RootsChat.Com

Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Kiko on Tuesday 23 March 10 14:26 GMT (UK)

Title: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings? *COMPLETED*
Post by: Kiko on Tuesday 23 March 10 14:26 GMT (UK)
Hi,

My grand-uncle, Alexander MacLennan, is unfortunately known as the biggest exterminator of the natives of Tierra del Fuego (Patagonia, South America). Some versions say that, before coming to Tierra del Fuego, he took part in the killings of maoris in New Zealand. Are there any references about this in New Zealand?

Time frame would be 1891-1895.

This could explain why I've never found any arrival of an Alexander MacLennan from Scotland to Patagonia during that time frame.

Thanks,
Francisco
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: percy porter on Tuesday 23 March 10 17:23 GMT (UK)
One in Dunedin which is a couple of years outside the time frame.

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?OID=13264756

Alan NZ
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: Thamesite2017 on Tuesday 23 March 10 17:26 GMT (UK)
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast
papers past can be searched for names

but it does not sound feasible given the dates you suggest

The maori wars/ New Zealand were much earlier 1860s
http://www.newzealandwars.co.nz/
He certainly would not have been doing these acts in the 1890s...would have been in jail if that was the case
Bye
Althea
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 23 March 10 17:26 GMT (UK)
Hi Francisco,

1891-1895 seems too late for the Maori Wars,things had settled down by 1865 and a lot of the british soldiers returned to the UK on board the "Rob Roy"
Was Alexander in the british army?
The only Alexander MacLennan in Paperspast is a Rev so probably not your man,
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&t=2&txq=Alexander+MacLennan&pbq=&dafdq=&dafmq=&dafyq=&datdq=&datmq=&datyq=&tyq=all&ssnip=&fuzziness=&e=-------10--1----0-all&x=42&y=10
Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: Kiko on Tuesday 23 March 10 19:40 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your feedback, which does clarify things quite a bit. The time frame I have is accurate, because I have him well reserached until 1891 in Scotland and from 1896 onward in Patagonia. My only gap is that period of 5 years.

Obviously many stories about him have been exagerated, so probably the New Zealand one is fiction. Was he in the British army? One version I have says yes, so I'll now try to concentrate on that one.

Thanks to you all,

Francisco
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: SPC on Tuesday 23 March 10 20:23 GMT (UK)
Was he in the British army? One version I have says yes, so I'll now try to concentrate on that one.


Essentially all of the Imperial (British) Army had left NZ and Australia by 1870, so if he was in the British army it is unlikely he was in NZ.

Simon
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings?
Post by: Kiko on Wednesday 24 March 10 13:02 GMT (UK)
Thanks, Simon, interesting you mention Australia because that eliminates the last little doubt I had.

Cheers,
Francisco
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings? *COMPLETED*
Post by: sageglass on Sunday 25 March 12 23:23 BST (UK)
Kiko, I landed here on this post when I googled my grandmother's grandfather,  Alexander Maclennan.  Might he be the same one you refer to?? Married to Margaret?  Children: Mary, John, Murdoch and Donald?  If so, would you share your information? 

Sage
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings? *COMPLETED*
Post by: Kiko on Monday 26 March 12 14:33 BST (UK)
Hi Sage,

It wouldn't be the same Alexander because my one did not marry and had no descendants. But maybe I have some information on your Alexander, especially if he was from Gairloch. The names of the 4 children you mention were very common in my MacLennan family. Do you have his wife's surname? If you do, I might be able to find him.

Cheers,
Kiko
Title: Re: Alexander MacLennan, maori killings? *COMPLETED*
Post by: sageglass on Monday 26 March 12 16:44 BST (UK)
Kiko, thank you for your reply.  I have Alexander MacLean (1807-1905) also spelled MacLennan on another page.  He married Margaret MacDonald.  It says Alexander came to Canada from Scotland with his parents in 1830 and settled in Ontario.  I think his parents were Mary MacKenzie and John MacLean.  Maybe they were his grandparents.  I see also somewhere his sibs(?) or cousins(?) went to Austrailia.  Charles, Duncan... the names are here I just can't put it together.  Do you have access to those paid sites that give you this info?