View of Nelson Haven in Tasman's Gulf, New Zealand, including a part of the site of the intended town of Nelson 1841. Drawn in November 1841 by C. Heaphy, Draftsman to the New Zealand Company.
View from the first ridge above the beach showing a prefabricated barracks to the left and the tents erected to house the first settlers to Nelson, a well, a flag, and several carts. The view looks from the land towards the Boulder Bank and Haulashore Island, and the Arrow or Fifeshire rock across Tasman Bay to the distant snow-capped Moutere Hills and Tasman Range. The first three immigrant ships, The Will Watch, the Whitby and the Arrow are shown in the harbour with flags flying. There are clumps of trees at the water's edge, but the land is otherwise grassed or with flax and bracken. Ref: C-025-015. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand

Passenger Name	    Occ     age   SHIP        Departed Gravesend    Arrival Nelson
McMahon,  Bernard   Ag lab  28    Whitby      27 April     1841     04 November 1841
McMahon,  Margaret  wife    24    Lloyds      11 september 1841     15 February 1842
McMahon,  James     child    1    Lloyds      11 September 1841     Died during Voyage.

When the Lloyds came into Nelson, it brought with it many stories of sickness and death. While travelling the seas between Port Gravesend in England and Port Nicholson in New Zealand, James was one of 67 children under the age of 14 who died due to an outbreak of whooping cough on board.

Bernard MacMahon b.~1810 Limerick?,Ireland? d.21nov1889 Clover Hill, | Riwaka, Nelson, aged 79 | m.13nov1838, St Mary's Cathederal R.C. Edinburgh, Midlothian | (Scotland's People) | Margaret (Maggie) Callagham b.Steeton? 1817?Ireland d.28jan1889 Clover Hill, | Riwaka, aged 72 |
| | first child born Edinburgh rest Nelson/Riwaka, Tasmann NZ cont. |============|===========|============|============|===========|==========//=== James James Annie Mary Henry Thomas b.1840 b.1842 b.1844 b.1846 b.1848 b.1849 d.1841 d.1883 d.1928 d.1931 d.1914 d.1934 cont. ===//==|============|===========|============|============|===========|=========|| John George Kate Frank Margaret Harriet b.1851 b.1853 b.1855 b.1856 b.1858 b.1862 d.1879 d.1935 d.1937 d.1941 d.1914 d.1898

RIWAKA CEMETERY

In Memory of MARGARET MACMAHON 1817-1889 BERNARD MACMAHON 1810-1889 And their Family John Harriet Katherine Margaret James Frank   Kate Thomas Constance George Harry Annie

1841 census     parish 685/1  ED: 4; Page: 6;
Place          Edinburgh Lady Yester;
Dwelling       Cowgate, Commercial Court 

James       Callaghan   45  Plasterers Labourer     Ireland
Catherine   Callaghan   43                          Ireland
Margaret    Callaghan   20                          Ireland
Michael     Callaghan   18 Confectioners Apprentice Midlothian
Ann         Callaghan   16
James       Callaghan   10
Francis     Callaghan   6
James       Mcmahon     1                            Midlothian
John        Boyle      25
Peter       Mclean     50

Nelson Evening  Mail, 17th May 1877
MARRIAGE.

Macmahon. — Boyce.— 

On May 15th, at Motueka, at the residence of the bride's parents, 
by the Rev. T. Reeves, John, fourth son of B. Macmahon, J.P., of Riwaka, 
to Annie, fifth daughter  of W. Boyce, of Motueka, Wellington 

The Colonist, 18th July 1878
ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.
The following gentlemen, have been elected members of the Road Boards in the 
following districts .— Bernard Macmahon, Sub-district of Riwaka ;

Nelson Evening Mail 31st August 1876
Motueka Highway Board
Report of secretary - ...(snip)
 I have ascertained that land for a cartroad can be obtained at the lower 
end of the Valley. Mr Macmahon is willing that a piece 60 links wide 
should be taken across the corner of section No 72, on condition that 
a good substantial fence is put up, and that he be paid the sum of 
twenty pounds, the cost of the breakwaters he has put in to protect 
the river bank. 

