John MacKay, aged 52, and six younger MacKays were included together at the end of the initial passenger list for the Blenheim and in the subsequent lists. It has been assumed that they were a family:
Little information has been found about this family apart from John MacKay junior. The family came from Skye.
In Poyntzfield, Margaret McKenzie’s reminiscences include references to the McKays living at Kaiwarra in the late 1840s – a playmate named Flora McKay, and “the death of Hector McKay’s little half-caste boy…”
Lists of persons qualified to serve as jurors in the district of Port Nicholson in 1845, 1848-1850 include Donald McKay, Kai Warra Road, carpenter and labourer (1848), and John McKay, Kai Warra Road (Porirua Rd in 1849), labourer, up to 1849, with Lachlin McKay, Kai Warra Road, labourer, also listed for 1848-1849.
John MacKay Snr
John McKay, senior, was described as a shepherd of 52 on the Blenheim passenger list, and is likely to have come from the Isle of Eigg, to the south of Skye.
No further information has been established for John MacKay.
John McKay Jnr
John McKay was described as a shepherd of 28 on the Blenheim passenger list, indicating a birth year of around 1812.
John McKay married Rachael McQuarrie, also a passenger on the Blenheim (see Donald McQuarrie and Margaret McEachern). In a letter to her sister Isabella, written from Petone on 8 November 1841, Jessie Campbell says, “My Skye servant has got married, she was so plain looking I thought I was sure to have her for some time. Her husband is a smart good looking young man who came out in the Blenheim from Skye.”
On the Blenheim passenger list Rachael McQuarrie was described as a housemaid and cook, aged 27, and featured frequently in Jessie Campbell’s Journal as “my Skye servant”.
New Zealand BDM registration records that John McKay, agricultural labourer, formerly of the island of Egg, and Rachael McQuarrie, daughter of Donald McQuarrie parish of Bracadale, Isle of Skye, now of Port Nicholson, were married on 11 August 1841. The celebrant was John McFarlane, Minister.
New Zealand BDM records indicate that a Christian MacKay was born on 9 October 1849 to Rachel and John MacKay.
It seems likely that John and Rachael McKay moved to Turakina at some point.
According to New Zealand BDM records, a Rachael MacKay died on 17 August 1855, although the registration year was 1848 and her age was given as 36.
No additional information has been established for John MacKay and Rachael (McQuarrie) Mackay.
Donald MacKay
Donald Mackay was a shepherd of 25 when he embarked on the Blenheim in 1840.
A Donald McKay, Kai Warra Road, carpenter and labourer, was listed as a prospective juror in 1848.
No further information has been established for Donald MacKay.
Sarah MacKay
Sarah MacKay was described as a dairymaid of 19 in the Blenheim passenger list.
No further information has been established for Sarah MacKay.
Lachlan MacKay
The Blenheim passenger list showed Lachlan MacKay as a cowherd of 16.
A Lachlin McKay, Kai Warra Road, labourer, was listed as a prospective juror for 1848-1849.
No further information has been established for Lachlan MacKay.
Hector MacKay
Hector MacKay was a cowherd of 14 when he sailed to New Zealand on the Blenheim in 1840.
As noted above, in Poyntzfield, Margaret McKenzie refers, in the late 1840s, to “the death of Hector McKay’s little half-caste boy…”
No further information has been established for Hector MacKay.
Colin MacKay
Colin MacKay was noted as being 10 years old on the Blenheim passenger list.
No further information has been established for Colin MacKay.
Hugh Morrison and Anne Turner were included on the initial passenger list for the Blenheim with the comment “Recommended by his late Master Mr McLachlan Laudale and his Parish Minister.”:
Hugh Morrison, 50, Kinlochaline, shepherd
Anne Turner, his wife, 40
Hugh Morrison, his son, 18, labourer
Duncan Morrison, his son, 16, labourer
Anne Morrison, his daughter, 14, housemaid
John Morrison, his son, 12, cowherd
Margaret Morrison, his daughter, 10
Mary Morrison, his daughter, 8
Colin Morrison, his son, 6
Spelling: In some records the name is spelled “Morison” in others “Morrison”. “Eun” was a form of “Ewen” or “Hugh”.
