General Notes

From the Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 1093, 31 August 1926, Page 1:

"With long life will I satisfy thee," was exemplified with the passing away on Tuesday last, at noon of Mr George Edward Fisher, "Glenayr," Nantwich Street, Otautau. Born at Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland, on 6th September, 1839, Mr Fisher had reached within a fortnight of 87 years of age.

Of sturdy Scottish stock, deceased was a fine specimen of manhood. For generations his forebears had been residents in the County of Ayr, as gardeners, nurseryman and farmers, his great great grandfather occupying the adjoining farm, and being neighbours of the parents of Robert Burns. The late Mr Fisher served his apprenticeship in the cotton mills of James Findlay and Sons, the proprietors of the famous Findlay's sheeting, after having received a good sound education at the parish school, in his native village. The general conditions of the working classes in the early period of the nineteenth century made a deep impression upon him in their rigorous hardships, and the great gulf that existed between the aristocratic and the working classes. Extensive reading of accounts of Britain's overseas possessions and the larger freedom offered in a new land, inspired in him a desire to go abroad.

On 1st October, 1862, he married Miss Margaret Gibson, a daughter of Mr Allan Gibson, joiner and builder, of Catrine. The young couple, born in the same village, attending the same school, had known each other from infancy up to their marriage. With the death of Mr Fisher, the link forged in that marriage has held up till the day of his death, almost 64 years. On their wedding day the young couple left for Glasgow, and immediately thereafter took passage for New Zealand in the new clipper ship, "Ben Lomond," just sailing on her maiden voyage. At the end of October they left the "Tail of the Bank" and made the remarkably fine, passage of 70 days to Otago Heads. Immediately on landing and getting lodgings for his young wife, deceased started and walked to Invercargill, his wife joining him a few weeks later by a small coastal steamer trading between Port Chalmers and New River Estuary. Deceased took part on various gold fields.

Probably no residents now living in Otautau can claim an earlier connection with the township than the deceased had, as he camped in the vicinity of the site of "The Mill" some time during 1864, when walking from Invercargill to Waiau to take up a fencing contract on one of the out back sheep stations. In 1866 a small property at Clifton was purchased, and deceased became engaged in sawmilling for about 15 years as foreman for the late Mr John Murdoch, one of Southland's best known sawmillers. In 1882 the Clifton property was sold and the family moved to Invercargill. Shortly after that date, in partnership with Marshall Bros, of Invercargill, a sawmill area was taken up at Colac Bay, and for over 20 years was successfully worked. After retiring from sawmilling two years were occupied at flax-milling, when deceased finally retired from business.

With the exception of two years residence in Waimate Mr and Mrs Fisher have spent their 63 and a half years of Dominion life in Southland, the last sixteen years in Otautau. In the light of the conveniences for travelling nowadays as compared with the primitive methods of undertaking long journeys in the early days some of the feats of endurance of deceased seem incredible. A tramp of 50 miles over unroaded country was entered upon with little more worry than one would now go for an afternoon stroll. With the exception of an interest in a School Committee in his earlier years deceased took no active part in public affairs, with which, however, he always kept abreast from the press, magazines and books. A man of strict integrity of character his word was his bond, and throughout his long life in the Dominion he retained the esteem and confidence of friendships formed in the early days.

Deceased is survived by his widow, two sons and one daughter : Mr John Fisher, of Otautau; Colonel Allan Fisher, Salvation Army Headquarters, Sydney; and Mrs H. H. Twemlow, Waikiwi, Invercargill; twelve grand-children and five great grand-children.

The funeral on Friday afternoon to the Riverton cemetery was preceded by a short service in the Otautau Presbyterian Church.

The sympathy of a wide circle of friends is felt for the aged widow and family, many messages being received from all over the Dominion.

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Headstone Inscription:
Lilias Porteous wife of John FISHER Otautau age 37 years and Nellie STEVEN their niece age 14 years who were accidentally drowned at Riverton 16 Jan 1904. Margaret Grace Dalkieth their eldest daughter died at Otautau 22 Jun 1919 age 29 years. George Edward FISHER Otautau 24 Aug 1926 age 87 years. Margaret Gibson FISHER his wife died at Invercargill 8 Dec 1928 age 89 years.

