27 November 1859 13 Brisbane Street Launceston Tasmania Australia Caroline Katherine Russell formerly Tynte-Browne Not known

David Russell Ritchie was born on 27 Nov 1859, the eldest son of David Ritchie (1829-1920), flour miller, and Mary Amelia Anstice who were married on 17 Jan 1856. David senior was the fifth child of Captain Thomas Ritchie RN, master of the Greyhound, and his then mistress Hannah Harris, whom he had smuggled out of Sydney in 1819 without the Governor's permission. Captain Ritchie settled on a land grant at Perth, Tasmania, which he named 'Scone'. Mary Anstice was the daughter of Edmund Anstice, schoolmaster, and Eliza Hephzibah Dowsett.

David was christened at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Evandale, on 9 May 1860. He was educated at the Launceston Church Grammar School and in 1877, at the age of 18, entered the flourmilling business carried on by his father in Launceston. About nine years later he was taken into partnership and the firm became known as D Ritchie and Son.

David married a widow, Caroline (Lina) Russell, at the Trinity Church, East Melbourne, on 27 Apr 1911. Lina was the eldest daughter of Justin Browne, and granddaughter of Rev. WH Browne. David died at his residence 12 Lyttleton Street, Launceston, on 22 Jun 1926 and was buried at Carr Villa in Section B1 No. 117. Caroline died on 7 Jun 1963 aged 94. David's older sister Amelia Hobkirk, his younger sister Jessie, seven brothers and three Ritchie cousins are all pictured in the Family Album.

Sally Vandenberg Jun 2008