McLean Family History

The Story of the McLean Family

The McLean Family

The McLean Family website has been produced by Dale Hartle, great-granddaughter of Flora Ann McLean who married Frank Dale.

Hector and Flora McLean

Hector McLean and his wife Flora Bell emigrated from the United Kingdom on the "Dunedin" with their two daughters Mary and Janet. The family emigrated to New Zealand from County Argyle leaving on 6 April 1874, arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury on 3 July 1874, on board the "s.s. Dunedin". Flora was expecting child number 4, Hector, who was born 3 months later.

s.s. Dunedin by Frederick Tudgay.

The family settled in South Rakaia and Hector is recorded as living there in 1885 as a Labourer. The family then moved to Ellesmere in 1890 where he was a labourer, then back to Rakaia in 1893. They then moved to Patea in 1896 and was noted as a settler. Then in Raetihi and Ohakune in 1901 and 1911. Finally to the Pukeatau in the Waikato in 1916, occupation Farmer. His wife Flora (nee Bell) passed away on 3 August 1919 at the age of 76 years, and they had been married 50 years. Hector then lived in Rotorua in 1919, farmer, Waitomo in 1922, farmer, and Opotiki in 1925. Hector McLean died on 15 January 1927 in Opotiki when he was 80 years of age and is buried in the Opotiki Cemetery: Plot 34F, section F-L (note surname on online database is recorded as MacLean and he was 80 not 87 years.)

McLean children

  • 1. Mary McLean, born 9 November 1868 Scotland, died 12 September 1951, Te Awamutu.
  • 2. Flora Ann McLean (1st), born 4 September 1870, Clyde, died 1 February 1872 Glasgow.
  • 3. Janet McLean, born 28 July 1872, Glasgow, died 8 January 1963 in Riverton, Southland.
  • 4. Hector (Jnr) McLean, born 29 September 1874, Rakaia, died 1 July 1954, Kawakawa.
  • 5. Flora Ann McLean (2nd), born 13 June 1877 Rakaia, died 7 May 1931, Hamilton, buried Hamilton East AA2-C-04.
  • 6. John Hector "Jack" McLean, born 22 July 1879 Rakaia, died 19 March 1968, Hamilton.

Read the full McLean Family History compiled by Dale Hartle from the sources listed below.

Flora Ann McLean and Frank Dale

Flora Ann McLean (2nd) married Frank Dale on 12 July 1897 at St John's Church, Ashburton. Flora was born on 13 June 1877 in Rakaia.

Together they had eight children:

  • 1. Agnes May Dale, born 31 January 1899, Ohakune, died 28 October 1952, Raetihi.
  • 2. Francis Charles "Frank" Dale, born 1 October 1900, Shannon, died 24 June 1977, Rotorua.
  • 3. John Hector "Jack" Dale, born January 1902 Wanganui, died 7 Jun 1911, Orautoha, Wanganui.
  • 4. Janet Flora Beatrice "Jean" Dale, born 2 June 1904, Raetihi, died 14 September 1968, Te Awamutu.
  • 5. George Frederick Dale, born 22 September 1907, Orautoha, died 20 August 1987, Tauranga.
  • 6. Maud Gladys Myrtle Dale, born 12 May 1909, Raetihi, died 8 August 2004, Te Awamutu.
  • 7. Eledia Alice Dale, born 8 October 1911, Raetihi, died 13 January 1960, Te Awamutu.
  • 8. Gordon Henry "Claude" Dale, born 18 March 1913, Raetihi, died 1989, Matamata.

Dale family 1909-1910.

Flora died on 7 May 1931 at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton when she was 54 years of age. Her death notice says she was living in Otorohanga at the time. She is buried at Hamilton East Cemetery, plot BB-O-032.

Headstone - Flora Ann Dale.

Frank outlived his wife by 23 years, and died at 191 Malfroy Road, Rotorua, on 11 March 1954, at the age of 83. He was buried in Rotorua Cemetery, Sala Street, plot 4-22-09.

Headstone - Frank Dale.

Photo Gallery

Flora Ann McLean.

Above: Flora Ann McLean.

Flora Ann Dale - later years.

Above: Flora Ann Dale, later years.

Frank Dale.

Above: Frank Dale.

Descendants of the Frank and Flora Dale Family.

Above: Descendants of the Frank and Flora Dale Family, March 2020.

Flora Dale with sisters Mary and Janet McLean.

Above: Flora Dale with sisters Mary and Janet McLean.

Links to files and websites

Where has this information come from?

Information for this family webpage has been compiled from a number of public and private sources including:

  • Birth, death and marriage records
  • Newspaper clippings, articles and announcements
  • Probate documents
  • Burial and cremation records
  • Published books
  • Personal stories and memories
  • Photographs
  • Information on genealogy websites
  • Library and museum records
  • Family sources and Ancestry family trees

Individual permission to publish this information has not been sought, as most of the details are in the public domain. The family tree only goes down 2 generations, and it is believed all those listed are now deceased.

Contact details

I do not know any of the McLean family currently living. If you have any information or photos to add to the site, or any corrections to dates, names or details, please contact Dale Hartle in Levin, New Zealand, by phone +64 21 45 34 24 or email me at mjhartle at xtra.co.nz (please adjust email address).

Last updated: 28 October 2020.