James Turnbull

     
     James Turnbull was born on 4 Jun 1820 at Rigg Gate, CUL, ENG, place detail from father's census data, mth/yr confirmed from dth cert.³ He was baptized on 1 Jul 1820 at Nichol Forest, Par. of Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG.²
     James Turnbull married Jane Graham, daughter of Stephen Graham and Jane Baty, on 22 Jun 1852 in the Chapel, NicholForest, CUL, ENG, Entry no. 2 June 22nd 1852 reads: Marriage solemnized at the chapel in the chapelry of Nicholforest in the County of Cumberland: James, of full age, resident Rigg Gate, father Robert Turnbull joiner Jane Graham, of full age, resident Penton House, father Stephen Graham, farmer. Married in the chapel of Nicholforest according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Liscense by me, John ?Harrop?. Both signatures present, witnesses Francis Armstrong, Eleanor Turnbull (assumed to be James sister).^4,5,3,6

     James Turnbull died on 19 Mar 1891 at Huirangi, nr Waitara, TNK, NZ, at age 70; Dth cert: Folio #685:#110 19 March 1891 Huuirangi, Waitara, NZ, James TURNBULL, farmer male seventy years & nine months of ulcer of stomach, atrophy, duration 3 mths, last seen H B Leatham, Jan 1891. Parents Robert TURNBULL wheelwright and Nellie TURNBULL M-N- unknown. Buried 21 Mar 1891 Huirangi Waitara NZ, Minister Frederick Larkins, Church of England. Born Cumberland England resident NZ 29 yrs. Married Nichol Forest Cumberland England at age 32 to Jane GRAHAM. Survived by 2 M 38, 35 and one F 36 yrs. Informant Stephen TURNBULL son, Huirangi Waitara NZ. Registered 3 Apr 1891.
Dth Notice: TURNBULL At Huirangi, on March 19th, James TURNBULL, aged 70 yrs.
Funeral Notice: The funeral of the late James TURNBULL will leave his late residence at Huirangi on Sat March 21st at 2pm. Friends please accept this intimation.
An obit was apparently published "in the Huirangi papers", as a copy ended up in the Carlisle Patriot of June 12th 1891 "Death of a Borderer in New Zealand - the following appeared in the Huirangi papers:- Gradually but surely our oldest settlers are passing away. Death has again been at work in our little district, and among those who we can little afford to part with, owing to their long and practical knowledge. I refer with regret to the death of one of the above in the person of Mr James Turnbull, who passed away at his residence in the district on Thursday evening last (March 24) after a long and painful illness. He was highly respected by his neighbours for his honest integrity of purpose, his kindly actions, and his courteous manners. When any case of sickness or distress occurred in the neighbourhood he was the first to discover it and render assistance. In local public matters Mr Turnbull took an active part for some years, and no man in the district ever did so such an amount of gratuitous work as he, so that his absence will be sorely felt by all. His quiet, unobstrusive way of performing his kindly and charitable acts was such that only his most intimate friends knew and could fully appreciate the full beauty of his manly character. It is right that a record should be given occasionally when a neighbour passes away from among us who has accomplished his three score years and ten with a record that will bear the severest scrutiny without a flaw or blemish, kindly disposition, and firm in the right. It is good for a community when such characters abound in it, and the loss of even one of such would be sad if it were not for the light they leave behind in the minds of those who knew them, like a beacon that guides the weary mariner into a port of safety." Adding that "Mr Turnbull was a native of Haithwaitegate near this city and brother of the late Mr John Turnbull of White Close Gate."^7,8,9 He was buried on 21 Mar 1891 at Huirangi, nr Waitara, TNK, NZ, from Huriangi residence, 2pm.^7,8
     
     Haithwaite appears in various forms over the years: as Haytwayt in 1275, Haythawyt 1583, Hathat 1697, "Thwaite where hay is cut", Hathatyate 1697, Hathwood yate 1698 (-wood being substitued for -thwaite).¹⁰ He appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 at Glendinning Rigg Gate, Par. of Kirkandrews upon Esk, CUL, ENG, in the household of Robert Turnbull and Ellenor Turnbull.¹¹ James Turnbull appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 at Rigg Gate, CUL, ENG, in the household of Robert Turnbull as son of Robert.¹² James Turnbull was shown on the baptismal records of several of his children as living fr 1852 - 1858 at Haithwaite Gate Cottage, Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG, occupation given as a joiner (may or may not be the same place as Rigg Moor Gate).¹³ By Mar 1853 James Turnbull and Jane Graham were living at Haithwaite Gate, Nicholforest, CUL, ENG.¹⁴ James Turnbull lived in May 1854 at Riggmoor Gate, Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG.¹⁵
     James Turnbull was the informant for the death of his father Robert Turnbull on 7 May 1854 at Riggmoor Gate, Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG.¹⁵
     The census of 7 Apr 1861 showed James with his wife Jane, their sons Robert, Stephen and James, their dtr Ellen at Rigg Gate, Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG, household enumerated as TURNBULL: James head mar 38 joiner b Kirkandrews on Esk, CUL; wife Jane 38 joiner's wife b Longtown; Children (all b Kirkandrews on Esk): Robert 8; Ellen 6 (both scholars); Stephen 5; James 2; Boarders: Henry Percy, 36; William Bain 36; Thomas Finlay 19 all mineral borers b SCT; plus two labouers and a carter (all b SCT).¹⁶
     James and Jane Turnbull immigrated cir. 1862 to TNK, NZ; They are presumed to have travelled as a family group, parents James & Jane, and their 3 children, it being also assumed that the other known child, James, having died in England. Ellen's dth cert implies the immigration date could be as late as 1864.^3,17 In a newspaper report of son Robert's fall from a horse James Turnbull was described as a carpenter at Tikorangi, TNK, NZ, in Jul 1873.¹⁸