Family fortunes

My husband is a grandson of William Wright Thomson, so we were delighted to read the article about Annandale Street in the Daily News (Saturday 7th October).

However a few corrections to his life are necessary.

William did not come to New Zealand with his parents.

Alexander, his father, had worked at the Cox’s Jute Mill, Camperdown, in Dundee, and in 1871 was sent to set up a Jute Mill in Soorah, India.

William was born after his father left, and saw him for the first time when Alexander returned on furlough in 1874.

Alexander returned to India the following year, followed by his wife Ann and their baby daughter.

William was left in Scotland with his grandmother.

A few years later it was obvious the Indian climate did not agree with Alexander and Ann, so their doctor advised a long sea voyage.

New Zealand was the chosen destination as they had contacts in South Otago, and while visiting them Alexander bought a farm.

Once they had settled, they sent for their son.

William, his grandmother and her cousin sailed directly to New Zealand, arriving in 1880.

Shortly prior to this William and his grandmother, on their way home from church on 28th December 1879, witnessed the tragic collapse of the Tay railway bridge, with the loss of a train and about 75 lives.

William (or WW as he was often known) only worked on the family farm for a few years before leaving to go to the New Zealand Railways workshop in Invercargill.

As a fireman, then engine driver, he gradually worked his way north, coming as far as New Plymouth, where he settled and went into business.

As far as I know he did not farm in the Lumsden area.

William and Martha (nee Treweek) had eight children, but three died in infancy.

Shirley Thomson

New Plymouth