Margaret Ferens

Biographical information provided by Briar Barry for the He Tohu exhibition:

Margaret was born on 6 March 1838 in Scotland. She married Thomas Ferens, a son of John Ferens, Esq. of Parham, England, and a Methodist preacher. He died in June 1888 of a bowel obstruction. Thomas and Margaret had 12 children.

While travelling to New Zealand on board the John Wickliffe, Thomas Ferens kept a diary detailing the journey. He continued to keep a diary as an early settler. These writings are now held by the Otago Settlers’ Museum. 

Additional information by Katherine Blakeley

Margaret Westland, the daughter of Charles Westland and Mary Baillie emigrated to Otago on the John Wickliffe in 1847.

She was accompanied by her uncles George and William and her aunt Margaret Westland, her future husband was also on board.

Margaret’s relatives had all died of tuberculosis by 1853 and she married Thomas Ferens the following year.

Margaret died in October 1926 at her daughter’s home in Westport. She is buried in the Westport Cemetery.

Sources

BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search

Family Search https://www.familysearch.org

Papers Past  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

Buller District Council http://public.bullerdc.govt.nz

Ngaio Press http://www.ngaiopress.com/wicklist.htm