Alexander was born to James GORDON and Helen JACK in 1839. His parents were living in Cullen, Banff, Scotland, but Alexander was born in Bellie, Morayshire - the neighbouring district. His elder brother, James was born in Cullen, as were four younger brothers and sisters. My theory is that Helen was on her way home to her parent's, when she gave birth.
Alexander emigrated to New Zealand around 1865, aged about 26. I have not been able to determine which ship brought him out (do you know how many Alexander Gordon's there were in 1865!). He worked as a miner, and later as a builder.
In 1866 he met and married Ann Lawrence SMITH. Ann was born in Edinburgh in 1845, to Lawrence SMITH (a painter) and Margaret EWAN. Ann also came to New Zealand around 1865. I was told a delightful story about Ann - that she had travelled to New Zealand to join her sister. But by the time Ann arrived, her sister had married and gone upcountry. This story is true... for details, click here.
So, Alexander met Ann, and on 30 October 1866, they married in the Presbytarian Church in Lawrence, Otago. (Co-incidence with the name of the town I wonder?)
This couple had nine children over the next few years, all but two born in Otago. The eldest was Alexander Lawrence, born on the goldfields of Kakanui, followed by Mary, James, Helen, Ann, George, Maud, Lawrence and William.
In 1883 the family moved to Woodville (where William, the youngest child was born and died in 1885), where Alexander did some work on the Ngawapurua bridge. The family settled there permanently. Alexander died in 1921, aged 82, and Ann died in 1929 aged 84.
