NZSG Franklin: Suffrage 125 Vol1 2018 original

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4025 Surname: EVANS
Given names: Charlotte Address: Awitu
Occupation: household duties Qualification: residential

Charlotte was born on 28 May 1869 to Thomas WILLS and Drusilla WREFORD in Onehunga,
Auckland. She was the third child and first daughter in a family of nine children.

Charlotte married David Hugh EVANS on 27 June 1887 in
Onehunga and they had four children, William George
b.1888, Thomas David Hugh b.1892, Mabel Harriet
b.1890 and Henry Samuel b.1894.

They lived at Grahams Beach. The house was just along
from the bank, next to the guest house. A lovely place to
relax and enjoy life.

There also was Evans land farmed at Pollok corner.
However, David worked as a gumdigger during their
early marriage which would have been difficult on family
and finances.

By the late 1890’s gum was becoming harder to find and Charlotte, David and their family headed to
Auckland and set up home in Onehunga. From there David gained work as a fisherman, then fishing
was gradually replaced by becoming a mariner, seaman, mate and then Master Mariner. Certainly
making life a little easier on Charlotte.

But Charlotte was not to stay idle. By 1919 she was operating the “Tram Terminus Boarding House”
in Queen Street, Onehunga. By 1928 she had taken a smaller “Tea Kiosk” but still in Onehunga.

Charlotte and David would visit their son William who now lived at their old home at Grahams
Beach. William had followed in his father’s footsteps and become a fisherman with his own boat
“Alma”.

By 1946 Charlotte and David had moved to 111 Symonds Street, Auckland and they remained there
until their deaths.

Charlotte passed away on 14 April 1951 aged 83. David
passed away a few years later on 19 May 1954 aged 88.
They are buried together in Waikaraka Cemetery.

Charlotte and David’s son, William George, and his wife
Ruth, retired to live in 111 Symonds Street.

Sources: (Photo – ashleyrosemary)
FindAGrave
NZ BDM Historical Records
Ancestral File www.familysearch.org
Family Records – Terry Evans

Researcher: Penny Prescott and Lois Hopping

Electoral Roll: Waipa 3169 Surname: EVANS
Given names: Harriet
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Bombay

Qualification: residential

My great grandmother Harriet EVANS– nee PRIOR, was
born in 1844 (GRO birth reference, Vol 7 Page 456, Midhurst, West
Sussex) and christened on 3 March 1844 in Harting, Sussex.
She was the daughter of John Prior an agricultural
labourer and Sarah PORTER, who were married in 1829
and had one brother and five sisters.

Harriet at the age of 23 years, married Henry Evans aged
30 years, in the Register Office in Portsea Island,
Southampton, England on 18 December 1862.

Her residence at the time of her marriage was Green
Road, Southsea.

Harriet, her husband Henry and their infant son, Harry, departed London on the ship Bombay on 26
November 1864 and arrived in New Zealand on 18 March 1865.

The ‘Bombay’

The couple had a total of seven children: Harry, James,
John, Harriet (my grandmother) Sarah, Julia and Arthur.

Henry died 22 June 1893 and Harriet died on 28
November 1899, in Bombay. They are buried in St
Peters of the Forest Cemetery, Bombay.

Submitted by great granddaughter, Lorraine Cox

Electoral Roll: Waipa 3172 Surname: EVANS
Given names: Margaret E
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Razorback

Qualification: residential

Margaret E (Ellen) EVANS or PENRHYS-EVANS nee CLOW was born at Papatoetoe on 11 July 1862 to
Malcom and Mary Clow. Malcom arrived in New Zealand from Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland in 1842
aged 23 and married Mary in 1847 they farmed in the Clendon area between Manurewa and Puhinui
Road.

Margaret married William Horace Penrhys-Evans 7 January 1885 at Otahuhu and settled into family
life at Razorback raising seven children between 1885 and 1892.

William and presumably Margaret attended St Peters in the Forest Church, William acting for a time
as Vicar’s warden in the absence of Mr Litt.

Not a lot can be found about
Margaret, with household duties and
seven children to look after she
wouldn’t have had a lot of spare
time, but she did have a rose garden,
one she must have had tremendous
pride in, as in 1912, at the second
Ramarama flower show, Margaret
won 1st prize for her 12 varieties of
cut roses.

Margaret died on 16 December 1923 at Auckland and is
buried at St Peters in the Forest at Bombay.

William followed her in November 1926.

Inscription reads:

Erected to the memory of M.E. PENRHYS-EVANS died 16th Dec
1923 aged 61 years also W.H. PENRHYS-EVANS died Nov 20th
1926 aged 74 years. Peace perfect peace

Sources:
Paper Past. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
Auckland Libraries – My Heritage, Overington Family Tree
NZSG Franklin Branch Cemetery Records.
Researcher: Mary Mercer

Electoral Roll: Waipa 3668 Surname: EVANS
Given names: Margaret jnr
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Bombay

Qualification: residential

Born on 11 Jun 1866 in Bombay, New Zealand, Margaret EVANS
was the fourth daughter, but first New Zealand-born child, of
Bombay passengers and settlers William and Ann BUTTIMORE
(nee LATHAM).

Margaret was christened in Ramarama on 1 August 1866.

She attended the school run by Mrs HAZARD and then later the
Bombay School during the time the family lived on their 10-acre
grant on the eastern outskirts of Bombay. They moved to their
Paparata property in the early 1880s.

After she left school Margaret worked for the FARRAR family and
was active in the life of Paparata Church and the Band of Hope.

On 30 October 1893 Margaret married James Evans (1866-1946),
Bombay storekeeper and postmaster, whose parents William and Emma Evans had travelled to NZ
soon after James’ uncles Henry and James Evans had arrived on the Bombay.

The four Evans daughters, May, Edith, Fanny and Emily received most of their primary education at
Paparata School, but in about 1912 James sold the store and the family moved to Auckland so their
daughters could attend grammar school. They lived in King Edward Street and James worked in
Hutchensons’ Grocery Store in Newmarket.

Margaret died on 21 March 1951 aged 84, and was buried in Hillsborough cemetery, Auckland.

Source:
Clark, Jennifer: Ancestors and Descendants of James and Elizabeth Evans (nee Elliott); 2008.

Researcher: Nola Smith

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4026 Surname: EVANS
Given names: Mary Ann Address: Awitu
Occupation: domestic duties Qualification: residential

Mary Ann was born on 13 December 1865 to Richard
CARR and Annie BRYAN at Papakura, Auckland. She was
the second of thirteen children and the eldest daughter.

Mary married William James (Jimmy) EVANS on 19
December 1883 at Papakura. James was born on 26 June
1862 to Hugh Evans and Anne GRAHAM, and had an elder
sister, Margaret Graham (1859).

Mary and James had nine children Stella Maria, (1884),
David Hugh (1885) Marion Graham (1887) Richard
Frederick (1888), Earle Owen, (1890), William Harold
(1892), James Gerald (1892), Dorothy Edith Grace (1898)

Mona Alice (1900).

Mary and James started married life at Awhitu with James working as a labourer and then as a
carpenter. In the late 1890’s early 1900’s the family moved to Auckland where James became
involved with the vessel Pono as a marine fireman.

Mary made the family home in Mangere Bridge and with James away at sea for periods, family life
was all her responsibility. James earned promotion to marine engineer, which would have improved
the family’s finances but was still away from family life and Mary.

As the children grew up several of them shared their father’s love of the sea and made it their career
but initially they used mum’s home at Mangere Bridge as their base. Whether the girls got fully
involved with the sea or not is unknown however James had a boat – The Pilot – that they may have
enjoyed at the weekends or when he was off duty.

Mary’s family eventually set up homes of their own, except for Mona. She lived with her parents
and when they passed away she continued to live in the family home in Woodward Avenue,
Mangere Bridge.

James passed away on 3 September 1944 at home. A Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Church
of the Assumption, Onehunga before he was laid to rest at Waikaraka Cemetery.

Mary also passed away at her home, on 15 April 1948, and was buried with James (Plot: Area 2 Block
Q Lot No 110B) at Waikaraka Cemetery.

Sources:
PapersPast – DEATHS Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 209, 4 September 1944
Ancestral File www.familysearch.org (Photo – ashleyrosemary)
International Genealogical Index (IGI)," database, FamilySearch
New Zealand Civil Record Indexes 1800-1896
Family Records – Terry Evans

Researcher: Penny Prescott and Lois Hopping

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0885 Surname: FAUSETT
Given names: Francis*
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe West

Qualification: residential

Frances* was the daughter of Sarah FAUSETT, no. 0882 on the Franklin Electoral Roll.

Frances FAUSETT was born on 5 July 1868 in Pukekohe, the 3rd of 15
children to John and Sarah (nee CRANSTON) Fausett.

Frances was known as Fanny and never married. As a young woman she
spent some time working as a cook at ‘Benjamins’ in Symonds Street.
Upon returning to Pukekohe she built a house in Edinburgh Street. She
lived there with her sister Mary Ann, and together they ran it as
boarding house.

Right: The boarding house in
Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe which
Frances built and remains to this

day.

Fanny died on 5 July 1959 – on her 91st birthday - and is buried
in Pukekohe Cemetery in the same plot as her parents.

NB. Frances’ name is mis-spelled on the Electoral Roll.

Contributor: John Duncan / Ron Fausett from family information
Compiled: Sheryn Hull
New Zealand Society of Genealogists #27060

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0881 Surname: FAUSETT
Given names: Isabella
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe West

Qualification: residential

Isabella was the daughter-in-law of Sarah FAUSETT, no. 0882 on the Franklin Electoral Roll.

Isabella FAUSETT (nee CRAIG) was born on 25 September 1868
in Pokeno to parents Alexander and Isabella (nee WILSON) Craig.

Isabella married Arthur Fausett (eldest son of John and Sarah
Fausett) in 1893.

They farmed in Pukekohe until around 1904, and then farmed in
Ngaruawahia. In 1899, Arthur lost his lower left arm in a timber
milling accident in Puni, but this did not deter him from taking
up sawmilling in Puru after World War I.

They had eight children: Vera, Edith, Elsie, Agnes, Arthur,
Gordon, William, and Iris.

Isabella died in Thames in 1937 and is buried in Totara Memorial
Park along with Arthur who died in 1947.

Above: A diagram of how the 5 Fausett women on the 1893 Electoral Roll are related.

Sources:
Fausett family records
Contributors: John Duncan / Ron Fausett
Compiled: Sheryn Hull
New Zealand Society of Genealogists #27060

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0884 Surname: FAUSETT
Given names: Mary Ann
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe West

Qualification: residential

Mary Ann was the daughter of Sarah FAUSETT, no. 0882 on the Franklin Electoral Roll.

Mary Ann FAUSETT was born on 17 January 1867 in Pukekohe,
the 2nd of 15 children to John and Sarah (nee CRANSTON) Fausett.

Mary Ann never married. She taught Sunday School throughout
the tenures of Reverends McFARLAND, DOBSON, and COWIE,
walking the dirt road to church and back, which was muddy in the
winter and dusty in the summer. She lived for a number of years
with her sister Fanny in Edinburgh St, Pukekohe. They ran a
boarding house there. She died on 2 April 1954, aged 87, and is
buried in Pukekohe cemetery in the same plot as her parents.

