nicholson Family Headstone, St Cuthberts, Milburn _
_Figure 35: Courtesy of Findagrave
Contributor [DIMITRIOS CORCODILOS](https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/48461240)_

You might recognise it from earlier in this post, yes, Richard shares his final 
resting place with his Aunt, Anne Nicholson.

Now the link with the Rifles is in his inscription. It is a bit hard to read so 
I played around with the brightness in the photo to see if that would help and I
think it did.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmn-grave-2.jpg?
resize=1100%2C620&ssl=1)

_Richard Nicholson Headstone Inscription, St Cuthberts, Milburn _
_Figure 36: Courtesy
of Findagrave Contributor [DIMITRIOS CORCODILOS](https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/48461240)_

It reads:

Also of

RICHARD MACVEAN NICHOLSON M.B.

C.H.B EDIN., LEIU. Q.R.V.B. ROYAL SCOTS,

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED IN THE FIRTH OF

FORTH OFF CRAMOND, ELDEST SON OF

JOHN NICHOLSON M.B. EDIN., M.R.G.S. ENG.

J.P. OF BENALLA. AUSTRALIA AND GRANDSON

OF WILLIAM NICHOLSON OF LOWNTHWAITE

DIED JAN 8TH 1910 AGED 26 YEARS.

That second line of the inscription is our link, after the C.H.B EDIN which refers
to Richards Bachelor of Surgery from Edinburgh University [“ChB.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/ChB. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.](https://johnshistory.com/?page_id=8806)

The next part of the inscription refers to Richard being a Lieutenant of the Queen’s
Rifle Volunteer Brigade, Royal Scots. This matches with the Queen’s Rifle services
mentioned in the Uni Obit article above.

The second source is an article describing Richard’s funeral, I know I can’t believe
we got this as well. I will share the whole article further down but for the sake
of this discussion, I’m just sharing the final paragraph to highlight the relevant
information.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/r-m-nicholson-
club-assoc-1910.jpg?resize=717%2C385&ssl=1)

_Figure 37: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

There is the link with the Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade, with the mention of 
the volunteer forces. The link is also highlighted with the description of Richard’s
funeral as being a semi-military one.

The third source was a phenomenal find from Peter McNab’s folder again. A snippet
of a letter from Richard Graham Pole this time, (our Richard’s brother-in-law) to
his father-in-law, John Nicholson about Richard’s (or Mac as we already knew the
family called him), funeral.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rgp-letter.jpg?
resize=796%2C170&ssl=1)

_Richard Graham Pole Letter, 1910 _
_Figure 38: Courtesy of Peter McNab, Generously
shared by Sally (Cousin)_

First off, how lucky! The picture of Richard and his life that we are building up
is just amazing, thanks to all these resources that are coming to light. Secondly,“
_Dear Daddie”_. Now I promise you, I’m not dissing Richard Graham Pole at all, but
I’m so glad things have changed in 113 years. There is no way I could ever see myself
addressing a letter, text, or email to my father-in-law in such a way.

All of these sources combined and the Uni obituary above sent me down a rabbit hole
of history on the Volunteer services. Obviously, it meant a great deal to Richard
or presumably to the person who approved the inscription, as they obviously knew
what it meant to Richard to have it put on the headstone. This spurred me on to 
find out as much as I could, and wow, there are reams of information out there, 
but let me share just a small amount of what I did discover.

The Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade Royal Scots was originally called The Queen’s
Edinburgh Rifles when it was formed in 1859. After many reviews and the merging 
of several brigades into one single regiment, the unit was designated Queen’s Rifle
Volunteer Brigade Royal Scots on the 1st of April 1886. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Edinburgh_Rifles#Localisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Edinburgh_Rifles#Localisation)

I stumbled upon an amazing resource, a 504-page PDF document shared on the Electric
Scotland Website, a copy of a book published in 1909 detailing the records of the
Volunteer Forces from the previous fifty years.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/records-of-the-
scottish-volunteer-force-1909.jpg?resize=643%2C821&ssl=1)

_Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1909 _
_Figure 38a: Courtesy of Electric
Scotland Website _[https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf](https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf)

Thanks to Major-General Grierson we can confirm the exact details of the Brigade
and Regiment that Richard was a part of.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/grierson-description-
of-qrvb-1909.jpg?resize=565%2C472&ssl=1)

_Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1909 _
_Figure 38b: Courtesy of Electric
Scotland Website _[https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf](https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf)

(Plate X) refers to the most wonderful hand-illustrated and coloured drawing of 
the Brigade’s uniforms. I’m presuming that Richard would have been wearing a version
of the last two.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/queens-rifle-volunteer-
brigade.jpg?resize=1100%2C761&ssl=1)

_Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade_, _The Royal Scots_
_Records of the Scottish Volunteer
Force 1909 __Figure 38c: Courtesy of Electric Scotland Website _[https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf](https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/recordsofscottis00grierich.pdf)

Under another reform in 1908, the volunteer brigades were subsumed into the new 
Territorial Force and the battalions of the Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade were
reorganised to form the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Royal Scots, Queen’s Edinburgh
Rifles. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Edinburgh_Rifles#Localisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Edinburgh_Rifles#Localisation)

