James William Grant Fraser was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1832 and aged 16 he was apprenticed to the sea in the East India Company. This meant he was a proficient linguist in a number of languages. For a period he was engaged in transporting troops to the Crimea. In 1858 he came to New Zealand as chief officer of the “Robert Small” and was so much taken with what he saw, he decided to stay and settle in Wellington. He was the appointed outside pilot for the port of Wellington.
In 1874, Captain Fraser was appointed to the command of the steamer ‘Jane Douglas’ in its Wellington-Foxton service, and then between Lyttelton and Akaroa. After that he was employed casually as a tall-clerk in various shipping companies.
James died in 1899. ‘The flags in Wellington were flown at half mast as a mark of respect to a most popular mariner’ (Manawatu Herald 12 Dec 1899).
Mary Cecilia Prince was a daughter of Edward Prince and his wife Mary Bevan. Mary Cecilia was born, married and died in Wellington. Her parents were married in Chester in 1828, although both were natives of Wales. The emigrated from Gravesend in 1840 with their six surviving children. Sadly their youngest died while they were at sea. Three further children were born in Wellington, including Mary Cecilia in 1844.
The family lived in Hill Street and Edward was a well known builder and contractor. In 1858 he was fined for 5s for permitting his pigs to wander at large in public streets. In 1860 Edward and Mary were charged with drunkenness. He was fined 10s and she 5s. Edward died in 1862 and Mary in 1875. Both were buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Mount Street.
Mary Cecilia married James Fraser in 1862, aged 19. They had twelve children. Mary died at the family home in McFarlane Street in 1906 and she is buried with James near the Shelter at Karori Cemetery.
Plot: *Public/L/19
Fraser plot courtesy of FindaGrave