Menu
Four Generations of Gillanders Family. 1911.
Expand/collapse
About this image
DescriptionJan Gillanders.."Margaret was my Grandmother, she married a Gillanders and they lived in “ the old sawmill house” at Ruru. Her baby George would be my uncle, Gladys and Edna are my Aunts. She had two more children, Donald ( my father) and Frank."
This photo was taken in 1911 and says Four Generations. The baby is George Edward Gillanders and I am trying to identify the others in the Family. George's mother was Margaret O'Neill, so she would be holding him. At the time the family were from Ruru. They could be Gillander's wives.
William Gillanders was a Gold Miner in the No Town Valley during the 1860's/70's and he married Ellen Doren in 1874. The older one could be Ellen. Can anyone help?
PIC 2:
This photo is taken in about 1916, about 5 years later than the other GILLANDERS photo I posted and shows Gladys, Edna and George GILLANDERS. George, tragically, died young in 1933 after being crushed by a log at the Ruru Sawmill, Gladys married Thomas CONDON in 1935 and Edna married Mathew JURY in 1944. Any descendants out there?Date of Photo1911Map[1] Contributor Geoffrey Bell
This photo was taken in 1911 and says Four Generations. The baby is George Edward Gillanders and I am trying to identify the others in the Family. George's mother was Margaret O'Neill, so she would be holding him. At the time the family were from Ruru. They could be Gillander's wives.
William Gillanders was a Gold Miner in the No Town Valley during the 1860's/70's and he married Ellen Doren in 1874. The older one could be Ellen. Can anyone help?
PIC 2:
This photo is taken in about 1916, about 5 years later than the other GILLANDERS photo I posted and shows Gladys, Edna and George GILLANDERS. George, tragically, died young in 1933 after being crushed by a log at the Ruru Sawmill, Gladys married Thomas CONDON in 1935 and Edna married Mathew JURY in 1944. Any descendants out there?Date of Photo1911Map[1] Contributor Geoffrey Bell
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)RuruPersonGeorge Edward Gillanders Ellen Doren William Gillanders Margaret O'NeillLandmark (Place)Gladys GillandersEdna GillandersGeorge GillandersEventCrushed Family portrait
From Facebook
LinkFacebookDate Created2017-05-10CommentsBenjamin James Watchman So long ago
Like · Reply · 2 · 4 hrs
Peter Westwood
Peter Westwood There were a family of Gillanders that lived at Rapahoe, they had a son Archie. Not sure where they came from, maybe from same family.
Like · Reply · 3 · 4 hrs
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Peter Westwood. William and Ellen Gillanders Had a son Archibald, born 1882, so there is a good chance that the family from Rapahoe are related.
Like · Reply · 2 · 4 hrs
Pam Howard
Pam Howard wow what memories hope they find the relations
Like · Reply · 3 · 4 hrs
Terri Prince
Terri Prince beautiful clear photo
Like · Reply · 3 · 3 hrs
MsTree Jay Byrne
MsTree Jay Byrne Elaborate millenery
Like · Reply · 4 · 3 hrs
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Top photo. A treasure.
Like · Reply · 3 · 1 hr
Alan Sheehan
Alan Sheehan Awesome pic !!
Like · Reply · 1 · 10 minsMaye Dunn They will all be mother and daughters. Do you know what Margaret Gillanders ( O'Neill) mothers name was and where she was born ?? I will look on ancestry.com for you.
Like · Reply · 2 · May 10 at 6:13pm
Aaron Clark
Aaron Clark Does this help? https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gillanders-178
George Edward Gillanders (1911-1932) | WikiTree: The FREE Family Tree
Genealogy for George Gillanders born 1911 West Coast, New Zealand died 1932 West Coast New Zealand including ancestors + more in the free family tree community.
WIKITREE.COM
Like · Reply · Remove Preview · 2 · May 10 at 6:46pm
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Thanks Aaron Clark
Geoffrey Bell Thank's Maye, I have been working on that. I have been a paying member of Ancestry for years. The mother of baby George was Margaret Ann Matilda HEARN (Illegitimate), her mother was Annie HEARN. George died in 1933 at Ruru aged abt 23.
Like · Reply · May 10 at 6:47pm
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Ok..thanks. I reckon the photo will be female side of family with grt grandmother, grandmother, mother, son. Although it does say Gillanders family.. so maybe I have it wrong.