The book Morvern to Glenmorven, by Frank Fyfe and Bebe Douglas, contains considerable detail, background and surmise relating to this family. The Kaiwarra Camerons, by M J Ulyatt, also covers this family.
Hugh Morrison was born on 28 May 1782 on the Isle of Mull to John Morison and Jannet Cameron.
The Old Parish Register for Morvern recorded the marriage on 10 July 1819 of Hugh Morison, labourer, and Anne Turner, by Mr N McLeod, Minister.
Anne Turner was born around 1800.
Hugh Morrison worked as a cattle drover, and the family lived initially in the village of Glencripesdale in Morvern until they were cleared around 1820 to the hamlet of Knock on the Lochaline Estate, then at some time after 1830 they moved to the new village of Lochaline, erected by the landlord John Sinclair. Dugald McLachlan of Laudale and Killiemore (Mull) bought the Laudale estate in 1825. This estate bordered the Glencripesdale estate in the northern part of Morvern.
Old Parish Registers for Morvern indicate that Hugh Morrison and Anne Turner had other children, not on the passenger list. These included Katrine born on 12 March 1820, and an un-named daughter born on 15 October 1821, who both died at birth, and Katherine, born on 24 August 1823, who stayed behind in Scotland.
Following their arrival in Wellington, the Morrisons lived initially at Kaiwarra, then moved to Evans Bay, where Hugh worked on J C Crawford’s property on Watts Peninsular, which was managed by Archibald Gillies. They later moved to Mein Street in Newtown.
Anne (Turner) Morrison died on 11 June 1844, following the birth of a daughter, she was aged 44.
In 1846 the family moved to the Wairarapa, and took up their land at Hakeke (later called Glenmorven), near where Greytown now stands.
In The Kaiwarra Camerons, there is a quote from the diaries of the missionary William Colenso describing a visit to Hakeke in 1847:
The settler whose name is Morrison, is an aged Xn [Christian] man in humble life. He gave me a brief outline of the trials he had had since his arrival in the country but not in a repining spirit, although he had been tried severely, having lost his wife, a son grown to man’s estate and a son-in-law, (but recently married), and all within a short time of each other. He acknowledged, however, the Lord’s hand, and all that he did was for good. He still had several sons and daughters about him. He spoke well of the Natives; and of the great injustice to take from them their lands; “which” said he “is doubtless as much theirs, as that of any Scotch laird is his.”
According to New Zealand BDM records Hugh Morrison died on 5 September 1872 aged 87. The Evening Post of 10 September 1872 contained the following:
Intelligence was received at Greytown, on Thursday, of the death, at eight o’clock that morning, at his residence, Glenmorven, of Hugh Morrison, Esq. one of the earliest colonists of New Zealand, having arrived here in 1840. He was also one of the first settlers in this district, coming here in 1846, where he has ever since resided. The deceased was a worthy man, and universally respected. All persons visiting the Wairarapa were ever sure to receive at his house a warm and hospitable reception. He has left two sons and three daughters all of them married and settled, and a whole host of grand-children and greatgrand-children. Deceased was interred in the Cemetery here yesterday, the funeral procession being very large.
After arriving in New Zealand Hugh and Anne had a child, Annie, in 1844.
The Lyttelton Times of 8 May 1858 carried the Death Notice: “On the 6th inst., at Christchurch, Annie Morrison, youngest daughter of Mr Hugh Morrison, of Glenmore, Wairarapa Plains, and sister-in-law of the late Mr William Stewart, Christchurch, aged 14 years.”
Hugh Morrison Jnr
Hugh Morrison was 18 and a labourer when he came to New Zealand on the Blenheim in 1840.
Hugh Morrison died in 1843 at Wellington, aged 22, possibly from a fall from his horse.
