George Grey Sutherland's book

One of the stories which had touched me the most has been that of the children of Nathaniel and Marion Sutherland, five or six of whom, aged between 13 months and 16 years, all died of diptheria in April and May 1861.  

The last child to die was George Grey Sutherland.  Probably named for Governor George Grey, George Grey Sutherland was born in January 1852 and died aged just 9 years 4 months on 24 May 1861 at Mr Robert Stokes' residence, Woolcombe Street, Wellington.

As a result of this blog, I received emails from a gentleman, Simon, who had come into possession of a Victorian children's book and had wondered what had become of the child to whom the book belonged - George Grey Sutherland.

Simon contacted me and has sent the following photos of the book.  He commented that he wondered how the book had survived so well (it is inscribed with George's name and the date - 21 December 1859), but that George's tragic premature death explained that.

Following are some photos of the book which George would have received when he was only around 8 years old, just eighteen months before his death:

Thanks very  much to Simon for sharing this little gem.  

Gregor McGregor and family

Gregor McGregor (1818 - 19 May 1876) of Smithfield, Wanganui married Catherine Fraser (4 January 1914) (daughter of Duncan and Marjorie Fraser) on 6 November 1841.  According to his obituary, he had eight sons and six daughters at the time of his death.  As best as I can ascertain at this point, they were as follows:

1. Helen McGregor (1842 - 10 March 1876) married Isaac Sargeant (variously spelled Sargeant or Sarjeant) (1838 - 1907) of Fernie lea in 1865.  Isaac was a widower with two daughters:
   A. Louisa Sargeant married John James Tylee (son of John James and Mary Rickett Tylee nee Bowman) (1854 - 1937)  in 1881
   B. Rosa Marion "Marion" Sargeant (1859 - 1957) married Arthur James Stewart Seaton (1853 - 1918) in 1880 
Isaac and Helen had six children, including:
   1.1 Isaac William Henry Sargeant (1867)
   1.2 Annie Victoria Sargeant (1870)
   
   1.3 Edgar Munro Sarjeant (1872 - 1942) married Jessie McLeod (1875 - 1957) in 1896.  The family lived at Denlair, Fordell.
      1.3.1 Eric Keith Sarjeant (1897 - 1963).  Eric served in WWI, enlisting in July 1917.
      1.3.2 Evan Sarjeant (1898 - 1922)
      1.3.3 Henry Lyall Sargeant (1899 - 1966) married Myrtle Richardson in 1925.
         1.3.3.1 Henry Lyall Jennings Sarjeant (1927 - 1950)
      1.3.4 Edgar Sarjeant (11 December 1903 - 1985) married Gertrude Smith in 1926.
      1.3.5 Isaac Sarjeant (28 March 1906 - 1982)
      1.3.6 Archibald  Stuart Sargeant (2 September 1908 - 1974)
      1.3.7 Roderick Leslie Sargeant (1910 - 27 June 1942).  Killed during WWII

Following Helen's death Isaac eventually married Eliza Mary Ellis (second daughter of Thomas Ellis, Primrose Farm, Kai Iwi) (1857 - 3 August 1918,  Dunedin) on 5 March 1884, at her father's residence.  They didn't have any children.    Coincidentally, Alister's relative Archibald Sutherland sued Isaac Sargeant for 110 pounds, and it was reported in the Wanganui Herald on 14 October 1902.  Archibald's brother Nathaniel and Isaac had been married to sisters - Catherine and Helen respectively.

2. John McGregor (1843 - 1916) married Christian/a McDonald McGregor (adopted daughter of a different John McGregor of Cherry Bank) (1850 - 1893) on 15 February 1871 by Rev. Hogg at her father's residence.
   2.1 John Boyd McGregor (1872) married Grace Mary Crespin in 1907
      2.1.1 Gordon Paterson McGregor (1908 - 1908).  Died as a two day old infant.
      2.1.2 Christina Rahwinia Boyd McGregor (1909)
   2.2 Rob Roy McGregor (1873 - 1893, Thames)
   2.3 Charles James McGregor (1875)

   2.4 Christian McDonald "Girlie" McGregor (1877) married David Fleming on 19 December 1906 at St Paul's Church, Wanganui by Rev. Ryburn.

