Anthony Paterson and Elizabeth Gordon - our direct ancestors - my generation’s g g g grandparents

Anthony was John and Elizabeth Douglas’s fifth child and their oldest son. He was born on the 28 April 1839 in Durness, Scotland and was christened on the 13th of May 1839 in Eddrachillis, Sutherland. As mentioned earlier, it is likely that Anthony came to New Zealand with his parents and siblings in 1862 on the clipper ship, the ‘Robert Henderson’ when he was 23 years old.

On arriving in New Zealand, Anthony worked for the Archibald Brothers at Clydevale as a shepherd. Like his brother George, he wanted to save so he could purchase or lease his own land.

Anthony Paterson

Anthony married Elizabeth Gordon at Knox church in Dunedin on the 25th September 1865. Elizabeth Gordon was born in 1843, in Lanark, Scotland. I wonder where and how Anthony and Elizabeth met? According to the church records, they were both full age at the time, with Anthony being 29 years old. I have not been able to locate any marriage notices in the local newspapers. Nor have I found any further information regarding Elizabeth at this stage.

Anthony and Elizabeth’s children included:

1. John William - born on the 28th of February, 1866; husband of Elizabeth Boyes Davidson; died in 1895 at the age of 29; buried in Otepopo cemetery, Block 1 Plot 20; father of James Gordon and Elizabeth (Lill) Munro; much more about John William and his family in the following section - our direct ancestor

2. James George - born on the 28th of December, 1867; husband of Elizabeth Mary Magdalene Jackson (1870 - 1949); married about 1894; their children included;

• James George 1895-1915

• Anthony John 1897-?

• Eileen Adolum 1899 -1972

• Isabella 1901-about 1937

• Vera 1906 -?

Died in Auckland on the 20th of August, 1937 and buried at Otahuhu Public Cemetery, Otahuhu, Auckland, Area 3 Plot 27

3. Andrew Michael - born in 1869 - no other information to date

4. Henry (Harry) McKay - born on the 4th of May, 1871 and died on the 20th of July, 1916 aged 44-5; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 10 Plot 15; husband of Agnes Forrest buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 10 Plot 16; married about 1909; father of Dorothy Forrest Hatfield

5. Thomas Douglas - born on the 8th of February, 1873 - died on the 11th of August 1960, aged 87, buried at Otepopo Cemetery Block 1 Plot 19 (with his parents); husband of Agnes Heron; married about 1898; lived at ‘Willowbrook’; their children included

• possibly David - born and died in 1898, 14 days old; possibly buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 3 Plot 13

• Margaret “Maggie” - born in February, 1900, and tragically died in a fire on the 17th of August, 1903 aged 3; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 3 Plot 13 - No headstone

• Mary - born on the 3rd of November and died on the 6th of November, 1903, aged 3 days old; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 3 Plot 13 - No headstone

• David Heron - born in 1906 and died on the 5th of August 1913, aged 7; buried at Otepopo Cemetery Block 3 Plot 13 - No headstone

• Ena Elizabeth Johnstone - born on the 23rd of November, 1909 - 1977

• Thomas Douglas - born in 1912 and died in 1937

• Oliver Douglas - born in 1916

6. Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ - born in 1874 and died of the 6th of January, 1953; married Robert Cameron (son of the Akaroa harbourmaster, born in 1866 and died on the 6th of August 1945) and lived on Woodburn Road; they had 3 children; Violet, Lloyd and Pat and the Woodburn Road property remained in the family until the 1970s; buried at Otepopo cemetery, Block 11 Plot 36, next to Robert in Block 11 Plot 35

7. Anthony - born in 1876 and died on the 19th of December, 1954, aged 78; married Evangeline (Eva) Andrewartha Warren, youngest daughter of Samuel Warren of Mosgiel, on the 22nd of September, 1899, at The Imperial Hotel, Herbert, the residence of the bride’s parents; buried in Otepopo cemetery, Block 11 Plot 49 with their son; their children included:

• James Gordon - born in 1904 - ?; charged when he was 35, along with Douglas William Jones for driving without care at Waianakarua bridge in 1939; charges were withdrawn a few weeks later

