RootsChat.Com

Thank you so much Flloyd_JW. perhaps  they may have moved seeking work ? between Raffrey and Killinchy and Elizabeth. b.1844, Jam John 1854 Matthew, 1856,1849, Hugh,1852, were christened in Killinchy. Esther b.1858 just before the left for NZ arrived here aged 3 months and was christened in Raffery 1st March 1858.You have filled in some gaps for me so I am grateful - so hard to get all the facts after so many years especially as I live so far away.
Maria

Thanks to everyone who has helped me sort out Luke Abraham and combine our family story with the facts. I now am certain that Sarah Hutchison married Edward Hart who died after his son Edward was born, Sarah then married a much older man, John Abraham, Jewish? and Edward Her son became Luke Abraham, as John had a son called Edward. Griffiths Valuation of 1847? and 1853 lists Sarah as Alrahan then as Abraham , both times renting a house from Thomas Hart Esquire in Tinderry. Luke named  his own sons Edward and John, Children not brought up as Catholic.
Luke and his wife Ann Giles left from Wellington a few days after their marriage taking a free passage on Mimi Dike, rushing down to the wharf when Luke took to his heels after a violent fight over a gold nugget  he found on the Jim Crow Goldfield. They eventually settled  on a very isolated farm in Kaikoura and cut off all contact with  family.  Luke was a police assistant on the field and we think he was in the Irish Constabulary in Ireland -he called it "The Force" and said that he was present when "Teddy" Wakefield was arrested after one of his elopements but  dates certainly don't fit and he would have been in serving in England.  Anyway thanks again - Maggsie I have heard mention of a Hart relation who came over here but it would be impossible to find them now.
Geraldine.

 Your explanation makes sense.  It was obvious that James Woods knew how to look after stock, plough, drive a team of horses etc. He started off as a drayman, carting shingle for roads and stone from a quarry for building the more substantial buildings. He was able to buy land at 2p an acre and in five years was breaking in his own farm with the help of his older sons. The move to the colony was a good one - he lost it all during a depression and drink became a problem -but his many children, 12 sons,(Francis 1860 missed out earlier) two daughters, mostly stayed there farming and did well -it was  a great Irish community that all helped each other, socialised together.
Thank you for your interest
Maria

I didn't notice Tom Watson in Down -thankyou very much.I shall definitely try him Have been relying on  great- aunt Annie's info  from years ago and early papers in Ellesmere where  the Woods actually lived in Killinchy because  NZCO actively encouraged Down families to emigrate -hardworkers -and Protestant! I assume they embarked at Belfast on the way from Gravesend. Finding more in Ireland is more difficult . 1841 census James son of a family in Grey Abbey but that seems too far away from Killinchy. Griffiths lists Samuel,  renting land -but no house - and Robert Watson house only, Lord Dufferin.
 Found another pair who married twice -could it be because the Presbyterian churches had split  at the time?
So grateful for your tips. Maria

James and Mary immigrated on Indiana 1858,  farmed at Doyleston. Lots about the family on P.Past but it is harder to find much about James back in Ireland. They married twice on 1st April 1841 on the same day, first in Killinchy Pres. Church then in Raffery (Is this an April Fool's joke? source Ros Davies surnames index. Killinchy and Raffery appear to be neighbouring townlands just south of Belfast.
It seems that the Watsons and Woods were tenant farmers and some may be in Griffiths Valuation but hard to pin down.
Would love to hear from any of their many descendants researching this family
Maria