PINKERTON, WILLIAM (1809-93) was born in Northumberland, and had a sheep farm in the Cheviot hills before leaving for South Australia in 1838. There he had land on the Torrens river and later at Port Lincoln. In 1854 he was attracted to Otago. No ship being available, he purchased the schooner Amherst and loaded it with sheep and cattle. Having explored south Otago, he selected the Brooksdale station at Tapanui, and brought his family there in 1857. In that year he was appointed an inspector of stock for Otago. Pinkerton married Miss Herriot (after whom the town of Heriot was named). The run being turned into hundreds about 1867, he sold his holding to his son-in-law, John McKellar, and left for California. He was ranching for some years in New Mexico, and died in Arizona on 27 Feb 1893. Pinkerton was a hardy explorer and traveller and used to ford the Molyneux above the falls. He was fond of music, and was an accomplished violinist. He represented Wakatipu in the Otago Provincial Council for a few months in 1863.

Roberts, Southland; Beattie, iii; Tapanui.

Reference: Volume 2, page 87

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