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John was born on the 16th of December, 1826. He married Jane Thompson, aged 20, in Durham, England, in 1847 and they lived in Sunderland, a seaport town south of Newcastle.
Jane was born on the 7th of September, 1827, at Durham. Her father was Thomas Thompson, a mariner. (Jane possibly had a second name, Ann.)
As John's occupation, a sawyer, was a skill urgently required in New Zealand to help supply wood for the growing town of Christchurch, he was able to come out as an assisted immigrant.
On the 2nd
of August, 1858, they departed England from London on board the sailing
ship "Indiana". John was 31 and Jane was 30, and they brought with them
their 3 year old son, John William Lee. They also had a five year old daughter,
Elizabeth Jane, but she did not come with them at this time. (A Miss Lee
came out on the "Zealandia" on the 12th November, 1859 this could have
been her.) The journey took them 3 months and 21 days
and landed in Lyttelton, New Zealand on the 23 of November, 1858.
Most of
the research for this family has been completed back as far as when they
left England. If you would like any information about this family or if
you have any information that may help please email on the address below.
