Rediscovering Ginninderra:
James McLaughlin
Born: 1854
James McLaughlin was the son of Patrick McLaughlin and Isabella McMahon who migrated on the same ship from Ireland in 1841 and settled at Queanbeyan a few years later. They lived in Ginninderra in the 1850s and had 12 children, one of whom was James.
In 1890 James McLaughlin became the new licensee of the Cricketers' Arms hotel at One Tree Hill. He also operated a blacksmith's shop there in opposition to Alexander Warwick's workshop near Deasland. McLaughlin sold up in 1896 to Murrumbateman publican, Malachi Hollingsworth.
[with thanks to James' first cousin twice removed:
James was married; his wife was Elizabeth Mertan West from Adaminaby. They were married at Cooma in 1882. It appears that they separated about 1896, since in June of that year, James' publican's licence was renewed, but he sold the hotel very soon after. There were three children of the marriage, two of whom served in WWI. The family does not know what became of James after 1896.]
References
- Gillespie, L. L., Ginninderra: Forerunner to Canberra, Campbell, 1992
- Purchase, S. (ed.), Canberra's Early Hotels: a Pint-sized History, Canberra, 1999