Contributor: John Duncan / Ron Fausett from family
information.

Compiled: Sheryn Hull
New Zealand Society of Genealogists #27060

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0882 Surname: FAUSETT
Given names: Sarah
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe West

Qualification: residential

Sarah FAUSETT (nee CRANSTON) was born in 1847 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. Her
parents were John and Anne (nee KENNEDY) Cranston.

Sarah married John Fausett on 18 August 1864 at the Registrar’s Office in
Enniskillen. Less than three months later, on 4 November 1864 they set
sail on the Ganges for Auckland, New Zealand arriving on 14 February
1865.

The first residence for Sarah and John in New Zealand was at Queen’s
Redoubt in Pokeno, and their eldest son Arthur was born there on 18 June
1865 – four months after they landed.

They then moved to Pukekohe, originally to a grant of 10 acres where
Bledisloe Park is now sited. John bought out his brother-in-law Arthur
Cranston’s grant (he having also travelled out on the Ganges) which was
approximately where Pukekohe High School now stands. In 1877 the twenty acres were sold to Mr
GODKIN, the local publican, and the family moved to a farm on the side of Pukekohe Hill, roughly
where Puni Football Club is now, which (with further acquisitions) became a 90-acre farm producing
milk, beef, pigs and crops.

While living on the Bledisloe Park lot, Sarah and John had a further six children (three girls, three boys),
and then a further eight (four girls, four boys) while living on Pukekohe Hill. The sons developed a
number of businesses in addition to assisting on the farm. In all there were 15 children: Arthur, Mary
Ann, Frances (Fanny), Richard, Sarah, John, William Henry, Jane, Phoebe, James, Elizabeth, David,
Joseph, George Edwin and Emily.

John died on 5 March 1903, and Sarah on 20 February 1910. They are buried side by side in Pukekohe
Cemetery, and their unmarried daughters Mary and Frances are also buried in this plot.

This photo – from sometime in
1946-48 (none of David, Jane or
Sarah, who all died in 1946, are
there, but John, who died in
1948, is), is of the then
surviving children:
Back: Arthur, John, James,
Joseph, George Edwin
Front: Emily, Phoebe, Mary,
Frances, Elizabeth.

Contributor: John Duncan
(great grandson) from
family knowledge

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0883 Surname: FAUSETT
Given names: Sarah
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe West

Qualification: residential

Sarah was the daughter of Sarah FAUSETT, no.0882 on the Franklin Electoral Roll.

Sarah’s signature from signing her
mother’s probate

Sarah Fausett was born on 26 December 1871 in Pukekohe, the 5th of 15 children to parents John
and Sarah (nee CRANSTON) Fausett.

Sarah married John BLAKE on 24 December 1901 in Pukekohe. John was working as an engineer in
Pukekohe, before taking up farming after World War I.

They had three children: Phyllis Elaine Fausett in 1903, Vera Williamson in 1905 and Irvine John in
1910.

Sarah died in 1946 and is buried in Pukekohe Cemetery. John died in 1955 and was cremated at
Waikumete.

Contributors: John Duncan / Ron Fausett from family information

Compiled: Sheryn Hull
New Zealand Society of Genealogists #27060

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0895 Surname: FERGIE
Given names: Alice
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Pukekohe

Qualification: residential

Alice CRAIG was the daughter of James Craig. She was born about 1830, probably at Newtownards,
Co. Down, Northern Ireland.

Samuel FERGIE married Alice Craig on 20 April 1864 at Donaghdee, County Down, Ireland. Samuel
was born in 1832.

Samuel and Alice Fergie arrived in Auckland on the Glendevon on 1 October 1864.

In 1880 Samuel was the treasurer of the Tuakau Presbyterian Church where Rev NORRIE was the
Minister and Mrs Fergie was also involved with the women's groups.

In 1884 Samuel Fergie, a storekeeper, was adjudged bankrupt.

Samuel and Alice had no children.

Alice is buried in Pukekohe Cemetery.

The inscription reads:
In loving memory of Alice dearly beloved wife of
Samuel FERGIE died 9th June 1905 aged 75 years.
I know that my redeemer liveth.

After Alice's death Samuel sailed from Wellington
in 1906 and arrived in London in April 1906. In
1911 Samuel was living with his 80 year old sister
at Moat Street, Donaghadee, Ireland. He died in
Newtownards, Ireland in 1919.

Sources:

Old newspapers – paperspast.natlib.govt.nz;
Cemetery records & headstone photo – Franklin
Branch NZSG

Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0897 Surname: FERGUSON
Given names: Elizabeth
Occupation: household duties Address: Pukekohe East

Qualification: residential

In a motion for Probate signed by Elizabeth’s Both Elizabeth and Samuel were buried at the
two sons after her death, the signatories Bombay Presbyterian Cemetery.
confirmed their mother was born in Scotland
on 13 November 1856 and was and always had
been a British Subject. The sons also confirmed
that they were both born in New Zealand.
They each confirmed their date of birth:
Samuel Andrew FERGUSON was born on 21
January 1878, and John Henry Ferguson was
born on 13 September 1879. Elizabeth’s
husband Samuel Ferguson snr was from
Stirling, Scotland, born about 1838.

Elizabeth’s signature from her will, signed
23 March 1922:

Both of Elizabeth’s sons were farming, Samuel In Loving Memory of
Andrew at Motumaoho near Morrinsville, and Samuel
John Henry at Wiri. On the 1893 Electoral Roll
Samuel Ferguson snr also gave his occupation Beloved husband of
as farmer while Elizabeth‘s occupation was Elizabeth Ferguson
‘household duties’. At that time Elizabeth and Died Nov 7th 1907
Samuel were the only Fergusons living at
Pukekohe East although there were a number Aged 69 years
of other Fergusons in Franklin. “Not dead but sleepeth”

The New Zealand Herald of 9 November 1907 Also his wife
brought the sad news of Samuel’s passing: Elizabeth Ferguson
Departed this life
Then almost 15 years later Elizabeth died, as October 23rd 1922 aged 66
reported in the New Zealand Herald of 25
October 1922:

Sources: Papers Past, NZ Historical bdm, Archives
NZ, Cemetery Records.
Collated by Christine Madsen and Lynda Muir

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3478 Surname: FERGUSON
Given names: Jessie
Occupation: household duties Address: Rama Rama

Qualification: residential

Jessie FERGUSON was born Janet ELPHINSTONE, the daughter of Adam Elphinstone and Janet ELDER
on 20 August 1855 in Edinkillie, Moray Scotland. While many documents have Janet, she was known
as Jessie and appeared on the early electoral rolls and on her son Adam’s enlistment papers with this
name. From 1919 until her death she appeared as Janet on electoral rolls.

She came to NZ in the sailing ship Dunedin, listed as a servant on the passenger list. She married
Walter Ferguson on 7 Dec 1879. After farming at Ramarama for 20 years the Ferguson family shifted
to Eltham where a home was carved out of virgin bush. After six years of pioneering farming work
with his father Thomas Watson Ferguson, in 1902, Walter and Jessie purchased land at Te Aroha

West and moved with their family of three sons and
three daughters.

Their youngest son Adam George Elphinstone Ferguson
was killed in action in France in 1918 and the eldest son
Thomas David Ferguson died in 1907, aged 27.

Jessie and Walter retired from an active farming life in
1918 when they moved to Herriesville, Te Aroha and
their son Mather took over the property.

Jessie and Walter were very active in church work at St
David’s, Te Aroha.

Walter died in 1935 aged 75 and Jessie died on 14 March
1938. They are both buried in the Te Aroha cemetery.

Sources:
A Family Tree – www.ancestry.co.uk
Bdm – www.dia.govt.nz
Probate & military records - archway.archives.govt.nz
Old newspapers – paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

Researcher: Heather Maloney

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3477 Surname: FERGUSSON
Given names: Isabella
Occupation: storekeeper Address: Kohekohe

Qualification: residential

My ancestor Isabella FERGUSON was born in
Ballylouch, Bunbridge Ireland on 21 Aug 1842. She was
the eldest child of her parents James and Ann Ferguson
who had linen mills in Ireland and I believe Germany.
Two sons went to live in USA and one young daughter
died before they left for New Zealand. I can’t seem to
track the boat they sailed on but they arrived with four
of their children:

• Isabella born 1845, she never married.
• Mary born 1845, who married John DICKEY, who
was born in Ulster but settled in Kohekohe.
• Margaretta born 1848, who married Alexander
WATSON, born in England about 1844, who was my
great grandfather.
• Robert born 1857.

They settled on 35 acres at Kohekohe and also had a
grocery shop that Isabella ran. Unfortunately, Ann, her
mother, died in 1870 aged only 50, and her father James followed in 1881 aged 67. Some tragedy
must have occurred as Robert died in 1887 aged only 30. These are all old graves in Waiuku
cemetery.

The property was advertised for auction. I have a copy of the sales notice but no date but we think
about 1885. I do not know what Isabella did after the shop was sold but it appears she died in
Auckland on May 18 1902 aged 59 at Nurse McDonald’s Home, Dedwood Terrace, Ponsonby and
was buried next to her parents in the Waiuku Cemetery.

Sources:
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME XXXIX, ISSUE 11985, 6 JUNE 1902, SUPPLEMENT
Family knowledge

Researcher: Joan Ferguson, great niece

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0905 Surname: FERGY
Given names: Margaret
Occupation: household duties Address: Tuakau

Qualification: residential

Margaret FERGY lived in Tuakau for nearly 30 years. She came to New Zealand with her husband,
James Fergy, who was a colour-sergeant in the Royal Southdown Militia in Ireland. It is likely they
married in Ireland in 1857 when Margaret was 22. Her father was possibly William MERCER.

They had one child, George, who attended Tuakau School in 1879 and became a flaxmiller. He was
born in 1868, possibly in Ireland as there are no birth records for him in New Zealand. He later
moved to Ohinewai and then Papatoetoe.

James bought land in Tuakau and Onewhero, and served on the Tuakau school committee in 1882.

Little is known about Margaret, but a notice
of her death which appeared in the New
Zealand Herald said ‘Mrs Fergy will be much
missed by the young people, with whom she
was a great favourite, and more so by those in
any trouble or sickness, as her assistance and
sympathy in such cases were unfailing’.

Margaret died on 14 August 1896, aged about
60, while her husband lived until 1911, aged
77. She was not there when her son George
married Isabella CRAIG from Waiuku in 1899.
She never met any of her five granddaughters,
only two of whom survived infancy. One,
Margaret Evilyn, married George Overton
KIMPTON, and the other, Florence Mabel,
married George CAMPBELL.

She was buried close to the Redoubt. Her
husband James left money in his will for
headstones for them both at Tuakau
cemetery, but there are no records of either
being interred there.

Sources:

Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
Births Deaths and Marriages https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org

Researcher: Joan Leitch

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3482 Surname: FINLAY
Given names: Agnes
Occupation: housekeeper Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Agnes was born about 1829. She married James FINLAY, who was born about 1823. They were
members of the Presbyterian church of Mauku.