This is presumably both the battalions that Richard Graham Pole refers to in his
letter above, that attend Richard’s funeral. I found a photo on the National Museums
Scotland Flickr account of members of the actual two battalions and what they would
have looked like.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-queens-edinburgh-
rifles-4-5-battalion-royal-scots-edinburgh-1900-1914.jpg?resize=600%2C509&ssl=1)

_The Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles (4/5 Battalion Royal Scots), Edinburgh, 1900 – 1914_

_Figure 39: Courtesy of National Museums Scotland _[https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmuseumsscotland/](https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmuseumsscotland/)

What a gift to see this. Richard would likely have known these faces. I know Richard’s
face isn’t there but we can now picture him in the uniform. The full dress uniform,(
that David referred to in his letter that members of the brigade dressed in for 
Richard’s funeral) would have looked more like those pictured below in this stunning
photograph. Oh, to unearth an actual photo of his funeral would be amazing.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/volunteer-rifle-
brigade-1904.jpg?resize=650%2C827&ssl=1)

_Volunteer Rifle Brigade 1904_ 
_Figure 40: Courtesy of The Imperial Court Tumblr
account _[https://theimperialcourt.tumblr.com/post/154265131963/full-dress-uniforms-of-the-british-army-1904](https://theimperialcourt.tumblr.com/post/154265131963/full-dress-uniforms-of-the-british-army-1904)

It has been a couple of days since I typed the above paragraphs. The break from 
writing is because I resubscribed to the “Find My Past” website and have been down
that rabbit hole of searching ever since. Stay with me, there is a reason why I’m
sharing this with you.

Find My Past has links to online Newspaper archives of the UK so I started fishing
around the date of Richard’s funeral to see if there were any reports listed. Wow,
I got so many bites not just on the funeral but on other information that relates
to Richard and his time in Scotland but first the funeral.

This article came up in the Edinburgh Evening News dated the 12th January 1910 and
is full of new information for us.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/edinburgh_evening_news_12_january_1910_0007_clip.
jpg?resize=1019%2C1668&ssl=1)

_Figure 41: Courtesy of Find My Past UK Website_

The first thing that stands out for me, is the misogyny, in the way Richard’s aunts
and sisters are referred to in one mass description. God forbid that we actually
waste our time naming them. Sorry, it is hard not to view these past attitudes through
today’s lens.

It is great to see the actual battalion that Richard was part of confirmed. I must
admit it has taken me a while to get my head around the different battalion names
and when they actually changed. So I can now confirm that Richard’s battalion is
the 4th Battalion (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 
so named in 1908 when the Volunteer Force was reorganised to become the new Territorial
Force. The 5th being its sister battalion. [https://assets.website-files.com/615ff7b6816bc2319b961674/61a22791b4f9a1644d8e172e_20210708-6SCOTS_AR_Lineage_v6.pdf](https://assets.website-files.com/615ff7b6816bc2319b961674/61a22791b4f9a1644d8e172e_20210708-6SCOTS_AR_Lineage_v6.pdf)

How wonderful to get those few extra details, like Richard’s coffin being placed
in the centre of the hall and covered by the Union Jack. Also, his funeral being
held in the Drill Hall at Forrest Road Edinburgh. This was the headquarters of the
Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade, The Royal Scots as confirmed in Major-General Grierson’s
description of the Brigade in _Figure 38b_. That Richard’s coffin was conveyed on
an open hearse to the station and that it was transported back to his Aunt’s house
in Cliford, Carelton House, as mentioned earlier in this post. Also, that the family
had a private funeral service at Milburn, at another church named St Cuthbert’s.
This is where Richard’s body is buried.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-aug-
2022.jpg?resize=1100%2C844&ssl=1)

_St Cuthberts, Milburn, Aug 2022 _
_Figure 41a: Courtesy of Google Map Contributor
Steve Why_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/interior-of-st-
cuthberts-milburn-2021.jpg?resize=1100%2C489&ssl=1)

_Interior of St Cuthberts Milburn 2021 _
_Figure 41b: Courtesy of Google Map Contributor_
_Alex Brad_

I think Richard’s paternal grandmother’s side of the family might be long term worshippers
at St Cuthbert’s like the Nicholsons. Alex managed to get a photo of this tablet
on the wall of the church.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/atkinson-tablet.
jpg?resize=956%2C721&ssl=1)

_Atkinson Tablet_ _Interior of St Cuthberts Milburn 2021 _
_Figure 41_c_: Courtesy
of Google Map Contributor_ _Alex Brad_

Did you also notice the names of the three officers who accompanied Richard’s body
in the funeral article above? The one that stood out for me, was Captain Graham 
Pole. That is Richard’s brother-in-law’s last name. This is the Richard who marries
our Richard’s sister Elizabeth and pens the dear Daddie letter back to Richard Nicholson
Snr about Mac’s funeral.

