MFA Tree #1
The first of this branch arrived in New Zealand in 1859 in the persons of William Merrilees (a widower aged
76) and his daughter Isabella Neill, her husband James and their children, Christina (18), Robert (16), John (8),
& Isabella (3). They settled in Otago and William & his daughter Isabella are both buried in Palmerston cemetery.
This branch links to our common ancestor through James Mirrieleyes and Agnes Wilson who married in Aberlady in 1682.
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MFA Tree #2
Distinguished by the number of Archibalds, and we have our own Archie Merrilees who arrived in Wellington from
Glasgow in 1952. This family branch has been associated with the town of Stirling for several generations and many descendants were
attached to the regiments stationed at Stirling Castle.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Archibald Merrilees (1774) and Agnes Campbell who married in Stirling 22 May 1796.
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MFA Tree #4
Only a small number from this tree in N.Z. Firstly the family of James Merrylees who arrived in Wellington from
Edinburgh in 1949, descendants of Peter Merrylees (b.1767 in Prestonkirk, East Lothian) and his 1st wife Isabel Richardson. Secondly,
the family of George Olaf Merrylees who arrived in NZ in 1952 and settled in Bluff with his wife and three children,
descendants of the same Peter Merrylees but by his 2nd wife Euphens Denham.
This branch links to our common ancestor through James Merrilees who married Kathren Walker in Athelstaneford in 1711.
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MFA Tree #6
This tree probably has the most members of any tree in NZ Descendants of Alexander Merrilees and the
Runcimans - his cousins, James (26), Jean (24), Barbara (21), Isabel (20), & John (16), whose deceased mother Barbara was
a Merrilees. His uncle Richard Runciman brought them all from Dirleton to Dunedin in 1853. Alexander went farming at Taieri Beach,
and along with his cousins appears to be the first Merrilees' to arrive in New Zealand. He is buried in the Taieri Beach cemetery.
This branch links to our common ancestor through James Mirrieleyes and Agnes Wilson who married in Aberlady in 1682.
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MFA Tree #7
Several of this line emigrated to Australia and a few came to New Zealand. First of the family to settle permanently in this
country was Margaret (Daisy) Merrylees (23) of Glasgow. She married Robert Mortimer in Christchurch on Christmas Eve
1912 shortly after her arrival from London on the Ruapehu. She was followed by her brother Stewart Merrylees
with his adult sons James and Richard in the 1950s.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Alexander Merrylees and Mary Strathearn who married in Barony, Glasgow 27
March 1772.
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MFA Tree #8
This is probably the second largest tree in N.Z. The first family to arrive was Ann Russell (nee Mirrilees)
from Cambusnethan, Wishaw with her husband John and infant son, John jnr. They settled in the Wairarapa about 1870. A cousin,
Helen Fletcher (nee Merrilees), arrived in Dunedin from Wishaw, abt 1874 with her husband Dr Patrick Fletcher
and infant daughter, Agnes. Many years later another family member, John Thompson Merrilees also from Wishaw,
arrived in Wellington in 1907. His wife Mary, son John & daughter Catherine joined him in 1910.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Robert Mirrilees (abt 1758) and Margaret Fleming who married in Glasgow,
24 Nov 1779.
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MFA Tree #9
The first member of this family to come to New Zealand was 36-yr-old Agnes Reid in 1899. She was the fifth
child born to Mary Ann Mireylees and Dr John Lambert Reid in Scotland before the family emigrated to Australia in 1864, where four
other siblings were born. Agnes came to Alexandra in Otago and married Kenneth McLeay Phin.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Robert Mireylees (abt 1780) who married Helen Ormiston in 1771 and then
married Euphemia Dunbar in Edinburgh, 15 March 1799.
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MFA Tree #10
An offshoot of Tree #6 when first cousins George and Barbara Merrilees married in 1830. Their son William who was married three
times is the grandfather of Robert Scanlan Merrilees (1917 - 2001) who settled in New Zealand in 1962 after having
lived seven years in Australia.
This branch also links to our common ancestor through James Mirrieleyes and Agnes Wilson who married in Aberlady in 1682.
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MFA Tree #14
Only one family represents this branch in New Zealand, that of Pearl Dingle who arrived in 1955. Her mother
was a Merrilees from Falkirk.
MFA records start with George Merrilees (b.1796) and Janet McLardie of Falkirk who married in Glasgow, 26 Oct 1818.
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MFA Tree #29
Probably the 3rd largest clan family in N.Z., descendants of John Merrylees (ex Glasgow) who arrived in Bluff
in 1862. He joined the militia and later settled in Hawkes Bay. Merrylees Hotel in Dannevirke is a well-known landmark. The grave
of John and the wife he married in New Zealand is in the Waipukurau Cemetery.
MFA records start with John Merylees and Katherin Mason who married in Haddington about 1765 & DNA now links this branch to
our common ancestor.
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MFA Tree #33
A very distinctive spelling of Mirrielees. Archibald Mirrielees (1797 - 1872) is famous as the founder of the Russian department
store Muir & Mirrielees. Members of this family emigrated to the USA and Australia in the 1800's. William Philip Mirrielees
worked briefly as a importer's clerk in the Moscow store before joining other members of his family in Melbourne in 1854
aged 17. After goldmining in Victoria he came to New Zealand in 1868 and married Ellen Lyon in Riverton. They later settled in
Tauranga (North Island) where their son Alexander James (AJ) Mirrielees became a well-known public figure.
This branch links to our common ancestor through William Murraylee and Jean Manderson who married in Edinburgh, 27 May 1764.
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MFA Tree #34
A large family descended from Agnes Mirrilees (born abt 1817 in Cambusnethan). Her daughter, also named Agnes, came to NZ about
1862 and married John William McLean Field in Christchurch in 1864 at age 22.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Robert Mirrilees (abt 1758) and Margaret Fleming who married in Glasgow,
24 Nov 1779. Connects to MFA Tree #8.
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MFA Tree #35
Descendants of William Mireylees born 1771 in Kelso who married Isabella Martin in 1799 at Ladykirk, Berwickshire. His
grandaughter Helen married Samuel Gilchrist in 1862 in Edinburgh. Their grandchild, Alexander Ingram Gilchrist emigrated to NZ in
1925, aged 22, disembarking at Lyttleton.
This branch links to our common ancestor through Robert Mireylees (abt 1780) who married Helen Ormiston in 1771 and then
married Euphemia Dunbar in Edinburgh, 15 March 1799. See also MFA Tree #9.
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