Gilbert Mair (1799 - 1857)

Born 23 May 1799 in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Gilbert (Puckey) Mair — married 12 Sep 1827 (to 16 Jul 1857) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1857 at age 58 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand

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Biography

Gilbert Mair was born in Scotland.

Gilbert was the son of Robert Mair (1764-1844) from Deveron in Banffshire, Scotland

Gilbert, the second son, born at Peterhead in 1799, made several voyages to Spain in his father's sloops, when quite a boy. He came to New Zealand in the whaler "New Zealander," in 1820, and remained aboard during her return voyage to England, upon which occasion she carried as passengers the famous New Zealand chiefs, Hongi and Waikato.

Gilbert later made a voyage to Sydney from England, after marrying Elizabeth Gilbert Puckey Puckey-11 in Sydney on September 12 1827 they returned to New Zealand , settling at Te Wahupu Inlet, Bay of Islands.

He engaged with the Rev. Henry Williams and others in building the first mission vessel, the "Herald," a schooner of 60 tons. The construction of this vessel did not pass off without opposition from the natives. On one occasion, while he and the Rev. Williams were working at the vessel, they were surrounded by a large party of Maoris, who, for some fancied grievance, were in a furious rage, and with wild gestures and threats declared their intention of burning the vessel and annihilating the builders. Nothing daunted, Mr Williams seized a stout stake, and Gilbert Mair a broken oar, which they used so vigorously as to soon put the dusky warriors to flight, but not before Gilbert's left arm was broken in two places. ^[1]

Gilbert Mair as a JP, was one of four Europeans who were present at the Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840, as Witnesses.His wife and eldest daughter were also present.

He was a sailor and merchant trader in the Bay of Islands. Master of the schooner Herald.Gilbert Mair established quite a substantial Trading business in the North which extended down the East Coast of New Zealand to Gisborne.

He built a pier at Wihupu Bay Where most ships arriving in the Bay of Island called in at, The family were there until 31st December 1842 when due to the increase in unrest in the Region the family relocated to Mairs property Deveron, (so named after his home in Scotland ) situated North of the Whangarei settlement, where five more of his substantial family were born.,

After Gilbert Mair and the family moved, the Government bought the facility and it became a Naval Base and Barracks for the British.

They had 12 children, Their details follow :-

1. Caroline Elizabeth, born 1828, at Paihia; married William Bedlington, 1861; died at Whangarei in 1917.
2. Robert born 1830, at Paihia, Bay of Islands; married Mary Ellen Boult, 1861, at Whangarei.
3. William Gilbert (Major Mair), born 1832, at Bay of Islands; married Jane Cathcart Black, 1872; died 1912, at Waiotapu, Rotorua.
4. Marianne, born 1834, at Bay of Islands; married to George James Fraser, 1852, at Whangarei; died 1893, at Gisborne.
5. Henry Abbott, born 1836, at Bay of Islands; married Jane Harwood Greenway, 1869, at St. Paul's, Auckland; died 1881, at Santo, New Hebrides.
6. Charlotte, born 1838, at Bay of Islands; married to Walter Lawry Buller (afterwrds Sir Walter), 1862, at Whangarei; died 1891, at Wellington.
7. Jessie Eliza, born 1840, at Bay of Islands; married to James Davis, 1861, at Whangarei; died 1899, at Pukerimu.
8. Gilbert (now Capt. Gilbert Mair, N.Z.C.), born 1843, at Whangarei; married Katherine Sperry, 1888, at Wellington. Gilbert Mair died in1923 at his residence at Waiotapu, Rotorua and his body is entombed in the Te Arwa Maori Cemetry at Ohinemutu.(first tomb on ones left on exitting St Faiths Church)L
9. Matilda Helen, born 1845, at Whangarei; married Richard Sissons, 1868, at Whangarei.
10. Emily Frances, born 1847, at Bay of Islands; married to William Eastcott Seccombe, in 1876, at Whangarei; died 1902, at Whangarei.
11. Sophia Marella, born 1850, at Whangarei; died 1884, at Whangarei.
12. Lavinia Laura, born 1852, at Whangarei; married to John Howard Jackson, 1877, at Marton.

It may here be mentioned that the Mair coat-of-arms is a lira's head erased, argent, and the family motto, "Spes et fortitudo"—hope and fortitude. Could any device be more appropriate to a family which has had so large a share in the colonisation of this Britain of the South?

Gilbert passed away on July 16 1857.

Sources

1. ↑ Northern Advocate, 11 July 1919, Page 3

"Australia Marriages, 1810-1980", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTZ9-9MX : 18 July 2023), Gilbert Mair, 1827.

"New Zealand, Cemetery Transcriptions, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKD-5C29 : Thu Oct 05 06:02:19 UTC 2023), Entry for Gilbert Mair, 1857.

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22601418

Source: Geni World Family Tree URL: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40000-50786208/gilbert-mair-jp-in-geni-world-family-tree

NOTES

Northern Advocate 11.7.1919 p:3

FROM SCOTLAND.

Gilbert Mair was of the Mairs of Deveron, Banffshire, Scotland, and was born at Peterhead, on May 23rd 1799. He settled in New Zealand in 1824, and in the year 1827 was married to Elizabeth Gilbert Puckey at St. James' Church, Sydney. Gilbert Mair died at Whangarei in 1857, his widow surviving till 1870.

Physical description: Sketch - profiler Page includes diary entries and sketch of Gilbert Mair. Bambridge writes "Above is a sketch of Mr Mair who has come in for his share of trouble in the late disastrous occurances at the Bay. This astonishing the quantity of property he has lost by European parties and very little hope appears of obtaining it. He sat for me to take his likeness. He has the appearance of a dissapointed person in it. He is a very good natured gentleman and I hope he will he experience the sunshine of life which once gladdened his pathway"rSketch of Gilbert Mair. Bambridge, William, 1819-1879 : Diaries. Ref: MS-0130-308. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23096476