Gordon Paterson and Margaret (Maggie / Mag) Flett Corrigall - my generation’s great grandparents

James Gordon (Gordon) Paterson was born on the 8th of August, 1891 in Otepopo (Reg # 1891/11470). He attended Otepopo school, where he passed his proficiency exam in standard 6. His father John William Paterson died from TB when he was only 4 years old. His older sister, Lill, was only 6 years old. Gordon would have experienced a lot of changes in his early years, with the tragedy of losing his father, and then his mother Elizabeth Boyes Paterson nee Davidson remarrying Alexander Turtle two years later. After his father died and his mother remarried according to one source at least, Gordon went to live with his grandfather, Anthony Paterson. This was in 1897 when Gordon was 6 years old. This would explain why Gordon attended Otepopo school, rather than a school in Oamaru. It would also explain his grandfather, Anthony’s long term interest in the school and role as chair of the school committee, which continued to at least 1902.

In about 1905, Gordon, aged 14, took on a saddlery apprenticeship with Brace, Windle and Blyth and Co. Ltd. He moved to Dunedin in 1906, and perhaps this was in conjunction with the apprenticeship. City life must not have been to Gordon’s liking, however, as a few years later, when he was 19, he was a manager at the Grange estate, near Dunback. And later in the year, he was in Blenheim. I have not been successful in finding any mention of Gordon in any documents during this time to confirm these moves.

Margaret (Maggie / Mag) Flett Paterson was born on the 1st of April, 1897, at Omakau (Registration number 1896/10781). Maggie was the ninth child and fifth daughter of James and Jean Corrigall. Her second name Flett was also her mother’s maiden name.

Maggie began at Blacks school in 1902 as a five year old. In 1906 Maggie won a standard two prize and an attendance prize. In addition, Maggie received a Standard 2 prize for diligence and behaviour. Like the other Corrigalls, Maggie must have had a natural ability in sport. In 1908 when she was 11 years old, Maggie came third from a big field in the girls race at the St. Patricks Day Sports in Ophir.

Maggie in 1911, at 14 years old

It appears that Maggie had several opportunities to meet and mix socially from a young age. She was probably one of three Miss Corrigalls who attended the Bachelors Ball in Omakau on the 8th of October 1909. Maggie wore white dotted muslin and although she was only 13 years old at the time, she had had her mother and most likely her father in attendance with her. Apparently ‘the gathering was voted by one and all to be one of the most enjoyable held in O

Maggie, circa 1914

The next mention of Maggie at a social event was in 1912 at the first ball held under the auspices of the Loyal Vincent Lodge, M. U. I. O Oddfellows on the 28th of August. Maggie wore a white embroidery dress and was accompanied her sisters Bess, Nell, Bell and Polly, sister-in-law Rose and mother Jean. No doubt the male Corrigalls were in attendance too, but are not mentioned. Visitors apparently came from as far as Alexandra to attend the function which featured violin and piano music. Later that year Maggie, wearing a white silk dress, attended the Matakanui Footballers Ball on the 13th of September, with a large attendance. Her older sisters Nell and Bell were also present.

At a plain and fancy dress masked ball held at Becks on the 22nd of May 1914, Maggie now 17 dressed as Billiards, and was chaperoned by her siblings Polly, Bell, Nell, Sam and Jock all in fancy dress. As well as music and dancing this event included a highland fling and a roller skate exhibition. According to the report dancing was kept up till the early hours and everyone enjoyed the best ball ever held in Becks. Building on the success of the previous year, a second plain and fancy dress masked ball in aid of the Belgium Relief Fund was held at Becks on the 22nd of May 1915. Maggie was probably the unnamed Corrigall that went as Britannia along with her siblings Polly and Sam.

I wonder if it was at one of these events that Maggie met Gordon? And I wonder if Gordon found his way to Central Otago through his sister’s Lill’s connections to Omakau, through her husband, Josiah Lee Jones who was from Omakau, or possibility it was Gordon who introduced Lill to Josiah? Omakau and Oamaru are 192 km apart on today’s roads, so not ‘just down the road’. In addition, in the early twentieth century one would have to travel via Dunedin by train, a distance of approximately 300kms. We will probably never know the details of Gordon and Maggie’s meeting, but it is kind of nice to know that both Lill and Gordon had a connection to Omakau.