I can confirm after some Googling, that this is referring to Captain David Graham
Pole. You might recall that back in _Figure 22g_ above I showed an excerpt of a 
letter that Richard wrote to his father back in Benalla explaining that his friend
David had lost his clerk and that he would be taking that position. The letter was
sent on letterhead from the office of D. Graham Pole. And here is a brilliant photo
of David.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/david-graham-pole.
jpg?resize=479%2C699&ssl=1)

_David Graham Pole Figure _
_41d: Courtesy of Elliott and Fry, via Wikimedia Commons_
[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Graham_Pole.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Graham_Pole.jpg)

David studied at Edinburgh University and was a Solicitor of the Supreme Courts 
of Scotland in 1901, hence the reason he needed a clerk. David also joined the Queens
Rifle Volunteer Brigade as a Private in 1899, so I think we can safely say that 
this is where he and Richard met and then obviously at some later stage, Elizabeth,
Richard’s sister meets David’s brother Richard Graham Pole which leads to their 
marriage. [https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/pole-david-graham-1877-1952-major](https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/pole-david-graham-1877-1952-major)

And of course, now that we have the photo of Elizabeth and Richard’s wedding, thanks
to Dorothy Lander we have another photo of David when he was performing his best
man duties for his brother.

I found an online biography from the University of York on David. He joins the regular
army when WW1 breaks out and rises to the rank of Major. After the war in 1918, 
David became Vice-Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the British Commission on Indian
and Burma Affairs. He held this position for twenty years and then became Chairman
of the Commission in 1940. He was also a member of parliament for South Derbyshire
for three years in the 1930s. [https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/pole-david-graham-1877-1952-major](https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/pole-david-graham-1877-1952-major)

How wonderful to confirm these links and to know that Richard obviously had a good
friend looking after him on his final journey to St Cuthberts in Milburn.

Picking up on those other extra details from the funeral article, the Drill Hall
where the funeral was held. This is the only historic photo I can find of the hall
taken from the opposite side to the main entrance in Forrest Hill Road. You can 
see the Drill Hall is the section to the right of the building with the long-tiered
roof. Inside here is where Richard’s coffin sat.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/queens-rifle-volunteer-
brigade-headquarters.jpg?resize=800%2C524&ssl=1)

_Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade Headquarters _
_Figure 42: Courtesy of Canmore UK
Website _[https://canmore.org.uk/collection/2645639](https://canmore.org.uk/collection/2645639)

The Headquarters building and the Drill Hall are still standing. Here is a great
aerial shot thanks to Google Maps showing the building from the Forrest Hill Road
entrance.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forrest-hill-drill-
hall-2.jpg?resize=930%2C571&ssl=1)

_Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade, The Royal Scots Headquarters and Drill Hall, 2023_

_Figure 43: Courtesy of Google Maps_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forrest-hill-drill-
hall-1.jpg?resize=1100%2C1467&ssl=1)

_Headquarters The Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade The Royal Scots _
_Forrest Hill
Road Edinburgh __Figure 43a: Courtesy of M J Richardson _[https://www.geograph.org.uk/more.php?id=4053833](https://www.geograph.org.uk/more.php?id=4053833)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forrest-hill-drill-
hall.jpg?resize=1100%2C733&ssl=1)

_Headquarters The Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade The Royal Scots _
_Forrest Hill
Road Edinburgh __Figure 43b: Courtesy of David Sterratt _[https://davidcsterratt.github.io/forrest-hill-history/](https://davidcsterratt.github.io/forrest-hill-history/)__

I found one photograph of the interior of the Drill Hall just before it was refurbished
into a Computer Lab for the University of Edinburgh in 2015. The Royal Scots vacated
the building in 1982 after 110 years of use. Their use of the Drill Hall dates from
1872. [http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html](http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forrest-hill-drill-
hall-interior.jpg?resize=552%2C480&ssl=1)

_Forrest Hill Drill Hall Interior_, 2015 _(During Refurb’)_
_Figure 44: Courtesy
of Hypostyle UK_ [http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html](http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forrest-hill-drill-
hall-2-1.jpg?resize=570%2C667&ssl=1)

_Forrest Hill Drill Hall Interior_, 2017 _(After Refurb’)_
_Figure 45: Courtesy 
of Hypostyle UK_ [http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html](http://www.hypostyle.co.uk/projects/educational/forresthillrefurbishmentandalterations-84.html)

I know these photos are from 105 years after Richard’s coffin lay there, but to 
see inside the actual space where it was is pretty special. What is just as special
is that I started finding a few other notices in my search on the Find My Past website
concerning the funeral. Each with its own unique piece of information. This notice
was printed the night before the funeral on the 11th of January, 1910, in the Edinburgh
Evening News.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/edinburgh_evening_news_11_january_1910_0003_clip.
jpg?resize=1064%2C480&ssl=1)

_“Edinburgh Evening News” printed 11th January 1910_
_Figure 46: Courtesy of the
Find My Past Website_

This article from The Scotsman printed the next day gave an update on Richard’s 
friend, Ronald Bell who was presumed drowned as well.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the_scotsman_12_january_1910_0008_clip.
jpg?resize=765%2C543&ssl=1)

