Jane Peebles Senr

Biographical information contributed by Joan McIntyre, Friends of the Gorge Cemetery

Born in Aberdeenshire Scotland; parents Alexander and Margaret Pirie had been in NZ 49 years and had seven children. Died 8 March 1913 age 71. Address at time of death: Pinfold Rd. Eldest son Alexander predeceased her 1903. Husband died 10 January 1919.

Woodville Examiner 10 March 1913: 

'OBITUARY.
Mrs Alexander Peebles
aged 71 years

It is with much than ordinary regret that we record the death of Mrs Peebles, senior, which occurred at half-past twelve on Saturday morning, after a long and painful illness.

Mrs Peebles, whose maiden name was Jane Pirie, was born in Aberdeenshire seventy-one years ago, and came to New Zealand in 1864, making the voyage in the ship Ragoon, a vessel of 800 tons, Mrs Peebles had many a story to tell about the voyage—which lasted nine months—its difficulties, its dangers, and its privations. A passage to New Zealand was a very different thing then to what it is now-a-days. At last the ship reached Napier, and Miss Pirie very soon after was married to Mr Peebles, who had been a shipmate. They had various positions working their way inland till they came to Kaikora (now Otane) where they had a farm and carrying business. On the formation of the Woodville Small Farm Association Mr Peebles joined it, and drew the largest farm in the block and the only one fronting on the main road. He, with Mrs Peebles and the family came up to it in 1875, being one of the first members of the Association to reside on their farms, which they were better able to do so, owing to it having good access right from the start. They remained in it for nearly thirty years, when they removed into town first, then to Oxford road, and finally settling on the Pinfold road.

Mrs Peebles had many an interesting story to tell of old times in the country here, of the straits the settlers were in at times, of the shifts they were put to, and of the way in which they had to manage, as well as the people she had met. She was a woman of very kindly disposition, and was always ready to give a helping hand when those around were in need of it. A woman of very strong and sturdy physique, she had gone through a great amount of work, but it and the hardships of the early settlers told on her at last, and her illness and breakdown were largely due to them. One of her later recollections was of the house on the farm being surrounded by water in the big flood of 1880, when she had to be carried out to safety.

Mrs Peebles reared eight children, and leaves seven of them to follow her, four daughters Mesdames Troup (Te Kuiti) Nielsen (Woodville), Rosenberg (Hastings), and Lee (Temuka), and three sons, George, John and James. Her grandchildren are thirty-one in number.

Many a kindly thought of her will be cherished in the memories of the old settlers who knew her, and many a thought of sympathy will go out to those who have lost her. The funeral will take place tomorrow.'