James Archibald II
(c1850 - 21 July 1910)
(c1850 - 21 July 1910)
James Archibald II was born in St Cyrus, Kincardineshire, Scotland, c1850. While his exact date of birth is unknown, the 1851 Scottish Census (taken on 30 April 1851) lists, James II as being 6 months old. which means he may have been born around September 1850.
James II was one of four children born to James Archibald I (6 Jan 1820 - 3 Aug 1896) and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Alexander (18 Jan 1815 - 12 Nov 1886):
On Friday, 4 June 1869, when James was 18 years old, his eldest sister, Margaret, married agricultural labourer, John Bruce (21 Aug 1845 - 5 June 1932) in Marykirk.
James was a shipwright by profession, and spent six years at sea prior to his marriage.
- Margaret Archibald (1845 - 27 Jan 1940)
- Elizabeth (Betsy) Archibald (1848 - 18 Feb 1904). Betsy never married.
- James Archibald II (c1850 - 21 Jul 1910)
- Mary Ann Archibald (21 Dec 1856 - 1 Feb 1911)
James's parents
James Archibald I was born in 1820, the coastal village of Benholm, Kincardineshire. He was the son of William Archibald (1795 - c1851), an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Margaret Scott (1791 - ?) who married in Benholm on 7 June 1818. He had at least one brother, David Archibald (1825 - ?).
Elizabeth Alexander, who was known as Betsy, was born in 1815. She was the daughter of John Alexander (1777 - 1837) and his wife Mary Carnegie (1777 - ?) who married in Marykirk on 15 July 1798. Betsy had at two known brothers and a sister.
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| James Archibald I and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Alexander c1885 Photographed by J A Duncan, Montrose (Courtesy of B Patterson) |
James Archibald I was a farmer. He moved his young family to Marykirk, his wife's home town, after his older three children were born. The youngest of the Archibald children, Mary Ann, was born in Marykirk on 21 December 1856.
The 1871 Scotland Census shows that James Archibald I had a 75 acre farm called Burnroot (also recorded as Burn Root) located in Marykirk.
Before marriage
At present, nothing is known of James's schooling or his life as a young boy.
James was a shipwright by profession, and spent six years at sea prior to his marriage.
Marriage, Emmigration & Family
James (25) married 25 year old Catherine Reid (17 February 1851 - 13 June 1935) in Wakefield, Marykirk, on 4 July 1876. The wedding register notes that Catherine was living at her family home at the time of their marriage, and that James' family were from Burnroot, Marykirk.
James (25) married 25 year old Catherine Reid (17 February 1851 - 13 June 1935) in Wakefield, Marykirk, on 4 July 1876. The wedding register notes that Catherine was living at her family home at the time of their marriage, and that James' family were from Burnroot, Marykirk.
Following their wedding, James and Catherine Archibald immigrated by ship, to Australia. They settled in the small town of Port Pirie, South Australia (near Adelaide) which had a population of almost 1000. James gained employment as a ship builder there. It was in Port Pirie that James and Catherine began their family of six children:
Moving to New Zealand
James and Catherine (who was pregnant with their third child) immigrated to New Zealand, arriving around April 1882. It is unclear why they decided to immigrate yet again. James purchased a 140 acre farm at 85 South Head Road, Parkhurst, near Helensville and named it Glencairn after the Archibald farm in Scotland. Originally, the farm was part of Charles Fordyce's large holding. James built a tiny shack on the farm for the family to live in, then built the main part of the house later. The balcony was constructed last. James became an experimental farmer who tried out a variety of crops on his property but was more successful at raising cattle, horses and sheep. Although, according to recollections of his daughter, Maggie, James would sometimes be called upon to do repairs on ships that came into the Kaipara region, he never returned to boat building.
On 31 August, 1882, a few months after arriving in New Zealand, James and Catherine's first son, James Archibald was born. As he was named after his father and grandfather, he become James Archibald III.
The Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand 1895, Volume III, page 18, a government document, shows that on 30 April 1894, James II had 293 sheep on his farm. By the same time the following year, he had reduced the flock to just 29.
In April 1895 James was elected to the Parkhurst Committee. He remained involved in community service throughout his life, mainly, with the school, which was situated a short distance from his home on the corner of South Head Road and Evans Road.
- Betsy Helen (or Ellen) Archibald (29 Aug 1877 - 28 July 1944).
- Margaret (Maggie) Reid Archibald (3 June 1879 - 26 Aug 1970)
- James (Jim) Archibald III (31 Aug 1882 - 3 Sep 1958)
- Adelaide (Adie) Archibald (27 June 1886 - 18 Sep 1971)
- Alexander Archibald (14 Dec 1889 - 19 Feb 1899)
- Chloris (Sissy) Mary Archibald (20 July 1891 - 23 Dec 1986)
James and Catherine became first time parents on 29 August 1877 when their daughter Betsy Helen Archibald was born in Port Pirie and named after her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Alexander (1815 - 12 Nov 1886) who had the nickname Betsy. She was given the middle name, Helen, after her maternal grandmother, Helen Greig (15 May 1827 - 11 March 1897). Little Betsy received a brain injury early in life. It is unclear whether her condition was caused by an incident at birth or from accidental causes. The family legend is that she was hit on the back of the head with a swing when a child.
James and Catherine's second daughter, Margaret (Maggie) Reid Archibald, was born on 3 June 1879, also in Port Pirie. Margaret was an important name on both sides of the family. James' paternal grandmother was Margaret Scott (1791 - ?) and Catherine's paternal grandmother was Margaret Henderson (24 Mar 1871 - ?).
The following year, James's youngest sister Mary (24), married 28 year old David Dunbar Mitchell (1852 - 10 June 1924) on 9 December 1880 at Burnroot, Marykirk.
James and Catherine (who was pregnant with their third child) immigrated to New Zealand, arriving around April 1882. It is unclear why they decided to immigrate yet again. James purchased a 140 acre farm at 85 South Head Road, Parkhurst, near Helensville and named it Glencairn after the Archibald farm in Scotland. Originally, the farm was part of Charles Fordyce's large holding. James built a tiny shack on the farm for the family to live in, then built the main part of the house later. The balcony was constructed last. James became an experimental farmer who tried out a variety of crops on his property but was more successful at raising cattle, horses and sheep. Although, according to recollections of his daughter, Maggie, James would sometimes be called upon to do repairs on ships that came into the Kaipara region, he never returned to boat building.
On 31 August, 1882, a few months after arriving in New Zealand, James and Catherine's first son, James Archibald was born. As he was named after his father and grandfather, he become James Archibald III.
The Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand 1895, Volume III, page 18, a government document, shows that on 30 April 1894, James II had 293 sheep on his farm. By the same time the following year, he had reduced the flock to just 29.
In April 1895 James was elected to the Parkhurst Committee. He remained involved in community service throughout his life, mainly, with the school, which was situated a short distance from his home on the corner of South Head Road and Evans Road.
On 12 November 1886 James' mother, Elizabeth (Betsy) Archibald (nee Alexander) passed away, and was buried in the Old Laurencekirk church yard, Scotland. On 3 August 1893, James' father James Archibald I died, also in Scotland.
The following photograph of James and Catherine with their children was taken outside their Glencairn homestead in Parkhurst, Helensville around 1896. The home was partially finished.
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| The Archibald family at their home in Parkhurst, Helensville c1896 Back from left: Margaret (Maggie), James Snr, Catherine, Betsy Front from left: Alexander, Sissy & James Jnr Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of K Toepfer) |
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| The Archibald family at their home in Parkhurst, Helensville c1896 From left: Margaret (Maggie), Adelaide, James Snr with Alexander, Catherine, Betsy, Chloris (Sissy) & James Jnr Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
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Catherine and James Archibald II c1896.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
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| Glencairn in later years Date & photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of K Toepfer) |
On 7 February 1899, James sold some of his two-tooth Lincoln rams at the Remuera Sheep Fair.
