“Graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever” (Job 19:24)
Our third photo from the Berry & Co collection features the grave of John David McLean (1850-1904). John David McLean was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia and arrived in New Zealand sometime before 1882. He married in Hawera in 1882 but his marriage ended in 1887 after his wife confessed to being involved with another man. Following this confession John was arrested after he threatened to kill the other man. A dramatic court case followed resulting in the charges against John being dropped.
After his divorce John lived in Napier, Whanganui and Wellington. John worked as a builder/carpenter and at the time of his death he was working as a builder at the Meat Export Company in Ngauranga Gorge. Sadly an accident at the Meat Export Company led to his sudden death in 1904. John was buried in Public 2 (Gum Gully).
In his will John left all his possessions to his brothers and sisters but frustratingly none of them are identified by name. His headstone states that his family were in Canada and the United States. Was the photo taken by Berry and Co sent to his family in Canada and United States?
