Quail Island Gets A Feminine Touch

I can’t say whether Elizabeth Watts-Russell was one of those who laughed when the Ward brothers – Edward, Henry and Hamilton – chose Quail Island as the place to set up their farm.  The brothers were well aware of the giggles happening around Lyttelton as they prepared to make their move.  Edward – the eldest …

ILAM – J.C. Watts-Russell (1825 – 1875)

Jesse Watts-Russell sure helped his son J.C. when he purchased for him 500 acres from the Canterbury Association for the new colony of Christchurch. 10 acres of this was in Lyttelton and the rest would become known as Ilam. 1850 would be a huge year for J.C.; he married Elizabeth Bradshaw and the newly weds …