MAIR, GILBERT (1797-1857) was born at Deveron, Peterhead, Scotland. As a boy he made several voyages in trading sloops belonging to his father, a small shipowner who sustained some losses during Napoleon's wars. He first visited Kororareka in his own vessel in 1821, and settled at Bay of Islands in 1824. Leaving his own ship, he assisted Henry Williams to build the Herald, which he commanded in the mission service between Bay of Islands, Sydney and Bay of Plenty, until she was wrecked on Hokianga bar (1828). Mair married in 1827 Elizabeth (1809-70), daughter of W. G. Puckey (q.v.). They lived at Paihia till 1832, when Mair settled as a trader and merchant at Wahapu. He witnessed the declaration of independence of the Maori chiefs (1835) and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (1840). Mair dealt in stock, buying and selling horses from Valparaiso. With Busby (q.v.) he was interested in land at Ngunguru and they exported timber, gum and flax to Sydney and sent the first kauri gum to the United States. Their schooners traded from Bay of Islands to Poverty Bay. In 1842 Mair sold his Wahapu property, taking a government grant at Whangarei in exchange. In 1845 he warned the naval authorities that Heke intended to attack Kororareka on the following day, and took his family to Auckland for safety. They returned to Bay of Islands in 1846, and to Whangarei in 1847. Mair died on 16 Jul 1857.

Sherrin and Wallace.

Reference: Volume 2, page 25

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