The FINLAY family originated around Lurgan, County Down, in what is now Northern Ireland. The family was lead by Samuel and Eleanor Finlay nee Hamilton. They married on the 10 Sep 1835 in Tullylish Parish, County Down, Ireland.
Whether driven by famines or just a desire to change their lives, Samuel and Eleanor along with several of their children, left Ireland for Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand in 1862 onboard the ‘Zealandia’.
On the log book entries above, Samuel and Eleanor are present, as well as Isabella and Margaret, daughters of same. They all traveled together.
Most of the children settled in the Canterbury region, but some went further afield. All passed away in New Zealand.
| Child | Born | Married | Died | Children |
| Isabella Finlay | 3 Jul 1836 | Robert Hampton | 23 Jul 1877 | 11 |
| Margaret Jane Finlay | 1840 | Lewis Hamilton | 01 Feb 1903 | 18 |
| Samuel Finlay | Dec 1843 | Susannah Thompson | 17 Sep 1918 | 13 |
| Frances Finlay | 12 Dec 1845 | Angus Ross | 16 Dec 1926 | 7 |
| Stephen Hamilton Finlay | 01 Jan 1851 | Sarah Steel | 06 Mar 1925 | – |
| Ellen Finlay | 01 Sep 1853 | Mulholland Richardson Henry Stephenson | 03 Sep 1908 | – – |
| Rebecca Finlay | 1857 | Frederick Palmer | 30 Mar 1924 | – 2 Step |
Eleanor passed away on the 15 Aug 1892 is buried in an unmarked grave at Halswell Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Samuel passed away 2 years later on the 11 Sep 1894 at Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand, and is buried in Ashburton Cemetery, also in an unmarked grave.
There is a piece of history that needs to be discussed about Samuel and Eleanor Finlay, and that relates particularly to their later years. There are several newspaper articles about Samuel, who lived in abject poverty, essentially in a chicken coop, on a discarded mattress, in a state that the reporter described as inhuman. The link is in the button.
Samuel’s circumstances were so dire that the local government had to get involved and ask Samuel’s son to assist, which thankfully occurred. Samuel’s frame of mind was suicidal, so he tried to commit suicide, and in failing that, went to court and was tried for an offence (this was Victorian times).
There is a lesson in there about humanity and how we look after our elders.