Bassett Family Association Database

David Morrow

Male 1838 -


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  • Name David Morrow 
    Born 25 May 1838  Lismore, County Down, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 53BC104534865848B8D89AFBBEFE7ABDD68D 
    Notes 
    • David Morrow first married Madeline Bassett. Madeline died giving birth to their first child. Madeline and the child are buried in Saul Churchyard. David Morrow then went to New Zealand. He established a farm machinery business, Morrow Bassett and Company, and imported McCormick Reapers and Binders. He also farmed. He returned to Ireland and then married Elizabeth Bailie on July 21, 1877 at Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland. Both of them returned to New Zealand and lived at Montalto in Mid-Canterbury of the South Island of New Zealand.

      Press, 6 September 1920
      Obituary
      Mr. D. Morrow

      Mr. David Morrow, one of the early settlers of Canterbury, died at his late residence Dalriada, Papanui, last week, at the ripe age of 82 years. Mr Morrow was born at Bishop's Court, Lisniore, Co. Down, Ireland. He served his apprenticeship in the general store of Mr Bailie, Downpatrick, and then joined the staff of Messrs Sharrard and Co., hardware merchants, Belfast, rapidly rising in their employ till he became one of their travellers. He resolved, however, to emigrate, and sailed for Melbourne, where he arrived in 1863. After spending three years in the employ of Messrs Langwill and Craig, of that city, being desirous to start in business for himself, he determined to come to New. Zealand, and selected Christchurch as the place in which to settle, and arrived here in 1866. He entered into partnership with the "late Mr S. K. Bassett and Mrs Sarah Bassett, under the style of Morrow, Bassett, and Co. The new firm started business as general hardware merchants in River's Buildings, now Messrs Wardell Bros. The growth of the business soon necessitated the removal to more commodious premises in High street, next to what is now the Empire Hotel. He paid a business visit to the Old Land in 1870, and a second visit to Great Britain in 1877, when, his first wife being dead, he married the niece of his former employer, Miss Bailie, who came with him to New Zealand. At that time he visited the Chicago Exposition and there his keen business instinct led him to see the possibilities of the reaper and binder to the farming community. He selected the McCormick wire binder, and obtained the sole agency for New Zealand. He gave trials of the binder all over Canterbury, the popularity of it being evident from the outset, as the first shipment to order of the firm was 804 machines. As the implement business grew the firm gave up the retail ironmongery, and closing the High street premises, opened in Manchester street, opposite Coker's Hotel. In 1880 the partners retired from business, and Mr Morrow took up farming on his Montalto Estate, a large farm in the Mayfield district. Putting the same energy into farming as had characterised him in business, he was equally successful. Placing a manager on the farm he came to reside in Christchurch and during that time of residence he became one of the original promoters of the Christchurch Meat Company, and for a short time acted as manager. He again returned to his farm, but after about nine years he settled his sons upon it, and finally retired to his late residence, Dalriada, Papanui. Mr Morrow was a member of the Presbyterian Church and for many years, first at Mayfield and afterwards in Knox Church, he was an elder. The late Mr Morrow was a man of loving and generous disposition, contributing most liberally to his own Church and all her schemes, and was also a generous contributor to many philanthropic and charitable objects. He leaves a widow, four sons, four daughters, and several grandchildren.

    Person ID I87  34B Bassetts of County Down, Northern Ireland
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2014 

    Father Finlay Morrow 
    Mother Mary Heron 
    Family ID F32  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Madeline Bassett,   bur. Saul Churchyard Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 9 May 1861  Inch, County Down, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Morrow,   bur. Saul Churchyard Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F31  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Elizabeth Bailie,   b. 1 Sep 1853, Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 21 Jun 1877  Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F33  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart