Mary Elizabeth Reeve

Immigrated to Wellington on the SLAINS CASTLE which left Deal on the 18 September 1840, arriving into Port Nicholson (Wellington) on 25 January 1841. Mary travelled with her brother Thomas and his wife Anne. Mary's daughter Elizabeth was listed as her niece on the passenger list. Mary married William Reeve in New Zealand, William came over from the Chatham Islands to meet the SS Slains Castle, William adopted Elizabeth as his daughter, but she was illegitimate. William stated in his interview with the NZ Times aged 97 that he married Mary Fairbrass then they went back to the Chatham Islands for 3 years. They did not know each other before she arrived, so it seems correct that they would marry and travel as husband and wife rather she would travel and live with him as just acquaintances. However some say she married William 5 years later on 22/1/1846 in Old St Paul's cathedral Church Wellington, NZ, but wasnt built until 1865-66, twenty years later.

What plan did Mary have when she arrived in NZ as a single mother of an illegitamate chid, it was a huge risk to come to NZ under false pretenses and then expect someone to marry her and keep her and her child. Also her brother risked his immigration bring his niece as his own child, knowing he might have to continue to care for both of them and his own wife.