New Zealand Gordons
The Gordons O' Girnoc
The Girnoc Farms
Past Research
Location Map
Gordon Tombstones
Sources
Home
In 1878 when James was 34, he married Christina SUTHERLAND, daughter of Thomas SUTHERLAND, in Manse, Christchurch.
James Campbell was the First Lessee of Campbell Island. His story has been wonderfully and evocatively written by Norm Judd (see below)
James Gordon and Christina Sutherland had the following children:
1) Olivia (1878-)
2) Annie
3) Neil (Herbert) (1882-)
4) Hector (1884-)
5) May
6) Charlie (1891-)
7) John (Jack) (1893-)
8) James T (1896-)
9) Ina (1900-)
In 1875 at Christchurch he married Elizabeth ALLEN. Three years later in mid June 1878 the drowned body of John Gordon (aged 38) was found by the side of the River Avon. He had been missing for two weeks.
The Christchurch Press - 18th June 1878
Coroners Inquest on JOHN GORDON
Certified dead 15th June 1878
Register AC 1405 (1878) - Plot 717c
"An Inquest was held on Saturday afternoon, by Dr Coward, at the Hospital, on the body of JOHN GORDON which was found in the Avon on Friday morning. Mr P. Rentoul was chosen foreman of the jury, who, after viewing the body, heard the following evidence:
Elizabeth Gordon, wife of the deceased, deposed - "My husband's age was thirty-six, I saw him last alive between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of Friday the 31st May. He left home after dinner. He did not say where he was going. He had a glass in, but was sober. I could see that he had a little in, but nothing worth speaking about. We had no intoxicating liquor in the house. I heard nothing of him until yesterday morning. I have seen and recognised the body which is in the dead house. It is that of my husband."
To the Jury - "I never saw him drunk. I did not report his absence to the police. He was in the habit of drinking, but always knew what he was doing. I thought he was driving cattle, or with his friends. He never stopped away so long before. Deceased paid 32s for rent that day," but gave me no money."
James Gordon, brother of the deceased, deposed that - "he had last seen deceased between five and six on the 31st. He was slightly intoxicated, and I recommended him to go home and offered to go part of the way with him. I went with him as far as Manchester Street, but left him then, as I had to keep an appointment. Deceased said he would "get home all right." Witness had not seen him since. Previous to meeting deceased in the evening, witness had given him a five-pound-note about noon, when he was "quite sober."
William Walls, deposed - to deceased "having been in his company on the 31st of May, and drinking a glass of beer and of spirits, but they did not seem to have had an effect upon him." Witness had known deceased for "four years, and could not say that he was in the habit of drinking."
John Leader, deposed - to being informed that there was a man in the river, and to having taken the body out.
Sergeant Black, deposed - to having, from information received, gone to the river, a little beyond Ward's Brewery, and having brought deceased to the Morgue. On the body witness found nothing but a pipe and a strap buckle.
William Pitcairn, deposed - that he had "last seen the deceased at the Rotherfield Hotel on the 31st of May." Deceased and witness had "a glass of beer there, about twelve o' clock." Deceased was "sober, and changed a �1 note." On leaving, deceased said he "had to go to Mr Goss about a house he was putting up."
The JURY returned a verdict of "FOUND DROWNED."
By Norm Judd
An account of James Gordon (1843-1823) First Lessee of the Subantartic Campbell Islands.
PRIVATE COPY
By Jane INCH (nee PERKS)
Dated 1973
"From memory has not had registers searched"
Printed by: Hilton Press, 731 Main South Road, Templeton, Christchurch
PRIVATE COPY