_“The Scotsman” printed 12th January 1910_
_Figure 47: Courtesy of the Find My Past
Website_

This is what remains of the Caledonian Station, where the cortege proceeded to, 
at the western end of Princes Street in Edinburgh

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/caledonian-hotel-
by-kim-traynor.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)

_Caledonian Hotel, by Kim Traynor;_
_Figure 47a: Courtesy of Wikipedia _[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caledonian_Hotel_(geograph_3417777).jpg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caledonian_Hotel_(geograph_3417777).jpg)

On the map below I have highlighted where the hotel sits from this view above. The
hotel was built in 1903.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/caledonian-station-
1901.jpg?resize=1100%2C775&ssl=1)

_Caledonian Hotel highlighted on Caledonian Station Map;_
_Figure 47b: Courtesy 
of Wikipedia _[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Princes_Street_railway_station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Princes_Street_railway_station)

I wonder if Richard’s cortege made its way through the Rutland Street entrance and
down Cab Road to board Richard’s coffin onto the train bound for Milburn.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/interior-of-caledonian-
station-1963.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1)

_Interior of Caledonian Station 1963_
_Figure 47c: Courtesy of Edinburgh News _[https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/12-amazing-photos-of-edinburgh-princes-street-station-including-visits-by-laurel-hardy-and-queen-elizabeth-3977220](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/12-amazing-photos-of-edinburgh-princes-street-station-including-visits-by-laurel-hardy-and-queen-elizabeth-3977220)__

In regards to the Ministers who conducted Richard’s funeral, mentioned back in _Figure
44,_ there is no photo of Reverend Arthur Gordon online, unfortunately. I discovered
that an actual photograph of the Reverend exists, but it is held at the UK National
Archives in Kew, and it hasn’t been digitised as yet.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rev-arthur-gordon-
photo.jpg?resize=1010%2C484&ssl=1)

_Figure 48: Courtesy of The National Archives UK _
[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9454325](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9454325)

It costs about A$20.00 to have an archivist check to see if it can be digitised 
and it can take up to four weeks to get an answer. Might leave that one for the 
next pay. It would be great to actually see the face of one of the men who performed
Richard’s funeral service. I did find this nice little listing for Rev. Arthur Gordon
from one of the other family trees in Ancestry. It comes from a publication titled,
_Gordons Under Arms’; a biographical muster roll of officers named Gordon in the
navies and armies of Britain, Europe, America and the Jacobite risings. By Skelton,
Constance Oliver, Mrs Bulloch, John Malcolm_.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rev-arthur-gordon1.
jpg?resize=924%2C200&ssl=1)

_Figure 48a: Courtesy of Ancestry.com user, jstrong21 from The Gordon Family Tree_

Well, here in the post we didn’t have to wait very long to uncover a face. We were
very lucky with the Reverend James Fergusson, I found one small photograph of him
online. This did however take many hours of searching online to uncover.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rev-james-fergusson.
jpg?resize=430%2C487&ssl=1)

_Rev. James Fergusson _
_Figure 49: Courtesy of Corstorphine Parish Church _[https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f413c515a858/content/pages/documents/1548322446.pdf](https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f413c515a858/content/pages/documents/1548322446.pdf)

It is so special when you can put a face to the name of people involved in the relative’s
story you are researching. Of course, you have to be mindful of checking the details
of the photo or picture you have found as it is so easy to take a wrong turn and
end up with the wrong person in your story. There were four other Rev. James Fergusson
or Ferguson coming up in my research at the same time. The Corstorphine phrase in
the funeral article was the term I started searching for first as I didn’t know 
what it was referring to.

I found this photo of Rev. James in an online PDF document titled “_Corstorphine
Parish Church Souvenir Almanac_” There were no source details with it but there 
was the potential link, Corstorphine in the title. It looked like the original almanac
was printed in 1910, so it fitted with Richard’s timeline. I started digging.

Corstorphine was an ancient village to the West of Edinburgh and is now a suburb
of the city. Corstorphine Old Parish Church is the Church where this Rev. James 
ministered. The original section of the church, which still stands today, was built
in the early 1400s. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corstorphine_Old_Parish_Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corstorphine_Old_Parish_Church)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/corstorphine-old-
parish-church-2.jpg?resize=1100%2C684&ssl=1)

_Corstorphine Old Parish Church, 2020 _
_Figure 49a: Courtesy of Flickr User, Mike
McBey _[https://www.flickr.com/photos/158652122@N02/49646376968/](https://www.flickr.com/photos/158652122@N02/49646376968/)

The Church has an online presence, so I sent them an email asking if the PDF I had
found referred to their church and if they could confirm that this photo was the
Rev. James who ministered at Corstorphine? I explained that I was trying to link
it to the reference in Richard’s funeral article of “_…Rev. James Fergusson, Corstorphine…_”
The current Minister, Moira McDonald very kindly emailed me back and confirmed that
this photo did indeed match with a photo the church had of Rev. James in their vestry.
So I’m happy to say that this is the Rev. James Fergusson who celebrated Richard’s
funeral alongside Rev. Arthur Gordon.

