Richard Pilling (1829 - 1906)

Born 1829 in Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Jessie (McColl) Pilling — married about 1856 in Australia

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1906 at about age 77 in Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand

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Biography

Richard Pilling was born in 1829 in Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, England.

As a young man he was attracted by the gold discoveries in Victoria, Australia and arrived in that colony shortly after the news had reached the Old Land. Like most of the miners in the early days, he folowed all the rushes that took place. For a time he settled in Chewton, Castlemaine and his three sons and one daughter were born there.

During his residence in Victoria he was engaged by the Victorian Government as one of the late Mr Vincent Pyke's party to explore Gippsland, a work which though beset with many dangers was carried out with very satisfactory results. The Gabriel's rush in 1861 attracted him to New Zealand, but his first mining was done in the Woolshed. In 1866 he settled in Waipori and sent for his family.

To him, belongs the honor of first conceiving the idea of alluvial gold dredging and it was through his instrumentality that the Upper Waipori Gold Dredging Company was formed for the purpose of dredging on the Waipori flat. In 1882, his sons purchased the Tuapeka Times and he came to live in that area with his family. He was a senior justic of the peace.

Newspaper article on his death mentions his children as: Messrs Thos and Richard Philling of Lawrence and Ewen Pilling, Millers Flat and daughter Mrs Joseph Egglestone, Dunedin ^[1].

He immigrated to Australia aboard the Martin Luther in 1852 ^[2].

He married Jessie McColl in 1856 ^[3].

Three sons and daughter born in Chewtown, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. Came to New Zealand after hearing of Gabriel's Gully gold in 1861. Settled in Waipori in 1866 and sent for his family. In 1882, his sons purchased the Tuapeka Times and he moved to Lawrence to live with the family.

He passed away in 1906 ^[4]. His find a grave profile ^[5]. His will in probate ^[6].

Death notice of his wife, Jessie ^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19030202.2.21
2. ↑ Victoria Inward Passenger Lists 1839-1923, https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=ANZ%2FMIGR%2FVICTORIAPASSLIST%2F157511
3. ↑ Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950

   Name: Richard Pilling

   Spouse Name: Jessy Mccoll

   Marriage Place: Victoria

   Registration Place: Victoria

   Registration Year: 1856

   Registration Number: 646

4. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TT19060818.2.13.1?
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117559426/richard-pilling
6. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-P5P3 : 16 January 2021), Richard (Senior) Pilling, 1906; citing , Lawrence Probate and Letters of Administration Files (II), 1896-1909, record number 119, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 101282589
7. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19030202.2.21 Otago Daily Times, Issue 12576, 2 February 1903] in her 83rd year. Birth est 1820
8. ↑ NZBDM DEATH:1903/2037 Pilling Jessie 76Y

• https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TT19060818.2.13.1 Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5393, 18 August 1906
• Death notice but not showing on NZBDM under Richard Pilling search
• https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TT19060818.2.7.2 Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5393, 18 August 1906
• "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-P5P3 : 28 May 2019), Richard (Senior) Pilling, 1906; citing , Lawrence Probate and Letters of Administration Files (II), 1896-1909, record number 119, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 101282589.