James Benjamin Stirling (1862 - 1908)

Born 1862 in Starborough, Blenheim, New Zealand

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth (Aroa) Stirling — married 2 Mar 1889 in Blind River, Marlborough, New Zealand

Died 8 Nov 1908 at about age 46 in Kaikoura, New Zealand

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Biography

James was born in 1862, reputedly in Starborough, Seddon, New Zealand

He married Sarah Elizabeth (Aroa) Stirling in 1889.

MARRIAGE NOTICE. ^[1] MARRIAGE.

Stirling— Aroa.— On Saturday, March 2, 1889, at the residence of the bride's mother, by the Rev. W. O. Robb, James Benjamin Stirling, Esq., of Starborough, to Sarah Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Robert Aroa, Esq., of Blind River.

They had two children, Myrtle and Allan

Apr 2 1901/8433 Myrtle (m. 1930/1130 Cecil Algernon Shaw, d. 1990)

Apr 26 1905/5026 Allan Norman (d. 1986)

He died in 1908 from an accident, at 47. ^[2]

DEATH NOTICE.^[3]

Stirling.—On November 8th, 1908, (accidentally killed), James Benjamin Stirling, of Hundalee, Kaikoura, aged 46 years.

PERSONAL. Our Kaikoura correspondent telegraphs that Mr James Benjamin Stirling was killed on Sunday evening through his horses bolting and pulling him over the splash-board of his buggy. He was discovered dead across the swingletrees, his head and shoulders being much cut about. The deceased was a son-in-law of Mrs Aroa, and was formerly manager of Starborough. He was highly esteemed in Kaikoura.

The following day the Marlborough Express expanded on its story: ^[4]

Mr James Benjamin Stirling, sheep farmer, of Hundalee, was killed at half-past six o'clock last night. We are informed that he was driving to Mr Goulter's, Omihi, and had just left his wife at Mr C. Smith's, when, after starting off from there, the horses shied and bolted. MrStirling was thrown forward and was seen to fall over the buggy splash board. The horses, being out of control, continued in their mad career across the Oaro river, unchecked until they got opposite the Catholic Church, when they were stopped by Mr Beaton, jun., and others. Mr Stirling was found to be dead, his body across the swingletrees, with the head downward. Apparently his head had struck the ground when he fell over, rendering him unconscious, and it probably bumped against the roadway, as it was much cut about, as also, were his shoulders. The clothes on the upper part of the body wore torn off. Mr Christopher Smith and Mr Gilbert followed up the bolting horses when it was seen that Mr Stirling had not recovered, his seat. Mr Stirling was successful in obtaining one of the Hundalee holdings when the country was sub-divided some years ago, and as soon as he got buildings erected he made it his home, he and his wife being highly esteemed as settlers. Deceased, who was every thing his name signifies, was a most industrious settler and an unostentatious man. He is understood to have managed Starborough at one time, and is also said to have been associated with other Awatere properties. He married a Miss Aroa (Blind River) and leaves a widow and young family; his age was about 50.

Sources

1. ↑ MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS, VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 58, 9 MARCH 1889
2. ↑ NZBDM deaths 1908/7967 Stirling James Benjamin 47Y
3. ↑ MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS, VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 266, 10 NOVEMBER 1908
4. ↑ KAIKOURA. MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS, VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 267, 11 NOVEMBER 1908