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Mathew Adam - teacher , pastor and friend
Mathew Adam , Windsor ’ s first Presbyterian Minister , served his congregation for over 20 years and was remembered at his death , almost 160 years ago , for his qualities as a teacher , pastor and friend .
Mathew Adam was born in 1811 in Kilbarchan in Scotland , the son of James Adam , hand loom weaver , and wife Janet Clark . The village of Kilbarchan is about 25kms west of Glasgow , and was known for its weaving industry .
In 1836 , the Scottish born Presbyterian minister and politician , Rev John Dunmore Lang , returned to Scotland to encourage clergy and teachers to migrate to Australia . He inspired twelve Presbyterian ministers and successfully encouraged “ destitute Scottish Highlanders … to request government assisted passages ” to the colony .
At Greenock , a port city on the Firth of Clyde on Scotland ’ s west coast , Mathew Adam boarded the ship , Portland , in July 1837 with about 300 other migrants , arriving in Sydney in December 1837 . Also on this voyage was George Walker , his wife Elizabeth and family . George was teacher and the father of solicitor and politician William Walker . The Walker family became lifelong friends with Mathew and his extended family .
Shortly after Mathew ’ s arrival , he was employed as a private tutor in Parramatta for the children of politician and farmer Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur , the nephew of entrepreneur John Macarthur .
Less than 12 months after his arrival , Mathew was ordained to preach and it was noted he was a “ very promising preacher and will prove a valuable acquisition to the people ”.
Following his ordination , Mathew was appointed to Windsor and at the time services were held in the Court House . An appeal was established to raise funds to build a church in Windsor and it took several years to complete .
In 1842 it was reported that the brick church was almost complete except for the pews and a few minor details but funding was scarce . The church , known as Scots Church , was built on the corner of George and Christie Street and finally opened in January 1843 .
As well as his ministry , Mathew established a private school for boys , first
Scots Presbyterian Church , corner of George and Christie Streets , Windsor . Courtesy State Library of NSW .
in Mileham Street and then later moved to ‘ Fairfield ’ in 1845 , in the grand house originally owned by the Cox family .
He tutored a number of high profile Hawkesbury residents including politician Henry Moses 1832 – 1926 , solicitor and politician William Walker 1828 – 1908 and astronomer John Tebbutt 1834 – 1916 .
Mathew married Agnes Hutchinson at Windsor in 1859 . Agnes was a widow with several children and was previously married to Archibald Hutchinson who died in 1854 . Agnes was from an interesting family , she was also from Scotland , born in 1826 , daughter of Thomas and Catherine Cadell . She arrived with her parents and siblings in 1832 and her family established the brewery in Windsor in the 1840s .
Mathew wasn ’ t the only person in his family to migrate . His sister married into the Dick family and five nieces and nephews eventually followed him to the Antipodes as well as other family members .
Some of Mathew ’ s correspondence to his family in Scotland survives . His letters show he was keen for family to migrate and make the most of the available opportunities in Australia . In a letter dated 1857 to his brother , he wrote :
‘ this is the place for active and intelligent young men getting on if they make up their minds to put up with hardships at the first ’.
In 1860 he questioned his nephew James :
‘ Please let me know how you are employed . What salary do you receive ? What kind of employment would you like to be engaged in ? And whether you would wish to come to this country ? Write me freely what you would wish to be and if I can be of any assistance to you I will be most happy to give you all the encouragement in my power ’
Mathew was involved with the overall operation of the Presbyterian Church , and in 1857 held the position of Moderator of the Synod of Australia . He also had an interest in the charitable work of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and was a member for over 20 years . He died unexpectedly in January 1863 , aged 52 years .
His demise occurred on the same day the first sod was officially turned at Windsor ,
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for the Blacktown-Richmond railway line . Coincidently he is buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery , not far from the Railway Station in Windsor .
Mathew was highly regarded by his flock , as well as his students . They erected a plaque in the Presbyterian Church , however , when this church was demolished in the 1960s , the plaque was moved to the Scots Uniting Church in Fitzgerald Street , Windsor .
His wife Agnes died in 1911 aged 84 years and is buried with her husband . The couple had two children , Mary born in 1859 and James in 1861 . Sadly Mathew died when they were young , leaving Agnes once again a widow .
Little is known of Mary , other than a memorial in the Windsor Presbyterian Cemetery . It records she died at Poona , India , in 1883 when she was 23 . James was well educated then served as an apprentice for a leading Sydney architect and engineering firm .
In 1883 he was a student at the Royal Indian Engineering College in Surrey , where he trained as a civil engineer for service in the Indian Public Works Department , coming top in his year . He spent much of his life working overseas , and was married twice . He died in 1934 aged 72 and is also buried at Windsor .
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10 ISSUE 144 // MAY 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT