John LAMBIE

   Research Notes:

1851 Scotland Census:

Age given: 40 years
Birthplace given: Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland [sic]
Dwelling Place: Craig Byre, Craigie, Ayrshire
Occupation: Farmer of 62 Acres

Present were wife Jean (37) of Craigie, manages the dairy, sons (both born in Craigie): John (10), scholar & Robert (7), scholar. Also present was Margaret Drummond (22)* of Craigie, John's sister-in-law

* future wife of John Cunningham, John Lambie's 1st cousin, once removed

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1861 Scotland Census:

Age given: 50 years
Birthplace given: Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland
Dwelling Place: Hill, Craigie, Ayrshire
Occupation: Farmer of 116 Acres

Present were wife Jane (47) of Craigie, sons (all born in Craigie): Robert (17), James (9), scholar, William (7), scholar; 5 servants

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"LAMBIE—April 10, 1904, at Lakeside, Leeston, John Lambie, in his 94th year."

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"Obituary

MR JOHN LAMBIE

At his residence, Lakeside, on Sunday Mr John Lambie, sen., died, in his 94th year. Deceased was born on March 24th, 1811, at the farm of Lillylaw, parish of Crigie, Ayrshire, Scotland. Prior to his arrival in New Zealand, he for many years leased and occupied the farm of Hill, on the estate of Cairnhill, the property of the late Colonel F. Hamilton, in Ayrshire. In 1865, on the representation of his eldest son, who had been some years in Canterbury, he left Scotland, and with his wife and three sons came to Canterbury via Port Chalmers, sailing from Greenock in the ship Peter Denny. On arrival in Canterbury he remained for a short time with his son, who was then located near what is now known as Doyleston, and was then engaged in reclaiming his farm from rough swamp. Shortly after this he purchased about 200 acres of Government waste lands near what is now known as Birdling Brook Farm, Leeston, but which at that time was Mr R. Taylor's cattle run. This 200-acre farm, with the help of his sons, he thoroughly reclaimed from an impassable swamp, and converted it into one of the most productive farms in the far-famed Ellesmere district. About thirty years having resigned the management of his farm to his two sons, he erected a cottage on a cosy nook of his farm, where he lived till his death. His wife died in May, 1889 [sic], aged the age of 86 years. Deceased, in his younger days, was a noted athlete and sportsman, and was also champion ploughman of his native parish. He had a wonderfully clear and retentive memory, which he retained to the last. He was four years of age when the Battle of Waterloo was fought, and had a clear recollection of seeing soldiers marching past en route for ports of embarkation, and of hearing the country gossip in reference to the first Napoleon and the great battle with the French. He was present at the great Eglinton Tournament, and when a young man he was for some years a member of the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry. During his long residence at Lakeside he was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, first at Leeston and later at Southbridge, of which Church he was an elder for many years. He leaves four sons, who are all engaged in farming pursuits., viz., John Lambie of Kyle; Robert Lambie of Pihama (Taranaki); James Lambie of Lakeside, Leeston; and William Lambie of Hastings road, Mangatoki (Taranaki). He leaves twenty-nine grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren." ⁴

   Marriage Information:

John married Jean DRUMMOND, daughter of Robert DRUMMOND and Jean BROWN, on 17 Jan 1840 in Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland ¹. (Jean DRUMMOND was born on 25 Jun 1813 in Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland, christened on 27 Jun 1813 in Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland, died on 19 May 1899 in Lakeside, Leeston, Tai Tapu, Cantebury, New Zealand ^{5 6} and was buried on 22 May 1899 in Presbyterian Section, Ellesmere Public Cemetery, Leeston, New Zealand.)