Agnes died on 15 September 1915, aged 86, her husband having predeceased her on 19 February
1898, aged 75. They were both buried at the Paddock cemetery in Mauku.

Sources:
Franklin Cemetery Transcriptions
Researcher: Barbara Raven

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0922 Surname: FINLAY
Given names Catherine
Occupation: domestic duties Address: West Mauku

Qualification: residential

Born in Scotland about 1816, Catherine McCRIMMON married Thomas FINLAY in Glasgow, just
before immigrating to New Zealand. They made this long journey aboard the Duchess of Argyll in
1842 as part of the first planned shipment of free migrants to Auckland. Arriving in Auckland
Harbour, the passengers disembarked via ships’ boats on Mechanics Bay and due to the low tide had
to wade ashore carrying their possessions through the mud and water to land. They were then
crowded into 30 raupo huts along with passengers off the Jane Gifford which arrived the same day.

Luckily, her husband was an experienced joiner and soon obtained employment as a foreman of a
party of immigrants employed on the construction of the stockade round the old gaol at the foot of
Victoria-Street, Auckland.

About 1844, Catherine went with her husband to begin farming at Remuera. Six years later they
settled at Maringi, near Panmure. In March 1862 they sold that 103 acre farm. In January 1865 they
bought a farm near Mauku. The 1875 Electoral Roll shows the Finlay family owning the Puni Farm
(Lot 11 - 80 acres). Over the years they survived many hardships to become well known dairy
farmers. They had three daughters: Mary (1843-1901 – married David HUTCHISON), Isabel (1846-
1932 – married Malcolm TAYLOR) and Jane (1847 – 1856).

They were very active in the Presbyterian Church that was originally built on Mauku Road and partly
financed by family members in Scotland.

In September 1894, when Thomas was in his 80th year, they decided to retire from farm life and
reside near Auckland, where they had relations.

Catherine passed away in her 76th year on 10 July 1896 at Mt Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland.
Her husband had passed away the previous year at Ponsonby, Auckland.

Sources:
Ancestry.com
Finlay Family Diary
Papers Past NZ.
NZ Electoral Roles

Researcher; Don Finlay – Saanichton, British Columbia, CANADA

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0921 Surname: FINLAY
Given names: Janet
Occupation: household duties Address: Cawgate, Mauku

Qualification: residential

Born in Barrhead, Renfrewshire Scotland about 1841, Janet BRITON was the daughter of James
Briton and Margaret PICKEN. She was the first of 5 children and had 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

She immigrated with her brother John on board the Royal Charlie arriving from London to Auckland
in 1862.

There she met and married James FINLAY on 15 February 1872 at the home of the Presbyterian
Minister. In 1861, James had purchased 135 acres adjacent to Mauku Road. This was to become
known as Mauku Farm and the original farmhouse is still in existence although totally modernized at
104 Mauku Road. The property included the land at the base of Mauku Falls. It was once a rock
quarry providing much of the hard metal for the roads leading to the local steel mill and is now the
site of “Wrights Water Gardens”.

They raised 6 children at this location – Jane (Jennie) 1873 – 1958 , Margaret 1875 – 1936, William
1877 – 1950, Elizabeth 1879 – 1960, Nettie 1881 – 1913 and James (Briton) 1884 – 1957.

The family were staunch Presbyterians and Janet’s father-in-law William in Scotland provided funds
in 1866 to help build a Presbyterian Church on Mauku Road (what is now #77). This Church also
housed the first school at Mauku.

The Finlays were also great sports enthusiasts. They built a cricket pitch on their property probably
between 94 and 98 Mauku Road. Sons William and Briton were well known local cricket players.
Daughter Elizabeth was the first President (1942) of the Patumahoe Croquet Club.

Findlay Road is named after this family although misspelled. The family gravesite is adjacent to this
road in the Mauku Cemetery and the tombstone inscription reads: “In loving memory of Janet Briton
Finlay Died 14th July 1922. James Finlay Died 1st July 1924. Their daughters Nettie Zelandia Died 9th
Feb 1913, Margaret Died 7th June 1936”.

Sources:
Patumahoe: History and Memories
Ancestry.com
Papers Past NZ
NZ Electoral Rolls
Finlay Family Diary
www.archway.archives.govt.nz
www.dia.govt.nz
Scottish Law Reporter

Researcher: Don Finlay, Saanichton, British Columbia, CANADA.

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0923 Surname: FINLAY
Given Name: Jemima
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Waiuku

Jemima Alice ALEXANDER was the eldest Qualification: residential
daughter and second child of Henry and Jane
Alexander. She was born on 24 December They married 3 September 1884 and lived in
1863 at the Otahuhu Redoubt while the family Waiuku for several years and the birth of the
were sheltering there from the Waikato Land first of their children. Tom opened his own
War which had only just begun. Their farm shop in Waiuku and then after a few years
was at Ramarama, beside the Great South moved the operation to Mauku where the
Road, and proved to be easy pickings for the competition was less.
troops passing by on their way south to
Pokeno. When the hostilities had ended, the The Mauku shop was sold in favour of a small
family found that their home had been well farm at Mt Albert, giving the family a foot into
and truly looted and took considerable effort the life of the growing city, while retaining the
to restore to decency. The farm and the country atmosphere.
kitchen garden were also in need of remedial
work before any produce could be expected. From the new home Tom set out each week
as a commercial traveller, while Jemima
In 1874 the farm was showing signs of stayed home to raise the children. They had
lowered fertility and the parents wanted to nine children in all (six boys and three girls),
adjust their living arrangement so as to be who attended their local town schools, and in
closer to relatives. Henry had a brother living due course also the secondary schools
on Taurangaruru Road, and Jane had her available. As each of the sons set out from
brother on his farm. They persuaded Robert home, he was given a rug in a Gladstone Bag.
CRAIG to sell them his section across the “Top
Road” and they could be within riding In Mt Albert, social life tended to be very
distance of both. A house was built and the structured, with days ‘at home’, the exchange
farm laid out and the family began to attend of calling cards, all based around monthly
the Waipipi School. Jane Craig, their mother, meetings for ‘Afternoon Tea’. For the family
is thought to have attended a Finishing School each Sunday brought forth scones with
in Edinburgh before they migrated to New clotted cream and jam. This was a treat from
Zealand and when the girls had finished with the milk of the farm, which was simmered
the Waipipi School, mother was able to teach over the stove for the cream to rise in clots to
them their airs and graces in expert fashion. be skimmed off.

Jemima was always known among the friends Tottie died on 4 July 1924 having set her
and members of the family as “Tottie”. children on their way in style. She was buried
at Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.
Part of growing up at the time was
appropriate horse riding, and for young ladies Thomas died on 24 March 1929 aged 69
that meant riding side-saddle, including the years.
taking of fences, so as to be able to follow the
Hunt! Source: family records and information
Researcher: Clyde Hamilton
Social life took them to Awhitu, Waiuku,
possibly as far as Patumahoe, probably under
the guise and discipline of Church Soirees!
Somehow she met Thomas FINLAY, then
working in the FLEXMAN Store in Waiuku.

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3483 Surname: FINLAY
Given names: Martha
Occupation: housekeeper Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Martha CROCKER, daughter of Benjamin Crocker, bootmaker, Queen St, Auckland and Martha
YATES, was born on 30 January 1870 in New Zealand.

On 15 March 1893 Martha married Francis Parker FINLAY (1861 – 1946). They had 4 children:

• Hazel Olive (b1894)
• Charles Francis (b1896)
• Benjamin Osborne (b1892-1962)
• James Cecil (b1900)

From 1890 until 1905 the couple farmed at Mauku. By 1914 they were farming at Ness Valley,
Clevedon.

Martha died on 30 September 1947, aged 78 and is buried at Purewa cemetery with Francis.

Sources:

BDM-dia.govt.nz Ancestry.co.uk NZ Electoral Rolls

Researcher: Barbara Raven

Electoral Roll: Waipa 0810 Surname: FITNESS
Given names: Jane
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Razorback

Qualification: residential

Jane, or Jean as she was sometimes called, was born in Glasgow Scotland,
4 November 1861 youngest daughter of Thomas and Margaret BOYD.
The family arrived in Auckland New Zealand on the ‘Green Jacket’ in
December 1863.

Jane/Jean married Robert FITNESS in 1880 and together they raised a
family of six children, James, Thomas, Stanley, Gordon, Ruby and Ethel.
In October 1930 Jane celebrated 50 years of marriage, the event being
reported in several newspapers

Jane/Jean saw the Franklin District converted from its natural bush state
into one of the most fertile and prosperous areas in New Zealand. At the
time of her Golden Wedding celebrations she recalled many incidences
of the early settlement, in particular the time when settlers had to walk to Drury for their provisions
and return with them on their shoulders.

Jane/Jean died at Tuakau and was buried
in Pukekohe on 21th March 1946

Her headstone inscription reads:

In loving memory of Robert loved husband
of Jean Fitness died 5th Aug 1941 aged 81
years. Thy will be done.
In loving memory of Jean dearly loved wife
of Robert Fitness died March 20th 1946
aged 84 years. Peace Perfect Peace
Cemetery reference, Pkprs-H-054.

Sources:
Photograph: www.Geni.com
www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
https://www.familysearch.org
Franklin branch NZSG-Cemetery Records
Researcher: Mary Mercer.

Electoral Roll: Waipa 0811 Surname: FITNESS
Given names: Norah
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Razorback

Qualification: residential

Norah BRENON/BRENNAN was born in Auckland in 1858 to Honora CULLIENEY and Joseph Brennan.
She married William FITNESS of Razorback on 2 Oct 1877. The marriage took place at Ramarama.

Between 1878 and 1902 Norah raised a family of 13 at Razorback.

Auckland Star 16 Nov 1909

Norah is buried in the Pokeno Old Soldiers
Cemetery, Helenslee Rd, Pokeno.
She was aged 51 years.

Sources.

Cemetery information: https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz
Papers Past. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
NZBDM: https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
Familysearch.org
MyHeritage: https://www.myheritage.com
Researcher: Mary Mercer

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4031 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Elizabeth Address: Waiuku
Occupation: household duties Qualification: residential

Elizabeth DOWNES was born on January 1856 in Whangaroa, Northland and was the daughter of
George Downes and Hinekahurangi MAEWA.

George was born in Birmingham, and with his brother William were deported to Australia on ‘The
Morley’. They were eventually granted their freedom and George came on to New Zealand and
settled in Whangaroa. He went into partnership with Henry SNOWDEN, a venture that lasted for
nine years. George married Hinekahurangi when he was 63 and she was 27. When Mr Snowden
passed away George inherited the Donkeys Nest hotel. George died on the premises in 1881 aged
81 years.

Elizabeth married John Robert SNOWDEN on 15 August 1871 at Whangaroa, with the full consent of
her parents. They had known each other since childhood and had been engaged for some months.
They were married by the Ven. Archdeacon CLARKE, at the church of Waipaipai according to the
rites of the Church of England. However, a few days later she left this marriage and lived with and
eventually married James FLAVELL. James was the son of Thomas Flavell and Reta Kino URUROA and
brother of William who was married to Elizabeth’s sister Mary.

