Richard Driver was born at Clifton, Bristol
in 1812 and went to sea as a lad of 14. He spend some years sailing both
convict and whaling ships, and finally arrived in Otago on the John & Edward
in 1838.
He married a
Maori Chief’s daughter, Motoitoi and they lived in a cave at Murdering Beach
for some years. They had three children before Motoitoi died in 1846.
After Motoitoi’s death Richard lived with a Maori housekeeper and by her had a
fourth child.
Whilst on
duty piloting the Philip Laing into the harbour, Richard met Elizabeth
Robertson, a young Scot. Richard and Elizabeth married and a further 11
live children were born. The family tree is astonishingly large and
reaches out in all directions.
Dates and details of interest
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RICHARD DRIVER
Born 26 August 1812
Died 19th January 1897
Buried at Purakanui
Married Elizabeth Robertson 30 May
1949.
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Elizabeth Robertson
Born 29 August 1831 at Aberlagy
Scotland
Died 9 May 1897
Buried at Purakanui.
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Their children -
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Richard
Born 26 June 1850
Died 5 June 1893
Buried at Purakanui
Married Annie Duncan
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Annie Duncan
Died 17 March 1928 in her 71st year.
Buried at Purakanui
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Elizabeth
Born 18 November 1851
Died 30 June 1939
Buried at Purakanui
Married William Forgie
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William Forgie
Died of pnuemonia 9 April 1893
Aged 51 years
Buried at Purakanui
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Emma
Born 10 June 1853
Died 7 January 1900
Buried at Purakanui
Married George McKessar
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George McKessar
Died 12 April 1912 aged 75 years
Buried at Purakanui
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Ada
Born 20 June 1861
Died 1 October 1945
Buried at Purakanui
Married George Harris
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George Harris
Died 4 November 1928 aged 71 years
Buried at Purakanui
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Ellen
Born 4 September 1863
Died November 1936
Buried at North Invercargill
Married George Durry
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George Durry
Died 1939
Buried at North Invercargill
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Frederick
Born 25 December 1865
Died 10 September 1943
Buried at Purakanui
Married Isabella Russell
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Isabella Russell
Died 18 January 1945 in her 74th
year
Buried at Purakanui
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Thomas
Born 5 October 1867
Died 11 October 1932
Buried at Purakanui
Married Isabella Cooper
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Isabella Cooper
Died 7 March 1957 aged 83 years
Buried at Purakanui
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Charles
Born 18 September 1969
Died 30 June 1939
Buried at Purakanui
Married Margaret Ford
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Margaret Ford
Died 22 December 1968 aged 92
years
Cremated in Dunedin
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Annie
Born 7 November 1871
Died
Buried Andersons Bay Dunedin
Married James Sutherland
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James Sutherland
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William
Born 18 November 1873
Died 1954
Buried Hamilton
Married Lavinia Hitchcock
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Lavinia Hitchcock
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Agnes
Born 18 July 1876
Died 27 April 1889 as result of an
accident at Purakanui.
Buried at Purakanui
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