Portrait of Maggie, date and artist unknown

As well as socialising Maggie was a great baker winning several baking prizes at the Central Otago Omakau show in November 1915. Maggie was second with her oaten cakes, first with her pikelets and first with her homemade seed cake. It is also stated that a Mrs M. Corrigall won 1st prize for her butter at the show in 1915 but as there was no Mrs M. Corrigall at this time, it is possibly a mistake and is possibly Maggie or her younger sister Mary, known as Polly.

Maggie and Polly with a deer, presumably shot by Polly, who’s holding the gun, circa 1915

Like all the Corrigalls, Maggie was also into the outdoors, as the photo with her sister Polly illustrates. Gordon too enjoyed outdoor pursuits. I estimate that Gordon would have met Maggie sometime in 1915 or possibly earlier. Maggie was 18 years old and Gordon was 24 at this time.

Gordon was a keen fisherman and it seems Maggie too enjoyed accompanying him on such occasions, as demonstrated in their photo in front of the Chev car, likely to be taken in Omakau. Their son Gordon junior, also became a very keen fisherman.

Maggie and Gordon return from a fishing trip in the Chev car, circa 1915 - 1916

Gordon with his future brother in law, Alf Woods, and his half brother, Jack Turtle, circa 1915 - 1916

Gordon fishing with his sister in law, Addie Corrigall nee Naylor, Bill Corrigall’s wife at Manorburn Dam, circa 1915 - 1916

Gordon Paterson at the Corrigall’s house, circa 1915.

I think Gordon’s cheeky personality is evident in these photographs. He seems to have seldom be seen without his hat or a cigarette. Unfortunately the writing on the back of the first of these photos has been damaged but perhaps you can make sense of the message? I think it says:

“ I ... straw hat ... since I had my photo taken when a boy at Jamie’s tent. Compare the two photos. For D?sie”

The second clearly says:

“The old man enjoys a smoke. for Jack. Pot." and in different handwriting “Gordon Paterson Snr at Corrigalls”

I think these two photos were for Gordon’s step siblings. ‘D?sie’ could be his step sister Doris Blackmur / Rowlands, known as Dossy and possibly spelt Dossie. Jack (Pot) could be his younger step brother Jack Turtle. ‘The old man’ seems the sort of comment that may one may say to a younger sibling.

Gordon and Maggie were married on Wednesday the 2nd of August, 1916 (Registration number 1916/8279) at the bride’s family residence. Maggie was 20 and Gordon was 6 days shy of his 27th birthday. An article from the Dunstan Times on the 7th August, 1916 describes Gordon and Maggie as a popular young couple. Maggie’s sister Polly was the bridesmaid. I am unsure who Mr. C. Mills, the best man was.

Maggie and Gordon’s wedding was less that six weeks after Gordon’s only full sibling Lill married Josiah Lee Jones of Omakau in Oamaru, which no doubt the couple had also attended.

Gordon Paterson and Maggie Flett Corrigall on their wedding day, with a report of their wedding as featured in the Dunstan Times during August, 1916

The Paterson Children

Gordon and Maggie had four children including

1. Jean Doris who was born on the 11th of February, 1917 in Omakau. Jean attended Spottis Creek School beginning there in 1922 with her cousin Margaret (Peg) Corrigall. In 1924 Jean won first prize in her Standard one class and Peg, second. Jean achieved her proficiency award at Spottis Creek School in December 1930 and won the form 3 prize in 1931. She married Colin Robertson on the 5th of February in 1938 and went onto have her own family including Isla, Coleen, Gill, Kay, Wayne (deceased), Bruce (deceased) and Stewart. Jean lived at ‘Grandview’, in Jean’s a.k.a Grandma Corrigall’s house in later years and she was a terrific golf player. Jean died on the 27th of April in 2007. Jean and Colin are buried together in Omakau cemetery in Lot XXIV, plot 21.

