NZ06b – Polson’s Hut

Stitcher: Joan Murray – Helmsdale

Polson’s Hut, a small shepherd’s hut in Central Otago, New Zealand, was the scene of a tragedy for the Polson family in 1869. John Polson emigrated from Kildonan, Sutherland in 1862 and found employment as a shepherd with John Maclean at Movern Hills Station. He married Christina Ross in Christchurch in 1867. During the winter of 1869, Christina went into premature labour with twin boys, George and William. The first baby died soon after birth, the second three days later. They were buried with great difficulty in the frozen ground beneath a willow tree near the hut and their grave is marked by a simple schist headstone, inscribed 1869.

NZ06B Bothan Polson
Bha Bothan Polson, bothan beag cìobair ann am Meadhan Otago anna n Sealainn Nuadh, na àite cùis-mhulaid don teaghlach Polson ann an 1869. Bha Iain Polson air imrich à Cill Donnain ann an Cataibh ann an 1862 agus fhuair e obair mar chìobair còmhla ri Iain MacIllEathain aig Stèisean Cnuic Mhorbhairn. Phòs e Cairistìona Rosach ann an Christchurch ann an 1867. Rè a’ gheamhraidh ann an 1869, chaidh Cairistìona ann an saothair ro-thràth le càraid bhalach, Seòras agus Uilleam. Bhàsaich a’ chiad leanabh dìreach às dèidh a bhreith, an dàrna leanabh trì làithean às dèidh sin. Chaidh an tiodhlacadh fo chraoibh seileach faisg air a’ bhothan agus tha an uaigh air a comharrachadh le clach-cinn shìmplidh schist, snaidhte le 1869.