Obit: James McLeod Born In Rumsdale - Died In New Zealand Part E

Obit: Born In Rumsdale - Died In New Zealand

Not so long ago some New Zealand soldiers when on a visit to Caithness journeyed to Rumsdale to view the homes of their forebears, the Macleods. Rumsdale, as most of our readers will know, is situated on Strathmore, in the Parish of Halkirk. The old house was found but it was in ruins and these gallant descendants who were risking their lives to defend the land of their forebears as well as that of the rest of the Empire were bound to look upon it as an act of desecration that the ancestral hearth was over-run by deer and other game.

The remains of the chimney and lintel at Rumsdale

Around that hearth on many a Sabbath evening, the patriarch, John Macleod, sat with his family before a blazing peat fire, passing the evening as was wont in those truly good old days. The Bible would be read, also writings of Bunyan, Brown and others, and a family catechising would be held. Now, as we have said, the hearth is open to the elements and the Macleods and their frugal neighbours are scattered throughout the earth. A friend writing from New Zealand informs us that over 60 years ago he attended a funeral where there were over 40 stalwart men, all drawn from the area on the further side of Halkirk. How many could be gathered to a funeral, and how many soldiers we wonder were drawn from that area for the present war?

The back wall of the chimney and lintel at Rumsdale

James Macleod, Martinborough, New Zealand, died quite recently at the home of his son-in-law, Mr George Bruce, of Kopuranga, New Zealand. The deceased was one of a family of eleven, born at Rumsdale, Strathmore, Caithness. Seven of the family emigrated to New Zealand and four are still alive, the youngest being 72 and the oldest 88.

The deceased son of Caithness who died in the Antipodes, emigrated so early as 1855, and on the way the ship on which he voyaged was spoken by a passing vessel which intimated news that peace had been declared between Russia and Britain at the close of the Crimean War. The deceased was accompanied in his emigration by his brother William. They both entered the employment of their uncle, Mr Alxr. Sutherland, then of Lyall Bay, Pahaoa. The deceased married a cousin who was the second white child born in Wellington. There are three sons and two daughters of the late Mr James Macleod’s family alive.

Deceased was a true Caithnessian, maintaining the best characteristics of his race – frugality, industry, and integrity – who paid little attention to public affairs, but as we would expect, was a staunch adherent to the Presbyterian Church in which he was an elder. The funeral took place in Martinborough and was largely attended.

Northern Ensign 15 Jan 1918 (Wick, Scotland)

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 43, Issue 133094, 10 November 1917, Page 5

MANAWATU STANDARD, VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 1022, 26 NOVEMBER 1917

Martinborough cemetery

WAIRARAPA AGE, VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 10713, 10 MARCH 1914

For many years the Sutherland homestead [at Pahaua ] was the only one on the valley. All the Maoris on their way to the coast would break their journey and stay the night. The McLeods were very good to them. When Mrs McLeod retired to Martinborough years later, Maoris often called and brought potatoes and fruit. Niniwa, the daughter of a Maori chieftain, came to Mrs McLeod’s funeral in 1914 – she said to pay her last respects to one who had been so kind to her parents in the early days.