If you are researching George McRae of Nelson PLEASE NOTE that there was another George McRae in Nelson at the same time as this George, some of his children having the same names as this George, both families were even involved with race horses.
So it would pay to visit this site for explainations as extensive research has been done to differentiate between the two

The George McRae this journal is about was from County Clare, Ireland - (the other George was from Blairich, Scotland)
- he emigrated to New Zealand on the LADY NUGENT in 1850, 8 years later that the other George.

He was 11 years old when he arrived in Nelson with his parents, William McRae and Sarah BURNS and 3 siblings.

His father William owned GLENS OF TEKOE sheep station in Amuri district - the above link (downloads 5.49MB) is a brilliantly descriptive site with photos, paintings and stories on the Mandamus, which was the original name of the Glen of Tekoe and surrounding districts. It also has poems by Shona McRae
It is the story of the life of William McRae, his sons and descendents and the property with photos and even the station diaries and account books from 1863 which record, that in 1886, Stanley Fowler commenced as head shepherd with a salary of £80 per year ($13,618 in 2009) to be found in flour and mutton only until 1890-91 when he received a rise, as head shepherd in the cottage, with firewood also provided ...
- their home was built in Home Gully near the Blue Rock and Silver Brook Streams and was occupied for 2 years before the sod homestead was built
William, along with his sons George Wildsen and Roderick, built the second house of sod in 1859. It is now a registered historic building. The third homestead built in 1865 is still lived in today and is also a registered historic building


George was one of the 1st pupils at Nelson College for boys which opened on the 7th April 1856 (the day before his 18th birthday) with eight students.

It`s premises were in Trafalgar Square, Nelson, but shortly thereafter moved to a site in Manuka Street. In 1861, the school moved again to its current site in Waimea Road.

George was

* a Justice of the Peace,
- he was CHAIRMAN of
* the Amuri County Council and Road Board,
* of the Hurunui Rabbit Board,
* of the Council of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association,
* the Hurunui and Culverden Racing Clubs,
* and the Canterbury and Northern Coursing Clubs

He married Mary MOORE in Nelson in 1868 when he was 30 and she was 22
- Mary was one of about 10 children of Daniel Moore of Mirfield, Kirkless, West Yorkshire and Helen ALEXANDER of Dundee, Angus, Scotland - they were also early settlers of Nelson

George and Mary had 10 (known) children:

1870 - Sarah Helen
- married Alexander McFARLANE
- she died in 1960 aged 80

1873 - Kate Mary
- married John DAMPIER-CROSSLEY
- she died in 1958 aged 85

1874 - William Wilsden
- married Mary Ethel DAMPIER-CROSSLEY
- he died in 1961 aged 87

1879 - Georgina Alice Constance
- married William Barr SCOTT
- she died in 1960 aged 81

1881 - Roderica Maud "Curl"
- she died in 1970 age 89

1882 - George Richmond "Budge"
- married Kathleen Isobel RUSSELL
- he died in 1958 aged 76

1884 - Violet
- died in 1966 aged 82

1884 - Herbert
- died in 1884 as an infant at Tekoe, Nelson

1886 - John Roderick
- died in 1886 as an infant at Tekoe, Nelson

1888 - Mary
- died in 1888 as an infant at Tekoe, Nelson

OF NOTE
SHONA McRAE (wife of William Dampier McRae of Tekoa, George`s grandson - son of William Wilsden) wrote a number of books. They are available at the Rangiora Public library and possibly elsewhere if you ask. One of the them was entitled The GLENS of TEKOA first edition published in 1968