Mackenzie Wilson (1806 - 1891)

Born 8 Jan 1806 in British Guiana, South America

Ancestors

Husband of Maria (Lumley) Wilson — married 26 Aug 1830 in Cape Town, South Africa

Died 27 Mar 1891 at age 85 in Auckland, New Zealand

Biography

Mackenzie Wilson migrated from an unknown location to Auckland, New Zealand.

Mackenzie was born in January 1806 in British Guiana^[1], specifically on the Island of Berbue, West Indies^[2], or at Berbise, West Indies^[3], or at the Island of Berbie, West Indies.^[4]

He married Maria Lumley on 26 August 1830 at Cape Town, South Africa. ^{[2] [5] [6]}

In the 1851 census, Mackenzie was aged 45 years and residing with his wife Maria, aged 43 years, at Church Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England. ^[7]

He migrated to New Zealand as a second-class passenger aboard the Helvellyn, a ship of 1000 tons captained by F. S. Dalison, which departed London 14 July 1863 and arrived in Auckland 16 November 1863. ^{[8] [9]}

He passed away in March 1891 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery on 28 March 1891, the day after his death.

Military Career

Date of Service: 1826. 55th Regiment of Foot. ^[10]

He enlisted as an Ensign on 9 August 1826. ^[2] "To be Ensigns, by purchase. Mackenzie Wilson, Gent. vice Bowles, promoted in 7th Foot. Dated 9th August 1826". ^[11]

"55th Foot, Ensign Mackenzie Wilson to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Troward, who retires. Dated 5th March 1829. Francis Hudson, Gent, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Wilson. Dated 5th March 1829". ^{[12] [13]}

"To be Adjutant, Lieutenant Mackenzie Wilson, vice Goodall, who resigns the adjutancy only. Dated 11th June 1830". ^{[14] [15]}

"Lieutenant Mackenzie Wilson to be Captain, by purchase, vice Crowther, who retires. Dated 29th January 1836". ^[16] His last rank was Captain, dated 29 June 1836. ^[2]

Retired 17 January 1839. ^[2]

Obituary

The death of Captain Mackenzie Wilson, Hospital librarian at Auckland, is reported. On Good Friday last, at the ripe age of 86, this old man passed away to join the great throng of those who have gone before. It appears that up to the Wednesday night he was in his usual health, but on Thursday Mr Schofield, the Hospital clerk, found him lying upon the floor of his room in a fit. He died the next day, Good Friday, and was interred on Saturday at (Waikumete) Cemetery. Captain Mackenzie Wilson was born in British Guiana, South America, on the 8th January, 1806. Three years after the family landed in Liverpool, his father being a partner in the firm of Sir John Gladstone and Co. At 15 years of age he was placed in the same school with William Ewart Gladstone, whose friendship has continued ever since. In 1826, by the favour and interest of Huskisson, then Prime Minister of England, young Wilson obtained a commission in the army. He joined the 55th Regiment, and gradually rose through the various stages until in 1836 he was gazetted a captain. He served in South Africa, and was many years in India, where he suffered terribly from dysentery and cholera. Ultimately he sold out (of) the army, married a wife, and came to this colony in 1863. He was a prolific writer. About twelve years ago at the age of 73 he wrote a paraphrase on the civ. Psalm and got it printed in a pamphlet; he then canvassed the city and the whole of the Auckland province on foot, and sold three thousand copies, with the profit from which he founded the Hospital library and became the librarian, the Government allowing him board and residence in the Hospital and £10 a-year. He had a room to himself, and in this position enjoyed a good measure of peace and contentment. ^[1]

