Alfred Inkson Gillman was born in 1836 in Stratford-le-bow, London. In the 1861 census he had disappeared from UK alng with his siblings and mother. They turned up in South Australia. He married Emma Norman in 31 July 1875. She had 7 siblings who mostly remained in Gardeners Creek, Melbourne, South Australia.

They arrived in NZ in 1880 after the death of 2 year old Rosina Maud.
Alfred became a teacher and taught mainly in Alford Forest, South Canterbury.