Duncan Morrison
The Old Parish Register for Morvern for 1825 recorded that Hugh Morison, crofter, Knock, and Anne Turner, had a legal son Duncan, born 27 March.
Duncan Morrison was recorded as a labourer of 16 in the Blenheim passenger list.
Duncan Morison married Mary McPhee on 4 June 1856. Mary was the sister of Hugh McPhee, Ann Morrison’s second husband. The McPhee family also came from Knock in Morvern.
Mary (McPhee) Morrison died on 1 November 1883, aged 57. The Wairarapa Daily Times of 3 November 1883 published the following:
The many friends of Mrs. Duncan Morrison, of Glenmorven, Morrison’s Bush, near Greytown, writes the Standard, will regret to hear of her very sudden death, at the age of 57, which occurred on Thursday morning. It appears the deceased, who had been an invalid for some years, did not complain of anything unusual on the morning in question, but on taking her a cup of tea, between 9 and 10 o’clock, it was discovered that she had passed away, and her sudden departure was a painful shock to the family. The cause of death has not yet been ascertained, but it is supposed to have resulted from the bursting of a blood vessel. Mrs Morrison has been many years a resident in Moroa, she having resided there since 1855, and was greatly respected by all who knew her. Mrs Morrison was one of kind-hearted old settlers who was always ready to entertain a visitor, and her household kindnesses will long speak for her. An inquest will be held to-day, and the funeral will take place at 12 o’clock.
The inquest confirmed that Mrs Morrison died from natural causes.
Duncan Morrison died on 29 November 1889 as a result of a fall from his horse.
The Evening Post of 3 December 1889 reported:
Greytown, 30th November. Death has removed two more of our early settlers. Mrs. Jones, who came to the Wairarapa in 1853, died last Wednesday, and Mr. Duncan Morrison, of Morrison’s Bush, was thrown from his horse near Blairlogie and received such injuries that he died shortly after. He came to this colony in the ship Blenheim, and lived for some years at Evans Bay. He then came up to the Wairarapa with his father, and has lived at Glenmorven, his run, ever since. His funeral, which takes place on Monday, will draw together a large number of settlers from all parts of the valley.
The Wairarapa Daily Times of 30 November 1889 provided a more detailed description of the accident:
FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN OLD SETTLER.
In addition to particulars telegraphed and published in Friday’s issue, one of our staff whilst at Blairlogie yesterday gained the following information of the sad accident which befel Mr Duncan Morrison and ultimately led to his death on Friday evening, On his way up to Blairlogie Mr Morrison called at Mr Carswell’s Hotel at an early hour on Wednesday morning. During his stay he intimated he was paying a visit to his late brother’s people at Blairlogie, where he had not been for many years. He seemed in excellent spirits and expressed the pleasure he felt at being able, after such a long interval, to again pay a visit to that locality. His horse appeared to be a very spirited animal, especially for a man of his great weight (over 19 stone) and age to ride. Mr Morrison proceeded on his journey and had scarcely crossed the threshold of the estate, when his horse shied and threw him heavily to the ground. How long he lay there even the poor fellow himself could not afterwards tell, but it must have been a considerable time, The first to notice him lying on the road was the mailman from the East Coast, who jumped off his horse, had a look, and then rode on. It was several hours after this when Mr Urquhart, buyer for the Happy Valley Meat Company came along, and carried the news to Mr A. McPhee, at Blairlogie station, that an old gentleman, very much resembling Mr Duncan Morrison, of the Lower Valley was lying on the road apparently badly hurt. Mr McPhee immediately rode off to ascertain if anything serious had happened. When he came up to Mr Morrison he found him sitting on the roadside. In reply to inquiries, Mr Morrison stated the horse had shied at some object on the road and threw him. That was all that he could remember. Poor Morrison at this time was almost smothered in mud, and drenched with rain. Seeing that be was badly hurt, Mr McPhee, with the assistance of the roadman (who happened to be at work a short distance away), conveyed him to Mr Carswell’s Hotel, This was late in the afternoon. Being under the impression the case was not a serious one, medical aid was not called in that evening. In the meantime everything that could possibly be done to relieve pain was resorted to. On Thursday he appeared no easier, and a wire was despatched to Dr Milne, who promptly attended, and reimained at the hotel all night. On Friday morning the doctor left for Masterton, and returned in the afternoon in company with Dr Hosking. Within a short time of their arrival, although they did everything possible to relieve their patient’s suffering, he expired. Great sympathy is felt with the surviving relatives, this making the third death in the family in the short space of two months, Mrs Strang, a daughter of Mr D. Morrison, having died a month ago, and John Morrison, brother of deceased, on the 27th of September. He leaves a large family of children and many connections to mourn their loss. Deceased came out to New Zealand in the ship “Clydesdale” [sic] forty-seven years, and settled with his parents at Glenmorven where he carried on the pursuit of a grazier in an extensive way.
