Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Jessie McDonald was born in 1835, daughter of Roderick and Flora nee McLennan. They were originally from Scotland, then settled in Nova Scotia, Canada, where Jessie was born.
On 30 October 1855, Jessie married James Rory McKenzie, in Rockland, Maine, USA. James was 25-years-old, son of Alexander McKenzie and Ann nee Fraser.
James with his wife, Jessie, young daughter and his parents came to New Zealand on the Breadalbane in 1858 settling initially at Waipu. In 1877 James took his family to settle in Okaihau along with a number of other Waipu families. There he bought 200 acres from the local Māori chief, and later an adjoining block of 500 acres. There, they had 13 children, with one dying in infancy.
- Flora Ann (1856–1939) born Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
- Duncan James (1858–1942) born in Auckland
Born in Waipu
- Roderick James (1860–1897)
- Donald Alexander (1862–1947)
- Alexander Duncan (1864–1890)
- Isabella Hannah (1865–1946)
- n/r (1866–1866)
- Marcella Christina (1867–1951)
- Margaret Jane (1869–1946)
- Anna (1870–1958)
- Murdoch (1873–1937)
- James Russell (1876–1958)
- William Russell (1878–1949) born in Okaihau
Two sons died as young adults. Firstly, in 1890 at Okaihau, Alexander went to catch his horse in the paddock, 'when the horse, apparently frightened, kicked McKenzie in the stomach so violently that the poor fellow succumbed on November 21, and died in great agony.' And in 1897 'Roderick, of Okaihau, and a Māori bushman, Kohepa, of Hokianga, were killed in the bush by a falling tree.'
Jessie died 30 September 1910 at Okaihau, aged 75, and is buried in St Catherine's Churchyard, there. Although Jessie and James’ sons were too old to be conscripted in WW1, son James, who was almost 39-years-old enlisted. The officer who conducted his medical examination noted that even though the sight in his left eye was bad, his right eye was very good, so he should pass, as he was a fine recruit!
James died aged 90 years, in 1921 in Whangarei, and was buried with Jessie in St Catherine's Churchyard, Okaihau.
Sources
MCDONALD/MCKENZIE marriage certificate 1855 (sighted)
PAPERS PAST Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 186, 6 August 1921, Page 16
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3147, 5 June 1897, Page 3
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8427, 1 December 1890, Page 9