In my post “Van Cooten Jail Keeper”, I talk about finding a reference to H. Van Cooten, Keeper of the County Prison in Berbice, in the application of Alexander Cameron for a position in the Public Service of Queensland.

Who was Alexander Cameron? From the letters he implies that he was born in Berbice, and arrived in Australia in 1854. He had worked as a clerk and book-keeper in an extensive mercantile enterprise, eventually becoming a partner. He held a number of official positions in the colony, before moving to Moreton Bay (Queensland) upon the advice of his father. He initially was engaged in farming at Redbank, but this ultimately was unsuccessful.

His obituary of June 18, 1881 says:

Mr. Alexander Cameron, an old resident of this town, died on Thursday morning last. Though he had been ailing for some considerable time, and was confined to his bed, his death was rather sudden. He had for many years, suffered from chronic rheumatism, particularly at intervals during the past eight years ; but for the last fifteen months he has been confined to his bed, and suffered very much. The deceased gentleman held the post of secretary to the Ipswich Hospital for over thirteen years, and evidently stood high in the estimation of the committee, as we ourselves are in a position to testify. With this exception of attending committee meetings at which his son Mr. C. C. Cameron, took his place the work of the office was performed by him up to the day of his death—in fact, he did a little clerical work only a few hours before he passed away. Mr. Cameron was sixty-nine years of age, and had been in the colony twenty-seven years, most of which time he spent in Ipswich. He commanded the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, many of whom followed his remains to the cemetery yesterday morning.²

A photo and pen portrait of Alexander’s son Charles Christopher, says:

The above is a portrait of Cr. Charles Christopher Cameron, who, on Wednesday last, was unanimously re-elected chairman of the Ipswich Traffic Board. Cr. Cameron is well and favourably known in Ipswich business circles, and in connection with local government. He is a native of New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana, South America, where he was born on the 13th September, 1840. His father was Mr. Alexander Cameron (eldest son of Mr. John Cameron, of Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis in the highlands of Scotland), and his mother a daughter of Count Matthias von Rodder, of Bavaria. Five or six years of his early life Cr. Cameron spent in England, Jersey, and France, at school, and when still a boy, came with his parents to Australia, arriving in Ipswich, via Sydney, in July, 1854. Ipswich was then in its infancy, and did not possess a single school!³

The obituary of Alexander Cameron’s son Glen gives further information:

Mr. GLEN CAMERON died at his residence, Eagle-terrace, Sandgate, on June 1, in his 78th year. He was born at British Guiana, South America, in 1849, his father being Mr. Alexander Cameron, the eldest son of Mr. John Cameron, of Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis, in the Highlands of Scotland, and his mother a daughter of Count Matthias von Rodder, of Bavaria. With his family, Mr. Glen Cameron came to Queensland in the ship Panthea, landing in Brisbane on July 25, 1854, he being then five years of age.

His uncle, Mr. D. Cameron, was on what was then Tarampa station, but the family settled at Ipswich. Mr. Glen Cameron was educated there at the Grammar School, and having been intended for the Bar was preparing to go to the Sydney University, but the smash of the old Queensland Bank occurred, and his father was a heavy loser.⁴

Fox’s History of Queensland⁵ contains similar information in the biographical sketch of Pearson Welsby Cameron, first mayor of Greater Ipswich, and his father, Charles Christopher Cameron, son of Alexander.

The Australian Clan Cameron web site details Alexander Cameron’s family.

Lola Tarnawski’s book on the Cameron family⁸ (from which the photograph of Alexander and Ellen is taken) makes no mention of Alexander obtaining an appointment to the Public Service, and that he was an accountant. I can find no other mention in the Colonial Secretary’s correspondence of him being appointed, nor to the circumstances of his appointment as Secretary to the Ipswich Hospital.

1. Tarnawski, L. U. (1984). Camerons of southeast Queensland: commemorating 130 years of life in Australia (p. 32) [Review of Camerons of southeast Queensland: commemorating 130 years of life in Australia]. Private.
2. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (1881, June 18). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 – 1908), p. 5. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122869112
3. No Title (1911, March 4). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), p. 14 (DAILY). Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11208616
4. Death of Mr. Glen Cameron. (1927, June 9). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 – 1939), p. 4. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25296964
5. Fox, Matthew J (1923). The history of Queensland : its people and industries : an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations : an epitome of progress. Brisbane: States Publishing Company. Volume 1c, page 462 – https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:216975/AU4021_Foxs_History_Queensland_1c.pdf?dsi_version=1f4d523d5d66402681f6dafefb93a417
6. Family Notices (1881, June 23). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 – 1908), p. 2. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12286900
7. Family Notices (1887, June 23). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 – 1908), p. 5. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122820513
8. Tarnawski, L. U. (1984). Camerons of southeast Queensland: commemorating 130 years of life in Australia (p. 32) [Review of Camerons of southeast Queensland: commemorating 130 years of life in Australia]. Private.