Those who truly know and accept one are family and friends. I have been blessed with a variety of close family relationships for which I am thankful.

Margaret & Allen. 03-06-07

Margaret and I have two adult daughters and a Foster son. Each of our children share the same faith and hope which has sustained us over the years through many situations. We are proud of our son-in-laws and thank God for their loving disposition.

I’m particularly interested in family history. My ancestors arrived in New Zealand at Dunedin Otago from South West Scotland on 25 July 1863 sailing from Glasgow on the 'Wave Queen'.

They came from a village Robert Burns the bard knew well Wanlockhead. Its the highest village in Scotland at 1531 feet (468.08 m) above sea level. Its a little village which time has almost forgotten. Called Winlocke until 1566, from the Gaelic Cuingealach, meaning narrowness, or narrow place.

In April 2006 I was delighted to visit my ancestral village Wanlockhead.

Wanlockhead is a small village hidden amongst the Lowther hills in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland. Its the highest village in Scotland at 1,531 ft or 468.08 metres above sea level and is said to be very bleak in winter. The families who lived and worked in the Lead Mines of Wanlockhead were a hardy lot and new life from tenderness to toil. The area is world renowned for its vast mineral deposits including Gold, Silver and of course Lead. The earliest official notice of gold being taken out of the hills round the village was in the twelfth century (1125AD) by the authority of King David 1st. Now its just a lovely little place which time has almost forgotten.

Historians and archaeologists will have their work cut out for many years to come in this wonderful place! Its almost inconceivable the Romans did not take gold and lead as they passed nearby. There are claims Roman roads and fort remains can be seen near Wanlockhead. Today visitors will not find it hard to imagine a couple of hundred heather thatched dwellings which housed the miners who got lead ore and the families who smelted it in this special place. There is a world famous Museum of Lead Mining in the village with interactive displays, real mine to explore, shop and tea rooms all telling the history of the village and its hardy people.

In the old Wanlockhead Cemetery can be found our family grave stones. One for my Great,great Grandparents "Thomas Little" who died aged 71 years on 23 March 1877 and his wife "Janet" (nee Fergusson) who died aged 80 years on 7th July 1893.

Thomas and Janet were married according to the Sanquhar register on 6 December 1835. Their eldest son "James" Born 4 December 1837 who was my Grandfather "William's" father, migrated with his younger brother to New Zealand on the "Wave Queen" arriving in Dunedin 22 July 1863.

Back in Wanlockhead next to the stone for "Thomas Little" died 23 March 1877 and Janet" (nee Fergusson) his wife is one for our Gt,gt,gt Grandparents James Little who died aged 71 years on 27 August 1833 and his wife Helen Thomson who died aged 76 years on 20 July 1864.

" We cannot tell
who next may fall
beneath the chastening rod
one must be first
but let us all
prepare to meet our God "

Thomas & Janet Little of Wanlockhead Tomb inscription

"James" Born 4 December 1837 arrived in Otago on 22 July 1863. He married Miss Grace Henderson Murray at Goodwood, Palmerston, Otago on 27 March 1870

Cr James Little 1876

Palmerston Borough Council

My Grandad & Granny Little

My Grandparents "William (Bill) and Margaret Little" lived at Mungatua then over to Outram in West Taieri Otago. It was Bills father "James" who migrated from Scotland in 1863. The story of my 'Granny' is another fascinating line needing investigation.

Granny Margaret Little (nee Bucholz) was born in Gore NZ on 25 July 1891 and married Grandad William Little on 27 November 1912 at Wyndham , New Zealand. Grannys father Johan Bucholz was Born: 27 December 1841, Sabagno (Zabagno), Danzig (woj.gdanskie), West Prussia ( Poland ). He was Christened: 02 January 1842 at Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie),  Dirschau (Tczew), West Prussia ( Poland ). and married: 03 March 1867 in Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie), Dirschau (Tczew), West Prussia ( Poland ). His parents were Johan Bucholz & : Magdalena Rakowska. His wife was Anna Dowaloska  - Born: 1868, Kaschau ( Kosice ), Hungary ( Slovakia ). Johann Bucholz (1841-1926), the son of Johan Buchholz & Magdalena Rakowska married Anna Agnes Jablonska (1844-1882), the daughter of Philip Jablonski & Marianna Michalowska of Swaroschin (Swarozyn) . They married at the Roman Catholic church of The Holy Trinity in the Parish of Liebschau on the 3rd of March 1867.

Johann Bucholz and his first wife Anna resided in the village of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie) , West Prussia , ethnically known as Kociewie , in the district of Danzig (woj.gdanskie) , Poland . The family soon moved to the village of Klein Malsau (Malzewko) The family left the village of Malsau for Hamburg , via Gdansk , aboard the ship "Palmerston" on the 29th of July 1872 to arrive at Port Chalmers, Otago , New Zealand on the 6th of December 1872.

As the generations pass
may we never forget
those who went before.....

When Uncle George Little died some of us cousins had the chance to meet up again after many years. Here is a group photograph of us all.

The last of the Little men "Uncle John Little" died in Auckland Narch 23rd 2008. A service for Uncle John was held by his loving family on Wednesday 26th March. The only surviving sibling of my father Joe is their sister "Charlotte" or Auntie "Lottie".