John G. Smith
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John Gibson Smith was a New Zealand Scottish poet.
History
He may have been from Innerleithen,[citation needed][weasel words] a small village near Peebles in the south of Scotland. He moved to Ednam as a schoolmaster in 1834. He was a keen gardener and wrote about all he saw.[citation needed]
In 1851 he married Mary Waddell, eldest daughter of James Waddell of Oban, Scotland.[1]
He had a work published on the ancient manners, customs, and amusements of the Scottish Border.[1]
In 1862 he self-published a 240 page book of poetry entitled The old churchyard, the twa mice and miscellaneous poems and songs in an edition of 1000.[2][3]
He resigned his post as Ednam school in 1864 and emigrated to New Zealand with his family.
He may be the John G. Smith who was aboard the ship "Sevilla",[weasel words] which left Glasgow on 21 May 1864 and arrived at Bluff on 4 September 1864. That person was Chairman of a Passengers' Committee which rendered a Testimonial to the Sevilla's Captain.[4] He is not on the Passenger List published by the Southland Times newspaper[5] but that List appears to only cover "Assisted" Immigrants.
He became schoolmaster at Longbush School, Southland, New Zealand.[1] He regularly contributed poetry to the local newspapers, such as The Southland Times and Otago Witness).[6] He became the first Secretary and Treasurer of the Southland Education Board.[1] He died on 18 March 1891 and is buried at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, with his wife Mary.
References
- ^ a b c d "Papers Past — Southland Times — 19 March 1891 — Obituary". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Papers Past — Southland Times — 17 May 1872 — AN ENQUIRY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Holdings information at the National Library of Scotland for: Title The old churchyard, the twa mice and miscellaneous poems and songs". copac. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Papers Past - Southland Times - Volume I, Issue 42, 6 September 1864, Page 1". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Papers Past — Southland Times — 3 September 1864 — SHIP SEVILLA, FROM GLASGOW". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Papers Past — Otago Witness — 20 November 1875 — Page 19". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
External links
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