Archibald John Gillies

The late Mr. Gillies. — Our obituary-to-day contains a notice of the death of Mr, Archibald Gillies of Otaria, Wairarapa, an old and highly respected settler. Mr. Gillies was one of the oldest settlers in this Province, and was one of the pioneers of settlement in the Wairarapa district, where he was highly respected alike, as an employer and a colonist. Many friends will learn of his sudden death with great grief. — Evening Post, March 27. Source: Hawke's Bay Herald (31 March 1868, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH18680331.2.9.5

The remains of the late Mr Archibald Gillies, of Otaria, Wairarapa, will leave the residence of Mr B. Ling, Lampton Quay, on Sunday the 29th instant, at 2 o'clock, when all friends are respectfully requested to attend. J. HALL, Undertaker. Source: Wellington Independent (28 March 1868, p. 7) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18680328.2.33.1

Isabella Turner and Archibald Gillies
Family tree information on Ancestry.com indicates that Isabella Turner was born in
Morvern, Argyll, Scotland, around 1812. There is a Scottish OPR record for Morvern
for the birth of an Isobel Turner on 20 July 1810 to Patrick Turner and Mary
MacIntyre.
According to NZ BDM records Isabella Turner married Archibald Gillies on 5 March
1844. Family tree information suggests that Archibald Gillies was born in Kilmallie
around 1816 to Alexander Gillies and Mary Cameron. He may have arrived in
Wellington from Sydney on 5 April 1840 on the Middlesex, in which case he may have
been one of the 12 stockmen listed as arriving on the ship in the New Zealand Gazette
and Wellington Spectator of 2 May 1840. The Middlesex brought 700 sheep and 80
cattle.
Alexander Gillies leased land in the Wairarapa with Angus McMaster, which was
eventually split, with McMaster taking Tuhitarata and Gillies Otaraia. Isabella Gillies
died in 1865.
The Wellington Independent of 13 June 1865 carried the following Death Notice: Gillies
– On Thursday morning, 18th inst, at the residence of Mr David Smith. Silver Stream,
Isabella beloved wife of Mr Archibald Gillies, late of Wairarapa.”
Archibald Gillies died in 1868. The Wellington Independent of 28 March 1868 Death
Notice read: “Gillies – On March 26, at the Hutt, Archibald Gillies, Esq, of Otaria,
Wairarapa, aged 52 years.”
According to family tree information, Isabella and Archibald had at least six
children:
• Annie Gillies, born in 1842, married Charles James Anderson in 1866.
• Mary Gillies, born in 1844, died in 1916, married Duncan Cameron (see Donald
Cameron and Christian McLean) in 1863.
• John Gillies, born in 1848.
• Robert Gillies, born in 1850.
• Alexander Gillies, born in 1851.
• Hugh Gillies, born in 1852, died in 1934.

Source: The Blenheim People by Hugh McPhail https://blenheim175.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/the-blenheim-people...