Duncan and Mary had six children:
Hugh Morison, born in 1857, died in 1859.
Ann Morison, born in 1858, died in 1891, married Donald McLaren in 1882.
Mary Morison, born in 1860, died in 1889, married John Strang in 1883.
Hugh Morison, born in 1861, died in 1938, married Isabel Hodge in 1891.
Colin Morison, born in 1862, died in 1918.
Sarah Morison, born in 1863, died in 1929, married Peter Lee McLaren in 1889.
Anne Morrison
The Old Parish Register for Morvern records that that Eun [Hugh] Morison, crofter, Knock ,and Anne Turner, had a legal daughter Anne, born 21 March 1827.
Anne Morrison was recorded as a housemaid of 14 on the Blenheim passenger list.
Anne Morrison married Donald Smith on 2 October 1845 in Wellington. The Church Register recorded that Donald Smith, now of Wellington, formerly of Kirkmichael, Perthshire, N.B., and Ann Morison, daughter of Hugh Morison of Morvern parish, Argyllshire, N.B., now of Wellington, were married. The witnesses were Hugh Morison, Katherine Bethune and Andrew Reid.
Donald Smith was christened in Kirkmichael, Perthshire, Scotland, on 20 April 1826, the son of John Smith and Barbara Watson.
Donald Smith died of fever on 8 January 1846. He and Anne Morrison had one child:
Donald Smith, born in 1846, died in 1920, married Margaret Morrison in 1870.
Ann (Morrison) Smith married Hugh McPhee on 5 June 1855 in a joint ceremony with her sister Mary, who married Alexander Cameron.
Hugh McPhee was the son of Hugh McPhee and Ann Cameron of Knock, Morvern, Argyll, and would have known the Morrisons there. In 1854, Hugh, with his mother, sister Mary and brother Donald, emigrated to Australia, but in 1855 came on to New Zealand.
According to New Zealand BDM records, Hugh McPhee died on 14 April 1859.
Ann and Hugh had three children:
Margaret Ann McPhee, born in 1856, died in 1932, married Thomas Harvey in 1876.
Hugh Morrison McPhee, born in 1857, died in 1916, married (1) Margaret Daysh in 1883, (2) Hannah Compton in 1894.
Archibald McPhee, born in 1858, died in 1938, married Beatrice Hughan in 1892.
Ann (Morrison) McLachlan, formerly McPhee, previously Smith
Ann (Morrison) McPhee, formerly Smith, married Duncan McLachlan on 22 July 1862.
Duncan McLachlan had come to New Zealand on the Oliver Lang in 1858, and was related to the McPhees by marriage.
Duncan McLachlan died on 9 October 1886, aged 58. The Wairarapa Daily Times of 9 October 1886 reported, “A settler on the Taratahi by the name of Duncan McLachlan died this morning at 10 o’clock after a short illness. He was taken ill while at the dairy factory with his milk yesterday morning, and was brought into Carterton to Dr Johnston, and conveyed from their to his home where he died as, above stated. ”
Ann (Morrison) McLachlan died on 28 June 1900, aged 73.
Ann and Duncan had three children:
Annie McLachlan, born in 1863, died in [….].
