ANCESTRAL ROOTS in ORKNEY

It was after I started researching the legend of the man with a long white beard who rode a white horse in Macraes Flat, Otago, New Zealand, that I discovered he was my GG Grandfather Robert Harcus from a tiny island called Eday, in the Orkney Isles, situated not far from County Caithness, in Northern Scotland. He was selected for 'assisted immigration' and travelled on a sailing ship, the Nelson, from Glasgow to Port Chalmers, Dunedin in 1874. The colony NZ, needed labourers, farmers and families and many thousands of immigrants came to NZ in those days. His story once he arrived in NZ is one of courage, tragedy and love. To read more, please go to RootsRoutes My Story

The Nelson sailing ship brought Robert Harcus and family and many immigrants to NZ in 1874.

The Nelson sailing ship brought Robert Harcus and family and many immigrants to NZ in 1874.