John Ballance: Successful EmigrantAuthor(s): John BassettSource: North Irish Roots, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1993), pp. 14-15Published by: North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27696919 .

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JOHN BALLANCE - SUCCESSFUL EMIGRANT

John Basse?, Member number B 114

Nineteen and ninety three marks the centenary of the death of John Ballance, the first

Ulster-born Prime Minister of New Zealand and acknowledged founder of the modern welfare

state.

John Ballance was born in 1839 in the townland of Ballyfitmore, overlooking Lough Neagh near Glenavy in Co Antrim. His father Samuel was a successful tenant farmer of 24 acres

and his mother Mary McNeice came from a well known local family.

Glenavy Parish Church records show that Samuel and Mary Ballance had eleven children, ten of whom survived. John, being the eldest, would have been the natural inheritor of the

family farm. From an early age he showed more interest in books than in farming and at the

age f fourteen he went to Belfast to reside with his uncle Robert McNeice and study at

Wilson's Academy. On leaving school he became apprenticed to the hardware trade and at

the age of eighteen he travelled to Birmingham where he continued this work. During his

evenings he furthered his education by attending night classes on a range of topics. In

1863, aged 23, he married a local girl of 18, Fanny Taylor. As her health was poor they decided to emigrate to the more agreeable climate of New Zealand, where Fanny had a

brother in Wanganui, North Island.

In Wanganui John Ballance founded the Evening Herald newspaper, later the Wanganui Herald which he retained until his death. Unfortunately his wife's health did not improve and she died in 1868. Two years later he married Ellen Anderson, the Ulster-born daughter of an English army officer. They had no children but adopted a niece of Ellen's.

John Ballance's steady rise in New Zealand politics is well documented. He first entered

Parliament in 1875 and held a wide range of portfolios over a range of time. He was a firm

believer in self reliance and economic independence from Britain. From his own Ulster

background he was keen on supporting small farmers and against wealthy landlords

purchasing large tracts of land. He was also aware of the danger and worked to prevent the

mixing of religion, education and politics. John Ballance's premiership of a mere two years was cut short by his sudden death from cancer in April 1893, just as the social and economic legislation he pioneered was bringing in an era of hope and prosperity. Probably his most widely recognized achievement was the foundation work he laid in enfranchising

women years ahead of the rest of the world.

What of the rest of the Ballance family?

O Jane, born 1841, married John McKnight in 1862 and had a son who emigrated to

New Zealand.

O Isaac, born 1845, left Ireland for New Zealand but was never heard of again; he may have died en route, possibly in Australia.

O His younger brother Samuel also disappeared and no further details are known.

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O James, born 1847, took over the family farm at Ballyfitmore; this is now in the

possession of his grandson, John Ballance, who has given tremendous encourage ment and support to the restoration project described below.

O Anna, born 1850, married a Mr Knox and went to live in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

O Isabella and Mary, both single, became teachers, while Rebecca died aged eleven

O Robert, born 1855, emigrated to America.

O Henry, born 1857, inherited property from his grand uncle, Henry McNeice, and became prominent in local affairs until his death in 1932.

The Ulster - New Zealand Trust was founded in 1987 and has, under the dynamic leadership of Jill Mclvor, restored the the original Ballance home and outbuildings as an Ulster - New Zealand Centre. Many generous contributions have come from individuals and organiza tions, including the New Zealand Government. A series of events covering Ulster - New

Zealand links are held and the number of visitors is steadily increasing; one of the most recent was Mr Jim Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand - himself of Irish ancestry.

Anyone wishing to get more information about the Centre or wishing to support the restoration of Ballance House can send a donation to The Curator, The Ballance House, 118A Lisburn Road, Glenavy, Co Antrim BT29 4NY. For a detailed account of the life and achievements of John Ballance readers should consult Dr T Mclvofs biography, John

Ballance, the Rainmaker, published by Heinemann Reed, Auckland, New Zealand, 1989.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Genealogical Office

2 Kildare Street

Dublin 2

Tel: 0001 614877

General Register Office

Oxford House

49-55 Chichester Street

Belfast BT1 4HL

Tel: 0232 235211

(See page 2 for temporary address)

National Archives

Bishop Street

Dublin 8

Tel: 0001 783711

National Library of Ireland

Kildare Street

Dublin 2

Tel: 0001 765521

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

66 Balmoral Avenue

Belfast BT9 6NY

Tel: 0232 661621

Ulster Historical Foundation

Balmoral Buildings

12 College Square East

Belfast BT1 6DD

Tel: 0232 332288

Fax: 0232 239885

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