   2.5 NR McGregor (1878)

   2.6 Ada Mary McGregor (1882 - 1957) married Adam Wilkie (4th son of Daniel Wilkie of Waitotara) in July 1901

   2.7 Flora Catherine McGregor (1887) married Frank Oswald Victor Acheson (son of Robert and Annie Sinclair Acheson nee Allan) (27 June 1887 - 25 March 1948) in 1910.  Frank became a well known Land Court Judge.

   2.8 Kenneth Alexander McGregor (1890 - 1918)

   2.9 Eliza Lennetta McGregor (7 July 1892 - 1977).  Probably brought up outside her immediate family given her mother's death while she was merely a baby, and also noting that she is not included in the action taken by her surviving siblings against their father in 1911.  

Following Christiana's death, John then married for the second time to Florence Ann Beaver (1871 - 1958) (eldest daughter of the late Charles Beaver of Nelson) on 5 May 1896
   2.10 Harry Douglas "Douglas" McGregor (1897)
   2.11 Helen Cathrine McGregor (1903)
   2.12 Doris McGregor (1906)
   2.13 Ian McGregor (1908 - 1908).  Died aged just three days.

John McGregor's obituary was published in the Hawera & Normanby Star on 5 April 1916:

OBITUARY.

ME JOHN McGREGOR.

One of Wanganui's best-known personalities, a man, indeed (says the Chronicle) whose sterling qualities were known and appreciated by settlers all over the southern half of this island, passed away yesterday in the person of Mr John McGregor.

The deceased gentleman, who was in his 73rd year, came of that good pioneer stock of which New Zealand has reason to be so proud. His father, the late Mr Gregor McGregor, came to New Zealand in the ship Blenheim, and had the honor of being one of the first colonists to land in Wellington, in which city his son John, now deceased, was born. Except for a few years in his childhood's days, Mr John McGregor has spent his life in this district, and became intimately associated with the well-known Cherry Bank property.

At the outbreak of the native trouble in the Taranaki district, Mr McGregor, though at that time only a lad of sixteen, went up to "do his bit," and he remained in close touch with the stirring times until the war was ended. Today two of his sons are serving with the Colors, one, Kenneth, having gone to the front with the Sixth Reinforcements, and his youngest son, Douglas, having just sailed with the Eleventh Reinforcements.

The deceased, whose passing makes another gap in the dwindling ranks of our oldest and most esteemed settlers, was noted for his strict integrity, and his death will be sincerely regretted by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. He was twice married, and is survived by a grown-up family of three sons and four daughters by his first wife, and by one son and two daughters of his second marriage.

