John Paton

John Paton (1824-1907) was a protestant missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific. He brought to the natives of the New Hebrides education and Christianity.

John was born on the 24th May 1824 in a farm cottage at Braehead, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was eldest of 11 children. His parents moved to Torthorwald in the same county. His father was a stocking manufacturer and a stocker of books- Bibles.

From the age of 12 he learned the stocking manufacturing trade, working 14 hours a day manipulating one of the 6 ‘stocking frames’.
He also studied for 2 hours during the alloted time to eat.

He was greatly influenced by the devoutness of his father who 3 times a day went to his ‘prayer closet’ and conducted family prayers twice a day’
He felt he was called by God to be a missionary.

He went to Glasgow ( 40 miles walking to Kilmarnock, the rest by train).
There he undertook theological and medical studies. For years he handed out tracts, taught at schools and laboured as a city missionary.

!858, 23rd March, ordained by the Reformed Presbyterian Church. On 2nd April married Mary Ann Robson. 16th April, accompanied by Mr Joseph Copeland, they set sail for the South Pacific. 5th November landed on the island of Tanna - the natives there were cannibals!
The cannibals - 'painted ’ savages wore very little -the men were naked, the women wore a short grass or leaf apron.

1859, 12th February Peter Robert Robson born, Mary dies 19 days later from tropical fever. Baby Peter dies after 36 days. They were buried together and John guarded the grave from the cannibals. The grave is still accessible to this day and a plaque in 1996 was erected to mark the spot.

John continued with his missionary work in spite of constant animosity form the natives. During one attack a ship arrived just in time to take him and Mr. Mrs. Mathieson to the safety of Aneityum.

He then went first to Australia then back to Scotland to recruit missionaries and raise funds for the building and upkeep of a ship.

1864, 17th June, he marries Margaret ( Maggie) Whitecross.
1866, August, back in the New Hebrides, they establish a new mission station on Aniwa Island, the island closest to Tanna. They live in a native hut while they build 3 houses- i for them and 2 for orphans.

They find the natives similar to those on Tanna but they continue with their missionary work. They have 10 children, 4 die early or in infancy.

John learns the language and turns it into written form.
Maggie works with 50 women/girls who become experts at sewing, singing, plaiting hats and reading.
They expound the Scriptures
They administer to the sick
Send out natives to preach the gospel
After years of deprivation, danger from the natives and disease and patient ministry the entire island of Aniwa professed Christianity.
( Read ‘Return to the New Hebrides’)

1899 Aniiwa N.T. printed & 25/30 islands have missionaries