The archive consists of a typescript transcription of dictated autobiography: At some point Mrs Andrews decided to dictate her autobiography, which is called The Story of my Life by Granny Campbell. The typescript was written down between 1904-1905 by one of her daughters who added a postscript in 1920 and another undated postscript later.
Barbara Andrews (nee Campbell) was the Wife of Canon Andrews of St Peter's Cathedral Adelaide.
Born on 8 Nov 1829 near Ben Nevis, she relates her early memories in Scotland, how her mother and father married and details of lineage of the Campbell's, and other family members. Her mother died of small pox and later her father lost his fortune through a boating accident. There was no insurance to cover any of the loss, so he decided that they would make a fresh start in Australia. She relates the long journey, where many people caught typhus on board ship and died. During this voyage Barbara's father died (Feb 1842) and then Barbara herself also became very ill. However, her and her sister Alice recovered and upon arrival in Australia stayed for a while with their Cousin Mac and brother John who had also come over on the ship. A second cousin of their father's Duncan Smith had come too and when he recovered from typhus, he went to stay with his brother in Tasmania as well as the ship's Doctor. Soon after an invitation came from Archibald Smith (Duncan's brother) for Alice and Barbara to stay with them. Instead of going back to England, Alice decided they should stay in Tasmania; only because Barbara realised Alice had a girls fancy for the ships Doctor. However, Alice married John Wallace and moved to Victoria. Archibald Smith died, and thereafter Barbara went to Launceston to stay with another second cousin of her father's Colin Nicol Campbell, when she was 16. She stayed for 9 months when John Wallace asked Barbara to stay with her sister and him in Victoria as their new house was built. The first baby Alice had only survived for four months, but later she had two more children. Barbara describes her staying with other relations during the following years. She also relates her feelings for Mr Edward White, whom she met whilst he was surveying the boundary line between Southern Australia and Victoria. Eventually he moved when the job was completed, but they met up later at a dinner party. However Barbara realised that William Wallace (John's brother) had schemed against Barbara seeing Edward White again because he wanted to marry her himself. Barbara decided then to live with her brother John away from the Wallace's. Eventually Barbara tried to see Edward White, but he died before she was able. On this day however, Canon Andrews travelled to Australia where she met him and eventually married him.