• Anthony Garnet Grenfell - born in 1910

• Audrey - born in 1910

• Lawrence - born in 1914 and died in February 1936 at 21 of accidental gunshot wounds while rabbit shooting at Wainakarua; buried in Otepopo cemetery, Block 11 Plot 49

Lawrence, Anthony and Eva’s headstone at Otepopo cemetery

8. Isabella ‘Bella’ Munro - born in 1877 and died on the 26th of March 1897 at 19 years old; wife of Robert Ford Munro, married 1896; had one child; died after a three month long illness at her parents home; buried in Otepopo cemetery, Block 1 Plot 30 with her eldest brother, John William, our direct ancestor (Robert Ford Munro went onto remarry Agnes Ellen Carr in 1898)

9. Walter Douglas - born on the 24th of July, 1879 and died on the 15th of April,1962, aged 82; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 10 Plot 42; husband of Helen Isabella Southgate, born on the 12th of August 1879 in Kakanui; married on the 7th of April 1898 in Otepopo, Helen died on the 27th of November, 1968 aged 88/9; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 10 Plot 42; their children included

• Walter Douglas - born in June, 1898 and died on the 1st September, 1912, aged 11/12 years old; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 1 Plot 20

• Jessie - born on the 30th of April, 1899 - 1990

• Isabella Glynn - born about 1900 - 1980

• Gordon - born in 1901 and died on the 9th of August 1919, aged 18 years old; buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 10 Plot 42

• Helen (Nellie) Kroll - born 19 April 1904 and died on the 18th of September, 1981

• Violet Pearce - born 11 July 1905 - and died on the 2nd of September, 1981, buried at Anderson Bay Cemetery, Dunedin

• John - born about 1907 - ?

• Elizabeth Tait - born about 1909 - ?

• Agnes - born on the 22nd of March, 1911 - 1994

• Andrew - born on the 29th of December 1913 and died on the 26th of May, 1980, at Hampden

• Winifred - born on the 23rd of February, 1918 and died on the 24th of April, 1989

Walter Douglas, Helen Isabella and Gordon’s headstone at Otepopo

Anthony took over his father’s property ‘Mussel Farm’ at 291 Woodburn Road after his father’s death in 1877. He was obviously a knowledgeable stockman, being a judge of 'sheep and swine’ at the Taieri Agricultural Society in January 1869 and again judging sheep in December 1884. Possibly he was involved as a judge during other years as well, although I have not uncovered that information to date. It is interesting to note the stock Anthony sold and the prices they reached at the end of the nineteenth century:

• 250 well bred fat and store cattle with a Mr C Dansey in 1872

• 140 crossbred fat sheep which sold for 12s to 12s 3d at Burnside in Dunedin during 1882 and 13s and 6d later that year

• 80 crossbred sheep sold for 9s to 9s 9d January 1882

• 68 crossbred wethers sold for 13s in June 1882

• 38 crossbred wethers sold for 8s 9d in December 1886

• a heavy draught gelding, a heavy draught mare and an excellent harness mare in 1892

• draught horses, hacks and harness horses in conjunction with some others in 1901

Anthony was in favour of the formation of the North Otago Farmers’ Cooperative Association and was appointed a ‘provisional directorate’ to canvas his district in 1892. He was also appointed to canvas the district in regard to setting up a second creamery during June 1898.

As an interesting side note, Anthony was reported to have found moa bones on his property at ‘Mussel Farm’ while digging for water. Many years later in 1941, the site was excavated by a team of archaeologists from the Dominion Museum in Wellington. The current owners of this property are confident where this site is, in a damp spot to the left of their driveway off Woodburn Road.

Anthony hosted between 700 and 800 people at the Good Templar Lodge Picnic in December 1879 in his paddock at ‘Mussel Farm’, known today as 291 Woodburn Road. This occasion included sports, music, dancing and competitions. A couple of Patersons feature in the prize list including J. W. Paterson first in quoits, and ‘Mrs J. Paterson’s baby’ was first in the baby show. From my calculations, I think this baby was John William junior who had been born on the 19th of November 1878 in Otepopo to John William, Anthony’s younger brother and Johanna Catherine Diehl. The quoits winner was probably John William, Anthony’s brother. Another later picnic for the Garrison Band, held in Moeraki, mentions Anthony as one of the gentleman ‘organisers’ in 1890.

