Genealogy of the Bryan and Martin Families

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Thomas Fraser Alexander

Thomas Fraser Alexander

Male 1830 - Yes, date unknown

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  • Name Thomas Fraser Alexander 
    Birth cir 1830 
    Gender Male 
    Death Yes, date unknown 
    Cause: cardiac arrest 
    Siblings 5 brothers and 1 sister 
    Notes 
    • Thomas Fraser Alexander's father was a farmer, and Thomas left home when young because he didn't want to be a farmer, and his father was very strict and hard on him. Some information on Thomas came from his great-grandson Snowy Fox, who knew him as a young child and used to go with him to look for gold on the beach at Birchfield. Thomas carried the gold pan and Snowy carried a special bucket that Thomas had had made for him. It carried the water needed for panning the gold. Thomas's great-granddaughter Maud Gear remembered sitting on Thomas's knee as a small child and being fascinated by his long white beard. Thomas allegedly married twice before he immigrated to New Zealand, the second time aged 25, and was left a widower both times. Possibly, both women died in childbirth.

      On 22 September 1863 he married Isabella McLean in Invercargill. On their marriage certificate they are both "over age" meaning over 21, and he is a widower. It was thought they may have met in Otago as the gold rush was on at the time of their marriage and the nearest place to be married was Invercargill, but now it's known they met in Victoria, Australia.

      Thomas was a mine manager in Brunner. On 26 March 1896, three weeks after he'd left, a disastrous mine explosion occurred and 67 men lost their lives. Thomas knew them all. It was the highest loss of life in a New Zealand mining disaster.

      He'd moved on with his wife and younger daughter Margaret to manage the Mangatini mine, above Millerton, north of Westport. It was early 1896 and he was the first state-appointed mine manager. Also living in Millerton were his daughter Ann & husband William Kidd with their six children. Thomas was now 70 years old.

      Thomas Fraser Alexander lived the last 20 years of his life with the Broadfoot family (his daughter Margaret's) in Birchfield. He died at their home on 7 August 1918, aged 93 years.

      Thomas always read his Bible on Sundays and never worked on the Sabbath. One particular weekend his daughter Margaret went to her father's bedroom to see if he was all right as he usually rose early in the morning. Thomas was sitting up in bed reading his bible. When Margaret explained it was Saturday, Thomas jumped out of bed and appeared in his working clothes, axe in hand, and was off to the wood pile where he worked for the rest of the morning.

      Thomas visited Otira to see the tunnel work in progress. His son-in-law William Kidd was an electrician working on the tunnel project.
    Person ID i21014  Bryan-Martin
    Last Modified 23 Feb 2013 

    Father George Alexander,   b. 17 Apr 1780, Dunbarney, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Jan 1851, Forteviot, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Mother Margaret Guthrie,   b. 1788   d. 30 Jun 1860, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Marriage cir 1820 
    Family ID F6978  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Thomas Fraser Alexander,   b. cir 1830   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage Bef 1855  Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F8070  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 20 Feb 2023 

    Family 2 Thomas Fraser Alexander,   b. cir 1830   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 8 Jun 1855  Condie, Forgandenny, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. George Alexander,   b. 5 Apr 1856   d. 4 Feb 1862, 5 Union Street, Sandhurst (now Bendigo), Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 5 years)
    Family ID F8071  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 20 Feb 2023 

    Family 3 Thomas Fraser Alexander,   b. cir 1830   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 22 Sep 1863  Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • The marriage took place in the home of the minister, Benjamin Drake, in Don Street, Invercargill, New Zealand.
    Children 
     1. George Alexander,   b. 1859, Sandhurst (now Bendigo), Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 May 1944, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     2. Ann McQueen Alexander,   b. 1867, Stafford, Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Oct 1914, Westport, West Coast, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years)
     3. Margaret Guthrie Alexander,   b. 1870, Drury (?), Takaka, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F8073  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 20 Feb 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Bef 1855 - Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 8 Jun 1855 - Condie, Forgandenny, Perthshire, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 22 Sep 1863 - Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Farm Town Parish City County/Shire State/Province Country Region Not Set

  • Photos
    Family of Thomas Alexander
    Family of Thomas Alexander
    Counterclockwise, from right: Thomas Fraser Alexander, Ann McQueen Alexander Kidd, Frances Kidd Fox, Frederick Fox