Tweedie Family

James Andrew’s brother Hugh and sister Mary came out to New Zealand before the rest of the family.  Hugh came out with Uncle Sam McClelland (James Andrew’s mother’s brother) to St. George’s Road, Havelock North, now known as “The Paddock”.  Mary followed one year later.  The next year, 1913, when James Andrew was 18 years of age, the rest of the family came to New Zealand and lived with Uncle Sam in St. George’s Road.

James Andrew and brother Robert (Bob) found work at Paki Paki with W.P. Thompson.  James Andrew worked at Bellamys in Eskdale 1914-1915.  During 1916, James Andrew went to Egypt and Palestine to fight in World War 1.  He came back to New Zealand in 1918.  He found odd work here and there until 1919 when the three brothers Hugh, James Andrew and Robert bought a farm (about forty acres) at Raupare, just out of Hastings.

Uncle Robert took on the milk run side of the business and shifted to Hastings.  James Andrew and wife Phyllis, rented a house in Raupare Road before building a house at the corner of Raupare and the now Trotter Road, formerly Nicholl’s Road.  Uncle Hugh and wife Pearl, built a house near the Evenden Road corner of Raupare Road.

Written on the back of this postcard sent from Scotland:
“This is dear old Sorbie where you used to live
Yours T. Dickson”

Ardbrin – Tweedie home
Annaclone District, Banbridge
Northern Ireland – Photo 1955

James Tweedie (great grandfather of Terry, Beth, Tony and Ruth Gorst) was born in Ardbrin, Annaclone district, Banbridge, Northern Ireland.  He married Margaret McClelland.  The farmlet had been in the family for four generations.  They shifted to Warren Point and worked for Captain Hill.  The family went to Warren Point School.  James Andrew Tweedie (grandfather to Terry, Beth, Tony and Ruth Gorst) was about seven years of age when they shifted.

Cottage where the family lived at Warren Point.  Photo 1955

Margaret, wife of James, became ill and it was suggested that they shift to Scotland to a warmer, dryer climate, for her health.  The family shifted to Sorbie, South West Scotland.  Aunt Jinnie, James Andrew’s sister stayed in Northern Ireland at Backnamullagh with Margaret and James (cousins).  She learned the dressmaking trade.  The family worked at Broughton Mains, Sorbie (Wigtonshire) for Crawfords.  Mother Margaret died aged thirty-two.  James was ten years of age.  Family members, including Auntie Jinnie and their father, sailed on the third of December, 1913 for New Zealand.  The ship was the Ionic, Shaw Savill Albion, via Capetown.  According to James Andrew, the S.S.A. stood for “Slow Starvation and Agony”.  The journey to Wellington took six weeks and two days.  They travelled to Hastings by train.