James BLYTH

1801 - 1862  (61 years)

• Name	James BLYTH  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Birth	31 May 1801	Cupar, Fife, Scotland   [5]
  Gender	Male
  Death	8 Oct 1862	Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand   [4, 6]
  Person ID	I2	Blyth Family Tree
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2025

  
  

  Father	David BLYTH,   b. 19 Jan 1777, Cupar, Fife, Scotland d. 25 May 1867, Cupar, Fife, Scotland (Age 90 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Janet ANDERSON,   b. 17 Apr 1778, Cupar, Fife, Scotland d. Yes, date unknown
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F5	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ann LAING,   b. 18 Sep 1820, Cupar, Fife, Scotland d. 1886, Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand (Age 65 years)
  Marriage	24 Feb 1840	Cupar, Fife, Scotland   [7]
  Children	1. David BLYTH,   b. Abt 1841, Scotland d. 7 Sep 1899, Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand (Age 58 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. James BLYTH,   b. 1843, Wellington, New Zealand d. 30 Apr 1911, Whangaehu New Zealand (Age 68 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Thomas Laing BLYTH,   b. 1845, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1907 (Age 62 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. Catherine BLYTH,   b. 1847, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1912 (Age 65 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Jessie BLYTH,   b. 1850, Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand d. Yes, date unknown  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Mary BLYTH,   b. 1853, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1915 (Age 62 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. Annie BLYTH,   b. 1855, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1892 (Age 37 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   8. William T BLYTH,   b. 1859, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1917 (Age 58 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   9. Herbert L BLYTH,   b. 1861, Wellington, New Zealand d. 1933 (Age 72 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F68	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2025

  
  

