John Tinnock

John Tinnock was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in around 1812. He married Rachel Cochrane in 1836 and the couple had two sons and three daughters before leaving Scotland for Otago in 1860. John’s motivation for moving the family to New Zealand may have been connected to the family’s poor economic situation in Scotland and the fact that they did not own land in Ayrshire. Moreover, the family travelled to Otago during the Otago gold rush, which suggests they emigrated to find wealth and security in the budding region.

The Tinnocks travelled to Otago on board the Lady Egidia. Carrying 400 passengers, the Lady Egidia was the largest emigrant ship to travel to Otago up to that time. Most passengers on board were working class, primarily labourers, farmers and domestic servants. Such passengers most likely left Scotland for the same reason as the Tinnocks. During the voyage an unusually high number of passengers died, totalling 32. The high death toll was later blamed on the ship’s surgeon whose efforts to treat sick patients allegedly came too late or were ineffectual.

One passenger, who lost three children on board, complained that his children received no medical attention before it was far too late. Luckily everyone in the Tinnock family survived the journey and after 106 days at sea the Lady Egidia arrived in Port Chalmers in February 1861. The Tinnocks settled on the Otago Peninsula where John acquired land and worked as a farmer. He lived a quiet life, keeping out of public affairs, before dying from cancer aged 61 in 1872.