Duncan Cameron

Duncan Cameron
Duncan Cameron was born in Ockle, Ardnamurchan, Scotland around 1832, and was
8 years old in 1840 when he sailed for New Zealand on the Blenheim with his parents.
Duncan married Mary Gillies in 1863 (daughter of Isabella Turner and Archibald
Gillies). They spent the rest of their lives farming in the Wairarapa, although not
without mishap. The Evening Post of 29 April 1880 reported that Mr Duncan
Cameron of Moroa met with a serious accident at Featherston, when his trap
capsized going around a corner, causing cuts and bruises and a broken collar bone.
Duncan Cameron died on 21 April 1915. The Wairarapa Daily Times of 22 April 1915
carried the following obituary:
The death occurred yesterday morning, at Moroa, near Greytown, of a highly
respected and pioneer settler of the Wairarapa, in the person of Mr Duncan
Cameron, who had reached the ripe ago of 84 years. Deceased came to New Zealand
37
with his parents, and landed, at Kaiwarra on Christmas Day, 1840. In the year
1846 his father, Mr Donald Cameron, entered into possession of the sheep station,
on the East Coast, known as Pahaoa, which later was taken over by the five sons,
Messrs Dugald, Alexander, Donald, John and Duncan Cameron. Later again
Messrs Duncan and John Cameron bought out their brother’s interest in Pahaoa,
and divided the property into two parts, one of which was renamed Glen Dhu, and
became the property of Mr Duncan Cameron. Deceased leaves a widow, who is a
daughter, of the late Mr Archibald Gillies, of Otaraia, and there were ten children,
as follows:—Messrs William, (deceased), Thomas (deceased), Alan (at Castlepoint),
and Jack Cameron (at Glen Dhu), Misses Annie, Nellie, and Grace Cameron, and
Mrs Cecil Kebbell, Mrs Fred Pearce, and Mrs J. Goring Johnston. The relatives will
have the deep sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their bereavement.
Mary (Gillies) Cameron died on 16 February 1916 at Moroa, Greytown, aged 73.
The Wairarapa Daily Times of 30 July 1919 reported that the Misses Cameron had
instructed Messrs Levin & Co to sell by public auction the well-known Moroa
homestead, together with fine old home of 15 rooms and outbuildings which, with
slight alteration, could be made into a good boarding school.
Duncan and Mary had nine children:
• Annie Isabella Cameron, born in 1864, died in 1934.
• Donald Thomas Cameron, born in 1866, died in 1913, married Mary Bulkley in
1910.
• Mary Christina Cameron, born in 1867, died in 1943, married Cecil Kebbell
(son of Blenheim passenger) in 1896.
• Catherine Ellen Cameron, born in 1870, died in 1956.
• Jessie Cameron, born in 1871, married Frederick Pearce in 1896.
• William Duncan Cameron, born in 1872, died in 1901 while serving in the
South African War.
• John Alexander Cameron, born in 1874, died in [1941?] married Helen Gough
in 1920.
• Alice Margaret Cameron, born in 1876, died in 1936, married John GoringJohnston in 1899.
• Allan Archibald Cameron, born in 1878, died in 1928, served in South African
War, married Kathleen Meredyth Meredith in 1912.
• Constance Evelyn Grace Cameron, born in 1879, died in 1970.

Source: The Blenheim People by Hugh McPhail https://blenheim175.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/the-blenheim-people...