Riwaka Directory 1887
Bernard MacMahon J.P.
George  MacMahon, Farmer
Henry   MacMahon, Farmer

sheet2

   George MacMahon  5th surviving son of Bernard and Margaret
   b.16aug1853 Riwaka, Nelson NZ
   d.15ju1935  
   |
   m.13sep1887  Nelson NZ
   |
   Caroline 
   elizabeth
   Hill  dau of Mary Avery and Isaac mason Hill
   b.1856  Nelson
   d.1929  Nelson NZ aged 73
   |
   |============|===========|============|===========|===========|============|==========||
   Russell      child       Evelyn       Caroline    Henrietta   Eileen       Hazel
   bernard      |           mary         grace       (Tottie)    kate         doreen 
   b.1888       b.1890      b.13apr1892  b.1893      b.1896      b.28feb1898  b.05jul1899
   d.1918       d.1890      d.15jun1984  d.1979      d.1896      d.27feb1983  d.24jul1999
   |                        |            |                       |            |
   m.01jan1914              m.1920       m.1913                  m.           m.09sep1956
   |                        |            |                       |            | 
   Victoria                 John(jack)   Kenneth                 Eric         |
   maud                     gordon       byn                     randolf      Cyrill
   Ingledew                 Goodyer      Goodall                 Black        Griffin 

Isaac Mason Hill was born in Birmingham, England, on 28 December probably in 1815 or 1816, the son of James Hill and his wife, Deborah Mason. He was educated at a Quaker school and worked as a machine fitter before sailing for Nelson, New Zealand, on 26 September 1841 in theFifeshire, having paid his own passage. On arrival in Nelson on 1 February 1842, he camped with three of his fellow passengers, Alfred Saunders, John Sylvanus Cotterell and Cyrus Goulter. Hill was appointed cook, but on the first Saturday following their arrival nearly poisoned himself and his companions with a pudding made of tutu berries. Hill's first employment in Nelson was probably as a carpenter, and he soon expressed his support for the rights of labourers in the settlement. On 6 May 1842 he spoke at a meeting of journeymen carpenters, chaired by Richard King, at which it was unanimously resolved that no carpenter should work for less than 12s. per day.

When William Fox was appointed the New Zealand Company's resident agent in Nelson in September 1843 he engaged Hill as a servant. Hill lived in William and Sarah Fox's house overlooking Nelson Haven. Probably in 1844 or 1845 he married Mary Avery in Nelson. They had twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. Isaac and Mary Hill lived in Haven Road. In the 1845 census Isaac was described as a cow-keeper.

In 1847, after a visit to Sydney, Isaac Hill reported that conditions for labourers were on balance no better there than in Nelson, and the moral climate of Nelson was certainly preferable. By 1849 he was a storekeeper in Nelson. He was prominent among the mechanics and labourers who petitioned the New Zealand Company in 1850 for compensation for breach of contract over the harsh and disappointing conditions experienced in Nelson by the early arrivals.

By 1855 Hill had set himself up in business as an ironmonger. His premises were in Waimea Street (Rutherford Street), where he had a shop and a dwelling of four rooms. He remained there with his wife and family until his death on 31 August 1885.

Throughout his life Hill remained a staunch member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). Frederick Tuckett, Samuel Strong, Samuel Stephens, John Sylvanus Cotterell and Hill had formed a closely knit group of the Society of Friends in Nelson. In 1853 two Friends from Yorkshire, Robert Lindsay and Frederick Mackie, arrived in Nelson in the course of an Australasian tour. They purchased Cotterell's town acre and converted the dwelling on the section into a meeting house. It opened for public worship on 15 May 1853, the first meeting house of the Society of Friends in New Zealand.

