M. J Blair

Signed family name

Blair

Signed given name

M. J

Given address

Great Barrier

Sheet number

380

Town/Suburb

Great Barrier Island

City/Region

Auckland region

Notes

Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Mary Jane Moor was born about 1859 in Lincolnshire, England, one of the three English-born children of John Moor and Susanna nee Phillips. The family arrived in NZ on Whirlwind in 1859, where bought land and farmed at Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. There, five more children were born.

In 1882, on Great Barrier Island, Mary Jane (known as Polly) married James Rushlee Blair. James was born in 1847 in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He had immigrated to Auckland in 1864 aboard the Lord Clyde with his parents John and Jean McIntosh Clark and nine siblings.

They had five children:

Ethel Rushlee (1883–1926)
Edith Annie (1885–1969)
Susan Phillips Rushlee (1888–1929)
Margaret Rushlee (1891–1981)
Thomas (1894–1971)

James took up land on the Great Barrier Island near his parents, where he was engaged in farming for 30 years. Around 1896 the family moved to the mainland where they settled at Dome Valley, near Warkworth. On 2 October 1904, 'the cemetery of our Anglican Church of St Clement was opened for the interment of Mrs Mary Jane Blair, wife of Mr James Blair of Dome Valley—late of Barrier Island. The deceased lady was only 44 years of age and has been in failing health for some time; and entered into rest.. leaving a numerous family, and a wide circle of friends to mourn their loss.'

James remained at Dome Valley, near Warkworth, where he lived until the time of his death. Among his many activities James was Government valuer for the Rodney County, while he was also a member of the Rodney County Council. He founded the Rodney Chamber of Commerce, of which he was secretary for a number of years. James died in 1929 aged 83 years, one of the oldest settlers in the Warkworth district. He was buried with his wife in Warkworth Cemetery.

Mary Jane is sister to 380 S(usan) Moor and 380 (Sarah) Moor and 380 M(innie) Moor