What is just as thrilling as finding a photo of a face is uncovering a specific 
photo of an event. Especially one that I might have just said, “…I would love to
find a photo of that…”

Yep, this next absolute gem popped up last night and I will admit, the tears sprang
into my eyes when I realised what I was looking at.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmn-funeral-3.
jpg?resize=1100%2C563&ssl=1)

_Dr Richard Macvean Nicholson Funeral Procession, Edinburgh, 12 January 1910_
_Figure
50: Courtesy of Find My Past Website_

I know, it is a crappy newspaper copy but there is Richard’s coffin, containing 
his body, draped with the Union Jack being conveyed on an open hearse and followed
by members of his battalion, the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade, Royal Scots, just
as described in the funeral article above. It was part of the article below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/daily_record_14_january_1910_0003_clip.
jpg?resize=1100%2C757&ssl=1)

“_Daily Record” Article on the Funeral of Dr Richard Macvean Nicholson, printed 
14th January 1910 _
_Figure 51: Courtesy of the Find My Past Website_

I’m sure that the first figure following the hearse in the photo would be Captain
David Graham Pole. And it is wonderful to see that those uniforms look like the 
ones from Figure 40. I know that it is dark but you can just make out the plumage
on the hats.

I wonder if this might have been the route the cortege took and right past Edinburgh
Castle sitting above on the hill. You will notice that the finish of the route now
says the Waldorf Astoria, this is the current tenant of the old Caledonian Hotel
building and station.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cortege-route-
1910.jpg?resize=1100%2C516&ssl=1)

_Possible Cortege Route 1910 _
_Figure 51a: Courtesy of Google Maps_

A notice printed in The Scotsman that morning of the 12th of January leaves no doubt
as to who was the master of ceremonies.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the_scotsman_12_january_1910_0001_clip.
jpg?resize=813%2C382&ssl=1)

_“The Scotsman” printed 12th January 1910_
_Figure 52: Courtesy of the Find My Past
Website_

This really was so special to find, this article with the photo. I so hope that 
Richard’s Dad got to see it as there was no way that he could have been there. He
was at the very least a 65-day ocean voyage away, back in Benalla, Victoria.

Referring back to _Figure 41_ for a moment, another item that caught my eye was 
the reference to Richard having South African friends. I wondered, what did this
refer to, how did he come to have South African friends? I came up with two options.

It of course was only seven years, at the time of Richard’s funeral since the second
Boer War concluded. My mind started racing, could Richard have been involved as 
a part of the Volunteer brigade? If so, how likely is it that he made friends with
people over in South Africa whilst fighting, and then somehow they made it back 
to Edinburgh to be included in his funeral article?

The second option came from a mention back in _Figure 37_ above, that he was part
of the South African club in Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh has a section
on its website titled “Uncovered”. In it, they discuss the achievements of past 
students. In one of his posts, Tom Cunningham highlights a contemporary of Richard’s,
named Arthur Cecil Alport who happened to be a white South African.

Tom shares that there were apparently a large number of white South African students
studying medicine at Edinburgh University, in the years before the First World War.
Like the large number of Australian students there, they had a well-established 
social club on campus catering to these colonial elements. [https://www.ed.ac.uk/global/uncovered/1900/arthur-cecil-alport](https://www.ed.ac.uk/global/uncovered/1900/arthur-cecil-alport)

This seems a much more likely way for Richard to have a contingent of South African
friends, from the University rather than connections he might have made whilst fighting
in the Boer War, but I’m still intrigued to find out if he did serve.

The issue that intrigues me the most here is Richard’s timeline. He “_caps out”_
in December 1909, meaning that he had graduated with his degrees. I was trying to
find some information on what the general length of study was at the time for the
medical degree to see how that would fit with him serving in the Boer War, but I
could find nothing. The closest I got was that the University increased the length
of study for medicine from three to four years in 1833. This is seventy years before
Richard had presumably started. So assuming that it had increased in that time to
today’s 6 years of study that means Richard is enrolling in either 1903 or 1904.
We know that he arrived in the UK in 1898, so what had he been doing in those earlier
years? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Edinburgh_Medical_School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Edinburgh_Medical_School)

This is where I’m going to share some of the other information I discovered. Hold
on to the hypothesis about the Boer War for the moment, because I discovered why
Richard travelled out to the UK in 1898.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/epsom-college-
biographies-1890-1914.jpg?resize=922%2C360&ssl=1)

_Figure 53: Courtesy of Epsom College Archive _
[https://archive.epsomcollege.org.uk/1889-1914/OE_Biographies/1890-1914.pdf](https://archive.epsomcollege.org.uk/1889-1914/OE_Biographies/1890-1914.pdf)

This popped up after about twenty pages of Google results for Richard’s full name.
It just goes to show that you just need to keep scrolling sometimes. This is a listing
of past students for Epsom College and it confirms that Richard was there from 1898-
1900. We know from _Figure 28a7 _above that Richard and his sisters arrived in Southhampton
on 11th July 1898, so it must have been a mid-year semester start. I even found 
one enrolment registration for Richard that confirms the 1898 start date.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/epsom-college-
register-1905.jpg?resize=901%2C383&ssl=1)

