__
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_William MCLEOD ____|
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_Isaac MCLEOD __|
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| |_Janet MCDONALD ____|
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| |__|__
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|--Elizabeth Catherine "Auntie_Cis" MCLEOD
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| __
| __|__
| _Phillip BRIMNER ___|
| | | __
| | |__|__
|_Janet BRIMNER _|
| __
| __|__
|_Catherine MURDOCH _|
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|__|__
Frank Grey, HISTORY OF THE MCLEODS OF HELENSVILLE, (1962), p. 24.
Elizabeth Catherine, the only daughter of Isaac was affectionately known as Auntie Cis to all her numerous relatives and a host of friends. She arrived in New Zealand when she was twelve years old. For so young a girl the voyage on the small schooner 'Sea Gull' was a test of her courage and fortitude which was still further tested when she, with other members of the family, undertook the journey from Riverhead overland to Awaroa. As there were no roads at that time the only means of access was by walking through swamp and scrub. For a great part of the journey young Cis carried her baby brother Andrew who was only two years old. When they arrived at their destination she was helpful in making as comfortable as possible the raupo whares which were to be their homes until they had built more permanent houses. As there were no schools, she finished her education under the guidance of her mother and later on she acted as tutor to her young brothers, James and Andrew. One of her fellow travellers on the 'Sea Gull' had been Alexander Porter, who became Catherine's first husband. They had only one child, Isobel, who afterwards became Mrs. Audley-Jones. The house Alexander built for Catherine may still be seen in Helensville. Catherine was left a widow by Alexander's sudden death. But after a few years of widowhood she married agian, this time her husband was Mr. Daniel Oxley, one of a large family of ship chandlers in Auckland. By that marriage she ahd three children, Aileen (Mrs. Lambert), Lionel and Val, none of whom are now living. Catherine's only living descendants are Mrs. Lionel Bowbyes and family of Christchurch. For a time Mrs. Oxley lived in Herne Bay, but after her husband's death she went back to her old home in Helensville. There she engaged in church work and was very active in Sunday Schools, the Presbyterian Union of Missionary Women and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She was also a very active worker for the Red Cross during the first World War. At the time of the installation of electric light in Helensville she accompanied the Vice-Regal party headed by Lord and Lady Bledisloe. As the oldest woman pioneer it was her privilege officially to turn on the power. Elizabeth Catherine Oxley died in Auckland on Dec. 17th., 1934, at the age of 84 years.