Mrs Peter Ayson senior (née Douglas Lamond)
Douglas Ayson was the matriarch of a large Scottish family who pioneered settlement in South Otago. Born at Bingzeon, Scotland, in 1811, Douglas Lamond married Peter Ayson in 1832. By 1852 the couple had produced 10 children and were struggling to see a future for their large brood in rural Scotland. They were attracted by news of the recently established Scottish colony in New Zealand and decided to emigrate. Peter purchased some land at Warepa from the New Zealand Company and in 1853 the large complement of Aysons set sail on the Royal Albert from London for a new life on the other side of the world. Peter’s half-brother James Ayson came too.
On arrival in Dunedin Peter Ayson worked at his trade as a carpenter, while the family took lodgings in Rattray Street. Soon afterwards he and his eldest son, also Peter, set off walking 100 kilometres southwards across country to their section in South Otago. They spent seven months building a cottage – named Corydon after their home place in Scotland. Peter then returned to Dunedin to collect the rest of the family and they too made the long journey south.
Having made the great cross-country trek to Warepa from Dunedin, Douglas never went back the other way. For the rest of her life, apart from one journey by train to Queenstown and another two to visit sons in Waikaka, she never travelled any distance from Warepa.
Douglas gave birth to a further three children in New Zealand and proved herself to be the ideal of the pioneer wife and mother. She and Peter were married for 64 years. Douglas survived her husband by eight years and died at Corydon in 1905. She received the following obituary tribute:
‘Douglas was a picture of hospitality, cheeriness and all charitableness. Robust, vigorous in voice and manner, keen to appreciate the humorous and kindly. A life full of good example with a strong Christian faith.’
After her death the Corydon property was sold and an era ended.
https://www.toituosm.com/collections/smith-gallery/wall-2/mrs-peter-ayson-senior
