hello,

John Ward Shackleton was born in Yorkshire in 1837
- he arrived in NZ about 1856
John married Harriet Gee on 19 Jan 1861
- Harriet Gee was 1 of 13 known children. She was born 1839 in Lambeth, Surrey, England to Thomas Major GEE (1805-1864) & Eleanor TROTT (1806-1869)

Here is a photo and short bio of her brother, also named Thomas Major Gee

Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1861 MARRIED - At Lyttelton, by the Rev F. Knowles, Mr John Ward Shackleton, of Christchurch, to Harriett, fourth daughter of Mr Thomas Gee, of Lyttelton
- they lived in Christchurch & Dunedin where John was in the business of 'Linen, Woollen and Furnishing Drapers
* they had a son John Shackleton (oldest son 1860-1923) who married in Perth WA on 18 April 1910 to Ellen Lyall Tyrie (1858-1943). They are buried at Karrakatta
* they had a son Alfred Shackleton (1865-1959) who was born 26 August 1865
but I didn't find an Ellen Shackleton born that date you have
- some of their other children were:
* 1867 - 1954 Alice Maud Shackleton
- Alice married Henry Joseph Moule McMiken (1868-1961) in 1893. They named one of their sons, John Ward McMiken
* 1871 - 1927 Frank Shackleton
* 1874 - 1879 Arthur George Shackleton
- Arthur died aged 5 at Hereford St East, Christchurch
* 1878 - Mabel Shackleton
* 1880 - 1862 Ada Harriett Shackleton
- Ada married Philip John Smith in 1909

JOHN WARD Shackleton died 23 July 1881 aged 83 in Dunedin
- he is buried Plot 20, Block 122 at Northern Cemetery
HARRIETT Shackleton died on 10 January 1922 aged 83

Hi Ngaire
Many thanks for your prompt response!! The info was great I see several names I have heard my late Mum mention e.g. Auntie Ada (Shackleton), Henry Joseph McMiken. The info. dates etc. were from a cousin in Australia and I have since checked my own dates for Ellen Shackleton and I see I have her as born on 16 August 1870 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Ultimately we are trying to tie up the John Ward Shackleton with the Ernest Shackleton the explorer which we well remember hearing as children we were related to. We would like to clarify this once and for all. Any other assistance would be greatly appreciated. Again many, many thanks.
Margaret Walford (Mrs)

Ellen Shackleton (1870-1949) married Herbert Edward TREMAIN (1867-1937) in 1893
- their known children were:
1894 - Herbert Ward Tremain
1896 - Albert Edward Tremain
1898 - Victor Shackleton Tremain
1902 - Elva May Tremain
1904 - Coralie Mabel Tremain
1907 - Bernice Eileen Tremain

you might like to have a read of this Ernest Shackleton