Seduced by the Colonial Bounty Scheme, my great-gandfather Finlay Clibrig, his wife Kate and their 3 children left Cromarty on 26th September 1838 on the ship "Lady MacNaghten", to take up a position in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales as farm manager for Scottish-born Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson - surgeon, magistrate, explorer, botanist, shipwreck survivor, introducer of honey bees to the colony, fellow of the Royal Botanic Society and, following a land grant by the Colonial Government in 1862 in recognition of his exploration in the "Western Part of New Holland", the Laird of Braidwood farm.
Finlay was one of three Scottish settlers who gained grants of land on the boundary of Braidwood Farm following Dr Wilson's death.
Finlay lived there until his death at the age of 80 years on 5th February 1873, having never returned to his Highland home.
"Weep sore for him that goes away, for he shall return no more, nor see his native land"
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