3. James McGregor

4. Duncan McGregor (24 October 1845, NSW - August 1923) married Annie Norah Smith (1846 - 1924) in 1869 by Rev Hogg.
   4.1 Marjory McGregor (1870 - 1943) married William Stobie (1872 - 1935) in 1892.  Lived in Takaka.
      4.1.1 Cecil William Stobie (23 November 1892 - 28 August 1960)  married Charlotte Hunter (daughter of James and Charlotte Hunter) (1895 - 1959) on 23 April 1925 at the Presbyterian Church in Reefton
         4.1.1.1 Charlotte Rona Stobie (19 October 1926, Takaka)
      4.1.2 Gerald Leslie McGregor Stobie (1894 - 26 August 1918, France)  Gerald was killed in WWI.
      4.1.3 Duncan Geoffrey John "Geoffrey" Stobie (1897 - 1930) married Eliza Annie Stent in 1922.  Geoffrey Stobie was known for cartoons he drew while he was away at war.  These can be viewed here. 
      4.1.4 Errol Roy Stobie (1901 -1952) married Daisy Coral Barnett (daughter of Frank Burleigh and Emma Barnett nee Moulder, who had married in 1888) (1902 - 1971) in 1923
   4.2 Gregor McGregor (14 July 1872 - 27 May 1944, Wellington) married Emily Eleanor Chubbin (1868 - 1935) on 21 April 1897
      4.2.1 Eric Watkins McGregor (4 December 1898 - 1979) married Ada Ramsbottom (elder daughter of Thomas and Bertha Ramsbottom nee Mudd in 1900 - poor Bertha Mudd went from one not so glorious name to another one!!!!) (1902) in 1929
      4.2.2 Douglas Stewart McGregor (7 February 1900 - 1982)
      4.2.3 Annie Emily Margaret McGregor (12 November 1903 - 22 May 1994) married Gifford Milne Hughes (third son of Joseph Daniel and Margaret Ann Hughes nee Milne, who had married in 1889) (7 September 1898 - 18 Decmber 1976) in 1931.   They lived around Patea/Hawera.  Gifford and Annie are buried at the Patea Presbyterian Cemetery.
         4.2.3.1 Stillborn Baby Hughes (1932) Buried in Patea.  
         4.2.3.2 Joseph Gifford Hughes (1932 - 28 January 1956).  Joseph is also buried in Patea.
      4.2.4 Jean Fraser McGregor (12 January 1910 - 1977).  Never married.
   4.3 Roy McGregor (1875) married Emma Louisa Davy (1875 - 1927) in 1908
      4.3.1 Theodora Annie McGregor (1909 - 1970) Never married.
      4.3.2 Ellen Mysie McGregor (22 August 1911 - 21 September 2009) married Robert William Lewis (elder son of Norman John and Beryl Florence Lewis nee Kitney) (25 March 1910 - 12 July1982) on 30 November 1938

5. Catherine McGregor (12 April 1853 - 12 April 1920) (3rd daughter) married Nathaniel Sutherland (17 April 1847 - 15 September 1931) on 8 January 1874.  For their family, see here.

6. Gregor McGregor (1856 - April 1942) married Te Pura Manihera in 1879.  Lived at Te Mawae, 129 Harrison Street, Wanganui
   6.1 Gregor Duncan McGregor (1880) married Mary Elisabeth Bremnan in 1908
   6.2 Mary Jane Rawinia "Lena" McGregor (1884 - 17 December 1910)

7. Marjory McGregor married Hugh Calders (1848 - 1904) on 18 December 1873 at her father's residence by Rev. John Elmslie.
   7.1 Mabel Venus Calders (1875) married Ernest Lovell Soundy (1874 - 1929) in 1901
   7.2 Helen Blanche Calders (1876) married John Morrison in 1900
   7.3 Hugh McGregor Calders (1879 - 1906) 
   7.4 William Fox Hampson "Hampson" Calders (1883 - 1924)
   7.5 Kathleen Hilda Marjory Calders (22 June 1885 - 1973) married Stephen Barker Williams (1879 - 1947) in 1913
   7.6 Marion Rita Calders (10 February 1892 - 1980) married Harold Varnham Halse (1884 - 1935) on 26 June 1909 in Greymouth
      7.6.1 Marjorie Varnham Halse (10 November 1910 - 1999) married Mr Wilson.  Marjorie graduated from Otago University in 1933 with an M.A.

8. Jane McGregor (1849) married Gregor McLeod (1836 - 1896) in April 1871
   8.1 Jessie McLeod (1875 - 1957) married her first cousin Edgar Munro Sarjeant (1872 - 1942) in 1896.  See 1.3 above for details of their family.
   8.2 Catherine Helen McLeod (1881) 
   8.3 Georgina Cowan McLeod (1884 - 1946) married Charles James Burr (1880 - 1959) in 1912
   8.4 Nathaniel Archibald McLeod (1885 - 1967) married Clytie Anderson Bambler (17 August 1888 - 1974) in 1913
   8.5 Margery Matilda McLeod (1888 - 1957)

9. Alexander McGregor married Alice Handley (eldest daughter of William Handley of Nukumaru) on 20 October 1890. or married Mary ? (1847 - 7 March 1910)

10. Matilda McGregor (1864 - 20 October 1894) married Angus Macintosh of Mars Hill in 1891.

11. Mary McGregor (1865)

12. Donald McGregor (1869)

Two more sons??