Elizabeth and James were married in 1882 at the Whangaroa
Hotel. They had taken over the public house known as the Kaeo
Hotel which had been previously held by Elizabeth’s parents.
This same year their son William James passed away at a young
age.

It is noted in the Freeholders of New Zealand October 1882 that
James was a Publican/Whangaroa.

Elizabeth and James and their family came to live in Waiuku and
farm at Waipipi along with other Flavell families. In a newspaper
article of 1891 James is noted as an interpreter at the Waiuku
R.M. Court.

Elizabeth is on the first women’s Electoral Roll of 1893 and is on
the 1896 roll of Waiuku and 1905/1906 living in Waipipi Road,
however in 1908 she is on the Maori roll as belonging to the Waikato tribe, hapu Ngati-te-Ata and Te
Uriotawhaki with an address of Tahuna.

An oral history memory of Pani Flavell (who passed away at 103 years in recent years) of Elizabeth
and her sister Mary who was married to James’s brother William, were of lovely ladies dressed up,
riding their horses, talking in Maori, in not the local way, but in the way of Ngapuhi from the north.
Elizabeth passed away on 14 January 1927 in Waiuku aged 72 years, and is buried at Tahuna Marae
and James passed away 24 November 1934 aged 85 years.

Acknowledgements: Flavell oral history, George Flavell, Paperspast, Historical BDMs, My Heritage
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4030 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Ellen Address: Waiuku
Occupation: domestic duties Qualification: residential

Ellen SNOWDEN was born in April 1856 in Kaeo, Northland, the daughter of Henry John Davis
SNOWDEN and his wife Erana URUROA, a half-sister of Reta Kino Ururoa. Henry owned the
‘Donkeys Nest’ establishment before George DOWNES and also owned the schooner ‘Helen’. He had
owned a great deal of land over the years but much was confiscated due to supplying the ‘Rebel
natives’ with guns. Henry died aboard his schooner in May 1864 off the Poor Knights Islands. Ellen
was the sister of John Snowden the first husband of Elizabeth Downes FLAVELL.

Ellen married John Flavell, a son of Thomas and Reta Kino Ururoa in April 1971 in Mangonui,
Northland. John is noted on the Freeholders of New Zealand – October 1882 as a contractor of
Kaeo, and is in Wises Directory from 1880 to 1894-95 as a Settler of Kaeo and thereafter a Farmer of
Waipipi, Waiuku.

In 1867 John was sworn in at an inquest for the death of his brother Thomas Jnr who had struck his
foot while spitting wood, and was taken out of the bush by horse and boat but a few days later
rapidly got worse and passed away.

Brothers John and William Flavell and their families were
farewelled from Whangaroa to move to Waiuku as noted in
the NZ Herald of 10 October 1893.

Ellen is on the first women’s Electoral Roll of 1893 in
Franklin and the 1896 roll both showing Waiuku, and on
the 1905/06 roll her address is noted as Waipipi Road.
Ellen is on the 1908 Maori Roll as belonging to Waikato
tribe, Hapu Ngati-te-Ata and Te Uriotawhaki and address as
Tahuna.

John passed away on 29 July 1910 and his obituary states
that he was an old and respected settler of Waiuku and had
died suddenly. He had been working on his farm during
the day and appeared quite well. He retired to bed in the
evening and complained of pain in the heart and asked
Ellen for a warm bottle to be put at his feet, however he
passed away before this could be done. John is buried at

Tahuna Marae.

Ellen and John had a large family mostly born in Kaeo. However one of their younger sons, Robert
Henry was born in 1894 in Waiuku. Robert enlisted in 1916 and saw active service in WW1. He was
wounded in France in September 1918 and shortly after was awarded the Military Medal. He came
home safely.

Ellen had gone back to live in the North by this time and passed away on 6 October 1922 and was
buried the next day in Kaeo.

Acknowledgements: Flavell oral history, George Flavell, NZ Archives, Paperspast, MY Heritage
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4029 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Emma Address: Waiuku
Occupation: domestic duties Qualification: residential

Emma was born in Auckland to parents Thomas MATHESON and Elizabeth nee BOYED. Thomas was
a farmer.

Emma married Benjamin FLAVELL on 23 December 1885 at the Register office in Whangaroa,
Northland. Benjamin was a Bushman aged 24 years and Emma was 22, a Domestic and both of them
were living in Kaeo at the time of their marriage. Benjamin was the son of Thomas Flavell and Reta
Kina URUROA of Kaeo/Whangaroa.

There were 3 children with the first, Benjamin being adopted into another family.

Emma’s second son, Henry was born on 16 October 1886 at Whangaroa and is noted as a Bush feller
on his WW1 papers. He also stated he belonged to the Church of England. He died on 6 December
1917, of his wounds in the field and is buried in Polygon Field cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. He had only
embarked for the war in France a few months earlier in 1917. Henry was 31.

Emma and Benjamin’s daughter, Ivy Ellen known as Mona, was born in 1899 and passed away at
Auckland Hospital at the age of 26 years.

Emma and Benjamin lived in the Thames area and it is noted in the Auckland Star dated 20 October
1906 ‘The Goldfields’ that Benjamin Flavell had received a prospecting licence for 100 acres at
Karangahake.

Unfortunately, in 1908 Benjamin fell ill with a short and painful illness and passed away on May 25.
He is buried in the Pukemiro Lawn cemetery. His headstone states he was 47 years old.

Emma’s residence in 1917 was Karangahake, Hauraki, Waikato and she continued to live in the area
for some years. She eventually moved to Auckland and lived in Waterview, Avondale.

She passed away on 14 August 1950 aged 87 years and is buried in the Anglican division of
Waikumete Cemetery.

Acknowledgements:

Ancestry, Historical BDMs, Paperspast, NZ Archives
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4033 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Maggie Address: Waiuku
Occupation: household duties Qualification: residential

Margaret SHEEHAN, known as Maggie was born c1857 in County Kerry, Ireland and came to New
Zealand when she was 18 years old. Her father was Patrick and a contractor.

She married Henry FLAVELL on 13 February 1879 at Mangonui, Northland. Henry was the son of
Thomas Flavell and his wife Reta Kino URUROA. Margaret and Henry were both aged 21 and Henry
was a bushman.

Henry and Margaret had a large family with all the older ones born in the north in Kaeo, with a 3
further children born in Waiuku. The family were still Kaeo in 1891, however they had arrived to live

and farm in Waipipi, Waiuku by 1892.

Over the years there were various family
tragedies. Their young son Edward James at
just over 2 years old in 1886 was drowned in a
river tragedy at Kaeo, when his older brother
ran home and told his mother, who rushed to
the water and brought the lad unconscious to
shore, but it was too late.

Francis Leopold served in WW1 but was killed
in action on 14 November 1917 in Palestine
aged 27 years. He is buried in Ramleh War
Cemetery located in Israel.

Their daughter Ellen Nita (Ella) passed away in
1923 and her son William Leo Payne died in
Auckland Hospital in 1924 when he was only 3
years 9 months. Son Benjamin died in 1939.

Henry passed away in 1922 aged 65 years
while still living in Waipipi Road, Waipipi.

Henry and Margaret had been married for 43 years.

Margaret passed away on 19 December 1941 and is buried in Waiuku cemetery in a plot next to
Henry and some of her family who had preceded her.

Acknowledgements: Ancestry, Historical BDMs, Paperspast, Mr George Flavell
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4032 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Mary Address: Waiuku
Occupation: domestic duties Qualification: residential

Mary DOWNES was born c1859 in Whangaroa, Northland and was the daughter of George Downes
and Hinekahurangi MAEWA.

George was born in Birmingham and with his brother William were deported to Australia on ‘The
Morley’. They were eventually granted their freedom and George came onto New Zealand and
settled in Whangaroa. He went into partnership with Henry SNOWDEN, a venture that lasted nine
years. George married Hinekahurangi when he was 63 and she was 27. When Mr Snowden passed
away George inherited the ‘Donkeys Nest’ Hotel. It is noted that George DOWNES of Whangaroa

was granted an annual licence for 1870. George died on the
premises in 1881 aged 81 years.

Mary was 19 years old when she married William FLAVELL on 2
April 1878 at R. Snowden’s, Kaeo, Northland. William was the
son of Thomas Flavell and Reta Kino URUROA. William is noted
on the Freeholders of New Zealand October 1882 as a Contractor
of Whangaroa.

The first of Mary and William’s children were born in Kaeo,
although their daughter Cecelia (Tilla) was born in Dargaville in
1882, and the remaining family were born in Waiuku from 1887.
Noted in a New Zealand Herald article dated October 1893,
brothers John and William Flavell were farewelled from
Whangaroa as both families were moving to Waiuku. They had a

family of nine children, however their first child Emily Maud born
in 1878 passed away within a year. Their eldest son William
passed away in 1896 aged 11 years, their daughter Emily born in 1887 died in 1898 aged 11 years
and also this same year their youngest baby Howard passed away at a few weeks old. William, Emily
and Howard are buried together in Waiuku cemetery.

William and Mary’s daughter Louisa, also known as Erima and Maewa, played the piano, sang and
wrote poetry. She composed a number of well-known songs, including ‘Now is the Hour’. She was
married to Henare KAIHAU a Politician representing the Western Maori district in Parliament.

An oral history memory of Pani Flavell (who passed away at 103 years in recent years) of Mary and
her sister Elizabeth who was married to William’s brother James, were of lovely ladies dressed up,
riding horses, talking in Maori, not the local way, but in the way of Ngapuhi from the north.

William passed away on 1 March 1916 aged 59 years.

Mary is on the first womens’s Electoral roll of 1893 and is on the 1908 Maori roll as belonging to
Waikato tribe, Hapu: Ngati-te-Ata and Te Uriotawhaki with address as Tahuna. In the electoral roll
of 1919 she is noted as a Widow.

Mary passed away on the 22 January 1944 aged 86 years and is remembered as a dear Mother and
Grannie.

Acknowledgements: Flavell oral history, George Flavell, Paperspast, Ancestry, My Heritage, Family Search
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3488 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Matilda Sophie
Occupation: household duties Address: Waiuku

Qualification: residential

Matilda Frieda Sophia GURTLER was born in Altona, Hamburg, Germany c1850. Her parents were
Carl Gotlieb August Gurtler, machinist and Cecelia Marie Antoinette SIEBRECT.

She married William FLAVELL, a widower and farmer on 30 June 1885. William was 57 years and
Matilda aged 35, a spinster. They were married in the office of the Registrar of Marriages in
Auckland.

Matilda would have looked after William’s large family of young children, the youngest only a year
old when their mother Ellenor passed away in 1884 aged 45 years.

Matilda is noted as being on the Franklin Electoral Rolls for both 1896 and 1900.

Over the 16 years of their marriage there were no known children of their own. Two of William’s
children passed away, some of the family were happily married and 4 sons went to South Africa on
service.

William passed away 18 January 1901 at his residence ‘Pine Grove’, Waiuku aged 78 years and is
buried at Waiuku Cemetery alongside his first wife, Ellenor, and his son, Young. His 1 January 1901
Will states £500 is to be bequeathed to his wife Matilda Sophia Fredericka Flavell.

