Samuel John GAMMAN was born 1834 in Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent.

He was a private and later a corporal with the Royal Engineers, stationed at Shorncliffe and Chatham in Kent as well as Port Louis Mauritius.

He emigrated to New Zealand on the 1st March 1859 and arrived in Lyttelton on 11th July 1859, on the CAMEO which left London.
He emigrated shortly after marrying Eliza Woodcock - Eliza followed him in 1863.
All their children were born in Canterbury:
Henry Frances Gamman 1864-? married Ada Neilson
Ernest Edward Gamman 1865-?
George Albert Gamman 1866-? married Mary Maloughne
William Alfred Gamman 1867-? married Annie Matilda Terry
Charles Walter Gamman 1870-1960 married Flora Beatrice Broome
Rosina Gamman 1871-1958 married Samuel Sergeant
Laura Gamman 1877-1966 married Arthur William Carmichael
Arthur Frederick Gamman 1883-1971 married Delilah May Cole

Samuel married Eliza in Brompton, an ancient village near Chatham, 37km north west of Sheldwich - it was once in the Kent county but now is in the Medway Conurbation, England.
It is the home of the Royal Engineers and now houses the
Royal Engineers Museum