Mary Lee CUTLER was the youngest daughter born to John CUTLER & Mary Ann BUCKLAND before they emigrated to New Zealand on the "Huntress" into Lyttelton in 1863. The port of call was meant to be Timaru but bad weather forced them 170km further north to Lyttelton.

On the passenger list Mary is recorded as May J. Cutler aged 3. It has since been DNA verified that she was, in fact, Mary Lees Cutler


Mary married Joel (aka John) LILLEY (1856-1927) on the 12 July 1877 in West Melton, Canterbury

- their known children were:

28 April 1878 - Mary Selina Culter Lilley
- nothing known

16 July 1879 - 1934 Sarah Jane Lilley
- Sarah was born in KIRWEE, Canterbury
- she married Aubrey John Charles GALLOP (1878-1958) in 1912
- son of William & Sarah Ann GALLOP
- they lived at 23 Dampier St Christchurch
- she died 3 June 1934 aged 54, buried PLOT 203, BLOCK 1 at Bromley
- Aubrey was born in Christchurch. He was a Wool Classer
- he died 5 Aug 1958 aged 80, buried with Sarah

27 Sept 1883 - John Lilley
- CHRISTCHURCH July 18 1895, A boy named John Lilley, twelve years of age, was charged with having, on July 18, thrown a stone to the danger of private property on St ALbans Road. The boy broke a pane of glass, value 5s. He admitted the offence, and was cautioned and discharged

27 Dec 1886 - 1907 Daisy Lilley
- Daisy lived in Bristol St Christchurch
- she died aged 21 on 3 Nov 1907 of Pneumonia, buried Linwood

26 Sept 1888 - 1949 Walter Henry Lilley
- Walter was a Station Master
- he married Bertha Cooper WILSON in 1905
- daughter of Henry Peter & Jane WILSON
- he was living in 23 Lyndon St Christchurch
- he died 22 March 1949 aged 60, buried Bromley Cemetery

27 April 1890 - 1971 Elsie Edith Lilley, born in Christchurch
- Elsie married Thomas William EDLIN (1889-1975) in 1912
- son of Thomas EDLIN & Annie SLOAN

30 May 1892 - 1928 Leonard Joseph Lilley
- married Rosey May CLEMENTS (1887-1965) in 1913
- daughter of Charles CLEMENTS & Sarah Elizabeth MORRISS
- Leonard was a Chaffeur
- he was living in 7 Devonport Lane Christchurch
- he died 14 March 1928 aged 35, buried Bromley Cemetery

20 May 1895 - 1969 Gertrude Annie Lilley
- Gertrude married Harold KEYS in 1915

26 Dec 1897 - 1961 Charles Herbert Lilley
- Charles married Maude Hannah O'BRIEN in 1921

25 Aug 1900 - 1975 Myrtle Winifred Lilley
- Myrtle married Francis Neville Durand JONES (1900-1963) in 1922
- son of Joseph JONES & Florence Marie DURAND

23 Sept 1901 - 1901 Rose Minnie Lilley (TWIN with Evelyn)
- Rose died aged 5 days

23 Sept 1901 - 1991 Evelyn Beatrice Lilley (TWIN with Rose)
- married Frederick Lawrence WATKINS (1901-1944) in 1925
- son of Edward WATKINS & Helen MOWATT

6 March 1905 - 1973 Alfred Robert Lilley
- Alfred married Rita Gweondoline PARISH (1908-1987) in 1929
- daughter of Walter PARISH & Martha Alice HEYDER

Joel Lilley was born in England
- he came to New Zealand when about 9 years old
- he was a Labourer, living in Ranfurly St Christchurch
- he died 10 Sept 1927 aged 71
- buried PLOT 162 - BLOCK 31 at Bromley Cemetery

Mary Lees Lilley nee Cutler died 31 August 1938 aged 79
- she had been living in 116 Bristol St Christchurch
- she is buried with husband Joel