Kenneth McLean

Description

Kenneth McLean, possibly about 1920

Notes from Marilyn Jenks –

“Kenneth McLean, born 1843, Lechmelm, Ullapool, Ross, Scotland; died 1928, Weber.

Kenneth arrived in Wellington on 21 November 1873, on the ship “Helen Denny”.  He was employed as a shepherd on the Hunter Station near Porangahau and family history says he drove a flock of sheep from Wellington to Porangahau, pioneering a route which was later used by others.  Unfortunately, we have never found written verification of this story. 

Kenneth married Mary Brough, eldest daughter of Peter and Christina Brough, in 1879. They bought land at Weber and built a house which was later used for farm workers’ accommodation, stables and lastly, as a garage after the family moved into their new house in 1904.

Kenneth and Mary are buried in Weber cemetery.  They gifted the land for a church and the cemetery but the church was never built.

Kenneth and Mary had 11 children:
William (Bill) 1880-1956, married Winifred M Moroney  1888-1957
Christina (Dolly) 1882-1945, married Robert A Streater 1882-1956
Richard (Dick) 1885-1969, married Ellen Mary Jensen  1896-1992
Catherine (Kate) 1886-1986, never married
Peter 1891-1972, married Henrietta (Rita) Taylor 1897-1978
Alexander (Alec) 1892-1987, never married
John (Jack) 1894-1977, married Veronica (Vonnie) Brogan 1904-1981
Jane Isabella (Isie) 1896-1982, married Wesley (Bill) Jenks 1899-1965
Mary (Mollie) 1898-1983, married Alfred W T Falconer 1903-1958
Margaret (Maggie) 1901-1991, married Ernest John Scrimshaw 1903-1958
Kenneth 1903-1988, married Edith May Jensen 1914-2004

We assume this photo [of young Kenneth] may have been taken before he left Scotland, probably to leave with his parents.”