Ellen (Buchanan) Grant

Ellen Grant.

Ellen was born Helen Buchanan on the 16th of June, 1838, at Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, the 8th of 14 children of Thomas Buchanan and Margaret Graham.  At 2, in 1841, she was living with her family in Kirkintilloch. and at 13, in 1851, she was living with her family in Dunbartonshire, presumably Kirkintilloch.  Thomas Buchanan with his wife and six of a family including Ellen left their home in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow and sailed in the first emigrant ship bound for Otago, the "Philip Laing" arriving in Dunedin on April 15th, 1848.  Thomas Buchanan lived in a double house in Dowling Street, Dunedin before going out to the Taieri where  for a few years the family resided at Halfway Bush. After losing their home by fire, they moved to "Clairinch", so named by virtue of the association of the Buchanans over several centuries of Scottish history.  In the years before her marriage Ellen knew what it was to walk to Dunedin, a distance of fifteen miles over roadless country. She related that once on the return trip, she was somewhat confused at one point in the area near North Taieri where two tracks crossed. There she met a man whom she asked for directions. "She'll keep on and she'll come when she'll see like she'll see a man but she'll not be a man, she'll be a cabbage tree and she'll keep the footpath under she's foot," was the reply of her Highland guide.  At 28, on Friday 16 November, 1866, she married William Grant at "Clairinch", West Taieri, Otago, New Zealand, and they had eight children.  At 48, on Sunday 16 July 1876, her father Thomas died at "Clairinch".  At 56, on Sunday 22 Jun 1884, her mother Margaret died at West Taieri.  

At 75, on the 16th of January, 1913, she died at "Clairinch" Farm, West Taieri, Otago, New Zealand.