Anthony had a strong interest in politics. It is recorded that he

• supported John Mains Esq as a candidate for the Provincial Council alongside his father, John, in 1871 (John Mains was their neighbour and brother of Duncan Mains, husband of Elizabeth)

• supported William Craig Esq as a candidate for the Otepopo Riding for Waitaki Council in 1876

• chaired a political meeting in Otepopo with George in attendance during 1887

• thanked Mr McKenzie, politician who spoke at an Otepopo meeting in 1889

• voted to chair when Minister for Lands Mr McKenzie visited Otepopo during May 1896

• chaired a visit to Otepopo by Mr McKenzie member for Waihemo District and candidate for the newly formed Waikouaiti electorate during October, 1902

• chaired electors meeting 1902 where Mr Thomas McKenzie M.H.R. spoke

This interest in politics must have inspired Anthony’s bid to be elected to the County Council. It was noted in an addendum to his obituary that he had represented the district for nine years on the Waitaki County Council. He was returned unopposed to County Council in 1887 and carried out a vigorous advertising campaign during October and November in 1890. The election results for 1890 show he won against a J. Falconer.

Advertisement in Oamaru Mail, 23 October 1890, p. 3

Anthony was involved with the St John’s Presbyterian church at Otepopo throughout his life. It is recorded that he

• lobbied for alterations to the manse in 1883

• was pro introducing bible in schools during 1892

• thanked the ladies for their contribution to a church soiree in 1895

• thanked speakers at a church soiree in 1898

• was a church manager for with his brother George in 1899

• opened a bazaar to raise funds for the Otepopo Church organ in October 1901, where he also thanked the Ladies Guild for their ‘energy and spirit in working so industriously’ where over £50 were raised

• chaired a farewell to Rev A D Thomson in 1901

Interestingly, when the first Presbyterian minister came to Otepopo in 1864, there was no church, so services were held in a barn. This no doubt explains why Anthony and some of his siblings were married in Knox church in Dunedin.

Anthony was interested in sports and was integral in setting up the at the Otepopo athletics club. His involvement in this group continued till a year before his death. It is recorded that he

• participated in the Caledonian games in Oamaru, during January 1889 where he participated in ‘throwing the heavy hammer’, was third in ‘putting the heavy ball’ and he won the wrestling.

• was a committee member for organising a sports day at Maheno in September 1892

• became president of Otepopo athletics club, superintendent of games and convened the wrestling in 1906

• continued as president of Otepopo athletics club, superintendent of games, convened the wrestling and also took on convening the bagpipe music and dancing in 1907

• gave a ‘laudatory speech’ at Otepopo athletic club’s concert in 1908

• convened the wrestling, bagpipe music and dancing at the Otepopo athletics club in 1909

• helped with bicycle races and convened bagpipe music and dancing at the Otepopo athletics club in 1910

• convened bagpipe music and dancing at the Otepopo athletics club in 1911 (he was 71 at the time)

Anthony was involved with the Otepopo school for over three decades. He began on the school committee in 1871, when our ancestor, John William would have started school as a five year old. As a school committee member and chair for many years, Anthony was called upon to emcee at school fund raising concerts, such as in 1893, and to formally acknowledge teachers, such as the farewell for Miss Mitchell in 1897.

