The Deans

William Deans (1817 – 1851)                               Drowned               Place of Death: Wellington Memorial at Barbadoes Street Cemetery * Christchurch’s First Justice of Peace. John Deans (1820 – 1854)                                   Died of T.B.            Place of Death: Riccarton Buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery Jane Deans (1823 – 1911)                                   Died of old …

RICCARTON – William & John Deans (1817 -1851 & 1820 -1854)

William Deans, Samuel Manson and Jimmy Robinson Clough had quite a journey to complete from the Sumner bar, down the Otakaro (the Avon River) and then on on to Putaringamotu (Riccarton) in 1841. When the party reached what is now the Barbadoes Street Bridge, by Oxford Terrace, they continued in a canoe as the Port …

Jane Deans (1823 – 1911)

It wasn’t love at first sight for either John or Jane Deans…unbelievable concerning the history they made together. Jane was born at Auchenflower Farm, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 21st April 1823. She was eldest child of farmer/gentleman James McIlraith and his first wife Agnes. When her mother died, Jane became the mother hen of her …

Show Ground Gates A Symbol Of Faith In The Future Of Canterbury – November 1887

It wouldn’t be until March 1888 that the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural & Pastoral Association met to discuss the amazing success they had enjoyed at their last Metropolitan Show, which had run from 9th to 11th November 1887.  There had be serious doubts and nervousness amongst the members as this would be the first …