William was born on 1 July 1837, in Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father was James Menzies who was a mine manager (Galena-Lead) and his mother was Martha Menzies (Weir)

Hannah was born around 1857 in Warnambool, Australia

William arrived in the Carrick Range . His occupation was that of a carpenter.

(H.O.D.) In June 1871 a party consisting of William and Thomas Hazlett, James Beare, Peter Knudson and William Menzies started to build a dam in Bendigo Creek for alluvial mining

From 1871 to 1877 William Menzies managed the 'Star and Oak' battery at Carricktown which was owned by the 'Heart of Oak' and the 'Star' quartz gold mines.

Miss Stearn (Hannah) working in the Nevis Hotel

On 4 Dec 1875 Mr William Menzies and Miss Hannah Elizabeth Stearn were married in the office of the Registrar of Marriages in Dunedin

Before moving to Macetown William was working in a sluicing claim on the Carrick (possibly Bull Spur) and his wages were £5 (five pounds) per week.

William applied for a job as Battery Manager for the 'All Nations Quartz Mining Company' at Macetown. He took the job with the understanding that when the battery was not working he would work in the mine as a miner but still receive his pay as a Battery Manager. William moved to Macetown and started work, planning to move his family once he was settled. however once in the job he discovered he would only get miners wages when working as a miner. This would be less than his wages in the job he had left in Carricktown, so he took the mining company to court. (See photos 2039-2071)

In 1878 William returned to Bannockburn. It appears he may have been living on the Carrick Range from c1869-1871 on his own, but in 1875 when he married, would have had a more permanent house at Carricktown where he was working as the Battery Manager

It appears that the family may have moved from Carricktown down to Bannockburn somewhere between c1879 to 1881

Hannah Margaret Martha - born 24 Aug 1876 (Carricktown). B-B school 29 Sep 1884 Marriage - 31 Dec 1902 to William Walter McCabe (1875-1951) Death 14 Oct 1972, Greymouth. Martha Mary (Louisa) - born 19 Nov 1877 (Carricktown). B-B school 29 Sep 1884 Marriage - 1919 to William Richard Jay (1889-1956) Death 7 Jul 1946, Foxton Beach Wilhelmina Lucy - born 19 Apr 1879 (Carricktown). B-B school 15 Feb 1885 Marriage - 30 Dec 1907 to Harry Cowan Guildford (1879-1936) Death 15 Nov 1970, Invercargill James Stearn - born 28 Jul 1881 (Bannockburn). Died 26 Jan 1966 Marriage - 1914 to Sarah Isabella Graves (1896-1966) Death 26 Jan 1966, Cromwell George Andrew - born 20 may 1886 (Bannockburn). B-B school 12 Sep 1892 Elder twin Marriage - 25 Jul 1914 to Florence Myrtle Taylor (1893-1963) Death 29 Sep 1971, Auckland William John - born 20 May 1886 (Bannockburn). B-B school 12 Sep 1892 Younger twin Death 1964, Balclutha Grace Isabella (Rose) - born 22 May 1887 (Bannockburn). Died 5 Oct 1968. B-B school 4 May 1892 Marriage - 9 Jul 1913 to Allan Campbell (1886-1957) Death 5 Oct 1968, Bannockburn Jean Elisabeth - born 7 Jan 1890 (Bannockburn). B-B school 28 Jan 1895 Marriage - 1912 to Thomas Daniel Anderson (1887-1968) Death 17 Jan 1968, Cromwell Thomas Daniel Joseph (Tom) - born 22 Feb 1896 (Bannockburn). B-B school 3 Feb 1902 Marriage - 1927 to Myrtle Frances Florence Daly (1903-1976) Death 2 Feb 1975, Hanmer Springs

Was a member of the Bannockburn Rifle Club 1900 Married Alan Campbell - see location #98

Married G Anderson

Thomas was wounded in WW1.

Not a good year for William. He had no job and had been declared bankrupt. Becoming very depressed William would wander around the Bannockburn area with his carpenters tools, going quietly mad.

In April 1904 William was admitted to the Seacliff Mental Hospital in Dunedin.

On 28 August, William Menzies died at Seacliff Hospital. He is buried in the Northern Cemetery in Dunedin. After his death, his wife, Hannah continued to live in dwelling #5

After her husbands death, Hannah Menzies continued to live in dwelling #5

The last record of Hannah Menzies living in Bannockburn was in Stones Directory 1931. It appears that she may have moved north to live with one of her family members.

Hannah Menzies died on October 8 1931 at Manawatu Heads, of heart failure. She was buried on October 10 at Foxton.