Below is the only info I have on James Arbuckle (of which I acknowledge there are hundreds).

I am trying to trace the correct Irish family and the movements of this James Arbuckle after his participation in the NZ Land Wars of 1863-66. I am fairly sure he returned to Australia about 1863/4 but have no idea if he stayed, married, died or went back to Ireland ?

My interest stems from the fact that I have his NZ Medal he was awarded for service in the NZ Wars - I suspect he was never issued with it since it had to be applied for and I believe he had left the country.

Ancestry.co.au info:
Ships Log Report – SS “Kate”
Depart: Surrah, Co Tipperary, Ireland (departed Jun-Jul 1852)
Immigration Board Report – dated 18 Oct 1852
Departed: Stoke-under-ham Somerset, England
Arrived: Sydney, NSW – 16 Oct 1852
Log entry detail:
James Arbuckle, born (abt) 1832-4?; 19yrs; ship was SS (Steam Ship) “Kate”; Occupation - Carter from Donaghdy, Co Tyrone; Parents - Joseph & Margaret Arbuckle (father living at Donaghdy, Co Tyrone)
............................................................................................................................................................
Also on board SS ‘Kate’ was Eliza Arbuckle (21yrs); house servant; shirtmaker’ Dunamannan, Co Tyrone; dau of Joseph and Margaret Arbuckle (mother dead; father living at Dunamannan, Co Tyrone)
............................................................................................................................................................
Religion – Presbyterian
Read & Write – Both
Good health – No treatment on board
Paid – 2 Pounds for passage
Address at destination – cousins residence, not known (father’ brothers??? - in Sydney ???)

Parents / Relationships
Father: Joseph ARBUCKLE living at Donaghdy 1852, married to Margaret at Gortin in 1855
Mother: Margaret Barton

• James Arbuckle & Eliza married ?? (?cousins?) ?? – WA ?? (travelled on ‘KATE’ together)
• James enlisted in 2nd Waikato Militia Regiment in Oct 1863,

Enlistment Record - #1143, Pte Arbuckle, J, 24 Sep 1863, Sydney, ? , Tyrone, Carter, 23 (28-30yrs) ,5 8, Lord Ashley, 465, ?, CTC,
Legend for above: - Reg? No., Surname, First Name, Enrolment, Place Enrolled, Born (Parish), County, Trade, Age, Height in feet & inches, Ship, Variation Page No., Date and cause of becoming Non-effective, General
My expanded version - #1143, Pte Arbuckle, James, enrolled 24 Sep 1863 in Sydney, born (parish?), County Tyrone, carter?, 23yrs, (actually likely 28 (handwriting issue), 5’ 8’’ tall, Ship – ‘Lord Ashley’, pge 465, date?, 2nd Waikato Regiment, CTC = Commissariat Transport Corps (logical given his occupation)

All Details Known at Enlistment
Regt No: 1143
Rank: Private
Name: Arbuckle, James
DOB: abt 1840 ? (probably c 1833)
Age at Enlistment: 23yrs (probably 28-30yrs – handwriting error/interpretation)
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Date of Enlistment: Enrolled 24 Sep 1863
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, Australia
Place of Birth: Ireland, (County)Tyrone.
(Barony) Strabane Lower; (Parish) Donaghedy; Townland of Rousky (not sure about this ?????????????)
Troop Ship from Australia to NZ: RMS Lord Ashley
Unit: 2nd Waikato Militia Regiment
Employed: Commissariat Transport Corps (driver)
Service: 1863-66

Medals: New Zealand Medal dated 1861-66 (believed to be not issued/collected – I
have purchased this)
Other: 2 x Grants of Land (the deal was: land for war service encouraged volunteers to enlist for the wars) – location unk (see Papers Past) - Land Grants accepted: 06 June 1867
VANISHED ?????
May have gone back to Victoria, Australia and married Elizabeth EARNSHAW in 1866 ??????
Thereafter ?????????
Any help filling the gaps would be much appreciated

Ian Martyn
medalsreunitednz.co.nz