• Photos

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• Notes

  JAMES BLYTH and ANN LAING James, the son of David Blyth and Janet Anderson, was born in Cupar, Fi feshire, in 1802. However he was not christened until 16th June 1817. As a young man he traveled to South America. From early in 1830 until J anuary 1836 he worked as a carpenter, joiner and cabinetmaker in Lima, P eru. The British Consul General in Peru, Belford Hinton Wilson, was so i mpressed with James that he wrote him a reference praising his “unimpea chable honesty, sobriety and persevering industry'' After six years in Peru, which included involvement in a rebellion and t he war with Bolivia, James returned to Scotland where on 24 February 19 40 in Cupar, he married Ann Laing, daughter of James Laing and Catherin e Anderson. On 6th November 1841, with their 7-month-old son David, James and Ann s ailed for New Zealand on the “Martha Ridgway” via the Cape of Good Hope . Records of the ship show that it was built in Liverpool in 1840 and w as “sheathed in felt and yellow metal.” It was described as a “splendid s hip constructed expressly for the passenger trade.” She had a “very spa cious poop” and was “replete with every arrangement for the comfort and h ealth of the passengers.” The 621 ton sailing ship made its maiden voya ge to New Zealand captained by Henry Webb, and after a tempestuous jour ney, arrived in Nelson on 7th April 1842. James gave his occupation at t he time as a joiner. The family later disembarked at Petone, less than t wo years after the settlement of Wellington. The Martha Ridgway meet an u ntimely end that same year (1842) when on a trip from New Zealand to Bo mbay she was wrecked on a reef in the Torres Strait. For some years James was a businessman in Wellington. On October the 16 th, 17th, 19th and 24th of 1848 Wellington was rocked by earthquakes. W ard's book ‘Early Wellington', describing houses affected by the quakes m entions James's two storied clay house in Dixon street as being “much s haken with one gable down.” During his time in Wellington James was a member of the first “Kirk ses sion” of the Church of Scotland which occurred in 1853. James appears on the Burgess Roll for the Borough of Wellington in 1842 , is shown on the list of persons qualified to serve as jurors for the D istrict of Port Nicholson for 1848 and 1856, and is on the City of Well ington electoral Roll, as a Cabinet Maker of Dixon Street, up until 185 8. The Burgess Roll, by way of explanation, was a record of all men gra nted the freedom of the city. It was an ancient Scottish honor which, a mong other things, granted the holder a share in government. At some time after the birth of his youngest child (Herbert in 1861) Ja mes purchased a 2,000 acre property and homestead in the recently settl ed Whanganui area. He named the homestead “Marybank” in honor of his dau ghter Mary who coincidentally had been born the same year as the home w as completed. The homestead had been built by David Strachan from Kahik atea timber cut and pit sawn on site. It was of a double-gabled design w ith a front verandah. The move to Whanganui would have been a major undertaking in those days a s the country had not long been ‘opened up’ and the threat from maraudi ng bands of Maori was very real. With true pioneering spirit James entered into the local community dete rmined to establish a viable settlement. He was the first Chairman of t he Whangaehu School Committee, a member of the Provincial Council, a Ju stice of the Peace and an elder of the Presbyterian Church. He was no d oubt a well-respected member of the community. On the evening of 8th October 1862, less than two years after moving to t he area, while returning from visiting the Campbell family at nearby ‘W iritoa,' James was thrown from his horse and killed. On his death the properties “Marybank” at Putiki, and “Blythwood” at Taylorville, were leased out. When Ann died in 1886 the properties were d ivided up between the couples nine children. JAMES BLYTH and ANN LAING James, the son of David Blyth and Janet Anderson, was born in Cupar, Fi feshire, in 1802. However he was not christened until 16th June 1817. As a young man he traveled to South America. From early in 1830 until J anuary 1836 he worked as a carpenter, joiner and cabinetmaker in Lima, P eru. The British Consul General in Peru, Belford Hinton Wilson, was so i mpressed with James that he wrote him a reference praising his “unimpea chable honesty, sobriety and persevering industry'' After six years in Peru, which included involvement in a rebellion and t he war with Bolivia, James returned to Scotland where on 24 February 19 40 in Cupar, he married Ann Laing, daughter of James Laing and Catherin e Anderson. On 6th November 1841, with their 7-month-old son David, James and Ann sailed for New Zealand on the “Martha Ridgway” via the Cape of Good Hope . Records of the ship show that it was built in Liverpool in 1840 and w as “sheathed in felt and yellow metal.” It was described as a “splendid ship constructed expressly for the passenger trade.” She had a “very spacious poop” and was “replete with every arrangement for the comfort and health of the passengers.” The 621 ton sailing ship made its maiden voyage to New Zealand captained by Henry Webb, and after a tempestuous journey, arrived in Nelson on 7th April 1842. James gave his occupation at the time as a joiner. The family later disembarked at Petone, less than two years after the settlement of Wellington. The Martha Ridgway meet an ntimely end that same year (1842) when on a trip from New Zealand to Bombay she was wrecked on a reef in the Torres Strait. For some years James was a businessman in Wellington. On October the 16 th, 17th, 19th and 24th of 1848 Wellington was rocked by earthquakes. Ward's book ‘Early Wellington', describing houses affected by the quakes m entions James's two storied clay house in Dixon street as being “much s haken with one gable down.” During his time in Wellington James was a member of the first “Kirk ses sion” of the Church of Scotland which occurred in 1853. James appears on the Burgess Roll for the Borough of Wellington in 1842 , is shown on the list of persons qualified to serve as jurors for the D istrict of Port Nicholson for 1848 and 1856, and is on the City of Well ington electoral Roll, as a Cabinet Maker of Dixon Street, up until 185 8. The Burgess Roll, by way of explanation, was a record of all men gra nted the freedom of the city. It was an ancient Scottish honor which, a mong other things, granted the holder a share in government. At some time after the birth of his youngest child (Herbert in 1861) Ja mes purchased a 2,000 acre property and homestead in the recently settl ed Whanganui area. He named the homestead “Marybank” in honor of his dau ghter Mary who coincidentally had been born the same year as the home w as completed. The homestead had been built by David Strachan from Kahik atea timber cut and pit sawn on site. It was of a double-gabled design w ith a front verandah. The move to Whanganui would have been a major undertaking in those days a s the country had not long been ‘opened up’ and the threat from maraudi ng bands of Maori was very real. With true pioneering spirit James entered into the local community dete rmined to establish a viable settlement. He was the first Chairman of t he Whangaehu School Committee, a member of the Provincial Council, a Ju stice of the Peace and an elder of the Presbyterian Church. He was no d oubt a well-respected member of the community. On the evening of 8th October 1862, less than two years after moving to t he area, while returning from visiting the Campbell family at nearby ‘W iritoa,' James was thrown from his horse and killed. On his death the properties “Marybank” at Putiki, and “Blythwood” at Ta ylorville, were leased out. When Ann died in 1886 the properties were d ivided up between the couples nine children. From THE PAMPHLET COLLECTION OF SIR ROBERT STOUT: VOLUME 76 Whanganui OLD SETTLERS Blyth, James.-This gentleman was an early settler and resided at "Mary B ank" about four miles from the town on the No. 1 Line of road. Mr. Blyt h was a Justice of the Peace and Member of the Provincial Council, and a s taunch supporter of the late Dr. Featherston, Superintendent of the Wel lington Province. He came to an untimely end, however, having been thro wn from his horse whilst riding home after dark one evening, his body b eing picked up by the roadside afterwards by a search party. Mr. Blyth w as much respected and his death deeply regretted. PAPERS PAST NZ (NZ Archives), MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1791, 13 November 1862, Page 3 The Late Mr. James Blyth. - Many of our readers will peruse with feelin gs of sincere regret, the following extract from the Whanganui Chronicle o f the 9th October, narrating the sudden and untimely death of Mr. James B lyth. The deceased gentleman had many friends in Wellington, as well as i n other Provinces of New Zealand, and for some years was an elder in th e Free Church of Scotland here, and in common with many others, we take t he opportunity afforded by the present mournful occasion, to pay a pass ing tribute of respect to the memory of the departed : - " It is with g reat pain that we record the sudden decease of Mr. James Blyth, of Mary bank. Mr. Blyth was returning home last night, from Dr. Allison's, acco mpanied by his two eldest sons. He was riding on before, and they follo wed a short way behind, When they arrived at the gate leading up to the h ouse, they found the horse standing at it without its rider. Returning i n search of their father, they found him lying in a ditch at the side o f the road near Wiritoa Mill, quite dead. The body was carried into Mr. W m. Howie's house, and Dr. Gibson sent for, who found that death had bee n caused by the bursting- of a blood vessel in the brain, and that it m ust therefore have been instantaneous. No person in the district had a w ider and more attached circle of friends than Mr. Blyth, by all of whom h is death will be deplored, as occasioning the loss of a most excellent m ember of society, a most genial companion, a warm-hearted friend, and a c onsistent Christian. To his amiable widow and family this sudden bereav ement must be especially distressing, as from Mr. Blyth's constitution a nd habits, they might naturally have looked for a long continuance of t heir domestic felicity . (Research):See attached sources.

