01.01 Peter Ayson Jnr 1833 - 1905
Peter Ayson Jnr the eldest son of Peter Ayson, of Corydon, was 20 years of age when he landed in Dunedin with his parents.
He went with his father to Warepa on the first trip to take up the selection of land. They carried clothing, provisions and tools on their backs over a rough survey track. He helped his father in building a two-room hut and in digging and planting potatoes and wheat. During the time they were occupied in this work they walked to Dunedin to bring back more supplies.
Peter worked at Corydon all his life except for a period when he and his brother James had a lease of Finegand, which was owned by their old friend, John Shaw. When this lease expired, he returned to Corydon and managed it until his parents died.
The acreage of Corydon increased from the original 50 acres to 800 acres, and a wilderness was transformed into a prosperous farming property.
Peter was on the committee of the Clutha A. and P. Society, being chairman in 1879. He was for a period a member of the Clutha County, representing the Richardson riding.
In 1882 he was on the Warepa Library Committee, in 1883 the Clutha Road Board, and in 1884 he was chairman of the Warepa School Committee. He was an elder of the Church for many years.
Peter's first wife, Elspeth Robertson, died in 1876.
He later married Margaret Fraser, who died in 1886 and they had a son and a daughter.
Peter died in December 1905 and is buried in the Warepa Cemetery.
The Children of Peter Jnr and (1) Elspeth Fraser (Robertson) Ayson and (2) Margaret (Fraser) Ayson)
Margaret Douglas (1)
John Fraser Ayson (2)
Jessie Douglas Ayson (2)
Acknowledgement:
The Ayson Story. Glenshee to Otago 1853 - 2000
Published Clan Ayson Of New Zealand Society
Obituary: Peter Ayson Jnr. Published in the Clutha Leader Volume XXX11.
Universal regret was expressed at Balclutha when word was received on Tuesday morning that Mr Peter Ayson, eldest son of the late Peter Ayson of Corydon, had died suddenly in Christchurch at the age of 72 years. Since Corydon was sold a few months ago Mr Ayson went on a trip to the North Island to see his brothers and friends up there, but on his return to Christchurch he became ill, and was advised to go to a sanitorium for a time. No serious results were anticipated and only the day before his death Mr Ayson wrote asking his daughter to go to Christchurch and stating that he would come home with her. Mr Ayson was twice married. His first wife died some 12 months after their marriage. Mr Ayson subsequently married Miss Fraser, of Milburn, but she died over 20 years ago, leaving him a son and daughter. The deceased was for some six years a member of the Clutha County Council, and took an active interest for many years in the Clutha A. and P. Association, and the Warepa School Committee and Church.
Grave Restoration.
Clan Ayson Society and family contributed to the restoration and erection of a new headstone for Peter, his first wife Elspeth, his second wife Margaret and the two children who were previously un-named on the wooden sign.