Anthony’s wife, Elizabeth, a.k.a. Mrs A. Paterson, was also involved with the school. It is reported that she

• sang ‘The Beautiful Isle of the Sea’ at a fund raising concert for school in 1876 a song written in 1865 by John Rogers Thomas

• awarded the school prizes in 1886. Her children were among the recipients on this occasion. Lizzie was awarded the standard two honours, Anthony junior was awarded 2nd prize in the Standard 1 class and Bella received 3rd prize in the upper infants room

• judged the sewing, which was given to children in standards 3 to standard 7 in 1898

The Beautiful Isle of the Sea song cover

sung by Mrs Elizabeth Paterson

Anthony was supportive of various fund raising ventures including:

• the Oamaru Hospital fund, to which he paid a subscription of 5s in 1871

• the Oamaru Brunnerton Relief fund, for which he organised the Otepopo collection in 1886

Anthony was a confident speaker, well-respected, and often took the role of chair at various occasions. He represented the district on several community groups and was entrusted with many responsibilities. Some of these included:

• role of chair at ‘Court Hope, Ancient Order of Foresters aka ‘the Foresters’ in 1876 and vice- chair in 1877

• involved in the Oamaru Mutual Benefit Society in 1876

• nominated for the Moeraki Licensing Committee February 1882

• nominated by the Otepopo Road District for the AllDay Bay subdivision in June 1883 and 1884

• voted chair at a ratepayers meeting to consider Oamaru’s Harbour Board to borrow an additional £10 000 in March 1888

• was a trustee with John Budge for John Campbell’s deceased estate in 1889

• chaired a public meeting and concert in aid of the patriotic fund in 1900

• presided over a welcome in the form of a social and banquet to Lieutenant Marshall of the fifth Contingent in July 1901

• chaired and welcomed troopers back from the Boer War in 1902, and mentioned that all 16 from the district had returned. He expressed the hope that they would prove as worthy men in private life as they had already done in South Africa

• was an agent for the trustees of the late Duncan Mains in 1906

• presided over a farewell in 1907

The officers of Number 3 Company, the Oamaru Rifle Volunteers c.1886. Anthony is one of those present and while McKenzie (2005 p. 35) was unable to identify him, I believe he is in the front row on the left. The others in the photo are Major Ernst Diehl (back right), Col A Headland, Wm. Steward, George Sumpter and A. McCorkindale. You can find George Sumpter’s bright red uniform from Number 3 Company on display at Oamaru Museum.

Anthony enjoyed music, and as well as judging pipe band music in his later years, he was involved in many concerts. ‘The Athenaeum Social’ was one such concert at Otepopo, where Anthony performed in a farce titled the “The gentleman coon” with several others in 1894. It must have been well received as a similar group including Anthony performed a second farce at the winter social in August 1895.

Anthony died on the 29th of February 1912, aged 72 and Elizabeth Gordon died on the 2nd of March 1915, aged 70. They are both buried at Otepopo Cemetery, Block 1 Plot 19.

Anthony’s obituary stated that “he was for a time engaged as a shepherd by Messers Archibald Bros on what was subsequently known as the Clydevale Estate. When that property was acquired by the Australian and New Zealand Land company, he came to North Otago where he has been engaged in farming for nearly 40 years. He took a lively interest in local affairs and was an enthusiastic volunteer, being for many years a member of the shooting team of the Otepopo Rifles. He also for many years officiated as a director and judge of the Oamaru Caledonian Society, at whose games he was in his younger years an enthusiastic and successful Competitor. Mr Paterson’s geniality and good heartedness were proverbial, and he attracted a large number of friends”. It went on to say that Anthony had been in ill-health for some time and his death was not anticipated.

Anthony’s death notice in the North Otago Times, 1st of March, 1912

Anthony's and Elizabeth’s headstone at Otepopo Cemetery

Another obituary stated that Anthony was one of the founders and first president of the Otepopo Athletic Club, he was an “ardent lover of Scottish bagpipes and his services were often requisitioned as judge of pipe music at various Caledonian gatherings”. He was a manager of the Presbyterian church and “to the end showed much interest in its welfare”. He was described as a “kindly, warm hearted man, and a genuine friend who deservingly held the respect and esteem of the whole district”. Apparently “large numbers from far and near testified their heartfelt sympathy with the sorrowing wife and family”. The following quote was included

“His life was gentle and the elements

So mix’d in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world: ‘This was a man!’”

I found out that this quote is attributed to Shakespeare, from Julius Caesar, Act I, sc. 2

Sadly, as was typical of the time, there was no obituary or even a death notice of Elizabeth’s passing in 1915. She must have been a truely great lady though to have supported Anthony and all his endeavours.