The executors reported that on or about the 5th day of March, Matilda left the colony and before
doing so applied to the trustees for an advance on account of her legacy which the trustees duly
made before having realised the estate. There were numerous interviews with her solicitor to
expedite the settlement of her affairs, both before and after her departure from the colony.

Acknowledgements: Ancestry, Paperspast, Historical BDMs
Research by: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0949 Surname: FLAVELL
Given names: Sarah Heron
Occupation: household duties Address: Waiuku

Qualification: residential

Sarah’s FULLERTON family emigrated from Ireland on the Dauntless arriving in Auckland in June
1865: David aged 39 years and Mary aged 35 years with their children Mary aged 13, Margaret aged
11, David aged 7 and Samuel aged 5. David was an agricultural labourer.

The family settled on land in Mauku, becoming pioneers of the district of Mauku and Patumahoe
with David fully participating and prominent in the district’s activities.

There were two more daughters born in the family, Annie Jane in the year they arrived (1865) and
Sarah Heron who was born in 1866 at Patumahoe.

While she was growing up she lived in Waiuku, Mauku and Titi.

Sarah married Thomas FLAVELL, a farmer of Waiuku when
they were both 24 years, on 22 December 1890 at Mauku.
Their marriage is noted in the list of Waiuku Parish
marriages as Presbyterian. Thomas was the son of William,
farmer of Waiuku and his late wife Ellenor who had passed
away in 1884 when Thomas was just 16.

Sarah’s sister Annie married Thomas’s brother Samuel in
1887 and her brother David married Thomas’s sister Annie in
1912.

In 1893, at the time of the electoral enrolment, Sarah was
27. Her father passed away in 1896 while Thomas and Sarah
were still farming in Waiuku, however in approximately 1898
they moved to Pukekohe, still farming. In the 1911 Electoral
Roll Thomas was a stockman and Sarah a married woman
and living in a large villa in Manukau Road, Pukekohe as Thomas was now working at the Pukekohe
saleyards, where the old Franklin District Council building presently stands (2018). By 1935 Thomas
was a stock agent.

Their children were Ethel May born in 1892, Violet Eliza born in 1894, and their son William Gordon
born in 1901.

Sarah passed away suddenly at their home in Manukau Road on 6 October 1936 aged 70 years. She
was survived by Thomas, her 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Sarah is buried in Pukekohe Cemetery and joined by Thomas who died on 12 June 1958.

Acknowledgements: Paperspast, Historical BDMs, Familysearch, Mrs Patsy Brewster
By: Gillian Conroy

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0962 Surname: FLEXMAN
Given names: Malinda
Occupation: storekeeper Address: Waiuku

Qualification: residential

Malinda FLEXMAN was born in Cornwall on 3 December 1843. She was the third daughter of
Captain James NINNIS (1809 – 1879) and Priscilla STEPHENS (1818 – 1905) the third child in a family
of seventeen.

She came to New Zealand with her parents and five siblings, leaving Falmouth, Cornwall on 27 July
1845 aboard the Agostina which arrived in Sydney, Australia on 3 December 1845. They then left
Sydney on 31 December 1845 on board the Isabella Anna to arrive in New Zealand 14 January 1846.

They lived in Mansion House on Kawau Island which was built for Captain James Ninnis a Cornish
mining engineer and his family. (Mansion House was later bought by Sir George Grey.) From about
1851 the family resided in Onehunga.

Malinda married Charles Ware Flexman at her father’s residence
Waitangi, Waiuku on 6 March 1863. They lived in Waiuku where
she raised six children (3 boys and 3 girls).

Malinda and Charles built the General Store in Waiuku on the
corner of Bowen Street and Queen Street, Waiuku. The building
still stands today and is known as the Flexman Building now
occupied by Ray White Real Estate (2018).

Malinda passed away on 4 April 1931 at the residence of her
daughter Mary Hannah KING in Takapuna, aged 87 years. She is
buried at the Waiuku Cemetery beside her husband Charles
Ware Flexman (1823 – 1916)

Malinda Flexman (1843 – 1931)

Sources:
Flexman Family History
www.familysearch.org
Paperpast
Findagrave
Photograph from Ninnis family photo circa: 1863

Researcher: Glenice Baird

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4034 Surname: FLEXMAN
Given names: Mary Hannah Address: Waiuku
Occupation: household duties Qualification: residential

Mary Hannah FLEXMAN was born 13 June 1864, in Waiuku, to Charles Ware Flexman and Malinda
NINNIS and was known as Mollie. She was the eldest of six children (three girls and three boys).
The Flexmans were a family well established in the community, both business-wise and socially.
Mary’s parents were responsible for the building of the Flexman Building which still exists in Waiuku.

Mary met William Joseph KING and they were married on 6 January 1903 at St Stephen’s Church,
Ponsonby, by Rev. T. F. ROBERTSON.

William’s family were very early settlers and when his father died (Phillip Hansen King) there was a
special obituary in which it stated he “was the oldest settler in New Zealand, having arrived at the
Bay of Islands on Christmas Day, 1814. He was then 16 months old. ….. Deceased’s father was one of
the first missionaries with Marsden. …..” The family settled in Waiuku in 1864.

Mary and William also made their home in Waiuku and like both sets of parents became fully
involved in all that the area offered. They started off farming on a property William had in Maioro
(approximately 80 acres). William extended out into building and contracting in the Waiuku district,
and later entered business as a general agent.

In 1903 Mary and William welcomed a son, Arnold Percy, and in 1906 a second son, William Ernest
Allan. During these years Mary would have been involved, like many “farming wives”, in as many
clubs, groups, and committees as her husband but these are often not reported. It is the only way
William would have been able to fulfil his “outside duties”.

On the 1919 Electoral Roll William is listed as
having no occupation which is assumed to mean
he has retired.

Having retired, William and Mary headed to Park
Avenue, Takapuna, Auckland.

Mary and William with their sons Arnold and William On the 1928 Electoral Roll (Waitemata, Auckland)
shows Mary and William still in Park Avenue but
with their sons, Arnold Percy, a clerk, and William
Ernest Allan, an accountant. Although Arnold
married Annie Harriett Muriel BARTLEET on 7 July
1927. Arnold is later reported working in
Pukekohe as a Solicitor.

On the 1938 Electoral Roll Mary and her son, William, are still living at Park Avenue however he
married Marjorie Doris STEVENS on 3 June 1938.

Mary passed away on 20 July 1958 at her residence in Park Avenue, Takapuna, Auckland at the age
of 94.

She is buried with her husband at the Waiuku Cemetery – Row 8 – shown as Mary Hanna KING on
cemetery records.

Sources:
Flexman family history – Glenice Baird
PapersPast
Electoral Rolls
NZ Births, Deaths, Marriages
Photograph from Ancestry Public Family Tree – McKenzie Family Tree

Researcher: Lois Hopping

Electoral Roll: Waipa 0846 Surname: FORDE
Given names: Florence Edith
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Bombay

Qualification: residential

Florence Edith FORDE (known as Edith) was born on 17
October 1863 in Auckland, the second child of Caroline
and Frederick Forde, who had arrived there on the
“Queen of the North” on 30 July 1862. Shortly after
Edith was born, Frederick took up a grant of 440 acres at
Pukekaroro, near Kaiwaka. Years later, a neighbour
recalled meeting the young couple walking to their new
home, Frederick carrying the two small children, and
Caroline carrying her clothes in two carpet bags.

In 1872 the family shifted to Bombay, where Frederick
and Caroline were appointed teachers at the school.
Worship at St Peter’s in the Forest was an important part
of the family’s life. Frederick died in 1885, Caroline in
1897; both were buried at St Peter’s.

From 1896, Edith’s younger brother Herbert was teaching
at Kaiwaka and it may have been on a visit there that she
met her future husband, a farmer from nearby Hakuru.
On 7 April 1899, she married Arthur Faulkner RYAN in St
Barnabas’ Chapel, Bishopscourt, Auckland, Bishop COWIE
officiating.

By 1911, the Ryans were living with Edith’s sister Lilian and her husband Dr. Charles ROWLEY, in
Otahuhu. On 9 April, Arthur was drowned in the Tamaki River nearby. Considered to be a strong
swimmer, he was probably overcome by cramp.

Afterwards, Edith continued to live in Auckland. With no children of her own, she took an active
interest in all her nieces and nephews living there. She also travelled, visiting maternal relatives in
Ireland, and had an interest in family history.

In her last years she lived in Epsom before passing away on 21 August 1953 aged 89.

Edith was the older sister of Maud Evelyn Forde.

Sources:
Ancestry website (www.ancestry.com.au)
Archives New Zealand
The Fords of Ford Green, compiled by E.H.R. Ford and C. del. W. fforde. 2nd ed. 1983
Forde, H. E. Memoirs. (MSS). 1962
PapersPast website (www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
They came by ship: centenary of Bombay, Auckland, New Zealand, 1865-1965. Reprinted 2012.

Researched by Elizabeth Lynch

Electoral Roll: Waipa 0847 Surname: FORDE
Given names: Maud Evelyn
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Bombay

Qualification: residential

Maud Evelyn FORDE was born on 21 January 1869 at Mangawhai, the fifth child of Caroline and
Frederick Forde. Three years later, having endured every hardship, the family left the farm and
shifted to Bombay, where Frederick took up a deserted section of 10 acres and worked on the roads
for 4 shillings a day to support his family of nine.

In 1873 Frederick and Caroline were appointed teachers at the Bombay School, and the family were
to stay in the area for many years. Maud’s younger brother Herbert recalled that the Tarawera
eruption in 1886 could be heard from Bombay. After Frederick’s death the Fordes shifted into a
house once occupied by the HASZARD family, several of whom had died in the eruption. The church
played a big part in Maud’s life and it was at St Peter’s where she was married.

On 17 December 1895, Maud married William Butler BALL (born 1867) at St Peter’s-in-the-Forest.
The New Zealand Herald reported: “The Rev. R.J. McFARLAND officiated, the service being choral.
The church was nicely decorated. The bride, who wore a rich costume of white watered silk etc.,
was given away by her brother, Mr. E. Forde. Miss Forde, who attended as bridesmaid, wore a very
pretty fawn-coloured costume. Mr T. Ball, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man.”

Maud and William were to have two children, Frederick Luard Ball, born 1900, and Alan Lubecki Ball,
born 1912.

William worked as an engineer until he joined his son Frederick farming at Orua Bay. Later William
and Maud lived in Epsom where William died on 18 July 1940.

Maud died on 6 October 1944 at her home in Epsom.

Maud was the younger sister of Florence Edith Forde (No. W0846 on the 1893 Electoral Roll, Waipa).

