Peter Migan was born in Wexford County, Ireland, c1819. He was a gardener aged 23 years old when he enlisted in the 58th Rutlandshire Regiment of the British Army (regimental number 1844). Along with a section of this regiment, known as the ‘Black Cuffs’, Peter departed London on 29 August 1844 aboard the convict ship ‘Sir Robert Peel’ bound for Sydney, Australia. The ‘Sir Robert Peel’ arrived in Sydney on 18 January 1845. Two and a half years later, as further reinforcements were required for the Maori Land Wars in New Zealand, sections of the 58th and other regiments were sent to Auckland. Peter departed Sydney on board the ‘Thomas Lowry’ on 9 September 1847, arriving in Auckland (via Hobart) on 22 September 1847. Peter earned a free discharge from the 58th regiment as a private on 31 August 1853. He decided to settle in New Zealand and took up residence on Waiheke Island. He married Catherine Fraser and, like other pioneer families in the area, Peter cut firewood for a living and also worked at the manganese mine to help support his family of thirteen children. He is my maternal great, great grandfather.