The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
King, Thomas
King, Thomas , Farmer, Awamoko. Mr. King was born in Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1833, and was brought up to country life. He arrived in Port Chalmers, in 1860, by the ship “Robert Henderson,” and was for a year on the Taieri Plains. He spent two years on the gold diggings, at Gabriel's Gully, and the Dunstan, and after a further two years spent in Dunedin, he settled in the Awamoko district in 1865. Soon afterwards Mr. King purchased the first part of his freehold, on which his homestead stands, and he now holds 300 acres of freehold and eighty acres of private leasehold land. There were hardly any other settlers in the district when Mr. King settled there, and he is said to have been the first to plough a piece of ground on the Waitaki Plains. He was one of the first members of the Awamoko school committee, on which he has long held a seat. Mr. King was married in January, 1865, to a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Lunam, of Awamoko, and there is a family of four sons and two daughters.
Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs T. King.