Peter Robertson and Janet Ferguson marriage
FERGUSON
Janet Ferguson marries Peter Robertson and Alexander Ayson marries Joan Ferguson but what is the relationship between Janet and Joan, John and Robert Ferguson?
Obituary for Alexander Ayson husband of Joan Ferguson Ayson. Bruce Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2693, 15 October 1895, Page 3
ALEXANDER AYSON An old and honored resident of the colony has paid the debt of nature full of years. We allude to the late Mr Alexander Ayson who breathed his last at "The Crescent" Wyndham on Monday, 7th inst at the advanced age of 81 years. The deceased gentleman did not feel very well on Saturday but Dr Menzies who was called in did not aprehend that there was anything seriously the matter with hi, ; but on Sunday afternoon he was seized with an apopleptic stroke. He never regained consciousness but gradually sank expriing at 6 o'clock on Monday evening. Alexander Ayson was born on the 24th of May 1814 in Glenshee, Perthshire, Scotland. After receiving his early education in his native town he graduated as a schoolmaster at the Normal School, Edinburgh his first appointment being to Lossismouth in Morayshire where he remained for about five years. The nex scene of his scholastic labors was at Urquhart near Elgin in the same county where he taught with much success for ten years--until well on towards the close of 1855. At that time the educational authorities of the Otago Provincial District were in quest of suitable teachers for the requirements of the young settlement and Mr Ayson who was the first one chosen in that capacity embarked along with his wife and young family of four in November 1855 in the ship Southern Cross which arrived at Port Chalmers in the following February. The new dominie was given his choice as to which locality would be the scene of his labors and he chose the Tokomairiro district thus becoming the first teacher here. The "Skule" opened with 13 pupils in a dairy on Springfield Farm (Mr James Smith's now of Greenfield estate). It will be of interest to note that among the 13 "young hopefuls" were Edward and Sarah Duthle the late George Poppelwell, Magdalen and John Smith (children of Mr James Smith) the dominie's two Thomas and Margaret (now Mrs D Doull of Wyndham), Katie and Sarah Martin (daughters of the late Mr Edward Martin) Jane Brookes (daughter of the late Mr Thomas Brookes) Walter Robson (many years at Whitelea, Balclutha and now of Gisborne), and two others. After the young idea had been trained how to shoot for about six months in Smith's dairy a teacher's residence was built at Fairfax the school being conducted in a wing of the building. This house still stands and is now the property of Mr. John Wight. Two years later, the growing school necessitated larger accommodation which was obtained in the old Presbyterian Church on the hill alongside fairfax Cemetery ; and there Mr Ayson taught until a schoolhouse proper was erected in the town of Milton. After teaching for 10 years in the district he resigned his appointment in order to go in for farming at Warepa but the old love proved too strong and after three years" experience of agricultural pursuits he leased his farm and accepted the appointment of first teacher at Tuturau. Four years later he was appointed to the Gorge School where he resided seven years ; then he was appointed to Southbridge school where he remained another seven years.. At this time the weight of years coming upon him he decided on relinquishing the practice of his profession for good and accordingly went back to his farm at Warepa where he built a residence for himself and wife but leased the farm to a son-in-law Mr David Doull at the "The Crescent." That the deceased gentleman was successful in his profession was well-known to those who had had the benefit of such experience. Among other of his scholars may be mentioned William Taylor of Urquhart now Inspector of schools in Otago. He also possessed several letters from old scholars in the Old Country one in particular being from Mr Anderson now a leading banker who wrote that his success in life was attributable in a marked degree to the sound training he had received from his old teacher at Urquhart. The Rev Wm Wright of Columba Church, Oamaru (and formerly of Knapdale and Otepopo) was a pupil-teacher under Mr Ayson in Tokomairiro. The deceased gentleman held souveniers from many of his scholars in both day and Sunday schools. The deceased gentleman was the father of six children--Margaret (Mrs David Doull), Thomas (Meadow Bank, Menzies Ferry), Joan (Mrs. W Renton, Inchclutha), William (dead several years), Annie (the late Mrs John Robinson, Tokomairiro) and Magdalen (Mrs Henry Robinson, Warepa)--all members of well known families. The late Mr Ayson belonged to a remarkably long-lived family. His death is the first break in it. His brother Mr Peter Ayson of Warepa is now 87 years of age ; his sister Mrs James Robertson of Waitepeka is 85 ; and another brother Mr James Ayson must be nearly 80 years of age. His father lived to the age of 84. Until the last final illness overtook him the subject of this notice who was endowed with a Nale frame was never known to have had a serious indisposition during his life. With Mr Ayson's demise a man of unblemished character has passed away. He was of strong religious tendencies and had been in office as an elder of the Presbyterian Church both at Home and in the colony for many years. It was the old gentleman's glory and boast that he had sacrificed an opportunity in life by adhering to his convictions and "coming out" at the time of the famous Disruption. He was precentor of the Free Church at Urquhart during his ten years' residence in that parish and also held a similar position for some years at Tokomairiro. He was also the first Sabbath School superintendent at Tokomairiro. He never indulged much in outdoor recreations except with the fowling-piece but was passionately fond of literature all his life. He was for a long time a frequent contributor to the press on matters of theological interest and up to the last took a keen though unobtrusive interest in political subjects.--'Wyndham Farmer.'
