Peter INNES:
PETER INNES born 1834 Aberchirder, Parish of Marnoch, Banffshire, one of 11 children of a pauper family. Worked as an Agricultural Labourer, Aberdeenshire where he met his future wife, ISABELL CHALMERS. She followed him out on the "Victory" 1866. They were married in the Presbyterian Manse, Christchurch 1867. Peter travelled to New Zealand with THOMAS MAITLAND. Peter was unsuccessful at the Gold Diggings in Marlborough and Westland, and after 1867 he began farming. He reputedly built the first concrete house in New Zealand (Wakanui near Ashburton) but abandoned it in favour of a wooden one because of extreme heat and cold. His biography was published in the "Canterbury Times" 11 July 1887. In 1890 he sold and moved to Normanby near Hawera, then in 1896 to Whenakura, near Patea. He retired in 1900 to Feilding. Died Palmerston North 1922. His ancestry and descendants of his brothers in Scotland have been documented. Two brothers emigrated to the USA. One, George a stonecutter, has been discovered. The other, possibly Charles, is being sought. If you have a connection with this family or would like to know more please contact Adrian & Maggie.