Annette (Clarke) McKellar (1807 - 1890)

Born 30 Aug 1807 in Battersea, London, England

Ancestors

Wife of Dugald McKellar MD — married 13 Jun 1826 in St Mary's Church, Battersea, London, England

Descendants

Died 1 Apr 1890 at age 82 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

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Biography

Widow, Early Taranaki Settler and Pioneer, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, formerly of Battersea, London, and Madeira.

Background

Annette Clarke was the youngest daughter of John Alden Clarke, London banker, and Frances Arnaud, of Battersea, London. She was born on 30 August 1807 in Battersea. She was baptised on 15 October 1807 at St Mary's Church, Battersea.[1]

Marriage and family

On 13 June 1826 at St Mary's Church, Battersea, she married Dr Dugald McKellar, with issue five sons and seven daughters.

Madeira

In 1840 for the benefit of her husband's health, the family with seven children went to Madeira. The eldest son, Edward, stayed in London where he was studying medicine like his father before him. Four daughters were born in Madeira, two of whom died in infancy and who were buried in the British Cemetery of Funchal.

Her husband, Dugald McKellar, died in June 1849 in Madeira. He was buried with their two infant daughters in the British Cemetery of Funchal.

Taranaki, New Zealand

On 10 June 1852 Annette McKellar and nine of her ten surviving children embarked for New Zealand. They sailed from Madeira with two servants onboard the St Michael barque that had originated from London and brought the constitution to New Zealand. The servants were Emanuel de Castro and his wife, Rita Mary; they left the McKellar family service in 1853 (he applied for New Zealand naturalisation in 1860). The ship went to New Plymouth, Taranaki, then Auckland, arriving at New Plymouth on 2 December 1852.

Following their arrival in New Plymouth, the family settled on land that Annette McKeller purchased at Omata, south of New Plymouth, and began farming. Due to hostilities during the Taranaki War (17 Mar 1860-18 Mar 1861) the family fled back to New Plymouth for a time.

Death and burial

She survived her husband by nearly 41 years and died on 1 April 1890 at New Plymouth, aged 82. She was buried in Te Henui Cemetery.

Obituary

McKellar - On April 1st, at New Plymouth, Taranaki, Annette McKellar, widow of the late Dugald McKellar MD, late of Battersea and Madeira, in her 81st year. 2 Apr 1890, TH, Papers Past, NLNZ [2]

Grave

"In Memory of Annette McKellar, Died at New Plymouth April 1st 1890 Aged 80 Years. Also of Her Husband Dugald McKellar MD of Battersea and Madeira, Died June 1849 Aged 52 Years. And Children Selina Jane, Died July 19th 1844 Aged 9 Months. Isabella Courtenay, Died March 15th 1850 Aged 2½ Years, Buried in Funchal Cemetery Madeira. 'Trust in the Lord.'"

Children

1 Dr Edward McKellar MD JP (1827-1914), Deputy Surgeon General in the Indian Army and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons; late of Woodleigh, Brighton, Sussex. In 1865 in India, he married Eliza Mary Anne White, with issue two daughters who never married: Annette Mary and Mabel Frances. This line became extinct in 1946.

2 Annette Paul née McKellar (1829-1863). In 1863 at St Mary's Church, Parnell, she married Major James Paul, of the 65th Regiment. She died six days after the birth of their only daughter, Capt Annette Paul (1863-1952), New Zealand Salvation Army Officer and survivor of the sinking of the Wairarapa. She never married and this line became extinct upon her death in 1952.

3 Georgina Burne Hetley née McKellar (1832-1898), a botanical artist, best remembered for her book The Native Flowers of New Zealand. In 1856 at Omata Church, Taranaki, she married Charles Hetley, Esq, an Omata Settler, who died suddenly in 1857, leaving her with a seven week old son, Charles Frederic Hetley (1857-1931). This line became extinct in 1980.

4 Henry Scott McKellar (1834-1912), Collector of Customs at Christchurch, Auckland, and then Wellington; he was a Member of the Wellington Diocesan Synod for over 30 years. He married 1ly Sophia Louisa Heywood and 2ly Maria Russell Hulme, daughter of Lt-Col William Hulme, of the 96th Regiment of Foot. Both his wives died in childbirth. He had issue two surviving daughters: Mrs Louisa Annette Barraud, who married Edward Noel Barraud, son of Charles Decimus Barraud, the amateur watercolour artist; and Mrs Florence Mary Porritt.

5 Capt Alfred Arnaud Morris McKellar (1835-1921), Founding Member of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants, Auditor, Company Secretary and New Zealand War Veteran. In 1875 at St Mary's Church, Parnell, he married Alice Maud Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, Solicitor, of Auckland, with issue three children: Arnaud McKellar; Cecil George McKellar JP; and Mrs Maud Florence Rutherford.

6 Dugald McKellar Jr (1836-1916), Collector of HM Customs in Wellington, Merchant and New Zealand War Veteran. In 1863 at St Mary's Church, Parnell, he married Georgina Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, Solicitor, of Auckland, with issue nine children, including: Henry Dugald McKellar; Capt Arthur Willson McKellar RN; William Douglas McKellar; Alfred Cyril McKellar; and Mrs Ethel Margaret Law.

7 Capt James Scott McKellar (1838-1924), Merchant, Accountant and New Zealand War Veteran, of New Plymouth. In 1874 at Burton's Hill Church, Omata, he married Caroline Brown, daughter of Rev Henry Handley Brown, with issue three children: Gertrude Mary; Dugald Henry McKellar; and Mrs Jessie Caroline Abraham.

8 Mary Elizabeth Webster née McKellar (1840-1931), Pioneer Settler and Church Parishioner. In 1863 at St Mary's Church, Parnell, she married Capt Frederick Lewis Webster, Esq, Merchant, Auctioneer, Commission and Shipping Agent, and New Zealand War Veteran, of New Plymouth, with issue nine children.

9 Katherine (Kitty) McKellar (1841-1924), Spinster, she died in Brighton, Sussex.

10 Selina Jane McKellar (1843-4), died in infancy in Madeira aged nine months. She was buried in the British Cemetery of Funchal.

11 Gertrude Forbes McKellar (1845-1861), died at New Plymouth of fever aged 15. She was buried in St Mary's Churchyard and was later reinterred with her mother in Te Henui Cemetery.

12 Isabella Courtenay McKellar (1847-50), died in infancy in Madeira aged two. She was buried in the British Cemetery of Funchal.

Sources

Obit 2 Apr 1890, TH, Vol XXXIX, Issue 8744, Papers Past, NLNZ.[3]

Obit of her daughter, 10 Mar 1931, Death of Mrs Webster, Early Pioneer of Taranaki, Reached New Plymouth in 1852, TDN, Papers Past, NLNZ.[4]

1807 Baptism, Family Search.[5]

Baptism at St Mary's Church, Battersea (1807, IGI).

Death reg 1890/2119 Annette McKellar, age 81 [sic], NZBDM.[6]

Find A Grave.[7]