2. Dulcie Elizabeth (my grandmother) who was born on the 12th of December, 1919. Dulcie attended Spottis Creek school beginning there in 1925. She was third in the standard 4 class in 1930 won a form 1 school prize in 1931. Dulcie was achieved her school proficiency award in 1932. She married Alan ‘Bull Tosser’ Robinson on the 27th of December, 1937, at 18 years old and lived at Rankleburn Station, near Tapanui. Her children include Catherine, Richard, Charles (Charlie), Thelma (deceased), Iris Vyonne (Vyonne / Vee) (my mother), Madelene (deceased), Heather Adell and Mark. Dulcie died of the 17th May, 1993 at age 73 and she is buried in Tapanui cemetery with Alan.

Family portrait of Gordon and Maggie with Jean (standing) and Dulcie, circa 1920

3. Gordon Samuel who was born on the 15th of June 1923 at Quendon Maternity Hospital (Nurse Leeden’s) 534 King Street, in Dunedin. Gordon Samuel attended Spottis Creek school where he began in 1929, and was awarded prizes in 1930 and 1931. He married Emily Iris (Iris) Herbert on the 25th of June, 1944 in Timaru. Gordon worked at Otematata Station and apparently would ride his horse there from Omakau. They retired to Alexandra and Gordon junior was a very keen fisherman. I remember his great sense of humour, and I think that came from his father. Iris and Gordon junior’s family includes Jennifer Flett, Carol Jean (deceased) and Robert Gordon (deceased). Gordon died on the 25th of June 2008. My mother adored her uncle Gordon.

4. Alexander (Alex / Alec) John who was born on the 12th February 1928. He was unable to attend Spottis Creek school as it had closed in 1934, relocating to Omakau. Alex was married to Ngaio Ferguson, and their engagement notice appeared on the 17th of November 1948. Alex studied at Otago University and became an accountant. When he worked in Dunedin, my mother would care for his boys, Gary and Tony. Later they moved to the West Coast before settling in Auckland. Alex and Ngaio’s children include Karla, Anthony (Tony), Gary and Susan. Alex did a lot of work on the family history for which I am very grateful. He is remembered very fondly by my mother. Alex died in 2014.

Jean and Dulcie circa 1921

Maggie with Alex, Violet Drake (Charlie Drake’s sister) and Jean at Frasers River circa 1929

Dulcie and Gordon with the 1927 Chev, circa 1929

The Paterson children, Alex, Dulcie, Gordon and Jean, circa 1932

Arbour Day 1935, Gordon junior and Alex at Chatto Creek, planting a tree on their grandmother Jean Corrigall’s behalf

Most of the Paterson children attended Spottis Creek School, although the school prizes and awards were often noted under Chatto Creek school. This is because it seemed to be a ‘branch’ of Chatto Creek school based at Moutere Station. There is a fabulous photo of Gordon junior driving a group of school children at Chatto Creek circa 1932 in a horse and cart. The very same photo hung in the Chatto Creek pub for many years.

Gordon junior driving the school bus circa 1932, when he would have been 9 years old

The Patersons were sporty children, like the Corrigalls. At the Picnic and Sports day at Chatto Creek in 1934, Alex and Gordon featured as place getters in a number of the races. Alex was first in the infants race, first in the infants sack race and second in the packet race. Gordon junior was first in the thread the needle race with Mary Little, first in the pick a back with J. Marshall, first in the boys potato race, second in the boys obstacle race, second in the boys sack race and second in the boys potato race. Jean came first in the ladies obstacle race. Alex also came second in a sports event to celebrate the jubilee of the Matakanui Football Club in 1937. He played for the Omakau Bantams A team and their team won the seven aside tournament in 1938. Alex came first in the hop skip and jump, first in the hurdles and second in the high jump at the Alexandra combined schools sports event in 1942. Possibly it was Gordon or Alex who was the Paterson cricket player for the Omakau team in 1946.