Donald McLachlan, born in 1864, died in 1918
Colin McLachlan, born in 1865, died in 1939.
John Morrison
The Old Parish Register for Morvern for 1829 recorded that Hugh Morison, Knock, and Anne Turner had a legal son, John, born on 22 March.
John Morrison was described as a cowherd of 12 on the Blenheim passenger list.
John Morrison worked on the Glenmorven property, but was also involved in shipping cattle to the Otago goldfields and purchased land in Christchurch.
John Morrison married Jessie Morrison in 1868. Jessie Morrison was the daughter of Hugh’s cousin Alexander, who emigrated to New Zealand on the Oliver Lang in 1858.
In 1870 John Morrison purchased the Whareama Station and soon afterwards he bought Blairlogie from the Cameron brothers. He also owned Bowlands.
John Morrison died on 29 September 1889. The Wairarapa Daily Times of 27 September 1889 reported:
The sufferings of Mr John Morrison of Blairlogie, are over. A few days ago he came up from Wellington in a moribund state to die amongst his own people, He attempted to travel to the Whareama, but became exhausted by the time he reached Otahuao and took shelter at the house of a kind friend, Mr John Drummond. The nature of his malady was such that he was unable to take nourishment, and though doctor after doctor visited him nothing could be done but wait patiently for the inevitable end. This morning he breathed his last, and will long be remembered by a thousand friends as one who always welcomed both rich and poor to his homestead and dispensed hospitality with an ungrudging hand.
The Evening Post of 28 September 1889 reported:
The death is announced yesterday of Mr. John Morrison, of the Wairarapa, one of the oldest settlers in the district, and after whom Morrison’s Bush was named. He arrived in the colony when quite a boy, accompanied by his parents, in the ship Clydesdale [sic], in 1842 [sic]. The emigrants were almost exclusively Scottish Highlanders, and after their arrival at Kaiwarra, near Wellington, their interviews with the Maoris, to whom the Gaelic was an extraordinary tongue, created many an amusing scene. The cause of death was stricture of the gullet, so that really he was starved to death.
Jessie Morrison died on 10 March 1922, aged 77.
John and Jessie had eight children:
John Morrison, born in 1869, died in 1902, married Helen Blanche Calders (grand-daughter of Blenheim passengers) in 1900.
Alexander Morrison, born in 1870, died in 1892.
Jessie Isabella Morrison, born in 1872, married (1) John Chapman Andrew in 1894, and (2) Francis Arnot Bett in 1910.
Margaret Ann Morrison, born in 1875, died in 1957.
Mary Morrison, born in 1876, died in 1883.
Hugh Morrison, born in 1878, died in 1951, married Muriel Stanley Booth in 1908.
Catherine Maud Christina Morrison, born in 1882, died in 1950.
Rupert Donald Matthew Morrison, born in 1884, died in 1918, married Amy Violet Thompson in 1912, in Australia.
Margaret Morrison
The Old Parish Register for Morvern recorded that Eun Morison, crofter, Knock, and Anne Turner had a legal daughter Margaret, born 20 December 1831.
Margaret Morrison was 10 when she travelled to New Zealand on the Blenheim in 1840.
According to New Zealand BDM records, Margaret Morison married William Stewart on 25 June 1850. The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian of 29 June 1850 carried the Notice: “On Tuesday, the 25th inst., at the Scotch Church, Wellington, by the Rev. W. Kirton, Mr William Stewart of Wellington, to Margaret, third daughter of Mr. H. Morrison, Wairarapa.” Apparently the witnesses were Alexander Grant and Donald McLean.
William and Margaret travelled to Canterbury in 1850 with John Macfarlane and his wife Catherine Cameron (see Donald Cameron and Christian McLean). They landed at Heathcote, and the men became supervisors for the building of the road into Christchurch. William and Margaret took over the lease of the Heathcote Ferry Arms, then moved into Christchurch in 1853 to establish the Royal Hotel in Oxford Terrace.