Like · Reply · 1 · May 10 at 7:01pm · Edited
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Maye, I am trying to generate some interest to see if a family member wants a copy. I have another photo of George and his two sisters, which I will scan and Post tomorrow. I think you are correct when you say it is the mother daughter line. Possibly HEARN. Cheers
Like · Reply · May 10 at 8:47pm
View more replies
Heather Newby
Write a reply...
Choose File
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell As Maye Dunn says, the photo is probably the female side. If that is so then George Edward GILLANDERS is sitting on the knees of his mother, Margaret Ann Matilda HEARN, standing Margaret's mother Annie Frances HEARN and sitting next to Annie, her mothe...See More
Like · Reply · May 11 at 10:05am
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Having a good look at your photo Geoffrey the women don't actually look alike so they could all be the wives of Gillanders men. The older woman is probably the wife of William Gillanders.
Geoffrey Bell I wondered that too Maye, but if you look at the eyes of the older woman and the youngest they are very similar and if you cover the eyes and above of the two younger women they look very similar nose down. The plot thickens.
Like · Reply · 2 · May 11 at 10:39am
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell This photo is taken about 5 years later and shows Gladys, Edna and George GILLANDERS. George, tragically, died young in 1933 at Ruru, Gladys married Thomas CONDON in 1935 and Edna married Mathew JURY in 1944. Any descendants out there?
Image may contain: 3 people, people sitting and child
Like · Reply · 4 · May 11 at 10:45am
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Wow, beautiful photo..such a treasure.
Donald Allan Hillier
Donald Allan Hillier I played bridge in Dunedin with a Bob Gillanders
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:27pm · Edited
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell There was a number of Gillanders living in the Otago area at the same time as the family at No Town and then Ruru.
Doris Blanchard There was a family of Gillanders living in or near Darfield in the 1940s and for some time after. They could still be there. They were family friends of my aunt’s family.
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1d
Christine Hogg
Christine Hogg there are still Gillanders in Darfield area
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1d
Owen Winstanley
Owen Winstanley There was a Gillanders family living in Ruru. Not sure when and for how long exactly but they were there during WW2. My father worked in the office at the sawmill where the only phone in Ruru was located and he told me this story which I think I remember correctly. Anyway a Gillanders son, Matt I think, was wounded in the Pacific and was invalided home. The wound was not too serious and he was called to go back into service. The military police in Greymouth thought he deserved to have more time at home so they would ring Dad and tell him to tell Mat they were coming to get him the next day. Dad would go and tell Matt and he would fill a pack, take his rifle and go shooting for a few days. When the MP's arrived he was not available and they would return to Grey and fill in a report. This happened at least twice but he eventually had to return to the Pacific. He made it home safely.
Geoffrey Bell Owen Winstanley. This photo is of the Gillanders family from Ruru.
Geoffrey Bell That wouldn't be Matt Southorn would it Owen Winstanley.
Owen Winstanley Geoffrey Bell pretty sure it was a Gillanders, not so sure it was Matt. Maybe Max. I think they lived at the Moana end of Ruru. Near Mrs Lil Hines. I would have heard the story in the fifties so I won't be placing my hand on a bible.
Owen Winstanley Geoffrey Bell sorry Geoff my reference to Mrs Hines above should have been Mrs Kennedy.
My sister tells me that there was a Frank Gillanders and it he is who I am referring to. They say memory for names is the first thing to go.
Like · Reply · 2 · 4 hrs
Peter Westwood
Peter Westwood There were a family of Gillanders that lived at Rapahoe, they had a son Archie. Not sure where they came from, maybe from same family.
Like · Reply · 3 · 4 hrs
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Peter Westwood. William and Ellen Gillanders Had a son Archibald, born 1882, so there is a good chance that the family from Rapahoe are related.
Like · Reply · 2 · 4 hrs
Pam Howard
Pam Howard wow what memories hope they find the relations
Like · Reply · 3 · 4 hrs
Terri Prince
Terri Prince beautiful clear photo
Like · Reply · 3 · 3 hrs
MsTree Jay Byrne
MsTree Jay Byrne Elaborate millenery
Like · Reply · 4 · 3 hrs
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Top photo. A treasure.
Like · Reply · 3 · 1 hr
Alan Sheehan
Alan Sheehan Awesome pic !!
Like · Reply · 1 · 10 minsMaye Dunn They will all be mother and daughters. Do you know what Margaret Gillanders ( O'Neill) mothers name was and where she was born ?? I will look on ancestry.com for you.