Alex John Paterson, in his footy gear with a cup circa 1939

Most of the Paterson clan attended a children’s fancy dress and folk and fancy dress dance in the Ophir Memorial Hall in September 1930. Gordon, who was 7, won the best boy from the ‘Outside Children’ (outside of Omakau) dressed as a clown. Jean who was 13, dressed as a Welsh Girl and Dulcie, who was 11 went as was a Bush Fairy. Their cousin Edna Corrigall also attended as a Star Fairy. Two years later in 1932 Dulcie and Gordon attended the children’s Golf Club dance, where Dulcie wore green rayon.

Considered adults by August 1935, at 16 and 18 respectively, Dulcie wore shell pink taffeta and Jean wore green silk and velvet to the Omakau Golf Club Ball. In 1936 Dulcie wore pink taffeta and Jean wore green velvet to the first annual dance organised by the Junior Homemakers club. They also attended the Golf Ball in 1936 where Dulcie wore blue lace and Jean wore floral taffeta. Jean also attended the Otago Central Ball in 1936 wearing green taffeta. The following year in 1937 Jean attended the military ball wearing green crepe and silver. Alex attended the Matakanui Football Club childrens’ dance in 1937.

Dulcie at 17 in 1936

Maggie and Gordon

In early March 1917, just a month after the birth of their first child Jean, Gordon was called up for military service to fight World War One. His ‘call to the colours’ states his occupation as a miner and that he was from Ophir. Gordon appealed his military service. He missed his first hearing in early April in 1917 for reasons unknown. He did attend the mid April 1917 hearings in Alexandra, however, where he was classed C2 and was dismissed. I have found nothing to detail the reasons for this. C2 was considered unfit for active service overseas but fit enough for service of some nature in New Zealand. Interestingly the newspaper report states Gordon’s occupation was no longer a miner but a shearer and harvester, and that he was from Omakau.

By 1921, Gordon’s occupations included miner and rabbiter, as well as shearer and harvester. In 1931 Gordon was working on Moutere Station, near Chatto Creek. He’d probably been there since the 1920s as the children attended Spottis Creek School, based on Moutere Station from 1924 until it closed in 1935.

Gwen Rowley nee Huddleston, Maggie’s niece wrote briefly about Maggie in Grant Barrett’s unpublished book ‘Joseph Barrett and Mary Dodd and the descendants of Richard James Barrett’. On page 103, Gwen said she recalled Maggie as being called Mag and that she was known for being house proud. Gwen said she also remembered Maggie and Gordon living in a cottage at Moutere Station where she thought Gordon rabbited.

Maggie was likely to have been the Mrs Paterson who came second in the married ladies race at the Vincent Sports Club day at Omakau in 1922. It was also likely to have been Maggie who was the Mrs Paterson in the ladies euchre finals in Ophir in 1933. Gordon was involved with the Vincent Jockey Club as a steward in 1917 and as a member in 1934 and probably other years as well.

As has been noted elsewhere, it can get confusing with a relatively common surname such as Paterson which is sometimes misspelt as Patterson. So possibly it have been Gordon who was the G. Paterson who stayed at the Bendigo Hotel in 1933. I can confirm, however, that he was not the G. Paterson who won prizes with sheep around the same (this was George Paterson from Gimmerburn, likely a distant relative). Neither was Gordon the G. Paterson that was on the Vincent County Council (this was G. S. Paterson). Could it possibly have been Gordon who was the G. Paterson who owned a race horse called ‘Eastern Coin’ that came first in a race at the Vincent races in 1945?

One thing that is sadly certain, however, is that Maggie developed TB. According to Gwen Rowley nee Huddleston, this was when her youngest, Alex was just 6 or 7 years old, so I estimate this would have been somewhere between 1934 and 1935. Gwen also said Maggie was nursed by her mother Jean and sister Bess for several years until her death. Apparently they also cared for Maggie and Gordon’s youngest son, Alex. I expect the older children Jean, Dulcie and Gordon junior were with their father, Gordon. They would have been 18, 16 and 12 years old at the time. Isla Lowe, Jean Robertson nee Paterson’s daughter told me that the children weren’t allowed to go in and see their mother Maggie when she was sick and she was virtually isolated in a room at Jean and Bess’s house. This must have been a terrible time for the entire family.