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  Burial Notes

Riverton Cemetery (New), Presbyterian Section, Row 1 of E, Plot 9

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He appeared on the 1841 Census of Scotland on 6 June 1841 in Catrine, Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. ^{10 11}
  

1841 Census of Scotland - Piece: SCT1841/613
     Place:  Sorn-Ayrshire
     Enumeration District:  11
     Civil Parish:  Sorn
     Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island:  Catrine
     Parish Number:  613
     Folio:  0
     Page:  10

Address: Townhead

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                                  Estimated
Surname  First name   Sex   Age   Birth Year   Occupation     Where Born   Remarks

FISHER   John          M    50     abt 1791    Farm Servant   Ayrshire
FISHER   Margt         F    45     abt 1796    -              Ayrshire
FISHER   Ann           F    10     abt 1831    -              Ayrshire
FISHER   James         M     6     abt 1835    -              Ayrshire
FISHER   George        M     1     abt 1840    -              Ayrshire
GILLIES  Jean          F    20     abt 1821    -              Ayrshire
GILLIES  Solomon       M     2     abt 1839    -              Ayrshire
GILLIES  John          M     9m    abt 1840    -              Scotland (not Ayrshire)

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• He appeared on the 1851 Census of Scotland on 30 March 1851 in Catrine, Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland.
  

John Fisher     Head   56   Sorn, Ayrshire          Gardener
Marget Fisher   Wife   54   New Cumnock, Ayrshire  
Ann Fisher      Dau    17   Catrine, Ayrshire       Power Loom Weaver (cotton)
James Fisher    Son    15   Catrine, Ayrshire       Bleacher (cotton)
George Fisher   Son    11   Catrine, Ayrshire       Scholar

• He worked as a bleacher on 7 April 1861 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland.

• He appeared on the 1861 Census of Scotland on 7 April 1861 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland.
  

Margaret Fisher   Head       61   New Cumnock, Ayrshire   House Keeper
Ann Fisher        Daughter   29   Sorn, Ayrshire
George Fisher     Son        21   Sorn, Ayrshire          Bleacher
Thomas Gillies    Grandson   18   Glasgow, Lanarkshire    Bleacher
George Hendry     Grandson    3   Irvine, Ayrshire

• He had a residence in 1910-1926 in Otautau, Southland, Southland, New Zealand. ⁹

• Gallery: Detail view of George Edward Fisher, in October 1922, in Otautau, Southland, Southland, New Zealand.

• Gallery: Portrait of George Edward Fisher taken at his 60th wedding anniversary celebration in October 1922 in Otautau, Southland, Southland, New Zealand.

• He was buried at the Riverton Cemetery (New), Presbyterian Section, Row 1 of E, Plot 9, in Riverton, Southland, Southland, New Zealand in 1926.
  
  Memorial Inscription:
  
  In Loving Memory of
  LILIAS PORTEOUS
  BELOVED WIFE OF JOHN FISHER, OTAUTAU,
  AGED 37 YEARS
  AND NELLIE STEVEN, THEIR NIECE
  AGED 14 YEARS,
  WHO WERE ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED AT
  RIVERTON, 16TH JANUARY 1904.
  MARGARET GRACE DALKIETH,
  THEIR ELDEST DAUGHTER, DIED AT
  OTAUTAU, 22ND JUNE 1919, AGED 29 YEARS.
  GEORGE EDWARD FISHER, OTAUTAU
  DIED 24TH AUGUST 1926, AGED 87 YEARS
  MARGARET GIBSON FISHER, HIS WIFE
  DIED AT INVERCARGILL, 8TH DECEMBER 1928
  AGED 89 YEARS.
  At Rest.
  
  Note: Margaret Fisher's second middle name has been carved incorrectly on the gravestone; the correct spelling should be "Dalkeith" (not "Dalkieth").