Peerage Record – 28616

     Janet Bruce was born in 1845 at Olrig, Caithness, Scotland^G.¹ She was the daughter of William Bruce and Elizabeth Kennedy.
     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

     David Bruce was born in 1848 at Olrig, Caithness, Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of William Bruce and Elizabeth Kennedy.
     He was a stationmaster wit the North British Railway Company at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland^G, In a newspaper cutting headed “Honour to a Caithnessman – presentation to Mr D Bruce, stationmaster, Dunbar”, he received much praise, and was presented with a solid silver salver and a purse of 60 soverigns in recognition of valuable services rendered by him during a “recent railway strike”. The article outlines his valuable and arduous exertions and also states that he had been working for this railway company for 25 years.”².³

     William Bruce was born in 1853 at Olrig, Caithness, Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of William Bruce and Elizabeth Kennedy.

     Catherine Polson was born in June 1841 at Scotland^G.² She was the daughter of James Polson and Flora McKenzie. She was baptized at Scotland^G on 3 July 1841.² She married Murdoch Bruce, son of William Bruce and Elizabeth Kennedy, on 9 July 1868 at the house of Reverend George Grant, Christchurch, New Zealand^G, in a Presbyterian marriage.¹ She died on 20 March 1922 at age 80.^3,4 She was buried at Ashburton Public Cemetery, Old Section, Ashburton, New Zealand^G.⁴
     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.”.⁵ From 9 July 1868, her married name became Bruce.¹ Catherine lived with her husband at Ocean View Farm, Buckleys Road, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G, from 1877 to 1897.³ She witnessed the marriage of Henry Arthur Lloyd and Elizabeth Bruce on 25 April 1894 at Residence of Murdoch Bruce, Seafield, Canterbury, New Zealand^G.⁶

     Murdoch Polson was born before 1787 at Scotland^G.¹ He married Catherine Sutherland.¹

     Catherine Sutherland was born at Scotland^G.¹ She married Murdoch Polson.¹
     Her married name became Polson.¹

     James Polson was born on 23 July 1803 at Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of Murdoch Polson and Catherine Sutherland. He married Flora McKenzie on 12 December 1833 at Marrel, Sutherland, Scotland^G.¹ He died on 7 July 1884 at age 80.¹
     He was a crofter of 2 acres at Scotland^G.²

     Flora McKenzie was born at Scotland^G.¹ She married James Polson, son of Murdoch Polson and Catherine Sutherland, on 12 December 1833 at Marrel, Sutherland, Scotland^G.¹
     From 12 December 1833, her married name became Polson.¹

     Alexander Polson was born at Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of Murdoch Polson and Catherine Sutherland. He was baptized at Scotland^G on 10 October 1805.¹

     Murdoch Polson was born on 13 April 1835 at Marrel, Sutherland, Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of James Polson and Flora McKenzie.
     He was a tailor in 1861 at Scotland^G.²