PPA Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8969, 6 July 1897, Page 2
MR, JAMES WALLACE,
Yesterday morning another blank was caused in the roll of the earliest settlers by the death of Mr James Wallace, which occurred at his residence, Wakefield, the old gentleman having reached the considerable age of 83. The deceased arrived in Wellington in March of the year 1840, by the ship Lady Lillford ? more than 57 years ago. He resided in Wellington for about two years, and then went to Wanganui, where he commenced farming about two miles above the present township. Prior to this, he had mairied a daughter of Mr Wm. Gordon Bell, who subsequently settled at Richmond, in this district. He remained some five years at Wanganui, and was there at the 'time of the massacre of the Gilfillan family, and, indeed, he was one of the first on the scene of that dreadful outrage, and Mrs Wallace nursed one of the survivors of that family, a young girl, who was found covered with blood and seriously wounded, until she was convalescent. Fearing further outrages, Mr Wallace determined to remove his wife and young family from so grave a danger, and he returned to Wellington, and fifty years ago he took up his residence at the Hutt, and remained there for a couple of years. In 1852, however, he came to Nelson, and engaged in farming pursuits at Richmond till 1866, when he entered upon sheep-farming in the Upper Wai-iti Valley, having secured' what is known as the Gordon Run. The difficulties with which he had to cope, however, were so great that he ultimately had to give up the run, and then he purchased a small estate at Wakefield, on which he resided for nearly thirty years, his latter days having been spent in practical retirement. The deceased leaves a widow, a son (Mr Richard Wallace), and a daughter (Mrs B. Fairhall) ; one son, who was drowned many years ago, and two daughters (the late Mrs Gifford, of the Moutere, and the late Mrs H. Baigent) having predeceased their father. Mr Wallace was highly regarded by the old settlers, and of late years he has been esteemed as a kindly, good-natured old gentleman. To the fullest degree, he bore the troubles and anxieties of a pioneer settler of New Zealand, and his many friends will condole with his widow, his son and daughter, who, as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren, are now in sorrow. James (WALLICE) Wallace immigrated to arrived Wellington from Sydney 16 mar 1840 on the Lady Lillford on 5 March 1840.
3 He was a blacksmith, Waimea West, Nelson in 1844.
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