Capt. Mackenzie Wilson, the octogenarian librarian at the District Hospital, has been gathered to his fathers. He died on Good Friday, from a paralytic stroke which he had on the preceding day, and was buried at Waikomiti. The deceased was a man of most active yet genial temperament, of literary tastes and methodical habits. In a letter written a short time ago he alluded to himself pathetically as 'the last of his race.' He was descended from the Mackenzies, of Red Castle, in Ross-shire, Scotland, and was connected with the family of Lord Dundonald, while his father was a partner in the celebrated Gladstone firm. The Captain was wont to tell how he was present, as a child of three years, in a house in Liverpool at the time the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone was born in it. Capt. Mackenzie Wilson was born in the year 1806, in British Guinea, and quite an eventful career closed in honoured usefulness. ^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Obituary, Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 80, 6 April 1891, Page 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18910406.2.6
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} The National Archives, WO 25 - War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers. Reference: WO 25/795/180. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17329975
3. ↑ "Great Britain, War Office Registers, 1772-1935", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRH-NPNJ : 21 August 2019), Mackenzie Wilson, 1826.
4. ↑ "Great Britain, War Office Registers, 1772-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C176-GZT2 : 27 May 2020), Mackenzie Wilson, 9 Aug 1826; United Kingdom, 9 Aug 1826, TNA WO 25. The National Archives of England, Kew; FHL microfilm .
5. ↑ "Great Britain, War Office Registers, 1772-1935", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRH-NPNV : 21 August 2019), Maria Lumley, 1830.
6. ↑ "South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DTDX-M3ZM : 30 December 2022), Maria Lumley in entry for McKenzie Wilson, 1830.
7. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG24-19D : 9 November 2019), Mackenzie Wilson, , Cumberland, England; citing , Cumberland, England, p. 24, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
8. ↑ Helvellyn 1863, https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/genealogy/Helvellyn1863.htm
9. ↑ Arrival of the 'Helvellyn' from London, Shipping Intelligence, Port of Auckland, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1977, 17 November 1863, Page 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18631117.2.3
10. ↑ The National Archives, WO76 - War Office: Records of Officers' Services. Reference WO 76/167/232. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13295334
11. ↑ The London Gazette, 29 August 1826, Issue 18281, Page 2111. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18281/page/2111
12. ↑ The London Gazette, 20 March 1829, Issue 18560, Page 526. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18560/page/526
13. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 27 March 1829, Issue 3737, Page 85. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/3737/page/85
14. ↑ The London Gazette, 11 June 1830, Issue 18689, Page 1159. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18689/page/1159
15. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 18 June 1830, Issue 3865, Page 164. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/3865/page/164
16. ↑ The London Gazette, 29 January 1836, Issue 19351, Page 170. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/19351/page/170
17. ↑ Personalities, Observer, Volume XI, Issue 641, 11 April 1891, Page 7, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO18910411.2.26

• NZ BDM Death Reg. No. 1891/271 (Wilson MacKenzie, 86Y).
• Burial 1891, Mackenzie WILSON. Year: 1891. Age: 86. Location: Waikumete Book 1 (Anglican) B02.29. Record Number: 1985. Record Origin: NZSG Cemetery Fiche. Source: The Wilson Collection.
• Burial 1891, "New Zealand, Auckland, Waikumete Cemetery Records, 1886-1948", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2SB-2BP4 : Fri Aug 04 18:00:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Mac Kenzie Wilson, 28 Mar 1891.
• Auckland Council, Burial Record for Mckenzie Wilson. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cemeteries/Pages/RecordDetails.aspx?recordId=D3205379B2F357A12DF2DF7E185F941D

See Also

Considerable family history provided here:

• Reminiscences of Old Families, New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8330, 9 August 1890, Page 1 (Supplement), https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18900809.2.59.6

Research Notes

Where exactly was Mackenzie born? What was the official name of the place in 1806? (predates British Guiana, which was formed in 1831). Any birth record available?

What happened to his wife Maria after about 1851?

A possible record from the 1841 census (tbc):

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQY9-TKK : 5 March 2021), Mackenzie Wilson in household of Margeret Binmore, Tormohun, Devon, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Some information on Mackenzie's father John Wilson (1772-1856), and other family members:

• https://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=497808