_Figure 54: Courtesy of Epsom College, ePaper_ _accessed on yumpu.com_ 
[https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/49923078/1889-1914-epsom-college-archive-website](https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/49923078/1889-1914-epsom-college-archive-website)

I found this great little advert from the Civil and Military Gazette Lahore printed
on the 21st of June 1898, giving a great description of the College, confirming 
the mid-year intake, (this fits with Richard’s arrival just twenty days after this
article) and hinting at why Richard might be attending the college.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/civil__military_gazette_lahore_21_june_1898_0007_clip.
jpg?resize=1060%2C583&ssl=1)

_Civil_-Military_ Gazette Lahore, 21st June 1898_
_Figure 55: Courtesy of Find My
Past Website_

Epsom College was set up in 1855 by Dr John Propert as a direct result of the high
death rates experienced by Doctors in the early 19th century and the perilous financial
states of the widowed medical families. The idea was to educate the children of 
doctors who had died, provide support to the families and arrange housing for older
members of the medical profession. The college was given royal approval and opened
by Prince Albert and originally called The Royal Benevolent College. [https://www.epsomcollege.org.uk/about-us/our-history/](https://www.epsomcollege.org.uk/about-us/our-history/)

The College was able to provide this charitable support by encouraging potential
benefactors, mainly from the medical profession to contribute to the funds. [https://eehe.org.uk/?p=25022](https://eehe.org.uk/?p=25022)

I found some fantastic photos of the college that I’m sure would be recognisable
to Richard.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1863-college-from-
college-road.jpg?resize=1100%2C747&ssl=1)

_ The Royal Benevolent Society College (Epsom College) from College Road_, 1863__

_Figure 56: Courtesy of Epsom College _[https://www.epsomcollege.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1863-College-from-College-Road-scaled-1.jpg](https://www.epsomcollege.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1863-College-from-College-Road-scaled-1.jpg)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/epsom-college-
museum-and-library-1897.jpg?resize=1100%2C752&ssl=1)

_Epsom College, Museum and Library 1897 _
_Figure 57: Courtesy of Alamy.com _[https://www.alamy.com/epsom-college-museum-and-library-1897-image352534260.html](https://www.alamy.com/epsom-college-museum-and-library-1897-image352534260.html)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/epsom-college-
1930.jpg?resize=570%2C388&ssl=1)

_Epsom College 1930 _
_Figure 58: Courtesy of eBay UK _[https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325458329979](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325458329979)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/epsom-college.
jpg?resize=1100%2C753&ssl=1)

_Epsom College _
_Figure 59: Courtesy of eBay UK _[https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125753996353](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125753996353)

So now we can be confident in saying that Richard was sent to study at Epsom College
to get that specialist preparatory medical education in readiness for his medical
degree studies at Edinburgh University. The College had a reputation for developing
undergraduates with a high standard of education for medical courses. [https://eehe.org.uk/?p=25022](https://eehe.org.uk/?p=25022)

I can find no graduation notice for Richard from Epsom but we can assume that he
would have finished mid-1900. My next move was to see if I could find out when he
joined the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade. No luck with an attestation paper but
I did find a couple of mentions that give us a few dates to fill in on the timeline.

First off, let us take a closer look at that one and only Student Registration I
shared earlier for Richard at Edinburgh University, in what we can now confirm, 
was his nine years on campus.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/r-m-nicholson-
medical-student-reg-1904-1.jpg?resize=699%2C407&ssl=1)

_Figure 60: Courtesy of Ancesty.com_

Looking at this registration allows us to firm up a few of the details on the timeline.
We know from way back in _Figure 2_6 from the 1901 Census, that Richard was living
at 75 Morningside Road with the Mitchell family. If I’m reading the registration
correctly it looks like Richard was at this time completing a preliminary course
from October 1901 to October 1904 for his entrance into the Uni course. The actual
Uni degree he commenced on October the 18th 1904. This fits with his Medical Student
title on the Census.

This does lengthen the odds that Richard was a part of the troops serving in the
Boer war. The 1901 Census was taken on the evening of Sunday, March 31st so he would
have to have departed from South Africa, if he was there, at least three weeks before
this date to make it back in time for the census count. I saw a report discussing
the late arrival of the ship, the Majestic from Liverpool to the Cape in South Africa,
confirming the travel time between the two countries.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/glasgow_herald_01_january_1900_0006_clip.
jpg?resize=748%2C472&ssl=1)

_Glasgow Herald 1st of January 1900 _
_Figure 61: Courtesy of Find My Past_

Roughly seventeen days. I found one listing for an R Nicholson on a Boer War Registration
site that fit with the correct battalion that Richard most likely would have been
part of. The 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmn-possible-boer-
record.jpg?resize=1100%2C532&ssl=1)

_Figure 62: Courtesy of Casus-Belli_ 
[http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/](http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/)

Remember back in _Figure 38b_ Major-General Grierson confirms on the first page 
of the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade that they actually saw service in South Africa
from 1900 – 1901. This fits with what we know of Richard’s timeline.

