As regards Nigel OATRIDGE, he was baptised 13 May, 1838 at Lydney, Gloucester. He interests me because his wife, Ann Brookes, was the sister of my great grandfather who came to N.Z. in 1864. We never heard the name OATRIDGE mentioned. My great grandfather, Charles BROOKES together with his wife, Eliza, and daughter, Mary Eliza BROOKES travelled on the same ship as Nigel and Ann OATRIDGE---THE GOLDEN CITY. After arrival in Auckland my grandfather, Herbert William BROOKES was born, then Charles George BROOKES, then Alfred Hatton BROOKES. Both couples after arrival in Auckland lived close, both in the Newton area. Nigel, a cabinetmaker, moved to Thames and unfortunately died on 26 January 1870. Aged 34 years.

The MILLER OR MILLAR families are from Lanarkshire. Scotland. They came to N.Z. by The Joseph Fletcher, in 1859. They settled in
Clevedon where Thomas Borland MILLER farmed. It was the time of the Maori wars and to make things more difficult, Jean MILLER died in 1862. For Thomas with a family of seven, including a 1 year old son it was difficult. The baby was sent to friends in Whangarei and the older children seemed to manage.

Are you interested in any of the above families?

Ruth