Was born in Tullylish, Down, Ireland around 1858. As a small boy, he stepped onboard the ‘Zealandia’ in 1862 bound for New Zealand.
His parents stepped onshore at Lyttelton near Christchurch and made their way over the Bridal Veil to Christchurch itself and then onwards (eventually) to West Melton.
I have found no evidence of schooling in New Zealand, but that does not exclude it happening.
Moses was a labourer and that skillset varied into general labouring, farm labouring and as a carter. He moved around New Zealand too, from initial residence at West Melton, to the lower North Island from Sandon down to Carterton. At was during that phase of his life, that he met is future wife.
As mentioned, from about 1890 to 1907, Moses lived in the lower North Island working on frams from Hukanui to Carterton. On the 16 January 1901 at Pahiatua he married Grace Ethelwyn Reading. From that union, stemmed the following children.
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert John | 22 Jun 1902 | 1932 | 1 | 13 Sep 1983 | Rapley |
| Samuel Edward | 30 Jul 1907 | 1932 | 1 | 2 Jul 1992 | Preen |
| Isabella Sophia | 14 Apr 1911 | 1939 | 1 | 9 Jul 1977 | Jeal |
| Thomas George | 12 Dec 1913 | 1946 | ? | 27 Mar 1999 | Coleman |
| Olive Grace | Jun 1922 | – | – | Jun 1922 | – |
In 1907, Moses, wife and child returned to Canterbury and he continued farming around the West Melton – Weedons area of Canterbury. He remained there until his demise on the 2 December 1925.
Grace remained at West Melton to bring up a young family. She passed away on the 15 August 1942 at home.
