AYLMER, WILLIAM JOSIAH (1802-83), born at Donadea Castle, County Kildare, Ireland, was the son of Sir Fenton Aylmer, 7th baronet. He was educated at the old college at Armagh and at Durham, and graduated M.A. at Dublin University. He was ordained to the ministry of the United Church of England and Ireland and shortly afterwards appointed to the family living at his native parish, where he was incumbent for 24 years. In 1830 he married Elizabeth Frances, daughter of the Rev. Henry Lambert. During the famine of 1848 he endeared himself to people of all denominations by the fearless and self-sacrificing manner in which he devoted himself to relieving the suffering. His noble service was generously remembered when Aylmer resigned the living to proceed to New Zealand. Arriving in Canterbury by the Lady Nugent at the end of 1851, Aylmer was at once appointed incumbent of Akaroa (where he selected his 50 acres of land). The parish then included the whole of Banks Peninsula. Aylmer was elected to represent Akaroa in the first Provincial Council (1853) but was unable to attend regularly and resigned (Nov 1855). He retired from the ministry in 1872, and thereafter lived quietly as a country gentleman. Aylmer took a keen interest in local matters and rendered great service to the Akaroa library, domain and horticultural society. He died on 9 Aug 1883.

His son, JUSTIN JOHN AYLMER (1832-85), was born at Donadea, Kildare, Ireland, and before coming to New Zealand was a cadet on the public works survey staff in the west of Ireland. In Canterbury he assisted J. C. Boys in surveying lands in Banks Peninsula. In 1853 he took up with S. Perceval the Hororata run and in 1861 took up a run on the Mataura river. In 1864 he was appointed warden on the goldfields, residing at Queenstown. Later he was warden and resident magistrate at Ross, and from 1872 magistrate at Akaroa. There he died on 10 Jan 1885.

Canterbury P.C. Proc; Burke, Peerage; Cycl. N.Z.; Lyttelton Times, 10 Aug 1883, 11 Jan 1885.

Reference: Volume 1, page 29

🌳 Further sources