THE CAREY FAMILY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 3

THE CAREY FAMILY.

OTAGO IN 1840. Wc have been courteously furnished with some interesting particulars of the well-known Carey family, whose head, Mr David Carey, and his wife arrived in Otago in 1840, and four members of whose family are alive with a united age of 310 years. Mr and Mrs David Carey came out to Sydney in the ship Coromandel in 1838, and resided there for two years. In March, 1840, they came over to Waikouaiti under an engagement with the late Mr John Jones. Mr and Mrs Carey passed away many years ago, and also some members of the family, one of these being their eldest daughter, the late Mrs John Taylor, of Littlebourne, Dunedin, who was the first white girl born iii Otago, and who died at the advanced age of 85 years. There are still living four members of the family, all having been born within sight of the Otago Heads, whose united ages of 31(5 years for one family will require some beating, all of them being alive and well at the present time. The eldest son, Mr James Carey, who is 86 years of age, was born at the old whaling station at Waikouaiti, and was for many years engaged in the lightering trade between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, sailing his father’s boats, particularly the old Dutch galliot, the Renau Engelkens, in which his father was part owner with the late David Millar. This was before the opening of the Port Chalmers railway or the Victoria channel. Mr James Carey is now residing at Invercargill. Mr George Carey, the second son, now 84 years of age, was born at Otago Heads. Like his brother, he was for years engaged in lightering work, sailing his father’s boats, such as the Banshee, the Father Thames, and the water tank Bloomer. He is now spending the evening of his days on his own property at Pulling Point, which has been in the possession of the family since the early days.

The youngest daughter, who is now 74 years of age, is well known as Mrs John Wilson, of Littlebourne, where she has resided for many years. She was horn at Carey’s Bay, Port Chalmers (Carey’s Bay being named after her father). Henery Carey, the youngest son, whoso age is 72 years', was also born at Carey’s Bay. He began his career when quite a lad' as an apprentice coachbuilder in the coach factory belonging to the old coaching firm of Cobb and Co., and remained there until the stage coaches and thendrivers were driven off the road by the iron horse. Henery (better known as Harry) now resides in Burnett street, Caversham.