James and Elspet Spiers |
Elspet Douglas , daughter of William Douglas and Barbara Imray of Scotland, was born 9 August 1840 in Rothes, Moray, Scotland. She married James Spiers, son of Archibald Spiers and Christina Gourley, 3 December 1867 in Inchclutha, New Zealand. Together they had 8 children, Jane Christina Spiers Christina Gourley Spiers Mary Spiers Archibald Spiers William Douglas Spiers Barbara Imrie Spiers Alexander Douglas Spiers James Spiers Elspets husband James , worked as a miner in the Kaitangata Mines in Otago, in which he was killed 21 February 1879. Elspet never remarried and tended to her family on her own. Elspet died 14 Feb 1913 in Kaitangata, Otago, New Zealand |
Elspet Spiers nee Douglas taken 1904 in Picton |
Monument erected to remember those that died in the mine explosion in Kaitangata. |
Elspet wrote this memorial upon the death of her husband. In Memory of James Spiers Who was killed in the Kaitangata Coal Mine 21st February 1879 In the 40th year of his life Farewell dear wife, my life is past My love for you to the end did last Mourn not for me but courage take And love my children for my sake Adieu dear husband, thou hast fled And left thy wife to weep The precious babes can only think Their father was asleep |
Background music is Legend of the Fall |