McNee

(Some information is from an article The Early Robertsons by “Wee Addie”, granddaughter of Eleanor Shennan nee Robertson, 1962)

William Cowan McNee was born 2 February 1834, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

His parents were Daniel McNee (Occupation: Muslin Manufacturer) and Ann Cowan (possibly of 47 Scott St, Garnethill, Glasgow) who were married 17 March 1815, Gorbals, County of Lanark, Scotland. The mother of Ann Cowan was Margaret Todd.

William Cowan McNee was brought up by his Grandfather and offered a choice of Oxford or Cambridge but instead chose to run away to sea. He sailed to Australia to try his luck in the goldfields and then came to NZ on the ship ‘Lady Egidia’, arriving in Dunedin 28 January 1861. By his late 20s was back in Scotland, where he fell in love with Elizabeth McDonald Robertson, daughter of a Glasgow jeweller and goldsmith. William married Elizabeth on 24 February 1863 at 8 Havelock Terrace, Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Minister was George Philip, Union Free Church. Witnesses were David Cowan and Duncan Ferguson.

[Another source of McNee information: Merle Thomas (nee McNee, daughter of William’s son James) understood Daniel McNee was a ship owner, and he and his wife Ann were lost at sea during a storm when a number of his ships were lost. It is not currently known how many children Daniel and Ann had. William was the youngest, possibly still a baby when his parents died, and was brought up by the Cowans.
Merle was also told by her father that “Grandad McNee’s folk were in the whisky trade – distilling it, that is. But William was the one selling whisky – in Aussie among the goldminers perhaps. I understand he fossicked for gold when first in N.Z.”]

Elizabeth and William (Willie) emigrated to NZ on the ship “Nelson” which sailed from the Firth of Clyde, Renfrewshire, Scotland, 15 July 1863, and arrived at Port Chalmers, Dunedin 12 November 1863. They settled in Dunedin, where Willie invested his and his wife’s money in a grocery business; but as he knew nothing about that trade and was too generous with credit, he lost most of the money he had invested. He then went into the Land and Estate business where he did very well. He was trusted and respected by all who did business with him.

The McNee family home was at ‘Hope Hill’ on the corner of 158 Eglinton Road and Macnee Street, in the suburb of Mornington, Dunedin. It was a villa on a double section so that there was room for a large garden. The site is now a vet clinic with its own car park.

Wee Addie remembers staying with them when she was about 4 years old. Her family was living in Christchurch at the time and she had gone with her mother to Dunedin for a holiday. One night when she was in bed, Uncle Willie came into her room with the biggest doll she had ever seen – for her! She related she was so excited she could not sleep. Later on they were to live in Dunedin too and saw a lot of the McNees. It was a happy time for all of them. Her aunt and uncle would sometimes sing. His songs were more of a lusty nature. She remembered him bellowing forth with:

“Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main,

For many a stormy wind will blow e’er Jack comes home again.”

Willie had a great fund of stories too and could carry on all night without repeating himself. Wee Addie’s father was much the same, and given an appreciative audience, could carry on indefinitely. One night when they were all at ‘Hope Hill’ the two of them got started, the one trying to outdo the other, when Auntie McNee said, “Ah Wullie, you’ve met your match at last.”

Elizabeth and William had 11 children –

Daniel Robertson McNee – born 24 November 1863.

Deceased 29 November 1863 (5 days old). Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 4, Plot 0026).

William Robertson McNee – born 17 January 1865. Married Isabella Barron 26 November 1889, Wright’s Bush, Southland.

Deceased ?

Alexander John McNee – born 11 May 1867. (Baptised First Church 3 July 1867)

Deceased 17 March 1871 (3 years 10 Months). Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 4, Plot 0063).

Jane Ann (Janie) McNee (known to later generations as Aunty Nance) – born 10 January 1869. Never married. It is believed she was engaged but her fiancé died.

Deceased 22 August 1956 (87 years). Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 4, Plot 0063).

 James MacNee – born 18 September 1870. Married Sarah Ann (Sadie)

Deceased 1949 (79 years).

Margaret Todd (Mardie) McNee – born 7 July 1871. Never married.

Deceased 9 May 1960. Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 12, Plot 0023).

 Elizabeth (Biffy) Macnee – born 18 June 1874. Never married.

Deceased 25 April 1943 (68 years). Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 12, Plot 0023).

 Marianne Macnee – born 1 June 1875? Never married.

Deceased 14 October 1900 (22 years).

Thomas McNee – born 28 July 1877 (or 1876). Married Winifred Ada Edwards in 1903.

Deceased 3 March 1925 (48 years). Wellington Karori Cemetery (Block 33 WHN, Plot 484 J P2).

Jessie – born 7 October 1880. Married George Walter Dowling in 1929.

Deceased 1962.

Eleanor Isabella – born 30 January 1883 ‘Hope Hill’ Mornington, Dunedin. Married George Thomas Bathgate.

Deceased 8 September 1964 ‘Hope Hill’ Dunedin (81 years). Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 12, Plot 0023 ashes).

 

William Cowan McNee died 11 October 1916 aged 82 years, and is buried with his wife at Dunedin Southern Cemetery (Block 12, Plot 0023).
The Lady Egidia, the ship upon which William Cowan McNee first arrived in New Zealand, has had 2 anniversaries, marking 50 years and 100 years since it sailed into Port Chalmers.
On the left is William in a photo taken on the 50th anniversary. Below is part of a photo taken on the 100th anniversary, present among whom were George T Bathgate, Hazel Bathgate with Patricia, Suzanne and Lesley, and Beth and Bert Sim. (From Lady Egidia Centenary Committee publication, 1961, edited by W.H. Davidson)

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N.B. There has at times been discussion as to the correct spelling for the McNee name as some used Macnee or MacNee (variations in the list of siblings above are due to how it was spelt in their death certificates). It seems Elizabeth McNee may have regarded ‘Macnee’ as correct but as Willie signed documents with McNee, that became the legal spelling (probably to his wife’s frustration…)

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