When Pete Darrell got married in St. George’s he was surrounded by scores of his smiling relatives — most of whom he’d met for the first time just a few days before.

The New Zealander travelled more than 9,000 miles from his home in Christchurch for a reunion of descendants of Pilot James (Jemmy) Darrell — and got hitched to fiancée Jan Carter at the former home of his famous ancestor.

“This is so spiritual to me because of the connection with my forebear,” he told The Royal Gazette after the ceremony. “We couldn’t have done this back in New Zealand. It was more than we could have hoped for.”

His new bride added: “That was so emotional. I kept thinking: ‘Look where we are standing’. For Pete, this is amazing. All these lovely people have been so wonderful and so generous.”

The remarkable nuptials took place on Saturday afternoon after a service at St. Peter’s Church commemorating the life of the freed slave and acclaimed mariner 194 years after his death.

Three wreaths were placed against Pilot Darrell’s restored gravestone — discovered lying in the dirt in the graveyard four years ago — after his descendants heard about the achievements of a man described by the Reverend Erskine Simmons as “an icon of national and nautical pride”.

Mr. Darrell, proudly clad in pink Bermuda shorts, a navy blazer and matching knee-high socks, exchanged vows with his bride shortly after 6.15 p.m. outside the house in Aunt Peggy’s Lane where Pilot Darrell once lived and which now houses the Ramirez family, also descendants.

Members of the Kiwi’s new found Bermudian family organised the ceremony and even recruited a cousin to marry the couple: the Reverend Michael Barclay.

The garden of Pilot Darrell’s house was turned into the perfect setting for the union — with the couple facing one another under an archway strewn with flowers as a palm tree rustled in the breeze overhead.

There was laughter as the 53-year-old groom emphatically stated “I sure will” when asked if he promised to love and cherish his bride, also dressed in pink. The pair kissed as local relative Kenneth Todd sang the Frank Sinatra classic Summer Wind.

Earlier, the afternoon’s events began with the marching of the St. George’s Salvation Army Corps Band, the TS Admiral Somers Sea Cadets and the Bermuda Branch Pilots from Ordnance Island through the old town to the church.

They were joined by members of the Darrell family — more than 50 from overseas — and the Friends of St. Peter’s at Pilot Darrell’s grave, above which a red and white pilot’s flag was unfurled.

Those gathered heard how he skillfully and safely navigated HMS Resolution, the flagship of British Rear Admiral George Murray, through the reefs to Murray’s Anchorage in 1795, winning his freedom and the title of King’s Pilot.

He later campaigned for better pay for pilots and for blacks to have the right to leave their property to their families.

After the service, many of the family went out on a ferry to cast a biodegradable wreath into the sea at Murray’s Anchorage, tracing the course Pilot Darrell would have taken.

Those remaining on land attended the wedding; a reception was held afterwards at another cousin’s home — lawyer Liz Christopher — a few doors away.

The groom told this newspaper he became interested in his family tree a few years ago and found out about the Bermuda connection via the Internet from fellow New Zealander Bill Grant, his second cousin, whom he met for the first time on the Island last week.

Their great-grandfather Edward, the great-grandson of Pilot Darrell, was a sailor who left Bermuda for Tasmania in the 19th century.

“There is only about 12 families in New Zealand that carry the Darrell name and we are all related,” said Pete Darrell, adding that his father always insisted he was descended from blacks and Mr. Grant’s research confirmed the fact.

“My brother and father are dark-skinned,” said Mr. Darrell, who works for a stopping violence clinical programme in Christchurch and has three stepchildren from a previous marriage. “I just got the light bit.”

He and his new wife, both grandparents, have been together for eight years and engaged for five.

They originally planned to marry quietly at home but mother-of-two Mrs. Darrell, 55, said: “We were invited to have the wedding here as part of the reunion.

“The sad thing is that our New Zealand family aren’t here. We are just going to send the picture and say we have got married and we’ll do something when we get back.”

She said they arrived at the airport to a rousing reception from the Bermudian Darrells. “It was so fantastic.”