John Cotton Rowley (abt. 1841 - 1886)

Born about Feb 1841 in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Rose (Mathias) Rowley — married 20 Jul 1865 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 9 Jul 1886 at about age 45 in Avondale Station, Southland, New Zealand

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Biography

John Cotton Rowley was born 1840 in Shropshire, England, son of Dr. Thomas Rowley and Mary Farmer. He followed his older brother Tom Rowley arriving in New Zealand in 1858 on the Westminster.^[1][2]

He farmed with his brother in Canterbury before moving south to manage his own farm. He partnered with Captain James Hamilton, a family friend and a former soldier in India with the British Army. They decided to settle on Hamiltons Station near Waipiata in Central Otago. Since there were no trees in the area, they imported wood to make boxes to use to mold sun-dried bricks for building. The old homestead was 'wattle and daub' with 18-inch thick walls.^[2]

He married Mary Rose Mathias 20 Jul 1865 at St. Michael's Church, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Mary was the sister of Emily Eliza Marianne (Mathias) Rowley, wife of John Cotton's brother Tom. He took his new bride down to the homestead where they lived for several years. Their first daughter was born there 14 Jul 1868.^[2]

While at Hamilton's Station, he also partnered with Captain James Hamilton and Frederick Wayne in Taieri Lake Station and later in Shag Valley Station. Wayne was bought out of the Waihemo Grange and the Rowley and Hamilton partnership. Cotton and Mary then moved to a property he called Maryland but was later known as Heathfield, near Palmerston in Otago. The partners established the Shag Point Coal Mine (managed by Allan McIntosh) which supplied coal to all of North Otago and beyond; initially by steam ship "Shag" and subsequently by rail after a private rail line was built from the mine to the main trunk line. ^[3][2]

In March 1875, Cotton, Mary and their two children took the steam ship "Mataura" to England to visit family. The steam ship had all the amenities including Haslam's Patent Freezing Machinery with the second cargo of frozen meat from New Zealand. Their daughter Elizabeth (Betty) was born in London in June and baptised at Bridgnorth at Willey. They returned to New Zealand on board a Nelson ship "Faithful" in October of the same year.^[2]

In 1880 Cotton travelled south on the newly opened railroad and explored around Southland. Finding the property named "Avondale", he purchased it of Captain Raymond. Unfortunately, between selling his property at Palmerston and returning to Avondale, the homestead at Avondale was burned to the ground, the Raymond family escaping the blaze just in time. However, undeterred, Cotton had a new home built. There he lived until his death in 1886 when he tragically fell from his horse and died from injuries sustained. He left a large family of seven daughters and three sons.^[2]

Research Notes

The referenced document was found to contain some discrepancies & corrections on the above material.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/genealogy/Westminster1858.htm
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Rowley, Richard. Our Rowley Family: From Shropshire to South Island, New Zealand. Whitianga, New Zealand, 2020, pp 42-63
3. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18790618.2.16
4. ↑ http://anglicanhistory.org/nz/blain_canterbury2007.pdf

• New Zealand Death Records.
• Obituary.
• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/genealogy/Westminster1858.htm

• Find A Grave: Memorial #196173686