Margaret Doran

Margaret Doran was born in 1829 in Paisley, Scotland, to John Doran and Agnes Marshall. She was the eldest of 10 children, followed by; Jean, Agnes, Elizabeth, Robert, Janet, Robert Marshall, Mary Ann, Isabella and one other (unknown).

On 9 Jun 1842 the Doran's left Glasgow aboard the Jane Gifford. They arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on October 9 1842. This was the first planned shipment of free UK migrants to Auckland. In Scotland, high unemployment reigned. The Commissioner of Emigration was sent to Scotland to recruit two shiploads of families (the other was the Duchess of Argyle). He chose family groups and people with trades who might benefit the new colony. The colonists arrived in Auckland harbour, disembarking via ships boats on Mechanics Bay at low tide. The boats could not reach the shore. Passengers had to unload their boxes and bundles and carry them through mud and water to land. They were then crowded into 30 raupo huts along with passengers off the Duchess which arrived the same day. Domestic servants acquired jobs almost immediately. Auckland was in the middle of a depression, and the men had to work at heavy manual labour leveling Auckland roads (Shortland St) at 1 pound for married men, and 18 shillings for bachelors. Not surprisingly, Auckland did not capture their hearts. Unfortunately Robert Doran, at only 1 year old, died on board on July 23rd 1842. During the long arduous journey there had been 33 others deaths between the two ships, many of them small children and babies in arms. There were 16 new births recorded in the log.

Note - There is a photo of the original colonists from The Jane Gifford in 1890 at the Auckland Central Public Library - Special Collections Unit.

On May 26 1846, Margaret Doran and Charles De Lord Johnson were married at St Patricks Cathedral, Auckland. One year later, their daughter Jane De Lord Johnson was born.

Margaret remarried to Thomas Green on December 24 1849. She had 2 more children, Thomas (9 Nov1850) and Agnes (21 Nov 1852).

I beg to announce to you that the barque "Jane Gifford" from Greenock arrived in the bay of Auckland on the 9th inst and that the following is a statement of the number of emigrants embarked in Greenock, the births and deaths that occurred during the voyage and the number now landed in Auckland.

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Sailed from Greenock
Adults	163	- - - - - -	163
Children	92	Equal to	33 1/6
	255		196 1/6
Births	8
	263
Deaths	- 17	Equal to	3 4/6
	246		192 3/6
		Landed in Auckland

The emigrants have conducted themselves during the voyage remarkably well, both as regards the cleanliness of the ship and their observance of the several regulations. They appear to be a very peaceable and discerning clay of people. Four Constables were Archibald Sharp, William Forsyth, Joseph Craig and James Harris and a Schoolmaster James McNair have discharged their respective duties to my entire satisfaction the whole of the passage and are I think entitled to the gratuities promised them - I must also recommend a lad / Benjamin Culpan / as deserving of at least two thirds of the gratuity for an Hospital Assistant

I have invariably met with every assistance required from the Captain and Mates during the voyage. Everything they could do for the health and comfort of the emigrants has been done - the following are the names of those entitled to the gratuities - Robert Paul (Master), Edward Atkinson (Chief Mate), William Bond (2nd Mate) and James McBeath (3rd Mate) - nothing particular occurred during the passage which was short and as agreeable as it could be.

11/17/02

Margaret Doran & Charles De Lord Johnson