Biography

Barbara (Matheson) Torrens was born in Scotland.

Barbara (Matheson) Torrens migrated from Scotland to New Zealand.

Barbara (Matheson) Torrens lived in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Barbara was born about 1839-1841 in Scotland. ^[1]

She arrived in New Zealand on 24 March 1864 as a domestic servant aboard the Indian Empire; recorded as age 22 from Ross-shire. ^[2]

In 1865 at St. Andrew's Church in Christchurch, she married James Torrens (also spelt Torrance). ^{[3] [4]}

She passed away 21 August 1923 age 84. The surviving children were: ^[3]

• Mr. T. H. Torrens (Canterbury)
• Mrs. E. B. Taylor (Canterbury)
• Mrs. Haher? (Canterbury)
• Mrs. Rowe (Hawke's Bay)
• Mrs. Johnson (Taranaki)
• Mrs. White (Taranaki)
• Mrs. A. J. Nielsen (Waikanae)

She is buried at Addington Cemetery with James. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ The obituary gives age 84 in 1923 ; the passenger log gives 22 in 1863 (when boarding).
2. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSYK-VWT : Wed Nov 01 10:16:00 UTC 2023), Entry for Barbara Matheson, 24 Mar 1864.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1923 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Otaki Mail, 31 August 1923, Page 2
   "Personal" (accessed 17 January 2024)
4. ↑ NZ BDM Marriage search: 1865/7531 Barbara Matheson || James Torrance
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #141149682