Peter McDonald is my maternal grandfather’s grandfather. Peter was born on 17th February 1830 at Kinnahaird Farm, a livestock and arable farm in Contin, Strathpeffer, near Inverness, in Scotland. His parents were John McDonald and Barbara McDonald. Yes, his parents were both called McDonald although they were probably not related. It’s a common name in … Continue reading Peter McDonald
This is a story I’ve known about all my life without knowing what really happened. After looking through family papers recently, I decided to dig a little further. I discovered a story about five very different people who all had a passion for the glaciers and alpine climbing. The cast Harry Herbert Ayres, 31 July … Continue reading A rescue at Franz Josef
On 16th November 1864, the Daily Southern Cross reported that the barque Alfred anchored in New Zealand, having sailed from Cape Town on the 27th September. Included among the 251 passengers were John and Anne Waddoups with their three daughters, Harriet, Mary and Matilda, and Thomas and Mary Ryan with their two sons, Thomas Aylward … Continue reading Journeys to Waipipi – Capetown to Waipipi
On that day in September 1864, there was another family waiting to board the Barque Alfred – John and Anne Waddoups with their three daughters, Harriet, Mary and Matilda. John Waddoups (1824-1895) was born in September 1824 in Aston le Walls, Northamptonshire, England, the oldest of five sons born to Samuel Waddoups and Ann Brewer. … Continue reading Journeys to Waipipi – from Aston le Walls to Capetown
Our Folk Stories 