Mrs Gregor McGregor Snr died on 4 January 1914, and the Wanganui Chronicle reported the following day:

MRS GREGOR McGREGOR.

Another of our sterling pioneers passed away yesterday in the person, of Mrs Gregor McGregor, senior. The deceased lady was born in Invernessshire in 1823, and came out to New Zealand in the ship Blenheim, landing at Wellington on December 27th, 1840. Mr. Gregor McGregor, to whom she was married in Wellington two years later, accompanied her on the voyage out. When the Maori war broke out in 1845 Mr Gregor McGregor took his wife and then two children to New South Wales for safety, returning to Wellington in 1849 when the country became more settled.

In 1851 Mr McGregor, with the late Mr Wilson and Captain Daniels, left Wellington on foot. The two latter held scrip from the New Zealand Company, and selected suitable areas at Bulls and at Turakina respectively. Mr McGregor remained some years with Mr Wilson at Turakina and then came on to the Matarawa Valley, where he purchased a farm and settled with his wife and family, subsequently adding to the Matarawa property and acquiring other properties in the Wanganui district. Mr McGregor, who was also a native of Invernessshire, where he was born in 1818, predeceased his wife, passing away in 1876.

For some years past the late Mrs McGregor had resided in Wanganui, spending in peace and quietude the latter years of a strenuous and useful life. A family of five sons and four daughters survive.

Marion and Nathaniel Sutherland Snr 1841 - 1905

Alister's Great Great Great Grandmother was Marion Sutherland, formerly Waters nee Thomason (Thomson or Thompson).  We know from her obituary, which appeared in the Evening Post on 28 October 1905 and was reproduced in the Wanganui Chronicle four days later, she was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 3 July 1815.  She was apparently from a "well known Scottish family".


Marion apparently came to New Zealand on the ship Slains Castle in 1841, arriving in the Port of Wellington.  It seems likely that she arrived in New Zealand with her husband John Waters and that he died not long after arrival in Wellington.  John's premature death left her a young widow with three children:


1. John Waters born 21 July 1835 and baptised on 9 August 1835 in Haddington 
2. Janet "Jessie" Waters born 28 September 1837 and baptised on 19 October 1837 in Haddington
3. Christina Waters born 3 January 1840 and baptised on 26 January 1840 in Haddington.   Christina was Alister's Great Great Grandmother.


Marion's obituary records that at the time of her death in 1905 her four surviving children were:

1. Mr John Waters of Wellington
2. Mrs James Bertram (Christina) of Devonport
3. Mr Nathaniel Sutherland, sheep farmer of Fordell, Wanganui
4. Mr Archibald Sutherland, sheep farmer of Fordell, Wanganui

Marion's daughter Jessie married Simon Tutchen, and predeceased her mother, dying in 1902.


The obituary also records that she left a total of 34 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren!  


According to the New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, as published on 12 October 1844, on 10 October 1844 Nathaniel Sutherland married Marion Thomson, widow of John Waters.   The notice records that both Nathaniel and Marion hailed from Edinburgh and that they were married by Rev. J. Macfarlane, First Minister of the Scotch Church.  At the time of marriage, Nathaniel was listed as being a printer.  Nathaniel had arrived in New Zealand on the SS Jane in 1841.


Marion and Nathaniel had a number of children together:


1. Marion Sutherland born 1844 died aged 16 years died 3 May 1861, buried 4 May 1861


2. Daughter born 1845 died 1846 of "brain disease."


3. Nathaniel Sutherland Jnr. born 27 April 1847


4. Archibald Sutherland born 30 September 1849


5. George Grey Sutherland born January 1852 died  aged 9 years 4 months on 24 May 1861 


6. Donald McLeod Sutherland born 23 July 1854 died aged 6 years on 28 April 1861


7. Robert Stokes Sutherland born 1857 aged 4 years died 6 May 1861


8. Margaret Sutherland born 1860 died aged 13 months died in May 1861 


According to the cemetery records there were two more children "FS" aged 3 years, buried 25 May 1861, meaning the child was likely born around 1858, and "E" - age unknown, buried 27 May 1861.  However, now I suspect that those records are not correct, and that possibly the children buried there are other relatives or are mistakes.  That five children (Marion, George, Donald, Robert and Margaret) died of diptheria in 1861, is confirmed by a letter which Nathaniel Sutherland descendant Murray Sutherland has - it is a poem written by a Mrs Watson for Mrs Sutherland, on the death of her "five children".  