  
  

• Sources

  [S44] www.familysearch.org, Familysearch.org International Genealogical Recor ds (Name: www.familysearch.org; Location: www.familysearch.org;), Film #: 457916. [S44] www.familysearch.org, Familysearch.org International Genealogical Recor ds (Name: www.familysearch.org; Location: www.familysearch.org;). [S15] Ancestry Family Trees (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ances try.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry membe rs.;), Ancestry Family Trees. [S87] PAPERS PAST NZ (Name: NZ Archives;), Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1791, 13 November 1862, Page 3. PAPERS PAST NZ (NZ Archives), MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Wellington Independe nt, Volume XVI, Issue 1791, 13 November 1862, Page 3 The Late Mr. Ja mes Blyth. - Many of our readers will peruse with feelings of sincere r egret, the following extract from the Wanganui Chronicle of the 9th Oct ober, narrating the sudden and untimely death of Mr. James Blyth. The d eceased gentleman had many friends in Wellington, as well as in other P rovinces of New Zealand, and for some years was an elder in the Free Ch urch of Scotland here, and in common with many others, we take the oppo rtunity afforded by the present mournful occasion, to pay a passing tri bute of respect to the memory of the departed : - " It is with gre at pain that we record the sudden decease of Mr. James Blyth, of Maryba nk. Mr. Blyth was returning home last night, from Dr. Allison's, a ccompanied by his two eldest sons. He was riding on before, and they fo llowed a short way behind, When they arrived at the gate leading up to t he house, they found the horse standing at it without its rider. Return ing in search of their father, they found him lying in a ditch at the s ide of the road near Wiritoa Mill, quite dead. The body was carried int o Mr. Wm. Howie's house, and Dr. Gibson sent for, who found that d eath had been caused by the bursting- of a blood vessel in the brain, a nd that it must therefore have been instantaneous. No person in the dis trict had a wider and more attached circle of friends than Mr. Blyth, b y all of whom his death will be deplored, as occasioning the loss of a m ost excellent member of society, a most genial companion, a warm-hearte d friend, and a consistent Christian. To his amiable widow and family t his sudden bereavement must be especially distressing, as from Mr. Blyt h's constitution and habits, they might naturally have looked for a l ong continuance of their domestic felicity . [S99] www.scotlandspeople.govt.co.uk, Scotland Old Parish Records - Births & B aptisms 1564-1855, BLYTHE JAMES 1817 420/00 0030 0374. 10/06/1817 BLYTHE JAMES DAVID BLYTHE/JANET ANDERSON FR905 M CUPAR /FIFE 420/00 0030 0374 [S95] Registrar of Births, Deaths and Mariages, New Zealand - Death Records, Register of Deaths , Wanganui. James Blyth 8th Oct 1862. [S98] www.scotlandpeople.govt.co.uk, Scotland Old Parish Records - Banns & Ma rriages 1564-1855, Marriage BLYTH, JAMES_LAING,ANN. 1 24/02/1840 BLYTH JAMES ANN LAING/FR1216 M CUPAR /FIFE 420/00 0050 012 4