St Peter’s of the Forest Church, Bombay

Sources:
Ancestry website (www.ancestry.com.au)
Archives New Zealand
The Fords of Ford Green, compiled by E.H.R. Ford and C. del. W. fforde. 2nd ed. 1983
Forde, H. E. Memoirs. (MSS). 1962
PapersPast website (www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
They came by ship: centenary of Bombay, Auckland, New Zealand, 1865-1965. Reprinted2012

Researched by Elizabeth Lynch

Electoral Roll: Franklin 4035 Surname: FRANCIS
Given names: Nora Lillias
Occupation: school teacher Address: Tuakau

Qualification: residential

Nora Lillias FRANCIS was born on 12 April 1871 at 274 Albert Road, Emerald Hill in Victoria, Australia
to John Patterson Emilius Francis, a teacher, and his wife Honora [nee HOWE]. Nora’s family moved
to New Zealand around 1880 settling first at Wellington, where her father taught at Wellington
College, and then moving to Wanganui where he held the position of Headmaster at the Wanganui
Boys’ District High School. A short time later the family relocated to Auckland when Nora’s father was
selected to fill a vacancy in the staff of the Auckland College and Grammar School. Sadly, Nora’s father
had health issues and died in April 1891, still a young man of 44 years. Nora followed her father into
the profession of teaching and by the start of 1893 she had successfully passed her Teachers
Examination. In 1894 Nora was teaching the Standard 1 class at Harrisville School in the Tuakau
district. By 1900 she was teaching at Mamaku School in the Bay of Plenty.

On 15 April 1901 Nora married the Reverend Matthew Kerr
GILMOUR at St. John’s Wesleyan Church, Ponsonby, Auckland.
Matthew, the eldest son of Hugh Kerr Gilmour and Eliza Dickie
[nee TEMPLETON], had been born in 1872 in Lanarkshire, Scotland
and had arrived in Auckland on the “Rakaia” in May 1881. After
their marriage, Nora and Matthew left for Papua (New Guinea) to
undertake missionary work for the Methodist Church. This was a
challenging undertaking, but one which Nora threw herself into
with much determination. Variously described as bustling,
energetic, strong and even formidable, Nora is said to have carved
out a career for herself in this work. When she first arrived, the
natives were very warlike with fights occurring among themselves
almost every week, but once a mission station had been
established for any length of time, much to the relief of the
missionaries including Nora, the fighting soon ceased. The aim of
the missionaries was not to Europeanise the people, but to teach them to help each other. Nora
trained herself to be a nurse from medical books. Hundreds of obstetrical cases were dealt with by
her each year while she also treated wounds and made an intensive study of tropical diseases such as
malaria which was considered an ever-lurking danger for the inhabitants of the area. The climate too
was very demanding, and Nora and Matthew would take periods of rest and change back in New
Zealand from time to time to help them cope. It was a chance to catch up with family and friends, and
also an opportunity to do public presentations on their missionary work to interested groups.

Nora and Matthew worked in Papua for 33 years and then settled into life in Willoughby, New South
Wales, Australia in 1934 where Matthew resumed a ministry until his retirement in 1942. Nora died
in a private hospital in Waverley, New South Wales on 12 July 1948. Matthew died on 22 July 1962.

Sources:
Papers Past website: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
New Zealand School Records on Archives New Zealand website: https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
“Missionary Lives: Papua, 1874-1914”, Langmore, Diane - 1989
St. John’s Church, Ponsonby, Auckland: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 80-BIN62
Researcher: Christine Headford

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0990 Surname: FROST
Given names: Mary Harriette
Occupation: domestic Address: Tuakau

Qualification: residential

The seventh daughter of Mr and Mrs Andrew ROONEY, Mary Harriette was born in Auckland on the
site presently occupied by the Auckland Museum. Mr Rooney took a strong interest in politics and it
is likely that his daughters would have been enlightened in this regard.

Mary Harriette married Mr E C FROST at St Mark’s Church on 29 February 1876 and they lived for a
time near Dargaville where her husband was engaged in the timber trade. They then spent eight years
in Epsom before moving to Tuakau in 1888 where they lived near the Waikato River. Her husband
established a flaxmilling and storekeeping business and ran a steam boat on the river. They had three
sons and five daughters.

She was a member of the Old Colonists Association and in her early years was well acquainted with
Sir George Grey. In Tuakau she was a well known resident taking part in community affairs.

A great granddaughter tells of her father’s fond memories of his grandmother. His long bicycle ride
to school took him past her gate where she would watch out for him riding his ‘iron horse’ and he
would stop off to milk her cow before school and for a treat on the way home. He described her as a
small, slight lady with a twinkle in her eye which is hinted at in what her great grand-daughter
describes as her ‘Mona Lisa’ smile. She died in 1930 aged 73 years and is buried in the Tuakau
Cemetery.

Sources: Papers Past website.
By Maori Trail and Pakeha Track by E T Frost. (Mary Harriette’s eldest son.)
Information from Christine Frost, her great granddaughter.

Researcher. Janet Pates.

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1003 Surname: FULLERTON
Given names: Alice
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Alice STRAHAN was born in Bloomsbury, Middlesex, c 1865, daughter of George and Julia Strahan.

1871 UK census showing the Strahan family – Alice aged 6

Alice Strahan may have attended Onehunga School between March 1876 and June 1879 according
to NZSG Kiwi Collection 2.

Alice's mother, Julia, died in 1884 and her father George Strahan, 23 September 1899, aged 69.
They are buried at Ngaruawahia. George and Julia immigrated to New Zealand after 1871.

In 1888 in Hamilton, Alice married David FULLERTON (son of Mary and David Fullerton) who, with his
parents and siblings, had arrived in Auckland on the Dauntless on 15 May 1865.

Alice and David Fullerton had five children:

David George Fullerton born 1890
Samuel Edwin Fullerton born 1892 Awhitu, Franklin
Horace Noorwood Fullerton born 1894 Awhitu, Franklin
Leslie Herbert Fullerton born 1897 Hamilton, Waikato
Edna Alice Gwendoline Fullerton born 1904 Hamilton North.

Alice died 8 May 1904 (possibly in childbirth) in the Hamilton area and is buried at Ngaruawahia with
her father.

Alice’s widowed husband subsequently married Annie FLAVELL in June 1912 at the residence of his
sister Mary and brother in law Mr George COX in Hamilton.

Sources:

UK census – ancestry.co.uk; Waikato immigration – Auckland libraries; School records – NZSG; old newspapers
– paperspast.nat.lib.govt.nz; Family Tree – Ancestry.co.uk

Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1005 Surname: FULLERTON
Given names: Margaret Ellen
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Margaret Ellen CRANSTON, daughter of Arthur Cranston and Frances Ann REYNOLDS, was born in
1871 in Pukekohe. She was the eldest child with 3 sisters and 3 brothers.

Margaret's maternal grandparents were Ellen MADILL and William Henry Reynolds. Ellen Reynolds
(nee Madill) died on the Ganges on 12 February 1865 of dysentery on the voyage out to New
Zealand.

Margaret Cranston married Samuel FULLERTON in 1893. Samuel was born in Ireland in 1861 and had
arrived in Auckland with his parents, David and Mary Fullerton and siblings, Mary, Margaret and
David on the Dauntless on 15 May 1865.

Samuel and Margaret had a number of children: Hazel, Alma, Rodrick, Clarence Elgar, Daisy, Graham,
Margaret, Elsie, Olive, Myrtle Isa and Gordon.

By 1896 the family were farming in Whatawhata and in 1911 they were farming in Te Kowhai.

Margaret died on 1 October 1931 at Te Kowhai and was buried at Hamilton East Cemetery.

NZ Herald 2 Oct 1931

Samuel died in the Raglan area on 13 September 1946 and is also buried at Hamilton East Cemetery.
(Hamilton East Cemetery BB-N-025) There is no headstone for Margaret or Samuel Fullerton.

Sources:
Old newspapers – paperspast.natlib,govt.nz; Waikato Immigration Scheme records – Auckland Libraries;
Cemetery records – Hamilton City Council; Information from a family tree Ancestry.co.uk

Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1004 Surname: FULLERTON
Given names: Mary
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Mary was born c 1828 in Ireland, daughter of James LILLY. She married David FULLERTON on 5
September 1849 in Ireland.

They boarded the Dauntless on 30 December 1864, in Dublin and arrived in Auckland on 16 May
1865. From the passenger list: David Fullerton 39 Agricultural labourer (born c 1824), Mary wife
aged 35 (born c1828), Mary daughter aged 13, Margaret daughter aged 11, David son aged 7,
Samuel, son aged 5.

Mary’s husband died in 1896 and is buried at Ngaruawahia, so it is likely that they were living in that
district by then. As her family members moved to the Waikato Mary appears to have also moved to
the Hamilton or Ngaruawahia area. In 1900 according to the Electoral Roll, she was living in
Ngaruawahia with a residential qualification, 1905/1906 in Te Kowhai enrolled as domestic duties
and in Ngaruawahia in 1911, domestic duties.

Mary died on 27 May 1909 probably in Te Kowhai and is buried in Ngaruawahia.

From Waikato District Council records

Ngaruawahia Old Cemetery

Sources: Family tree – ancestry.co.uk; NZ electoral rolls – ancestry.co.uk; Burial records – Waikato District
Council; Waikato Immigration Scheme passenger lists – Auckland Libraries
Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0998 Surname: FULLJAMES
Given names: Ellen
Occupation: storekeeper Address: Patumahoe

Qualification: residential

THE SINGING STOREKEEPER

In 1888 Ellen FULLJAMES (nee HOSKINS) got married in the Beresford St Congregational Church to a
man ten years her junior. She gave birth to their only child, Thomas Albert Stanley and, with her new
husband Albert, moved to Patumahoe where they took out a five year lease on retail premises
opposite Philip HENRY’s store.

They also joined the local ‘Band of Hope’, an early temperance movement that gave monthly music
recitals in the Patumahoe Hall.

During their Patumahoe tenure Ellen gave evidence in court when a conman purchased two blank
cheques from the store and tendered one of them as payment of his bill at the Mauku Inn. Mrs KINSEY,
the hotel keeper’s wife, even gave the accused some change before the cheque bounced but a good
description of the man led to his arrest in Opotiki.

The Fulljames’ completed only three years of their lease before moving to Tuakau. Perhaps the
renovations to the Henry’s store had something to do with their shift for Philip had added a second
storey to the building, the lower part being the shop – a very commodious one – with a large show-
window on either side of the main entrance.

The ‘Band of Hope’ members presented the Fulljames’ with a testimonial and a marble clock. Mr
McNAUGHTON acknowledged Albert’s role as President and thanked the couple for their singing
renditions and for always taking an interest in social matters.

Undaunted by the splendour of the premises opposite, John MOORE reoccupied the shop vacated by
the Fulljames’ and began successfully undercutting his competitor with prices equal to those in
Queen St, Auckland.

The old Moore premises, 1919, when owned by Clem Vidak

Sources:
BDM NZ,
Papers Past
(1892, 94 & 95)
Electoral Rolls

Informant:
Howard Upfold

Photo:
Michie Collection

Researcher:
Wendy Clark

Electoral Roll: Franklin 0997 Surname: FULTON
Given names: Margaret
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Puni

Qualification: residential

Margaret was born Margaret Anne CAMPBELL, in County
Down, Northern Ireland c1838.

On 20 August 1859 she married James FULTON in Lurgan,
Armagh, Northern Ireland.

