Histories

James Maxwell and Mary Stevenson NZ

Mary was born in the village of Straiton, the daughter of a wheelwright, one Peter Stevenson. She went out to work at about age 17 and met and married James Maxwell, a son of the Clan Maxwell. The family did not approve of this marriage, considering that James had married 'beneath his station'.

Possibly as a consequence of this disapproval, the young couple joined the first band of migrants organised by Edward Gibbon Wakefield in a commecial emigration venture offering land in New Zealand under attractive terms. These terms involved somewhat questionable land purchases from the Maori, and in the Nelson area shortly afterwards led to conflict between the incoming settlers and the resident tribes. In addition, the terms of the scheme required that intending migrant families should ship with them vital components of the homes they would be building, such as the windows and doors.

The reasoning for this became apparent later, for the ship they travelled on, the 'Aurora', was subsequently sent to the Kaipara Harbour north of Auckland, where she picked up Kauri timber for transport to Wellington. Unfortunately, she was lost on the return voyage with the timber no doubt intended for sale to the colonists then learning the craft of building huts of raupo, Maori style.

The Maxwells were initially dumped on the beach at Petone, in what is now Wellington's main harbour. It did not take them long to decide that better prospects were likely in Aucxkland, far to the north, so they set off on foot, following Maori paths through heavy bush and scrub, intitially reaching the Wairoa Settlement in the northern Hawkes Bay on the east coast.

It is presumed that they stayed there some time, and presumably acquired a small cutter, for it is recorded that when they did arrive in Auckland he sold the vessel to Oreki Paul, at that time paramount chief of the Ngatiwhatua Tribe, for 1900 acres in the upper reaches of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, at a place now known as Riverhead. There James set himself up as a timber merchant, supplying the then infant town of Auckland with all their timber requirements. James continued with this work until 1856 when he died as a result of a fall from his horse when returning from a business trip in Auckland.

This meant Mary was left alone to manage the business with her two eldest boys, but it was very difficult and many of the people who worked for them were a mixed lot, now no longer under the strong hand of James. She married a John Quigley, but after some years they parted company, and eventually Mary moved north to the Hokianga district in Northland, where there was a flourishing timber trade. There she resided near her daughter Annie who had married into the extensive Beazley clan.

 

James Maxwell's life

Posted 25 Mar 2011 by Mitchell Cocking

 

James Maxwell, (born 1813 - 1819) belonged to a Scottish family in Ayr. He went to England and engaged in book-binding in Liverpool. About 1836 he married Mary, daughter of Peter and Elzabeth Stevenson. She was born in 1820 in Dumfries, Ayr, Scotland and her father was a blacksmith and wheelwright.

 

In Scotland, the families were divided into clans, each with their own distinctive tartan for ceremonial occasions. the Maxwell clan had their own tartan, predominantly red and black, in a small check.

 

The Maxwells were said to be a rather fierce war-like clan who used to raid over the English border and clean up three or four Sassenachs or some of their cattle before breakfast.  "True or false?"

 

They emigrated to New Zealand in 1840 on the "Aurora" landing at Wellington where I have been told there is a plaque on the rocks near Petone marking their landing. They stayed there for some time where their two eldest daughters, Mary and Elizabeth were born. Lack of opportunities however,  decided them to trek overland with help from the Maoris to Wairoa, north of Napier. Acquiring a cutter there they proceeded by sea to Auckland, arriving in 1844. Here he received an appointment as transport manager for the extensive milling operations at Lucas Creek (now known as Albany), owned by J. C. Stone. Logs were pit sawn on contract and hauled down by bullocks to the tidal water and rafted across the harbour to Auckland. In 1848 he purchased the Station, 17 head of working bullocks and gear for 400 pounds. In 1849, 1850 and 1851 he applied to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for renewals of his timber cutting license. During this time other children were born at Albany. Between 1851 and 1854 the Maxwells turned their attention to the Ararimu Station and gradually disposed of the Lucas Creek property, some 500 acres. In 1854 they acquired some 416 acres by Crown Grant and another 13 acres known as Maxwell's Landing on the Wautaiti Stream in 1855. The Ararimu property had great potential and greater transport and milling difficulties. Within six months of acquiring the area Maxwell obtained an advance of 1050 pounds from an Auckland merchant, Robert Mitchell. Two months later the property was conveyed to John Logan Campbell with whom Maxwell worked until his death, caused by a fall from a horse in 1859.

 

 Birmingham, England, 

Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937

 New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007

 

Mitchell Cocking originally shared this on 25 Mar 2011