Maggie died on the 27th of January, 1936 in Omakau at Jean and Bess’s house. She was 39 years old. Gordon was 45 years and now a widower, with two teenage daughters of 19 and 17, and two sons, only 13 and 8 years old.

Maggie’s death notice as it appeared in the Otago Daily Times on the 28th of January, 1936

Maggie’s obituary in Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette on the 29th of January 1936, p.5

This must have been a terrible time for Gordon as of course he had already lost his own father to TB as a young boy of four, and his only full sibling Lill in 1917. The children too would have been devastated, as would the wider Corrigall family. Maggie was the third of Jean’s children to have passed away, and of course Bess’s son, Alex had also died from TB too. Maggie was buried in Omakau cemetery in Lot VII, Plot 29

The following year Gordon was no doubt trying to patch his life together. He attended a euchre and dance evening in the Chatto Creek school in June 1937 where he won the gents first prize. This was approximately eighteen months after Maggie died. The article notes that he was from Moutere at this time. Intriguingly Mrs J. Corrigal from Omakau won the ladies prize the same evening. This was probably Maggie’s mother Jean.

A few months later Dulcie and then Jean married. And only a matter of weeks after Jean’s wedding, in February 1938 there was a farewell social held at Chatto Creek for Gordon and his family. The article reads

“A farewell social and dance was tendered Mr Gordon Paterson and family …in the Chatto Creek school on Friday evening, February 11th. Mr M. Cook, in making the presentation to Mr Paterson of a leather suit case containing a traveller's outfit, referred to the recipient's many good qualities as a neighbour, and on behalf of the residents, wished Mr Paterson and family good luck for the future. Messrs Jno. Love and F. Brady endorsed the remarks of Mr Cook. … An excellent supper was partaken of, and good music for the dancing was supplied by Mrs Drake (piano) and Mr R. Pearson (accordion). The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought a very pleasant evening to a close.”

There is no clue given as to where Gordon and his two sons were moving, it must have been around Omakau somewhere.

My mother, Vyonne, recalls Gordon repairing or building the verandah at her mother and father’s old house at Rankleburn, when she was a child. Mum was less than 6 years old at the time, so was probably in the first half of the 1940s. Also during this time, Gordon junior married Iris in Timaru. This was in June 1944.

My mother also told me a story about Gordon travelling by train somewhere and a seagull doing it’s business on his bald head. Apparently that incident didn’t bring Gordon much luck, however, as while visiting Oamaru, on the 16th of June 1946, he died unexpectedly, due to a ruptured aorta. He was only 55 years old. His children were 29, 27, 23 and 18 years old. Gordon had no will that could be found, so Gordon junior became the administrator of his estate with the support of his grandmother Jean Corrigall and also Christopher Huddleston from Omakau. I am unsure who this was, but he was likely to have been related to Ernie Huddleston, Maggie’s sister, Bella’s husband.

Report of Gordon’s passing in the Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette on the 19th of July 1946, p.5

In a 1946 newspaper report of the incident, Gordon was described as a well known resident of Omakau.

Gordon was obviously well loved and respected by his family as reflected in the following notice placed in the Otago Daily Times a year after his death. By the way the Nan and Al referred to in the final entry are Helen Jane (Nellie / Nan) Smart nee Turtle and Albert (Al) Joseph Smart, Gordon’s step sister and husband and family.

In memoriam of James Gordon Paterson, placed in the Otago Daily Times in June 1947

Gordon is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Omakau cemetery alongside his wife Maggie, in Lot VII, Plot 29.

Gordon and Maggie’s headstone at Omakau cemetery, Lot VII, plot 29

As mentioned above Gordon and Maggie had four children, who all in turn had their own children and descendents. So this is where my research on the Paterson / Corrigalls ends for the time being, although hopefully it will be added to by all of you who know more, and hopefully it will be expanded on by someone else in the future.

Do you know anything else to add to Gordon and Maggie’s story? Please let me know.

The Paterson / Corrigall story has been told here as genuinely and as best as I can. I would like to take the opportunity here to formally thank all of you who have helped tell this story, especially my mother, Vyonne. Please correct me if I have made errors, and / or to update the information.