We next find the Fulton family on the passenger list of the
Dauntless, one of the Waikato Immigration ships bringing
settlers to the district with the promise of land grants.
They set sail from Dublin on 30 December 1864 and
reached Auckland on 15 May 1865 – James 27, Margaret
25, Jane 3, and Elizabeth 1. Sadly, Jane was to die during
the voyage.

The family settled initially at Mauku, then took up 10
acres at Patumahoe, which they later exchanged for 10
acres in the Cape Settlement of Pukekohe (now called
Cape Hill). After several years, they sold out and bought a
bush holding of 104 acres at New Jerusalem (now known as Puni). Over the years the family
increased to 14 children. Many of these children were prominent members of the community.

There are conflicting reports in the newspapers of the day about the tragedy of losing their house in
a fire – one report says Mr Fulton was at home and the other says Mrs Fulton was at home – but
whoever was there, the result was that in 1890 they lost their house and possessions in this fire.

Shortly after this, they retired to a 30 acre block in Pukekohe and it
was here that Margaret died on 24 July 1899, aged 64. She is buried
in the Pukekohe Cemetery with a very elaborate headstone.

She was not to know that three of her children would die during the
influenza epidemic of 1918 and one wonders what she would have
thought about her husband leaving his estate exclusively to five
grandaughters.

James had been living among his family in later years and died on 12
March 1926 at Orini – he is buried with Margaret at Pukekohe.

Sources:

BDM – www.dia.govt.nz; Old newspapers- paperspast.natlib.govt.nz;
Probate – www.familysearch.org; Sommerville Family Tree – ancestry.co.uk
Headstone photo – Franklin Branch NZSG

Researcher: Judith Batt Compiler: Heather Maloney

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3500 Surname: FURNISS
Given names: Amelia
Occupation: household duties Address: Waipipi

Qualification: residential

Amelia BEETHAM was born on 10 October 1840 in Yorkshire, England.

Her father and mother and 6 children emigrated from Falmouth to Capetown on the ‘Duke of
Bedford’ on 28 December 1849.

Much later, on 16 December 1860, Amelia, at just 20 years old, married William FURNISS in
Wynberg, Capetown, South Africa.

They, and two of their children, immigrated to NZ in 1864 on the ‘Alfred’, having applied and been
accepted for the Waipipi Settlement Scheme. They had 5 acres of land on the north west corner of
Parakau and Crotty Roads. (Crotty Road is no longer there, and Awhitu Road is now the main road).

Amelia had a total of 13 children and died at her home in Waipipi on 10 August 1907 just 2 years
after William had died. She was 67 years old.

Sources:
NZ Herald issue 16 August 1907
Waipipi Cemetery
“Waipipi and Districts 150 Years of European settlers” Book

Researcher: Vickie Furniss (Great Granddaughter)

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3501 Surname: GALE
Given names: Eliza Clara
Occupation: household duties Address: Tuakau

Qualification: residential

Born Eliza Clara INSKIP c. 1817 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Her father was a coachman. She
married John CHESHIRE 22 June 1837. In 1864, Eliza came to New Zealand on the Ganges with her
husband and married son, also John Cheshire, his wife and young family. Both families settled in
Tuakau. Sometime around 1869 John Snr and Eliza’s daughter –in-law both died. John Jnr travelled
in search of work, leaving Eliza, at 53 years of age, to raise four young grandchildren under the age
of nine.

On 15 December 1873 Eliza married Esau GALE, a veteran of the 65th Regiment who had been
stationed in the area during the Waikato campaign of the NZ Land Wars. In 1886 he became the
ferryman responsible for operating the ferry providing the link between Tuakau and the areas across
the river.

Eliza died 30 September 1896 aged 78 after suffering from a heavy cold for a few days. She is buried
in the Tuakau cemetery and a headstone was erected in her memory by Esau Gale. After his death
in 1915 his name was inscribed on the headstone by the New Zealand Government in recognition of
his military service. The headstone was later damaged and repaired but the section bearing his
name was not recoverable.

Sources:
1893 Electoral Roll.
Tuakau & District Museum Society Inc.
Papers Past. (National Library.)

Researcher: Janet Pates

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1010 Surname: GALLAGHER
Given names: Annie
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Annie was born Hannah PERRY in 1847 in Somerset, England. She was the daughter and fourth of
nine children of George Perry ((1817-1887) and Rebecca FORTT (1819-1887). In 1871, aged 23, she
immigrated to Australia with her sister Mary, aged 19, on board the Bengal, landing in Melbourne.

In 1872 she married Thomas William KERMODE and they had two children before Thomas died in
Gympie, Queensland in 1876.

She then married James GALLAGHER on 9 June 1877 at Gympie and their first three children, Louisa
Marie, Ellen Annie and James George were born there before the family came to New Zealand
sometime between 1880 and 1883. A further three children, Alfred John, Ada Laura and Sydney
Harold were born at Mauku.

Annie and James farmed in Mauku
from 1893 until about 1911. From
there they moved to “Strathmore”
Argyle St, Ponsonby. James was listed
as a “Gentleman”

Between 1914 and 1918 Annie and
James farmed in Manurewa.

This report of a fire which must have been devastating, was from the NZ Herald 25 Jan 1893.

James died on 26 August, 1920 aged 80 at 86 Islington St, Ponsonby and was buried in Purewa
cemetery, Auckland.
Annie died 27 January 1936 aged 88 at 39 Argyle St, Ponsonby and is buried with James.

Sources:

Family Tree with sources, Daphne Friis - Ancestry; BDM – www.dia.govt.nz; Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz; NZ
Electoral Rolls

Researcher: Barbara Raven

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3502 Surname: GARLAND
Given names: Esebia Dora Leakes
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Awitu

Qualification: residential

Eusebia Dora Leaker was the youngest child born to Alfred PALMER and Annie LEAKER in Cardiff,
Wales on 4 December 1858.

She came to New Zealand with her parents, sister Annanetta (who later
married Maurice Millett) and Henry on the ship “Mermaid”, October
1859, and the children were listed as Anna, Dora and Henry.

The parents, having received 120 acres at Awhitu under the 40-acre
scheme, also purchased an additional acre to make up the allotment
(Lot 19). The family originally settled in Parnell, while it was Alfred’s
intention to prepare the land for the family. However he was called up
to serve in the Land/Maori Wars and didn’t return until a year after the
War about 1864. Annie and children moved to Awhitu about 1868.

The family originally lived in a nikau whare and then a slab hut before their house was built. Here
Eusebia attended a private school run in her home by her mother for her three children and three
IRWIN children.

Eusebia was married to Edward (Ted) Robert Lewis GARLAND by Rev James GALLAWAY at her
parents' home in Awhitu Central on 25 September 1876. Edward had been born to Henry and
Elizabeth Garland of Shropshire, England and arrived in New Zealand on the “African” in 1860.

They lived at Woodlands, Awhitu Central with Edward's recently widowed mother, Elizabeth, after
they were first married. They farmed sheep but later changed to cattle on 51 acres.

Eusebia and Edward had the following children: Emma Maude born 2 April 1877, Ethel May born 4
January 1880, Edith Linda born 25 November 1882, Edward Arthur born 5 July 1884, Malcolm Welby
born 14 February 1887, Mabel born 6 October 1889 and Wilfred Lewis born 27 December 1891.

In the late 1890s they moved to Ponsonby where Edward
worked as a watchman and then a caretaker. In 1926
Eusebia and Edward celebrated their golden wedding.

Eusebia died 9 June 1929 at her residence, 29 Arthur Street,
Ponsonby, aged 70. Edward died 4 January 1933, aged 79.
They were both buried at Awhitu Cemetery.

Sources:
Heads, Harbour, Hills: An Awhitu History, 1999
Daphne Friis: The Garland Story; 2012

Researcher: Nola Smith

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1018 Surname: GARLAND
Given names: Lydia Frances
Occupation: music teacher Address: Awitu

Qualification: residential

Born on 6September 1869, in Shortland, Thames at the height of the gold rush, Lydia Frances
GARLAND was the eldest of the four daughters and seven
sons of Sarah Lydia (nee SEAMAN) and John Garland. The
young family, beyond reach of parental support, anxious
about baby Lydia not thriving and disappointed by the
Thames goldfield, soon moved back to the Garland family
home at Awhitu Wharf. For a time Lyd’s father John took a
part-time teaching post at the district’s newly-opened school
at Pollok. After her sister Lizzie was born in 1871 at their
Seaman grandparents’ home in Takapuna, the two girls
seemed to stay there often and probably later attended the
local schools, although there is a single entry for Lyd and
Lizzie among in the Awhitu school records of the 1870s.
Construction of the new Garland homestead, Woodville,
began at Awhitu Central in 1879, partly so the children could
live closer to school. So by 1883 six Garland children were

on the Awhitu Central School roll with Lydia, aged 13 years 11 months, in Std 4 for the annual
inspection and exam. The record also shows she had passed Std 2 previously but does not name the
school she had attended to do this. From then on Lydia probably lived more permanently at Awhitu,
helping care for her younger siblings at Woodville and perhaps also helping at the Garland store
down at the wharf. Her musical education had probably begun in Takapuna under Seaman family
supervision, but her mother Sarah was also a skilled musician and by 1893 Lyd’s stated occupation
was that of music teacher. Thereafter she played the organ for church services and sang and taught
piano wherever she could. Her deep Christian faith would continue to be the mainstay of her life.

When her brother Jack married Nell GLEDHILL in early 1899, Lyd took over Nell’s previous position of
housekeeper to her sister - the local teacher Eunice Gledhill. This post may have continued until Lyd’s
marriage to John (Jack) Baylee ROBSON at Awhitu Church on 8 April 1901. She and Jack and their
children Percy, Harry and Minnie, continued to live on the Awhitu Peninsula for a few years, farming
at Awhitu, then with Jack managing the Hamilton Brothers Cheese Factory near Pollok, and later
farming a few acres at Waipipi. In 1923 she and Jack exchanged their Waipipi farm for a much larger
farm at Hukatere in the Kaipara area. In 1935, when their son Harry bought the farm, they retired to
Auckland where they lived at Eden Terrace. Jack died in 1944 and Lyd lived with her daughter Minnie
in Mt Eden for some years until her death on 13 June 1953. She is buried in Waikumete Cemetery,
Auckland.

Sources:
NZ Electoral Rolls
The Garland Story; Daphne Friis; Pureprint Tauranga, 2012
National Archives (Archway)

Researcher: Nola Smith

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1021 Surname: GARLAND
Given names: Sarah
Occupation: household duties Address: Awitu

Qualification: residential

Sarah was born on 16 June 1863, the sixth of seven children of Robert
SCOULLER and Mary McWATT. Mary Scouller (later to be DEANS) was Robert’s
second wife. She was also an early settler in Pollok. Sarah’s maternal
grandparents were Robert McWatt and Ann PHILIP and her paternal
grandparents were John Scouller and Margaret HAMILTON. Robert Scouller
had worked at a mill in Glasgow before they migrated to Pollok, Auckland.

