McLeods of Rumsdale: James McLeod Family Part C

Family

I have the names of the following nine children born to Catherine and James. Some references state that they had eleven children with six pre-deceasing them. I cannot confirm that information.

1-James McLeod

born: 16 Apr 1835, Rumsdale, Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland

died: 9 Nov 1917, (Martinborough Cemetery, New Zealand)

+ Catherine (Kathrean) Sutherland

born: 11 Jan 1840, At Sea "Oriental"

marr: 2 Mar 1861, Homestead, Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

died: 11 Mar 1914, (Martinborough Cemetery, New Zealand)

parents: Alexander Robertson Sutherland and Elizabeth McKay

2-John McLeod

born: 21 Jan 1862, Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

died: 12 Mar 1930

occupation: Went to Ashurst

2-Elizabeth McLeod

born: 22 Jun 1863, Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

died: 23 Feb 1890, (Waihenga, Martinborough, New Zealand)

buried: In same grave as sister Margaret. Also with an unnamed young brother

2-Christina McLeod

born: 4 Dec 1864, Ngaipu, New Zealand

died: 1940, New Zealand

+ Joseph Jackson

born: 1862

died: 1935

occupation: Blacksmith and Farrier. Founder and tutor of Martinborough brass

band

2-Alexander Malcolm McLeod

born: 15 Aug 1866, Ngaipu, New Zealand

died: 28 Sep 1911, (Martinborough Cemetery, New Zealand)

unmarried. Worked on relatives’ farms. Buried in plot with parents

2-Mary McLeod

born: 13 May 1868, Ngaipu, New Zealand

died: 10 Nov 1869 (on terrace above old Pahaua)

2-Donald Charles William McLeod

born: 13 May 1869, Ngaipu, New Zealand

died:

unmarried. Lived at Whakapuni

2-William McLeod

born: 1 May 1871

died: 12 Aug 1929, Dannevirke, New Zealand

Worked at Dannevirke

2-Mary Jane McLeod

born: 14 Sep 1875, Waihenga, Martinborough, New Zealand

died: 1959, Devonport, New Zealand

+ George Bruce

born:

marr: 30 Apr 1907, Kopuaranga, Wairarapa, New Zealand

2-Margaret Esther McLeod

born: 1 Jan 1879, Waihenga, Martinborough, New Zealand

died: 11 Nov 1899, (Waihenga, Old Cemetery, Martinborough, New Zealand)

buried in same grave as sister Elizabeth. Also an unknown young brother

Anecdotes

James and Catherine retired to “The Gums” in Martinborough, a comfortable house they built in 54 Dublin Street, Martinborough. It is still there.

The Gums -The gum trees now gone and replaced by New Zealand Cabbage trees

In his retirement James helped his widowed sister Esther manage her properties following the death of William Sutherland.

When getting on in years James is remembered in one place only – sitting in front of the wood range, his feet over and resting on top of the oven, stoking the fire box endlessly, with branches felled from the gum trees. Kate had to push the trays of buns under his feet into the oven.

Pubs stayed open till 10pm. James had quenched his thirst at the local, came home late and found that Kate had locked the door on him. He stood outside with his walking stick, banged on the door shouting out “Open the door and let your Lord and Master in.”

Alexander Sutherland died in 1877. In his will each of his daughters was left a legacy of £1000, except Catherine McLeod who was left £1300, the extra said to being a reward for her services on the station at Pahaua as the wife of the manager, Jim McLeod.