DAVIDSON, JAMES (1829-98) was born at Aberdeen. He went to sea, and after serving his time in ships running to Baltic ports, he joined the expedition sent by Lady Franklin in search of her husband (Sir John Franklin). He was a member of the crew of the Lady Franklin, which was accompanied by the Sophia. Dr Peter C. Sutherland, surgeon to the expedition and doctor of the Sophia, published a narrative of the expedition. Davidson reached Melbourne in 1852 and spent some years on the Victorian goldfields, subsequently returning to the sea and coming to New Zealand in 1857 in the schooner Maraquetta (owned and sailed by Captain George Gray, and later chartered by George Hunter, q.v., of Wellington). Davidson took charge of the schooner Randolph, which he subsequently purchased and ran in the coastal trade between Kaikoura, Wellington, Lyttelton and Napier. After selling her he purchased (1860) the schooner Caroline, which was the second armed vessel owned by the New Zealand government. In Davidson's service she was called the Ruby (her original name), and she included Salt-water creek and the Heathcote river among the ports of call. Davidson settled in Kaikoura in 1867 and opened a general store, which he carried on successfully until his death (on 15 Apr 1898). He was a member of the Kaikoura road board (subsequently merged in the county council) and of the school committee. He represented Clarence in the Marlborough Provincial Council (1871-74). The journey to and from the sessions in Blenheim was an arduous one with many dangerous rivers to ford. Davidson was a justice of the peace for many years.

Family information from James Davidson, J.P.; Marlborough P.C. minutes; Press Association, 15 Apr 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 114

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