Fleming was born on the 15 Nov 1842 at Tingwall, Shetland, Scotland. He was the second-born son to Fleming and Elizabeth and after finishing school, he became a Draper’s Assistant in Lerwick. Working in retail would be his thing for the remainder of his working life.
After 1861, he departed Lerwick and his family, and moved to Dunedin, New Zealand.
On the 24 Jul 1865 at Hampden, Waitaki, he married Elizabeth Walker Familton.
He and his brother James, acted as agents on behalf of the North Otago Times newspaper around this time. He was a manager at a clothing store on the Octagon in Dunedin for many years.
By 1893, the Electoral Roll shows his wife registered in Dunedin, while Fleming is registered both in Wellington and Dunedin. It was at this time that they moved to Wellington.
Fleming carried on his business until retirement.
| Child | Born | Children | Died | Notes |
| Fleming | 20 May 1866 | 3 | 13 Dec 1934 | Hellyer |
| Alexander | 16 May 1869 | 1 | 1 Oct 1933 | Barlow |
| Janetta Margaret | 25 Apr 1871 | 1 | 20 Apr 1956 | Fountain |
| Arthur Gilbert | 21 Oct 1874 | 5 | 6 Sep 1947 | Wilkenning |
| Agnes Jane | 10 Aug 1876 | 3 | 31 May 1965 | Callam |
| Charles Edwin | 1 Jan 1882 | 3 | 16 Feb 1961 | Burton |
| Allan Lockhart | 17 Nov 1884 | 2 | 11 Aug 1956 | King |
Fleming passed on the 19 May 1923 at Wellington, New Zealand. He was 81 years old.
His wife, Elizabeth, passed in 1934, aged 89. The couple are buried together.