There is an early record of a two year old daughter of Nathaniel Sutherland, dying of "brain disease" in 1846.  This will need to be further researched and confirmed.  I did read somewhere that Christina had had a sister die early in the 1840s, so that may relate to this child.


Five of a total of ten children born to Marion Sutherland, died of diptheria in April/May 1861.  One can scarcely imagine how devastating it must have been for the couple to have gone from a busy, bustling home full of small children, to be left with two young sons only, and an older son and daughter.  All the children were buried in the Bolton Street Cemetery in Wellington.


A very early settler; Nathaniel took part in many aspects of the community - he was a signatory on an historical letter of condolence sent by local settlers from the Wellington area to the Nelson settlement following the Wairau Massacre in 1843.  The letter is dated 11 July 1843.  He was also a shareholder in the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company, and in February 1867 gave evidence, along with others, in the embezzlement trial of a former NZSN accountant, Frederick George Janes.


According to Nathaniel's obituary which appeared in the Manawatu Standard on 4 August 1883:


"The death is announced of Mr Nathaniel Sutherland, who arrived in Wellington on the barque Jane in 1841.  He was one of the original land purchasers under the New Zealand Company and came with the intention of settling on his land; but owing to the disturbed state of the country, he remained in Wellington, where he followed his trade as printer.  


He was engaged on the NZ Colonist, and afterwards, in connection with Mr R.Stokes, on the NZ Spectator until its collapse.  


Of late years deceased suffered greatly from rheumatism, which kept him very much at home, but he was always cheerful and contented.  He seemed in his usual health until Monday last, when he caught cold, and about 11 o'clock last night, quietly passed away, at his residence Pipitea Street at the age of 77 years old.  He leaves a widow and two sons who are settled in the Wangaehu district.  Deceased was highly respected by all who knew him for his kindly and obliging manner and his honest and sterling qualities."


Note the mention of an "R.Stokes" this is likely Robert Stokes a prominent figure in the lower North Island during the period.  This may well explain the naming of one of Marion and Nathaniel's ill fated sons, Robert.  Equally,  the naming of similarly ill fated son George after Governor George Grey - they obviously named after figures they respected at the time.  There was obviously a close relationship between Nathaniel Sutherland and Robert Stokes, as the obituary of young George Grey Sutherland, who died on 21 May 1861, records that he died at Mr Stokes' residence, Woolcombe Street, Wellington.


Until their deaths, both Nathaniel and Marion lived at their home in Pipitea Street, Wellington.  Given his age of 77 at death, Nathaniel must have been born around 1806.  Marion outlived her second husband by 22 years, dying aged 90, on 27 October 1905.


Although Nathaniel Sutherland was Christina Waters' step-father, he must have essentially been the only father she knew.  It is clear that there must have been something of a fond relationship between them as she named her youngest son, Alister's Great Grandfather, Nathaniel, although he was always known as Herbert, this must have been as a mark of respect to Nathaniel Snr., therefore, Nathaniel wasn't a direct ancestor of my husband, but was his Gr Gr Grandmother's stepfather.


Both Nathaniel Snr and Marion were buried with their six young children in the Bolton Street Cemetery.


Here is a photo taken of the Sutherland Family Plot at the cemetery before it was dismantled to make way for the Wellington Motorway in the 1960s:

Thanks to correspondence with Ethne Holt, I've come to understand that Nathaniel was the son of Donald Sutherland and Isabel McLeod.  Ethne is a descendant of Daniel Sutherland, Nathaniel's brother.  There were also three other siblings - John, Margaret and Isabella.


John Sutherland seems to have lived, at least for some time, in the Pipitea house with Nathaniel and Marion and the children.  John was a carpenter and died on 25 August 1865 at the Pipitea house at the age of 47.  At the time, Nathaniel was working in the Spectator office.