Sarah was born on the ship Ganges in 1863 prior to the ship departing from
London so, “on the London docks while waiting to sail”. It appears that she
was originally entered in the ships records as being called Ganges, until she was formally named.

The Scoullers were in the steerage cabin and arrived in Auckland on Monday 12 October 1863 to find
the colony was ablaze. There had been fighting for the previous three months.

The Scoullers, along with other passengers from Pollokshaws, formed the settlement of Pollok in
about 1865. It was on land originally purchased by the Crown from Ngati Te Ata in 1861. The
venture was led by the Reverend James Milne SMITH, of the Pollokshaws United Original Secession
Church congregation. Smith was nick-named “Brimstone Jimmy” by his flock due to his hell-fire and
damnation preaching style. The original concept of the settlement had been that it should be a self-
contained and self-sufficient religious community. Women had the right to vote. Robert Scouller
was on the first council made up of seven men.

Sarah married George Joseph GARLAND on 1 March 1880. The words from his memoirs were “Your
mother was a very beautiful girl, she did not dance, nor did she care for many of the amusements
which young people enjoyed in those days, however, it seemed that fate had brought us together”.
When asked to marry, Sarah said yes “Providing I would give up the sea. There was nothing else to
do. It was a hard blow but it was worthwhile in my opinion then and I can honestly say my opinion
has not changed”.

They farmed Lot E48 near the Awhitu Central School and had the following children: Marion Barbara
1882, Agnes Blanche 1883, George Stuart 1885, Mary Florence 1888, Anthony Oliver 1890, Elsie May
1893, Paul 1895, Allan Whitmore 1897, Osborne Victor 1901 and Marjory Scouller 1904.

George and Sarah left Awhitu in 1898 when George took up land valuing. He was on several boards
and councils as well as being a member of the NZ Legislative Council.

Sarah died at the age of 70 on 12 December 1933 and was buried at the Mangere Cemetery,
Auckland.

Sources: The Commemorative Booklet of The Reunion of Descendants 1864 Settlers from Pollokshaws, Scotland and The
Dedication of a Memorial to The Reverend James Milne Smith Pollok, Awhitu Peninsula, NZ, 25th February, 2001; George
Garland’s memoirs; Elizabeth Garland’s (Perry) Birthday Book; NZ Historical Records; The Captain’s Log and David
Buchanan’s diary – Ganges; NZSG Cemetery fiche Record Type B/R, Mangere Cemetery B04.22; NZ BDM Records:
1880/2507 Sarah Scouller George Joseph Garland and 1933/11706
Researcher: Kim Williams, great great granddaughter

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1020 Surname: GARLAND
Given names: Sarah Lydia
Occupation: household duties Address: Awitu

Qualification: residential

Sarah Lydia GARLAND (nee SEAMAN) arrived in Auckland on 24 August
1865, after a 14-week voyage on the Andrew Jackson, accompanied by
her parents Thomas and Lydia, her brother and three sisters.
Of East Anglian yeoman and dissenter heritage, Sarah, the fourth of her
parents’ children but the first to survive infancy, had been born in
Harleston, Norfolk on 2 April 1845. After living briefly in Hampshire, by
1851 the family had moved to Oxford where, until 1865, they lived at
45 Cornmarket while her father managed a glass and china and coal
merchant business in the High Street.
Sarah’s shipboard diary reveals an avid reader and a very precise,
genteel and observant writer, who wrote verse and practised her
French with the better-educated passengers. She had been well-trained
in both keyboard and music theory and had been a pupil-teacher in
Peckham, and then a governess before migrating to New Zealand.
The Seamans were Christians committed to spreading the Word. On discovering no chaplain on board
Thomas organised church services and Sarah taught Sunday School and distributed tracts. She stayed
ladylike and aloof from the steerage class passengers but took part in dancing for the first time in her
life. On arrival, Auckland was probably a culture shock, but she commented on the ‘healthy, spruce
look’ of the colonists. However, she was distressed that she had become unfashionably tanned by the
voyage and that her clothes were ‘decidedly seedy.’
After a stay with relatives in Newton, Sarah taught with her sister Polly at a private school in
Onehunga, where she met John Garland. They married on 9 November 1868 at Waiwera where her
parents briefly leased the resort. Sarah and John then joined the gold rush to Shortland, Thames,
where their first child Lydia was born in September 1869, but soon moved back to John’s family home
at Awhitu Wharf where the Garlands had settled after their arrival on the African in 1860. John found
a part time teaching post at Pollok then took over the Garland hotel in 1872, while Sarah stayed with
her parents in Takapuna for the birth of second child Elizabeth in 1871. Keen to resume her teaching
career, and aided by her sister Susie, she opened ‘A School for the Education of Young Ladies’ in East
Street, Newton early in 1872. After the birth of son Henry, this school continued on into 1873, when
Sarah was appointed to Awhitu Central School. Living in the adjacent school house she could at last
use her musical training to establish a choir and improve the singing at church services (held in the
school), receiving praise in the Daily Southern Cross. Sadly, Sarah’s teaching career ended on 24 March
1874, with the premature arrival of her fourth child Jack, and her husband John had to take over her
teaching post until a qualified replacement could be found. The next 10 years produced a further
seven children, taking such a toll on Sarah’s health that she never again took up her chosen career.
Thereafter most of Sarah’s life was spent on the Awhitu Peninsula, either at the store at the wharf, or
the later-built Awhitu Central house, Woodville, though periods were spent with her parents in
Auckland. In 1888 the family spent six months in the north with John managing the Mangawhai Hotel
while the Garland store was being rebuilt following the 1886 fire.
Sarah died on 10 August 1900 and is buried in Awhitu Cemetery.

Sources:

Seaman, Sara Lydia.: Copy of the log written by Sara Lydia Seaman on her voyage to New Zealand in the year 1865;

North Auckland Research Centre (Takapuna Library) - Local history information file (910.45 SEA)
Heads, Harbour and Hills: An Awhitu History.
Daily Southern Cross of October 1st 1873
Daphne Friis: The Garland Story, Pureprint, Tauranga; 2012
NZ Electoral Rolls

Researcher: Nola Smith

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3504 Surname: GEARON
Given names: Jane
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Jane SHERSON was the daughter of Thomas Sherson, born c 1838/1839 at Derryat, Ireland. Her
brother Thomas Sherson, born 1833, also came to New Zealand before 1861 and died 1 Oct 1912 in
the Selwyn District, Canterbury. Jane and Thomas may have arrived on the 'Lord Burleigh' to
Auckland in 1856. (From the New Zealander 9 August 1856)

Jane married William Cudmore GEARON,
22 Dec 1864 in the Presbyterian Church at
Onehunga, New Zealand and their first
child was born in Mauku in 1865.

(Presbyterian Church Archives)

In 1853 the Kahawai Block was purchased

by John WHITE, a Government Agent and

Interpreter. It was surveyed in 1854 and

offered to the Europeans by auction -

Photo: Presbyterian Church, Onehunga (Google images) most were absentee owners, eminent
citizens of Auckland. William Cudmore

Gearon was the earliest Settler, arriving in 1856. During the 'Land Wars' he removed to Mercer then

returned to Mauku and finalIy retired to Auckland about 1906. (European History of Glenbrook area, Waiuku

Museum)

William and Jane had 8 children:

o Margaret Anna (Hannah) died aged 8 of Typhoid Fever in 1874, Mauku
o Susan born 1867 in Mauku and died in 1959, unmarried. Susan appears on the 1893

Electoral Roll as F3505
o Catherine born 1869 in Mauku
o Emma Jane born 1871 in Mauku and died 1874 of Bronchitis aged 3
o William born 1873 in Mauku and possibly died in Australia
o John Thomas born 1877
o Harriet Ann born 1878 in Mauku and died 1969 in Auckland, married
o Mary born 1881 in Mauku and died in 1959 unmarried.

In an obituary for William, who died in Feb 1925 aged 97, it was stated that he purchased the farm
at Mauku in the 1850’s and remained on it until 1906 when he and Jane went to reside in Auckland.

Jane died in 1911 and they are buried together with other family at Waikumete cemetery, Auckland.

GEARON- 27 Feb 1911, At her late residence, 10 Edinburgh Street, Newton, Auckland, Jane, the

dearly-beloved wife of William C Gearon, late of Mauku. Aged 72 years. "Entered into Rest".

Interment Private. By Request, No Mourning. (NZ Herald 28 Feb 1911)

Sources: Old newspapers – paperspast.natlib.govt.nz; BDM – www.dia.govt.nz;
Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 3505 Surname: GEARON
Given names: Susan
Occupation: household duties Address: Mauku

Qualification: residential

Susan GEARON was the daughter of Jane SHERSON and William Cudmore Gearon, born on 23 July
1867 at Mauku. She died 20 June 1959 in Auckland.

In the 1896 and 1900 Electoral rolls, Susan was at Carlton Gore Rd, doing 'domestic duties' and her
sister Catherine was nearby in Symonds Street.

In the Electoral rolls for 1928, 1935, 1938, 1946, 1949 Susan Gearon was at 8 Edinburgh Street, Arch
Hill and her sister Mary Gearon was nearby at 15 Cobden St, Arch Hill.

Susan and Mary Gearon died as a result of gas poisoning in their home 20 June 1959 which was
probably 8 Edinburgh Street, Newton. There was an Inquest into their deaths. (Archives Auckland, COR

1959 813)

In Susan’s will P1414/1959 she leaves her estate to her remaining three sisters and one brother,
declaring that ‘no provision has been made for my brother William because he has not been heard
of for 48 years and I presume he is dead’

1930 Land Information (available at New Zealand Auckland Archives Office): Susan Gearon of Newton,
spinster, Lot 24, Deeds Plan 473, Pt Allotment 10 Sec 7 Auckland Suburbs. Mary Gearon also had a
Land Information file in 1930, Lot 33 Deed Plan 473 Pt Allotment 10 Sec 7 Auckland Suburbs.

According to a great niece, Colleen MOORE, it is possible Mary and her mother Jane, were born with
a cleft palate and hare lip.

Susan was buried at Waikumete cemetery, Auckland with her parents and two single sisters.

Sources: Old newspapers – paperspast.natlib.govt.nz; Probate – www.familysearch.org Cemetery records –
Waikumete cemetery; Family tree – ancestry.co.uk

Researcher: Rosemary Lewis

Electoral Roll: Franklin 1045 Surname: GERAGHTY
Given names: Bridget
Occupation: domestic duties Address: Tuakau

Qualification: residential

Bridget was born on 29 October 1869 in Tuakau, the 4th child of Patrick GERAGHTY and Bridget
(BRADY).

Bridget married Daniel WEIR 1898 in Thames where some of her sisters were working in the hotel.
The family lived for a time in Palmerston North on a farm owned by a local hotel which they supplied
with dairy goods and vegetables, later moving to Matakana, then to Papakura about 1916 where they
farmed.

Bridget and Dan had three children Mary, Daniel and Owen. Daniel’s nickname for Bridget was Delia.

Bridget died on 23 March 1949 and is buried in Papakura.

Source: Geraghty Family Tree book, A Thousand Goodbyes, Written & Compiled by Bridget Geraghty.

Contributed by Maureen O’Connor