Fraser, Lieutenant Simon ( - 1845)
Date 2006/7/18 4:38:10 | Topic: Australian
| Lt. Simon Fraser arrived in Australia with the 80th Regiment of Foot on the convict transport Marquis of Hastings on 21 August 1839. As an officer he was accompanied by his wife, Margaret Smith MacLean and 10 children.
In 1840 he was stationed at Campbelltown where he served as a Magistrate and supervisor of the “Iron Gang” of convicts. He was responsible for much improvement to Campbelltown roads and completed the water reservoir commenced in 1838. When Regiment was transferred to Newcastle the residents of Campbelltown farewelled him with the following address on 28 December 1840.
Sir,
We the undersigned and resident in the township and vicinity of Campbelltown, on learning that you are speedily removed from this locality in which you have done much to merit our cordial esteem, cannot allow you to depart from amongst us without conveying to you a sense of the high estimation in which we regard your valuable services.
The reservious which you have appointed to complete, owing to your vigilance and judicious superintendence of the gang placed under your charge, have been completed with a rapidity which claims our admiration, and in a manner which cannot fail to ensure their permanent utility. The improvements also, which in a very short time, and with a small party of men, you have made in the principal street are equally creditable to you: whilst your mild but firm deportment as a Magistrate and your conscientious discharge of the public duties with which you have been entrusted, have endeared you to all classes of the community.
We beg leave therefore in expressing our regret at your departure, to assure you that you shall be long in our kindly remembrance, and trust our best wishes shall accompany you and your interesting family, to whatever part of the Territory you and they may be called.
We have the honour to be, Sir, Your humble and obedient servants – (signed by) | F. Allman, J.P. | William Howe, J.P. | | George Kemp, J.P. | R. Hope, M.D. | | W.R. Kenny, M.D. | G.C. Allman | | M. McAlister | George Harper | | H.R. Gilchrist, Rev. | J.J. Gould, Rev. | | T.C. Summer, Rev. | John Vincent, Rev. | | G.E. Burke | John McAlister |
Lt. Simon Fraser then made the following reply to the farewell address.
Gentlemen –
I sincerely than you for your very flattering address, with which you have been pleased to present me on the eve of my departure from your interesting town and neighbourhood, and accompanied as it is with your very kind expressions of regard towards myself and family.
Although I am aware that I am undeserving of the commendations which your partiality has bestowed on me, in consequence of my humble exertions in superintending the public words which you refer, yet it has been my anxious endeavour faithfully to discharge my official duties as well to my own satisfaction as in obedience to the intentions of my appointment: and it highly gratifying for me to know that my conduct has been such as to have secured for your approbation.
Irrespectively of this, however, I rejoice at the opportunity which you have thus publicly afforded me of acknowledging the uniform attention and kindness which I have experienced since I became a resident among you:, and of expressing the unfeigned regret which I now feel at our present separation.
With these sentiments, in which I am cordially joined by my family, believe me to be, Gentlemen, your very sincere and obedient servant.
S. FRASER
In 1844 the regiment was transported on the ship Enmore to Calcutta and Lt. Fraser was in command of the detachment. In 1845 he was promoted to Captain and was killed at the battle of Ferozeshah in the punjab in December 1845 while leading his company to the charge.
After his death his wife and children returned to NSW. His wife, Margaret and his eldest son, Alexander, are buried in Liverpool Pioneer Memorial Park and there are still his descendants living in the Campbelltown area.
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