The marriage registration for William Turner in 1882 says that he was born in San Francisco, son of George Turner, master mariner and Margaret Walker.   In March 1882, William was 32, making his birth about 1849, the time of the Californian gold rush.

Christina Muirhead (later Turner) was born in Glasgow in 1838.   On 21 August 1854, she married Nicholas Gemming at Eagle Hawk, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.   She gave her parents' names as George Turner, mariner, and Margaret Walker (George was her step father).   Christina and Nicholas had one son and moved to Thames, New Zealand.   They kept in touch with the Turner family in early years.

George and Margaret Turner lived in the vicinity of Wellesley Street, Auckland.   George was the master of various small ships trading in the Hauraki Gulf.   Two ships were "Wairoa" and "William".   He died at Hokitika on 25 March 1876.

George and Margaret had four sons:
William Turner, born about 1849 at San Francisco, died 9 Nov 1925 at Auckland.
A son, name not known, born before or after William.   Living in 1884.
David Turner, born 15 Aug 1853 at Auckland, died 11 July 1854 in Victoria, Australia.
John Turner, born 28 Aug 1855 at Auckland, died 20 Oct 1927 at Waihi Beach. (see below)

John Turner served an apprenticeship with the Auckland "Southern Cross" newspaper.   He then held positions in Greymouth, Napier and Wellington before returning to Auckland to the position of foreman of the "Observer".   He became editor of the Waihi Daily Telegraph in 1901, retired in 1922 and died in 1927.

John Turner married twice.   His first marriage was to Margaret Laurie. They had five children:

John Laurie Turner, born 7 October 1879 at Waikumete, married Fanny Claudia Waymouth, 5 children.
Elizabeth Gertrude Turner, born 13 June 1881 at Newton, married Harry Arnold Robertson, 7 children.
Arthur Robert Turner, born 12 February 1883 at Newton, married Martha Smith, 2 sons.
William Allison Turner, born 23 February 1886 at Newton, married Edith Cunliffe, 4 children.
James Shaw Laurie, born 7 April 1888 at Newton, married Gertrude Everson, 2 children.

Margaret Turner (nee Laurie) died on 9 October 1893 at Ponsonby aged 34 years.
John Turner married secondly, Rhoda Bull (nee Lloyd) and they had two children:

Mervyn Blatchford Turner, born 22 January 1905 at Waihi, married Joyce Rose Howes, 3 children.
Freda Ellen Turner, born 19 January 1909 at Waihi, married William Thomas Hodge Symons, no children.