[1] After marrying his second wife Betsy Rose in 1836, they moved to France where their first two children were born.
Becoming chief constable at Akaroa, he put his eldest son out to work and the younger two children into care, but struggled to pay for this from his reduced wages.
Later that year the local police force was halved and Zillwood lost his job.
[1] After arranging his affairs, he shot himself in the mouth on Friday 13 October 1854 while on suicide watch and died of his wounds after several days of suffering.
[2] His body was buried at night without funeral rites after an inquest found him guilty of felo de se.