A big thank you to Keryn Mason from New Zealand for supplying all the information on this page. If you wish to contact Keryn about the New Zealand families please use the contact form and I will pass your message on.

George Thompson 1839-1887

George was born about 1839 in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland, the son of William Thomson and Margaret Brotherston. His father died in 1847 and in 1851 George was living with his mother and siblings in Carnoustie. In about 1859 he emigrated to New Zealand, according to family lore jumping ship in Nelson. On 12 May 1864 at St Peters Anglican Church in Akaroa, Cantebury, New Zealand George Thompson married Mary Close. George's occupation was sawyer. Written consent for Mary to marry was given by her father as Mary was 18 years old and a minor. She was born about 1847 in Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham, England, the daughter of Robert Close and Mary Studholme and she came to Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand with her mother and sister Elizabeth, on 15 February 1860 aboard the Barque Ambrosine to join her father, a shipbuilder who had immigrated about a year earlier.

In 1865 George Thompson's occupation was sailor. He initially settled in Canterbury and around 1875 moved to Dunedin, Otago. In 1881 he was living in Sawyers Bay, Otago and his occupation was sawyer. He died on 5 October 1889, occupation mariner. In the 1893 electoral roll Mary was living at Grey Street, Port Chalmers and she died at George Street, Port Chalmers on 17 May 1906. Children:-

Margaret Ann Thompson born 20 June 1865 Head of the Bay, Akaroa Child:-
- James Thompson born 3 April 1884 Sawyers Bay, Otago
  He has his own page
On 21 February 1893 Margaret married Matthew Gardiner Scott Solomon. He was born in 1863. In 1911 he was a fisherman and from 1919 to 1938 a farmer. Margaret died in 1944 at Owaka, Otago and Matthew died in 1948 also at Owaka.
William Thompson born 28 July 1866 Head of the Bay, Akaroa
On 28 December 1892 William Thompson married Janet Campbell at the residence of her parents, South Dunedin. Janet was born about 1867 in Riverton, Southland, the eldest daughter of John Campbell. They settled in Port Chalmers. William died on 13 April 1932 at Dunedin Public Hospital as the result of an accident on the wharf at Port Chalmers and Janet died on 14 August 1934 aged 67. Children:-
- Matthew John Thompson born 1894
  He was a telegraphist. During WWI he was a sargeant in the 15th Reinforcements Otago Infantry, D Battalion and he sailed for Devonport, England in 1916. In 1919 he was back in New Zealand living at Dryden Street, Mosgiel, Dunedin. Matthew died in 1979 aged 85 and is buried in Port Chalmers Cemetery.
- George Thompson born 11 July 1895 Caversham, Dunedin.
  He was a tailor. On 9 Jun 1920 he married Annie Florence Matheson and they had a daughter. George's second marriage was to Doris Milbro Slater in 1955 at Wellington. He died in 1989 at Pukekohe Hospital, Auckland aged 93.
- Marion Steel Thompson born 8 September 1902
  On 8 September 1926 she married Leslie Faulkner Smith. Leslie was born on 6 September 1900. Marion died in 1975 and Leslie in 1980.
- William Robert Thompson born Feb 1904
  In 1926 he married Agnes Emily Quittenden. William died in WWII on 29 December 1942 and is buried at Bari, Italy.
- James David Campbell Thompson born 8 Jul 1906
  Known as Jim. In 1931 he married Ruby Irene Edwards. She was born around 1910. For most of their married life they lived in Port Chalmers and James was a stevedore. Ruby died at Waikari Hospital in 1992 aged 82 and James died in 1993. They had five children two of whom predeceased them.
Mary Elizabeth Thompson born 24 January 1870 Akaroa
On 3 September 1890 at Sawyers Bay she married William Winter. William died at Pahiatua Hospital in 1924 aged 59. Mary died in 1955 at the residence of her daughter Mary Nation in Khandallah, Wellington. Children:-
- Isabella Mary Ellen Winter born 1891
  Know as Nell. She married John Thomas Follas, known as Jack in 1909 at Levin. John was born about 1884 and died in 1956 aged 72 and is buried in Terrace End Cemetery in Palmerston North. Isabella died in 1963 and is buried in Kelvin Grove Cemetery in Palmerston North.
- George Ernest John Taylor Winter born 1893
  In 1920 he married Ella Kathleen Thompson. George was a butcher. They had two sons neither of whom married. George died in 1956 and Kathleen in 1975. They were buried in Levin Cemetery.
- Mary Thompson Winter born 29 January 1895 Sawyers Bay.
  Known as May. She married Leslie Ryder Nation on 11 March 1914 in Levin. Leslie died in 1965 aged 76 and Mary in 1966.
Williamina Thompson born 25 March 1874 at Little River, Canterbury
She died on 7 June 1875 age 1
George David Thompson born 19 August 1875 Sawyers Bay, Otago.
Known as David. He serving in the Royal Navy and sailed from Malta to Plymouth, England aboard the "Persia", in 1913. Later he was Stoker 1st Class Royal Navy, on board HMS Banterer. He married Ina Bertha Florence Lawrence in 1917 at Southampton, Hampshire, England. She was born in 1893 at Southampton. George died on 8 January 1918 at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire. There were no children. Ina then married Alfred Grace in 1919 and the administration of George Thompson's estate was granted to her in 1925.
Thompson born 24 November 1876
Premature baby who lived for 15 hours. There is no first name on the birth registration but death is registered as George. Buried in Port Chalmers Cemetery Old Block C3 Plot 61.
George Robert Thompson born 24 February 1878 at Sawyers Bay, Otago
Known as Robert. He was an able seaman on several crew lists and later a rigger. On 18 November 1908 he married Martha Jane Auld. She had been born in New Zealand on 12 June 1879. George died in 1960 at Sawyers Bay and Martha died in 1968. There were no children.