I was also able to confirm that Richard’s volunteer brigade was part of the 1st 
Battalion that actually went to South Africa.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/glasgow_herald_13_january_1900_0006_clip.
jpg?resize=767%2C640&ssl=1)

_Glasgow Herald, 13 of January 1900_
_Figure 63: Courtesy of Find My Past_

I spent a couple of dollars and purchased the original medal records for this _R
Nicholson_ _(Figure 62)_ and it all but confirms that he wasn’t ours. He is noted
as a sergeant and my understanding is that Richard would have been a Cadet Recruit/
Private at this stage of his enlistment. His travel dates confirm that our Richard
could have possibly been there though. Departure to the Cape in June 1900 and departure
back to England in April 1901. So our Richard could definitely have been travelling
with this group of soldiers.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmn-possible-boer-
record-2.jpg?resize=1100%2C668&ssl=1)

_Figure 64: Courtesy of Casus-Belli _
[http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/](http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/)

It is a shame we can’t confirm if Richard was there but it is so interesting finding
out that some members of his brigade did see action in the Boer War.

Back to the other information I uncovered on Richard for the timeline. With this
next article, all I can say is, wow! What a moment in time for Richard to potentially
be involved in. The coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/edinburgh_evening_news_06_august_1902_0004_clip-
1.jpg?resize=1039%2C1843&ssl=1)

_Edinburgh Evening News, 6th August 1902 _
_Figure 65: Courtesy of Find My Past 
Website_

We had a name at least in this article. There, of course, is no way to be certain
that this is Richard, but we are close. I think the D in _D Nicholson_ is short 
for Dick, which is the shortened version of his name, Richard, and there is the 
4th Royal Scots, which we now know was Richard’s brigade.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/queen_alexandra_and_king_edward_vii_in_coronation_robes.
jpg?resize=614%2C634&ssl=1)

_King Edward VII & Queen Alexandra, Buckingham Palace, 9th August_ _1902, Coronation
Day _
_Figure 66: Courtesy of Wikimedia _[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Alexandra_and_King_Edward_VII_in_Coronation_Robes.JPG](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Alexandra_and_King_Edward_VII_in_Coronation_Robes.JPG)

It could be that Richard was somewhere in this crowd or somewhere along the route.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/coronation-parade-
9th-aug-1902.jpg?resize=730%2C1050&ssl=1)

_Coronation Parade 9th Aug 1902_ 
_Figure 67: Courtesy of AGE Fotostock_ [https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/the-royal-carriage-returning-from-westminster-abbey-on-coronation-day-of-king-edward-vii-1841-1910-london-england-august-9-1902/DAE-BA036807](https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/the-royal-carriage-returning-from-westminster-abbey-on-coronation-day-of-king-edward-vii-1841-1910-london-england-august-9-1902/DAE-BA036807)

There is no doubt that this next article is referring to Richard.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/london-gazette-
may-5-1903.jpg?resize=930%2C519&ssl=1)

_Figure 68: Courtesy of Find My Past Website_

And here he is two years later going up a rank to Lieutenant in July 1905.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/army_and_navy_gazette_15_july_1905_0021_clip.
jpg?resize=1038%2C289&ssl=1)

_Army and Navy Gazette 15 July 1905_
_Figure 69: Courtesy of Find My Past Website_

This next article was so out of left field for me. It mentions the wedding of Margaret
Fell Christy and Mr William Fletcher Boadle and the fact that Richard acted as best
man for William. Again there is no doubt that it is our Richard they are referring
to, which is great.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/boadle-christy-
wedding-1905-pg1.jpg?resize=694%2C622&ssl=1)

_Figure 70: Courtesy of_ _Find My Past website_

Here is a photo of the church the wedding took place in. It still stands today and
is now referred to as the cathedral.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/chelmsford-cathedral-
church-of-st.-mary-the-virgin-chelmsford-1920s.jpg?resize=1000%2C758&ssl=1)

_Chelmsford, Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Chelmsford, 1920s_ 
_Figure
71: Courtesy of British History Website_[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/essex/vol2/plate-23](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/essex/vol2/plate-23)

The reason this article was so out of left field for me, I recognised the name of
the groom, Boadle. I knew we had some Boadle’s as part of the family in Australia
but not in the UK. I started digging and you wouldn’t believe it they are the same.
William Boadle is the brother of this bloke below, John Boadle. The reason I have
a photo of John is that he is Richard’s Uncle, by marriage.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/58.jpg?resize=
183%2C302&ssl=1)

_Mr. John Boadle (Richard’s Uncle by Marriage) _
_Figure 72: Courtesy of the Macvean
Family Archives, Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

John married Richard’s Aunt, Mary (Molly) Macvean, sister to his mother Margaret.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mary-macvean-boadle1.
jpg?resize=480%2C766&ssl=1)