Like · Reply · 2 · May 10 at 6:13pm
Aaron Clark
Aaron Clark Does this help? https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gillanders-178
George Edward Gillanders (1911-1932) | WikiTree: The FREE Family Tree
Genealogy for George Gillanders born 1911 West Coast, New Zealand died 1932 West Coast New Zealand including ancestors + more in the free family tree community.
WIKITREE.COM
Like · Reply · Remove Preview · 2 · May 10 at 6:46pm
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Thanks Aaron Clark
Geoffrey Bell Thank's Maye, I have been working on that. I have been a paying member of Ancestry for years. The mother of baby George was Margaret Ann Matilda HEARN (Illegitimate), her mother was Annie HEARN. George died in 1933 at Ruru aged abt 23.
Like · Reply · May 10 at 6:47pm
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Ok..thanks. I reckon the photo will be female side of family with grt grandmother, grandmother, mother, son. Although it does say Gillanders family.. so maybe I have it wrong.
Like · Reply · 1 · May 10 at 7:01pm · Edited
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell Maye, I am trying to generate some interest to see if a family member wants a copy. I have another photo of George and his two sisters, which I will scan and Post tomorrow. I think you are correct when you say it is the mother daughter line. Possibly HEARN. Cheers
Like · Reply · May 10 at 8:47pm
View more replies
Heather Newby
Write a reply...
Choose File
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell As Maye Dunn says, the photo is probably the female side. If that is so then George Edward GILLANDERS is sitting on the knees of his mother, Margaret Ann Matilda HEARN, standing Margaret's mother Annie Frances HEARN and sitting next to Annie, her mothe...See More
Like · Reply · May 11 at 10:05am
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Having a good look at your photo Geoffrey the women don't actually look alike so they could all be the wives of Gillanders men. The older woman is probably the wife of William Gillanders.
Geoffrey Bell I wondered that too Maye, but if you look at the eyes of the older woman and the youngest they are very similar and if you cover the eyes and above of the two younger women they look very similar nose down. The plot thickens.
Like · Reply · 2 · May 11 at 10:39am
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell This photo is taken about 5 years later and shows Gladys, Edna and George GILLANDERS. George, tragically, died young in 1933 at Ruru, Gladys married Thomas CONDON in 1935 and Edna married Mathew JURY in 1944. Any descendants out there?
Image may contain: 3 people, people sitting and child
Like · Reply · 4 · May 11 at 10:45am
Maye Dunn
Maye Dunn Wow, beautiful photo..such a treasure.
Donald Allan Hillier
Donald Allan Hillier I played bridge in Dunedin with a Bob Gillanders
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 1:27pm · Edited
Geoffrey Bell
Geoffrey Bell There was a number of Gillanders living in the Otago area at the same time as the family at No Town and then Ruru.
Doris Blanchard There was a family of Gillanders living in or near Darfield in the 1940s and for some time after. They could still be there. They were family friends of my aunt’s family.
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1d
Christine Hogg
Christine Hogg there are still Gillanders in Darfield area
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1d
Owen Winstanley
Owen Winstanley There was a Gillanders family living in Ruru. Not sure when and for how long exactly but they were there during WW2. My father worked in the office at the sawmill where the only phone in Ruru was located and he told me this story which I think I remember correctly. Anyway a Gillanders son, Matt I think, was wounded in the Pacific and was invalided home. The wound was not too serious and he was called to go back into service. The military police in Greymouth thought he deserved to have more time at home so they would ring Dad and tell him to tell Mat they were coming to get him the next day. Dad would go and tell Matt and he would fill a pack, take his rifle and go shooting for a few days. When the MP's arrived he was not available and they would return to Grey and fill in a report. This happened at least twice but he eventually had to return to the Pacific. He made it home safely.
Geoffrey Bell Owen Winstanley. This photo is of the Gillanders family from Ruru.
Geoffrey Bell That wouldn't be Matt Southorn would it Owen Winstanley.
Owen Winstanley Geoffrey Bell pretty sure it was a Gillanders, not so sure it was Matt. Maybe Max. I think they lived at the Moana end of Ruru. Near Mrs Lil Hines. I would have heard the story in the fifties so I won't be placing my hand on a bible.
Owen Winstanley Geoffrey Bell sorry Geoff my reference to Mrs Hines above should have been Mrs Kennedy.
My sister tells me that there was a Frank Gillanders and it he is who I am referring to. They say memory for names is the first thing to go.
Editing is temporarily disabled
Cancel Edit
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (17th May 2021). Four Generations of Gillanders Family. 1911.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 7th Jun 2026 07:47, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/20118