OBITUARY for John Robertson brother of Joan Ferguson Ayson. Otago Witness , Issue 2548, 14 January 1903, Page 36
Brief mention was recently made of the sudden death after mending a fence in one of his paddocks of Mr John Ferguson of Menzies Ferry in his seventy-eight year. As he did not arrive in due course at the house his grand-daughter Margaret Edmond was sent by Mrs. Ferguson to see what had detained him; and the girl found him lying dead beside a gate close to where the grandson had left him some little time before. It had evidently been a summons as peaceful as it was suden, the cause of death being an apoplectic seizure. Deceased was born in the parish of Alyth, Forfarshire, Scotland on March 25, 1825. In early manhood he farmed near Kirriemuir (the Thrums of J.M Barrie) and it may be incidentally stated that he knew Barrie's parents well. In 1863 he married Catherine Gibson the daughter of a neightoburing farmer and almost immediately aterwards emigrated to New Zealand whither they had been preceded by his elder brother and sister--Robert who is still alive and resides at Kelso and Joan (Mrs Alexander Ayson mother of Mr Thomas Ayson) and Mrs David Doull of Wyndam), Arriving at Port chalmers in April 1864 they joined the husband's relatives in Tokomairiro--Mr Robert Ferguson farmer and Mr Alexander Ayson the first schoolmaster introduced to Otago by the then Provincial Government. He eventually took up a farm near Jew's Bush, Warepa and resided there some years. Next he removed to Edendale where he was engaged for some considerable time in contract work on Edendale estate. Having a family growing up around him he decided to settle down at Menzies Ferry and was one of the first to take up land there when the block was thrown open for settlement; and there he continued to reside until the end. He was a staunch Presbyterian and for upwards of 18 years was an eler of Wyndham Church. During the past few years he has suffered from heart trouble and also was afflicted with rheumatism. He is survived by a widow and four of a family the members of which are Agnes (Mrs J Edmond, Dunedin), Joan (Mrs R.J. Irwin, Glenham), Robert (North Island), and John (Menzies Ferry) both sons being unmarried. Another daughter Margaret (Mrs. Wm M'Lellan) predeceased him. Despite the heavy rain a large concourse of mourners testified their respect for their departed friend by following his remains to their last resting place in Wyndham Cemetery. Rev Mr Aitken was the officating clergyman/P>
DEATH. Obituary for Robert Ferguson brother to John and Joan Ferguson
Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 68, 6 September 1904, Page 4 FERGUSON--On the 2nd of September at his residence Garlow, Kelso Robert Ferguson farmer late of Tokomairiro aged 81 years. Deeply regretted
Possible kin ? Patrick Ferguson who died at the Battle of King's Mountain, South Carolina
Patrick Ferguson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on June 4, 1744 to James Ferguson of Pitford. His father was a lawyer and had defended the followers of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. In 1764, he had become Lord Pitford. Patrick's older brother was a friend of Pitt the Younger and served for thirty years in Parliament. His mother was sister to Major General James Murray, who had served under Major General James Wolfe in his Quebec campaign, even commanding the left wing at the Plains of Abraham
Kings Mountain, SC
Kings Mountain, SC