Hill maintained a strong interest in education, both religious and secular. In March 1842 he was appointed secretary of a committee to collect subscriptions for the erection of a chapel and Sabbath school on a site in Tasman Street, Nelson, leased to them by Captain Arthur Wakefield. This was the first step in the organisation of the Nelson School Society, which was to be an influential model for the national system of primary education in New Zealand.

Isaac Hill was a supporter of J. P. Robinson, the Nelson superintendent, and of his successor, Alfred Saunders. Like Saunders he was a teetotaller, and was a founding member of the Nelson Total Abstinence Society. He was one of the first directors of the Permanent Building Society established in Nelson in 1862.

Hill was the last survivor of a group of Quakers who made a significant impact on the social and religious life of Nelson. On 3 September 1885 the funeral of 'good old Isaac Hill' drew a large procession. He was greatly mourned for his unobtrusive philanthropy and the Colonist reminded Nelson citizens of 'his support of the working man's rights in Nelson,…when the rights of labor in Nelson were something more than a name'.

sheet 3

The MacMahons, George and son Russell
For many years the MacMahon farm, just north of the Tapawera village, hosted the Tapawera Military Camp. The camp was regularly attended by thousands of volunteer soldiers from April 1909 and compulsory territorial soldiers from 1912.

George MacMahon (sometimes spelled as McMahon) was a sheep farmer and Waimea County Councillor, married to Caroline nee Hill. He was a firm supporter of the military and was the Tapawera delegate of the Canterbury Military District National Efficiency Board, representing the Executive Group Committee on the permanent Executive Council.

George showed his community spirit in many ways, also allowing his land to be used by other organisations, including the Motueka Valleys Racing Club, which held its race meetings there from at least 1907. He served on the Tapawera School committee and held office on numerous other organisations and clubs.

George died in 1935, following Caroline’s death in 1929. Both are buried at Wakapuaka Cemetry in Nelson.
In 1915 George declared his own willingness to serve in the war if the authorities would let him. However, his age was against him, although his only son, Russell Bernard, no stranger to the Tapawera camp himself, was called up.

Nelson Evening Mail 29 Nov 1918 A resolution of sympathy with Mr. George Macmahon on the death of his only son, Russell Macmahon, was passed by the Nelson City Council last evening, on the motion of Cr. Hampson, seconded by Cr. Baigent.
Ealiest record of George moving to Stoke is 1911 where he developed an orchard.

CHILDREN OF GEORGE AND CAROLINE

Russell Bernard MacMahon, Ist child of Goerge and Caroline,
was born in Tapawera in 1888. He was an old boy of Nelson College, where he had been a college cadet. Russell joined the Wakatu Mounted Rifles from the time he left college in 1905 until 1911 when he transferred to the (Nelson) Mounted Rifles, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. He was a member of the New Zealand Contingent which went to England for the coronation of King George. Russell owned a farm next to his parents and married Victoria Ingledew in Tapawera on 1 January 1914. They had two young children, Doreen (born May 1915) and Pamala (born January 1917).

At the beginning of the war he was attached to the Nelson Defence Staff. Russell volunteered for war service in 1916, enlisted in March 1917 (service number 92978) and was finally called up in October 1918. As a private he was posted to the Special Training Unit at the Trentham Military Camp, leaving Nelson on 4 November.

Promoted to temporary sergeant, he arrived in the camp on 7 November. Tragically he arrived at the camp where a breakout of Spanish Flu occured.
During 1918, 77 men at the camp died of the flu, the vast majority of them during a 12 day period from 22 November. It is thought the sickness was brought into the camp by men returning from leave in Wellington because there were no flu cases in the camp before 4 November. In just three days, the close conditions the men living in at the camp ensured that flu admissions to the camp hospital soared from three to 137.

sheet 4

Education - Upper Motueka Valley School 16 Oct 1895 - 17 July 1901, 
            destination Stanley Brook School

Rank / Sergeant, Service No 92978, Regiment NZ Training Unit
Sergeant, promoted 2nd Lieutenant, promoted Lieutenant 14 June 1913 
Russell Bernard MacMahon Regiment (C & D Squadrons) Motueka Nelson, 
Territorial Force 2 Reserve of Officers /10th (Nelson) 
Mounted Rifles [WW1 92978 - Army]  [R22203341] NZ Service Medal. 

Status voluntary, NZ territorial Service Medal for long and efficient service, 
NZ Service Medal, age at induction 27 yrs & 4 months, eyes grey, height 5 foot 8 inches, 
weight 147 lbs,  chest minimum 33 inches and a quarter maximum 38 inches, 
complextion dark, hair dark, religion C of E.  
Class A pass, Kings certificate of discharge.

Admitted Military Hospital Trentham 10 Nov 1918, 
Discharge from Hospital 22 Nov 1918, Died 2.30pm Wairaraka Ward 22 Nov 1918, 
Influenza (Spanish), pneumonia

Rest In Peace Great Uncle Russell,

Casualty
Service Number: 92978
First Name: Russell Bernard
Surname: Macmahon
Rank: Sergeant
Date of Birth: Not known
Place of Birth: Tapawera, Nelson, New Zealand
Marital Status: Married 
Nationality of Force: New Zealand
Force: Army
Unit: New Zealand Training Unit

Casualty Details
Date of death: 22 November 1918
Age: 31
Conflict: WW1
Cause of Death: 
Died at Trentham from pneumonia

The death occurred at Trentham Camp yesterdav, from pneumonia, of Lieutenant Russell B. Macmahon, only son of Mr George Macmahon, of Tapawera. Letters received from Lieutenant .MacMahon on Monday last stated that, he was suffering from influenza. Yesterday a telegram was received stating that he was seriously ill, and this was followed bv another telegram announcing his death. Deceased, who was an officer in tho Territorial Mounted' Rifles and 30 years of age, volunteered tor active service two years ago, but was not called up till about a month ago. At the beginning of the war he was attached to the Nelson Defence Staff for about a year.

The late Lieutenant Macmahon was a member of the New Zealand Contingent that went to London for the coronation of King George V. He met the young lady who subsequently came out to New Zealand and became his wife. There were two voung children. The widow had no relatives in New Zealand. Owing to the restricted running of the steamer no member of the MacMahon family could reach Wellington in time for the funeral. Lieut. Macmahon was widely known arid very popular and was farming at Tapawera. His property ad-joined that owned by his. father. His generosity among Territorial Camps at Tapawera won golden tributes from officers and men.

july 1853  Nelson Examiner and NewZealand Chronical (scanpg34)
Bernard MacMahon, Riwaka, Farmer, Owner, Motuka

1853-64? Motueka, Tasman electorial Roll
Bernard MacMahon, Riwaka, Farmer, Freeholder, Leaseholder and Householder, Motueka

1875 Motueka, Tasman
Bernard MacMahon, Riwaka, Freehold(1) , 1. Riwaka, part of section 61, rural
                           Leasehold(2), 2. Riwaka, section 61 ;  
                           Household(3), 3. Riwaka upon secton 49

James   Macmahon, Riwaka, Freehold part of section 61
                          Leasehold section 41 
Thomas  MacMahon, Riwaka, Freehold Riwaka  section 45
                          Leashold Riwaka  section 72 

1880 motueka
Bernard MacMahon, Freehold, Riwaka, Fsrmer, Riwaka part section 61

1886 New Zealand Gazette
Justice of the peace resigned
Department of Justice Wellington 10th August 1886
Hi Excellency the Govenor has been pleased to accept the resignation by
Bernard MacMahon Esq., of Riwaka, Nelson.

1890 Buller West Coast
Frank ,George, Henry , thomas, MacMahon , Riwaka, Farmers

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Updated 12th July 2017