William Stewart died on 24 November 1857 aged 34. The Lyttelton Times of 28 November 1857 carried the following Death Notice: “On the 24th instant, at his residence, the Royal Hotel, William Stewart, aged 35 years, deeply lamented by all who knew him.”
There was one child from the marriage:
William Morrison Stewart, born in 1852, died in 1935.
Margaret remarried in 1861. The Wellington Independent of 9 August 1861 carried the following Marriage Notice: “MacKay-Stuart – On the 20th June, at Glenmorven, Wairarapa, by the Rev. Wm Ronaldson, Mr David Mitchell of Wellington, late of Tain, Rosshire, to Margaret, second daughter of Hugh Morrison, Esq., of Glenmorven, and relict of the late Wm. Stuart, Esq., Christchurch, Canterbury.”
David Mitchell Mackay was a clerk in the Immigration office, and after the wedding the couple moved back to Christchurch, where they lived in Antigua Street. In September 1869 David Mackay, immigration officer, was brought up at the Police Court, Christchurch, charged with embezzlement of public funds of the province of Canterbury. The Timaru Herald of 11 December 1869 reported the Supreme Court proceedings before Mr Justice Gresson, with the final outcome being that the judge accepted the defence argument that the Crown had failed to establish to his satisfaction that the prisoner was clerk in the strict sense, or at all events, that the money he received was the property of Mr Rolleston [Canterbury Superintendent]. That being the case there was no use in letting the evidence go before the jury, whatever might be the moral guilt of the prisoner, and the judge directed them to return a verdict of acquittal, which they did, and the prisoner was discharged.
It is not clear what happened to David Mitchell MacKay, but at the time of the marriage of his daughter Margaret in 1888 he was described as “the late D.M. MacKay of Christchurch”.
Margaret (Morrison) MacKay died 25 February 1907, aged 73. The Wairarapa Daily Times of 26 February 1907 carried the Death Notice: “Mackay – At the residence of her son, H. Mackay Martinborough, Margaret, relict of the late P.M. Mackay, aged 73. Christchurch papers please copy.”
Margaret and David had possibly four children:
Hugh MacKay, born in 1862, died in 1932, married Catherine Mary Bunny in 1924.
Margaret Ann Mackay, born in 1864, died in 1942, married William Andrew in 1888.
John Stanley MacKay, born in 1867, died in 1871.
Name not recorded [possibly Mary Isabella] MacKay, born in 1869.
Mary Morrison
Mary Morrison was 8 years old when she travelled on the Blenheim to New Zealand with her family.
Mary (Morrison) Cameron
On 5 June 1855 Mary Morrison married Alexander Cameron, another Blenheim emigrant, son of Donald Cameron and Christian McLean.
Alexander Cameron died on 19 December 1899 aged 76, and Mary (Morrison) Cameron died on 11 October 1911 aged 77. See Donald Cameron and Christian McLean for more information about this family.
Alexander and Mary had ten children:
Donald Douglas Cameron, born in 1856, died in 1937, married Annie Ida Storey in 1880.
Annie Cameron, born in 1857, died in 1949, married Captain Angus Cameron in 1882.
Christina Cameron, born in 1859, died in 1878.
Mary Cameron, born in 1861, died in 1929.
Hugh Cameron, born in 1863, died in 1910.
Alexander Cameron, born in 1865, died in 1937.
Jessie Cameron, born in 1867.
Catherine Margaret Cameron, born in 1869, died in 1934.
Isabella Jane Cameron, born in 1871, died in 1945.
John Duncan Cameron, born in 1873, died in 1957, married (1) Ellen Jane Kibblewhite in 1906, and (2) Helen Annie McBeath in 1939.
Colin Morrison
The Blenheim list recorded Colin Morrison as a child of 6.
The Wellington Independent of 9 February 1859 carried the following Death Notice: “On Tuesday evening, the 8th instant, at the residence of Mr. W. F. Mason, Lambton-quay, Colin, son of Mr. Hugh Morrison, of Glenmorven, Wairarapa; aged 22 years.”
Blenheim175 