A family tragedy
On 19 February 1899 James and Catherine's nine year old son, Alexander. died after suffering meningitis. He was buried at the Helensville Cemetery, Public Burial Area, Block 1, Row B2, Plot 8, Seq 1.
Family arrive
James' nephew, David Mitchell (4 Mar 1882 - 8 Aug 1955), the only son of his youngest sister, Mary, immigrated to New Zealand in the early 1900s (date unknown at present). He married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carter (1878 - 1969). David and Lizzie farmed in Bombay, Franklin, South Auckland where Lizzie's family lived. David's widowed father also came out to New Zealand and lived with his son and daughter-in-law, on their farm.
Community involvement
In December 1901, James put in a tender to the Waitemata County Council to repair the Kaipawa swing bridge. His quote of 73 pounds was accepted.
In 1898, 1901, and 1902, J Archibald (presumably James) was elected to the Parkhurst School Committee.
At the fourth annual Helensville Show, in 1903, J Archibald won several first prizes for his horses, and a second prize for his honey! One of the Archibald girls won several prizes for her baking and preserves. At the Helensville Show of 1904, and 1905, James Archibald (could be James III) won prizes.
James was re-elected to the Parkhurst School Committee in 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, and in 1909!
A family wedding
Adelaide, James and Catherine's third daughter, married Robert Liggett (16 Sep 1877 - 6 Jan 1963) on 24 June 1907. The wedding was probably held at the Parkhurst farm.
James's last days
James suffered with cancer of the intestines for nine months before he passed away at Glencairn, his home, on 21 July 1910. His death notice appeared in the New Zealand Herald Vol XLVII, Issue 14429, 23 July 1910, as follows:
James was buried at the Helensville Cemetery in the family plot where Alex was buried previously, Block 1, Row B2, Plot 8, Seq 2. The following acknowledgement from the Archibald family was published in The Auckland Star, Vol XLI, Issue 178, 29 July 1910:
A photograph of the memorial card made in memory of James Archibald can be seen below:
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| Memorial card for James Archibald II (Courtesy of K Toepfer) |
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| Archibald grave at the Helensville Cemetery Date and photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of K Toepfer) |
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| The grave of James and Catherine Archibald, and their son, Alexander. Photo by K Bland, Dec 2009 |
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| Archibald gravestone at Helensville Cemetery Photo by K Bland, Dec 2009 |
The gravestone reads,
He loved justice.
In loving memory of
James beloved husband of
Catherine Archibald
died 21 July 1910 aged 59 years
Native of St Cyrus Scotland
Also Catherine
beloved wife of James Archibald
died 13 June 1935 aged 84 years.
At rest
He loved justice.
In loving memory of
James beloved husband of
Catherine Archibald
died 21 July 1910 aged 59 years
Native of St Cyrus Scotland
Also Catherine
beloved wife of James Archibald
died 13 June 1935 aged 84 years.
At rest
Sources of Information
- Family records compiled by Jessie McLean (courtesy of G J Bland)
- Family records courtesy of A Low
- Notes about 'Glencairn' from D Bayliss
- Photographs from K Toepfer, G J Bland and K Bland
- The Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand 1895, Volume III, accessed online 11 November 2017.
- The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Parkhurst, accessed online 25 November 2017
- Adventist Record Archives
- Papers Past
- Ancestry.com
- Auckland Council Burial Record for James Archibald, accessed 28 Dec 2017
- Photos: K Toepfer, G J Bland, and K Bland
- The Archibald story (an excerpt from The Yates's Story by Olwen Yates (courtesy of A Low)
Last updated 22 April 2023
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