I have family information to share with interested direct descendants of James CANNAN born Hamilton on Clyde, Tasmania, 25 December 1867, and Elizabeth RAHILL born 1873 Cavan, Ireland, resident at Bald Hill Flat, Central Otago, New Zealand in 1897.
James William CANNAN married Mary Ann WHYTE, age 19 at Clyde Parish, Alexandra, New Zealand on 26 January 1898.
Elizabeth RAHILL married William Stephen WILSON, 1902 at Bald Hill School, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Chatto Creek, Ophir, Omakau, Cromwell and Alexandra feature prominently in the places of residence of descendants of these two persons.
Related families
include WAITI, HINDS, JOHNSTON, BOND, GIBB, MONK. and McCAUGHAN.
Occupations include Hotelkeeper, Miner and Farmer.
James Cannan was the original owner of the hotel at Chatto Creek, located on the eastern banks of the Manuherikia River, between Alexandra and Ranfurly. Ophir was founded in 1863. It grew to become the biggest town in the Manuherikia Valley during the gold rush days, until the railway bypassed it. Today, this small town is rich in historical buildings, including New Zealand’s oldest post office, and a popular stopover for cyclists on the Otago Central Rail.
Please contact me by email, bvine697@gmail.com or telephone 64 21510682.