John Pryde (1) was born in Livingston near Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John Pryde (a carrier) and Mary Jeffrey. (an alternative note says that John was born in Ormiston, East Lothian, near Edingurgh ?) He worked in the coal industry as a mining inspector.

John Pryde (1) arrived in Bannockburn

In August 1872 Thomas Hall discovered an antimony lode near the source of the branch of Pipeclay Gully Creek. He went into partnership with John Pryde (1) but unfortunately they did not have enough funds to open up the lode. Mr George Wilson of Dunedin was approached and the Otago Antimony Company was formed. A pack track was formed and the company mined 10 tons of ore. This was smeltered at Port Chalmers and sent to England. The product earned only £12 per ton. Further work was discontinued.

John Pryde (1) married Jane Goodlet, daughter of professor Jack Goodlet of Dunedin. They were married in the home of her uncle, William Goodlet. The officiating minister was Dr Stuart of Knox Church, Dunedin.

John and Jane Pryde may have moved into dwelling #73.

in April 1878, John Pryde (1) and Joseph Llewellyn Moore applied for a coal lease of 20 acres at the junction of Shepherds Creek and Bannockburn Creek. The called the pit the Kawarau Colliery. The name shifted over the next 20 years to the coal mines in Shepherds Creek.

Frederick Albert Pryde was born on 24 Nov 1879.

On 3 Aug 1880 the Bannockburn Co-Op Company was formed. John Pryde (1) was a director. (see dwelling #87)

John Menzies Pryde (2) was born on 23 Aug 1881.

John Pryde (1) purchased the Excelsior Coal Mine from J Stuart.

In March 1882, John Pryde (1) and twelve miners opened up the antimony mine near Prydes Creek branch of Pipeclay Gully Creek. There were 4 lodes in the area, discovered in 1872.

The Carrick Range Antimony Company was formed and large prospecting areas were taken around the reefs. The company put out a tender for 200,000 locally made bricks for their smelter. They brought over an experienced smelter manager from Sydney by the name of McTavish. The company purchased the Excelsior Coal Mine from John Pryde (1). The smelter, with it's 40 ft high chimney was set up on Slaughteryard Hill close to the Excelsior Coal Mine. The smelter required 20 tons of coal to treat 30 tons of ore per week, with a recovery rate f fifty percent.

John Pryde (1) listed in Stones directory as a coal pit proprietor.

The bulk of the coal mining was being done in the mines run by John Pryde (1) and William Parcell. John employed two miners. Explosives were not being used at this time and the average man would dig out two tons of coal per day at the pay rate of five shillings per ton. Later when explosives were used the output went up to five tons per day.

John Pryde (1) was the chief coal miner in Bannockburn. He had Mr McNulty at Cromwell working as his agent. The coal business was very poor and John Pryde offered his three coal leases for sale, but could not find a buyer.

N.Z. South Seas Expedition - John Pryde entry (see general folder section 20/11)

In June 1899 John Pryde (1) offered his coal leases for sale to a syndicate fronted by James Horn. These included mines in Chepherds Creek and Adams Gully. Twelve miners were being employed under the management of John Campbell, who continued in the position under the new owner.

This was the last year that John Pryde (1) was listed in Stones directory as a coal pit proprietor.

John Pryde (1), James Horm and John McKersie worked an antimony lode on Ernscleugh Flat, approx 400m upstream from the old Alexandra bridge and approx 100m west of the true right bank of the Clutha river. They sunk a shallow shaft and recovered a few tons of ore, however the cost of transportation to Australia for smelting proved to be uneconomic.

John Pryde (1) may have moved to Oamaru.

John Pryde (1) died in Oamaru in 1901. He may be buried there.

Jane Goodlet Pryde, wife of John Pryde (1) died in 1908. She may be buried with her husband in Oamaru.