_Mary (Molly) Boadle, nee Macvean, (Richard’s Aunt) _
_Figure 73: Courtesy of the
Macvean Family Archives, Generously shared by Sally (Cousin)_

I just put in this small section of the family tree to help visualise. Richard was
best man to his mother’s brother-in-law’s brother. How the hell did this friendship
happen let alone develop to the point of Richard acting as best man for William,
who was 18 years his senior. Oh, I would love to uncover that long-lost story.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/boadle-macvean-
link.jpg?resize=897%2C262&ssl=1)

_Figure 74: Courtesy of Ancestry.com, The Macvean Cannon Family Tree_

The next article is a nice little example of army life at the time and gives us 
a bit more insight into what Richard was like as a person. We already have heard
him described as having a hearty laugh and being cheerful and now we know, he had
the confidence to act as an MC for a formal event such as this.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/r-m-nicholson-
mc-duties-1906.jpg?resize=435%2C472&ssl=1)

_Figure 75: Courtesy of_ _Find My Past website_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/masonic-hall-hill-
street-edinburgh.jpg?resize=1024%2C819&ssl=1)

_The Masonic Lodge on Hill Street Edinburgh_,_ 2013_
_Figure 75a: Courtesy of_ X
[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLHMMDJWUAgDdv6.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLHMMDJWUAgDdv6.jpg)

This lodge where Richard was MCing on the night of the 21st of November is reputed
to be the oldest Masonic lodge in the entire world. This building was erected in
the 1820s. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/10653630434](https://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/10653630434)

I was very lucky to find this next article considering that it just sort of finishes
things off nicely for us in terms of Richard’s military career.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/volunteer_service_gazette_and__24_april_1907_0014_clip-
1.jpg?resize=1100%2C586&ssl=1)

_Volunteer Service Gazette, 24th April 1907 _
_Figure 76: Courtesy of Find My Past
Website_

I wonder if it was the workload of his medical and surgical studies at this stage
of his degree that required Richard to give up on his Volunteering? He’d potentially
been serving for 6-8 years depending on just when he joined up.

This next article shows he obviously made the correct decision in resigning his 
commission, a pass in forensic medicine and public health in July 1908, the second
last year of his studies.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rmn-exam-results-
july-1908.jpg?resize=505%2C379&ssl=1)

_Figure 77: Courtesy of_ _Find My Past website_

I thought it would be great to see exactly where Richard was undertaking all this
study and found this amazing photo of the old Medical School at Edinburgh University.
I can just imagine Richard dashing through the gates there and up the boulevard 
to a lecture room.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/exterior-of-the-
university-of-edinburghs-old-medical-school.jpg?resize=1100%2C722&ssl=1)

_Exterior of the University of Edinburgh’s Old Medical School_, _by James Valentine_

_Figure 78: Courtesy of Wikimedia _[https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85547](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85547)

And here in this next article is the final payoff for Richard and all his hard work
since his enrolment in Epsom College back in 1898 and after a decade of study.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/edinburgh-evening-
news-17th-of-december-1909-1.jpg?resize=1006%2C1300&ssl=1)

_Edinburgh Evening News, 17th of December, 1909 _
_Figure 79: Courtesy of Find My
Past Website_

It is so sad to think that just three weeks after this notice was printed Richard
was dead and all that potential and future was gone. What heartbreak losing him 
like that must have been for his family, my family.

A fitting way to finish this post is to know that Richard is not resting alone in
St Cuthbert’s graveyard at Milburn. He is with his Grandparents, Sarah & William.
His two Uncles, James & William and three of his five Aunts. Ann, Margaret and Mary.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-graves-
1.jpg?resize=682%2C798&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts-graves-
2.jpg?resize=652%2C453&ssl=1)

_Figure 80: Courtesy of Find-A-Grave Website_

And they all lay at rest here in the grounds behind St Cuthbert’s church in Milburn,
a mile away from their ancestral farm Lownthwaite.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/st-cuthberts.jpg?
resize=1100%2C548&ssl=1)

_St Cuthberts, Milburn, Aug 2022 _
_Figure 81: Courtesy of Google Map Contributor
Steve Why_

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## Comments

### By: KAREN Tyler

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2023/12/29/dr-richard-macvean-nicholson-and-family/#comment-1018
- Published: 2023-12-31T15:45:59+11:00

Very sad story, but amazing photos.

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### By: John Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2023/12/29/dr-richard-macvean-nicholson-and-family/#comment-1019
- Published: 2023-12-31T17:37:22+11:00

Thanks Ms Kay, always grateful that you take the time to read and comment. Jx

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### By: Alex Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2023/12/29/dr-richard-macvean-nicholson-and-family/#comment-1020
- Published: 2023-12-31T18:05:36+11:00

A life lived to the full, supported and surrounded by family and friends. Wonderful
to have connected so many parts of Richard’s story from so many sources of shared
information. Great work!

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### By: John Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2023/12/29/dr-richard-macvean-nicholson-and-family/#comment-1021
- Published: 2024-01-01T10:09:12+11:00

Thanks as always, sweet. Couldn’t do it without your support. X

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