John Ross (1829 - 1912)

Born 1829 in Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Williamina Duff (Wallace) Ross — married 1866 in Tain, Ross-Shire

Descendants

Died 4 Nov 1912 at about age 83 in Wanganui, New Zealand

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Biography

Extract from "Presbyterian Church Archive" page 195

ROSS, Very Rev John b 17.4.1829, Caithness, Scotland, the son of Murdoch Ross (a flourmiller) & Christina Ross née McKay.

w Willimiana Duff Wallace b 22.8.1844 m 1866 at Tain, Ross-Shire - d 23.11.1932 They had 11 children: eight daughters and three sons.

Studied for 4 years at New College Edinburgh, the Theological College of the Free Church of Scotland. Licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Tain, Ross-Shire 1866. Emigrated to New Zealand on the "Resolute", arriving Port Chalmers 1866, came to NZ with a commission from the Free Church of Scotland; ordained at Masterton.

Ind Masterton WpP 28.10.1867 - itinerated from Wanganui to Castlepoint and the Wairarapa; he was the only Presbyterian Minister in the Wairarapa at that time; he became worn out by constant riding on horseback, hence he accepted a Call to - Turakina WgP began 14.6.1871, Ind 7.1871 - retired 1903 Moderator of the General Assembly of the (Northern) Presbyterian Church 1881 'special work of grace' 1885

Served on the Wellington Education Board and later the Wanganui Education Board and is recorded as having strongly resisted a move to cut religious teaching from public schools.

With the help of his wife he founded a school in the manse at Turakina which was at first co-educational then became a boarding school for girls called the "Turakina Ladies' Classical School". At this point an addition was made to the manse.

The basis of the school was indeed classical but the teaching methods were not old fashioned. Rev Ross taught Latin through literature, and English through Shakespeare and the Bible. Mrs Ross taught needlework and other teachers taught crafts. In the 1890's the school offered courses in English, Latin, Greek, German, French, mathematics, music, drawing, singing, painting, calisthenics, and plain and fancy needlework.

For some years the manse was also the Theological College for the Presbyterian Church in the North Island as Rev Ross gave candidates for the Ministry assistance with their studies before they completed their training at the Theological Hall in Dunedin.

John Ross retired in 1903, he and his wife then settling in Wanganui where they llived out the rest of their lives. After Rev Ross's retirement, the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand bought the school (manse) building and in 1905 opened the Turakina Maori Girls' School. The school moved to Marton in the 1920's.

"An enlightened educationalist, was active in community affairs and a faithful Pastor"

His Brother Wiiliam served in the Ministry at Cowcaddens in Scotland.

Died 4.11.1912, interred in Wanganui Cemetery.

Sources

NZ Death Registration: 1912/8974 Ross, John | Age: 83Y ^[1]

1. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).

• [Presbyterian Church Archive]
• "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBMJ-R2X : 10 February 2018), John Ross, 16 Apr 1829; citing LATHERON,CAITHNESS,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 990,522.
• "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYQ2-86D : 10 February 2018), John Ross and Williamina Duff Wallace, 01 Jun 1866; citing Tarbat By Fearn,Ross And Cromarty,Scotland, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.
• See book by Malcolm W. Wilson: "Turakina, The Story of a Country Parish, 1852-1952" Printed for the Presbyterian Bookroom, Christchurch (1952). See esp. chapters 3 and 4.