James Gordon ATKINS [23375]

  General Notes:

James (Jim) visited New Zealand researching the Atkins family and organising a family reunion in 2017 in Wellington.
The collator E L Fenn had the pleasure of meeting Jim in NZ and helping with his work.

  Research Notes:

Wow! All very interesting, thank you. Now, where to start?
The picture in your living room and in our family room are the same. There are other copies all over the world! One is in England with a third cousin (Samuel is her great-grandfather, she is in her 90s); one is in Australia with my second cousin, Annie Jr.'s great-grandson; several, of course, are scattered about the US with closer members of my family; and a copy of it in the Wellington newspaper and the article in which it appeared are in the Highlanders' Museum in Inverness Scotland. They also have a professional-quality digital version of it which I provided to them, but as far as I know they have not elected to have it printed and hung. Attached are photos of Samuel's medals that he is wearing in the photo, and the loving cup; all of which are on display at the museum.
I don't think your G^2 grandfather Jack lived at 13 Austin. That house was designed and built in August 1908 (you can see the date stamp towards the top right margin in the attached photo, and the hand inscription "permit may be issued" in the lower left margin - I found this in the Wellington city archives when I was down in 2012, I superimposed the photo of the house as it appears today). However, Samuel owned another property at 93 Marjori Banks street that was essentially just around the corner from 7 Austin, and this may well have qualified as "next door". Attached is a copy of that house as it appears today.
Someone who is very knowledgeable about the history of the Mt. Victoria neighborhood, and who has been an immense help to me, is Joanna Newman, an archivist with the National Archives. Her email address is: joanna@archivesandrecords.co.nz <mailto:joanna@archivesandrecords.co.nz> . I'm sure she would be very interested in your family's history, and might be able to provide additional information, as well. You might also be interested in this site for more information about Samuel and his descendants: www.thekingscandlesticks.com <http://www.thekingscandlesticks.com> . It's author and administrator, a good friend and excellent genealogical researcher is Edward Fenn, who lives in Auckland. edwardfenn@thekingscandlesticks.com <mailto:edwardfenn@thekingscandlesticks.com> .
Two, final pictures for this message: first is one of a young Samuel and his family upon their return from India following the conclusion of the Indian Mutiny and the battles surrounding Lucknow during which Samuel was wounded. He is only 35 or 36 years old in this picture, so you can see the effects of those wounds and the deprivations of battle. The family here includes his first wife, Annie; their eldest child, Sam Jr. (born in Arabia, now Aden); the first born girl, Annie Jr (who married Walter Best of Wellington).; and the second born girl, Margaret Mary (who married Capt. Thomas Wood, master of the sailing vessel Woodlark, in 1873). Annie and Margaret Mary were born in India. Yet to be born were: James Alexander (my great grandfather), William, and Alice - all born in Selkirk Scotland. The second is of the children shortly before the family's departure for NZ. One of the 2 older girls is missing, and no one is certain which one is portrayed. But, based on later pictures of Annie Jr. showing her to be a fairly striking brunette, it is my conclusion that it is Margaret Mary in the picture. Then, in order of descending height, is my great grandfather, James Alexander; Alice, and William.
I have not forgotten your interest in my seafaring great grandfather, but will save that for a later time.
I can see that we are a generation apart, so I'm guessing your father and I are approximately the same age - I am 68. Do you, and he, reside in Wellington?
My wife and I live in northern Colorado, Loveland to be precise, about 50 miles north of Denver. We have one daughter who will be 33 years old next month who is an attorney in Denver, and lives about 25 miles south of us. No grandchildren as of yet! I grew up in quite a few different places (my father was a career Air Force officer, he died in 2009); but I was raised primarily by my paternal grandparents in a small town in Washington State quite close to where my great grandfather settled when he finally emigrated to the US. Many relatives are still in that area including a favorite 92-year old aunt who, as a child, met Alice and May when they made a trip to the US - around 1930.
Warm Regards,
Jim Atkins


On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 5:44 AM, Heather Andrew <h.andrew@outlook.co.nz <mailto:h.andrew@outlook.co.nz>> wrote:
Hi Jim thanks so much for the prompt reply.

Sorry it has taken this long to reply, it was a lot of information and revelations to my father and I, many discussions about 'the family history' have been had!

I'm so glad to have more insight about Samuel Atkins and his family.
I have attached various photos, the large portrait and it's description, and the Rev. John Chapman Andrew and I guess I will tell you a bit about my Great Great Great Grandfather and his family..

The Rev. John Chapman Andrew and his wife Emma from Whitby, Yorkshire set sail for New Zealand aboard the Westminister which arrived in Littleton on 16th of April 1856 and settled a sheep station near Otematata where they farmed until 1864, due to external events around that time they sold up and made the journey to Wellington, now with their two children. They had 5 children altogether. The Rev. and Emma soon purchased 18,200 acres (Ica Station- 4 days travel from Wellington) in 1864 and the large homestead was built in 1875. In 1896 the original homestead burnt to the ground, the family barely escaping.
While thoroughly enjoying his life as a sheep station owner, the Rev. liked to find balance in political, cultural and of course religious commitments.
Around Wellington and Nelson areas the Rev. preached where he was needed, he buried, married and baptized and no person in grief or sickness was too distant to remain unvisited- even through severe winds and rainfall on horseback!. In 1903 the Rev. lay the foundation stone for "St Andrew's Church" at Whareama which is known as his church.
The Rev. was already a scholar and and an experienced teacher when he came to New Zealand He took the post of Nelson Boys headmaster (just standing in) for 10 years. (1876-1886)

My father and I aren't entirely sure how Samuel and the Rev. J. C. Andrew came to meet but we presume it was when Samuel was appointed Night Watchman for the Provincial Government, as at this time the Rev. was the MP for the Wellington province (a very well known figure). According to my Grandfather (John Chapman Andrew III D. 1992) the relationship was a close one, Samuel would travel out to stay at the Ica Station for days at a time in a small cottage at the bottom of the garden- unsure if it was just himself or he brought some of his family, but the cottage is known today as 'India House'. We have no knowledge of any of the family travelling to India so I feel this is a valid conclusion that Samuel had the influence on the title.

Now this may be drawing too many conclusions without enough evidence but the Ica Homestead is historically of Middle-Eastern historic design and until now we did not know the reason for that. Being that Samuel and his family arrived in 1873 and the Ica Homestead being built in 1875.. but it is of course a strong guess!

Also we know that John Chapman Andrew II (Jack) (my Great Great Grandfather) the Rev.'s 4th child and 2nd son, Lived next to Samuel at Ettrick Cottage with his wife Jessie and eventually their 5 children- we think this may have been the house Samuel designed and built but are unsure!
Unfortunately in 1904 Jack died at the early age of 36 in a hunting accident where he got lost in unforgiving bush and died of exposure, his youngest child was only 9 months.
The Rev. then shipped the family to Nelson for the children to be educated.

On 7th December 1907 aged 85 the Reverend John Chapman Andrew died, a wealthy man, full of years, who was spoken and written about with much affection and admiration. "An amazing and outstanding man by any standards"

I would be interested to know more about your Great Grandfather who ran away to sea?

I am so pleased to have contacted you and it's great to know more about the Scottish family friend standing in our living room

I hope to hear more from you

Regards
Heather Andrew

P.S. You will see the same silver cup in the background of the Portrait of Samuel and Marion as in their family photo.

Sent from my Samsung device

James married Living