Peerage Record – 28617

     John Polson was born on 5 December 1836 at Marrel, Sutherland, Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of James Polson and Flora McKenzie.
     John, Murdoch, John, Janet and Catherine and Murdoch Bruce immigrated to Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, on the ship Canterbury, arriving on 10 January 1864. “The ‘Canterbury’, 1296 tons, sailed from London on 21 September 1863, and arrived after a journey taking 111 days. Captain Clare’s log of the voyage out stated that lttle sickness existed, and the number of deaths were unusually small – two infants and one adult. Eight births occurred, increasing the ‘number of souls on board at starting by five’.
The passengers expressed their satisfaction for the arrangements carried out during the voyage, to promote their comfort and health, and also that the cooking arrangements were a decided improvement over many immigrnat ships of former days.
The patent distilling appartus produced over 300 gallons of pure fresh water per day, and the surplus steam from the condensers were used to cook the food in the coppers. The ‘Canterbury’ carried a large cargo of general goods, including 150 cases of brandy and 2500 fire bricks. Passengers listed were ‘four cabin, 45 in the second and equal to 373 Government Immigrants in the steerage’. These passengers were from all part of the British Isles, and it was noted that many were from coastal Scotland and also from the industrial cities of Britain.”.²

     Alexander Polson was born at Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of James Polson and Flora McKenzie. He was baptized at Scotland^G on 1 August 1838.¹

     Anne Polson was born in 1839 at Scotland^G.¹ She was the daughter of James Polson and Flora McKenzie. She was baptized at Scotland^G on 1 January 1840.¹

     Janet Polson was born in 1843 at Scotland^G.¹ She was the daughter of James Polson and Flora McKenzie. She was baptized at Scotland^G on 23 January 1843.¹

     Alexanderina Polson was born in 1850 at Scotland^G.¹ She was the daughter of James Polson and Flora McKenzie.

     William Polson was born in 1851 at Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of James Polson and Flora McKenzie.
     He was a labourer in 1881 at Scotland^G.²

     Flora Bruce was born on 22 April 1869 at Cheviot, Canterbury, New Zealand^G.² She was the daughter of Murdoch Bruce and Catherine Polson. She died on 16 April 1883 at age 13.² She was buried at Ashburton Public Cemetery, Old Section, Ashburton, New Zealand^G, plot 806.³
     She was brought up living at Ocean View Farm, Buckleys Road, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, from 1877 to 1883.⁴ She was a student at Seafield School, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, from 1879 to 1883.⁵

     William Murdoch Bruce was born on 6 September 1870 at Cheviot, Canterbury, New Zealand^G.² He was the son of Murdoch Bruce and Catherine Polson. He married Susan Donn, daughter of Robert Donn, on 22 June 1897.² He died on 19 March 1955 at age 84.^3,4 He was buried at Ashburton Public Cemetery, Ashburton, New Zealand^G, plot 5002.⁴
     He has an extensive biographical entry in the William Bruce was known as a good judge of livestock, and was alwyas interested in the activities of the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations. He was also involved in Federated Farmer, teh Coldstream Road Board and the Presbyterian Church.
      He was brought up living at Ocean View Farm, Buckleys Road, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, from 1877 to 1897.⁵ He was a student at Seafield School, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, in 1879.² He was a stock agent for National Mortgage and Agency Company Ltd in 1902 at Timaru, New Zealand^G.² He was a stock agent for National Mortgage and Agency Company Ltd from 1908 to 1915 at Geraldine, New Zealand^G.² He held the office of President of the Winchester A& P Association in 1914.² He was a farmer in 1915 at Mount Alford, Canterbury, New Zealand^G.² He was a farmer from 1916 to 1932 at Lowcliffe, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, A farm of 356 acres..²

     Susan Donn was born on 16 November 1870 at Timaru, New Zealand^G.¹ She was the daughter of Robert Donn. She married William Murdoch Bruce, son of Murdoch Bruce and Catherine Polson, on 22 June 1897.² She died on 10 October 1945 at age 74.^1,3 She was buried at Ashburton Public Cemetery, Ashburton, New Zealand^G, plot 5002.³
     From 22 June 1897, her married name became Bruce.

     Kathleen Jessie Bruce was born on 8 September 1898.² She is the daughter of William Murdoch Bruce and Susan Donn. She married Archibald Cody Shaw.³
     Her married name became Shaw.³