ELLES, ANDREW JAMESON (1816-86) was the son of a Secession minister at Saltcoats, Scotland. Brought up to the sea, he traded to the West Indies and had his first command at the age of 21. Elles came to New Zealand as captain of the Philip Laing (1848) and subsequently made another voyage in that vessel. He then became owner and captain of the Pioneer, which he ran for some time in the coastal and intercolonial trade. In 1862 he married Clementina, daughter of the Rev Dr Burns (q.v.). In 1856 Elles was appointed sub-collector of customs at Invercargill, and he continued to hold that and other posts, including the receivership of land revenue (1858), and the collectorship (1861). He was commissioner of the waste lands board (1861) and resident magistrate for many years until retiring in 1880. He was a member of the Bluff harbour board. Elles died on 4 Sep 1886.

Roberts, Southland; Beattie, ii; Hocken, Otago; Otago Daily Times and Southland Times, 6 Sep 1886; Evening Star, 7 Sep 1886

Reference: Volume 1, page 131

🌳 Further sources