Both Alexander (b.1837) & Isabella (b.1848) had emigrated from their native Scotland to NZ, Alexander in 1858 and Isabella in 1860. They married in Dunedin on New Years Day 1867.
Alexander’s younger brother Duncan had arrived in New Zealand in 1861.
Alexander received on the 29th of November 1864 a Crown Grant for 113 acres in Goodwood for a farm they named “Greenfields”. Greenfields stood on the coast … sitting between a 214 acre farm owned by James (Snr) & Janet Stenhouse and the local homestead “Centrewood”, sitting high on a hill overseeing the district, which was owned by the well-to-do Preston family (George’s mate Bill Mack was working for the Preston’s at Centrewood when he enlisted).
Alexander collaborated with James Stenhouse around farming and they would often enter joint produce in local agricultural exhibitions. Future marriages would tie the McLaren & Stenhouse families close together.
It was on Greenfields that Alexander & Isabella had their 13 children. Alexander clearly had classic Scottish industriousness and had many "irons in the fire". He farmed sheep and wheat on
Greenfields, owned more land in the Hawkesbury area, was a local JP serving on many community boards, was for many years on the local Waihemo County Council, and was Council Chairman at the time of his passing. He also traded dry goods up into the gold fields of Central Otago, which George accompanied him whilst very young. Isabella was well known as a district midwife and nurse.
George’s brothers and sisters were …
• Jane, born 6 October 1867, married William Galbraith on 24 January 1894, died 2 August 1957 at Oamaru.
• Margaret (Maggie), born 6 May 1869, married Hugh Galbraith 4 May 1892, died on March 25th 1940 at “Littlewood” Goodwood.
• Isabella, born 12 January 1871, married David Walker 24 January 1894, died 31 January 1961 at Dunedin
• Henrietta (Doll), born 21 October 1872, unmarried, died 17 June 1942 at the family farm “Littlewood” Goodwood. Margaret Sheat remembers visiting Littlewood with the Stenhouse’s around 1940 because one of the McLaren family was very ill, so possibly Henrietta.
• Alexander (Alex), born 1874, unmarried, died 1 December 1963 Palmerston. Alex lived his whole life at Littlewood. Aunty Joan remembers going back to the farm as a small girl where George sheared Alex’s sheep.
• Colin, born 17 June 1876, unmarried, died 4 September 1909, Palmerston. Colin died after being thrown from a horse. His brother Charles would name his son, Colin.
• Elizabeth, born 24 April 1878, unmarried, died 1960. Elizabeth moved to Wellington and remained close to George who also lived in Wellington from the late 1920’s.
• Jessie, born 17 September 1879, married James Dunbar 1912, died 10 June 1918 Palmerston North. Jessie’s passing is mentioned in George’s diary whilst he is was overseas in the Great War.
• James (Jim) Hardie, born 13 July 1881, married Agnes Martin 16 January 1907, died 18 June 1968, Palmerston North. Uncle Jim had served in the Boer War with the 6th NZ Mounted Rifles Contingent, Otago Squadron. Jim moved to Palmerston North before WW1 and George would visit him before the war. Jim would name his son, George.
• Christina (Teenie), born 17 July 1883, unmarried, died 9 May 1966 Palmerston.
• Charles (Charlie), born 21 September 1885, married Rosena Martin in 1915, died 8 September 1966 in Dunedin, and is buried in the family plot in Palmerston.
• George, born 9 November 1887, married Sabina May Stevens in 1930, died 11 December 1962 in Wellington.
• Julia Ann (Annie), born 28 July 1890, married David Tavendale in1927, died 1996 in Timaru aged 106. David Tavendale (Uncle Tavy) served in the 15th (North Auckland) Company in the Great War (on Gallipoli & the Somme) and most likely met George there. Annie was actually the daughter of George’s oldest sister Jane … but raised in the family as the 13th child and daughter of Alexander & Isabella.
Alexander’s younger brother Duncan (b 1850) had also settled in the Goodwood District, and ran a farm along Puketapu Road, also known as “Strugglers Gully Road”. Duncan married Flora McNicol on the 15th of April 1873 and together they had the following 10 children (Flora already had 2 kids from her previous marriage).
• Colin McLaren born 1874 died 1939
• Flora Brown McLaren born 09 July 1875 died 1906
• Donald McLaren born 23 August 1876 died 1956
• Duncan McLaren born 03 May 1878 died 20 July 1917
• Stephen McLaren born 15 January 1880 died 1947
• Alexander McLaren born 22 February 1882 died 1967
• William McLaren born 11 May 1884 died 1933, married Olive Dalglish.
• Margaret McLaren born 27/28 January 1887 died 1975 married James Stenhouse Jnr
• Edith (Edie) McLaren born 22 June 1888 died 1991
• Kathleen (Dot) McLaren born 13 October 1891 died 1956.
McLaren children would have been amongst the first students to attended Goodwood Primary School which opened in 1879. Below is a photo from now closed Goodwood Primary School from 1891 or 1892 with George second row, second from left. Any number of George’s brothers, sisters & cousins could be in the photo as well.
Below is a photo of hay gathering at the Goodwood rail crossing. The young boy in the foreground is George.