The Past...

.... is a foreign country, they do things differently there.
JP Hartley, The Go-Between

Inspired by today's Mono Monday challenge Past I had a little think about some of my ancestors. This chap has always fascinated me - my great great great uncle John was born on this farm, Sunwick, in Hatton Hall Berwickshire on the 1st April 1837. By 14 he was working as a servant  on a farm in Duns eventually becoming a groom on another farm in Chirnside. In October 1860 a baby girl was born to Christina Cockburn who accused him of being the father. He strongly denied parentage and took out a lawsuit against her which he won. Oddly, two months later they were married, and six months later they were on board the Pladda heading for New Zealand. Was he pushed or did he jump? Was he a bit of a bad boy and told to sort himself out, or was he ambitious and far sighted?
He, Christina and baby Margaret arrived in Akatore with presumably nothing but I imagine he was heading for the gold, for New Zealand was experiencing a gold rush. He seems to have been very successful for he and Christina settled in Otogo, built a house and had another 10 children. They were married for 50 years (one of the pix is of their anniversary celebrations) and at one point he was introduced to Lord Jellicoe the Governor. He died in Milton in 1926 at the good age of 88 and is buried in Otago next to Christina. A nice postscript - he kept in touch via letter with his older brother, William, my great great great grandfather who remained shepherding in Berwickshire. Two very different lives - a country or two away.

A gorgeous summery day here today. We have all worked flat out.  More digging and cutting back for me, more van work for the men - the bed frame is now in. 
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