Behind the Headstones

‘Behind the Headstones’

Guided Cemetery Walk

Waiuku Cemetery 13 March 2021



‘Behind the Headstones’

A guided walk with Bill Deed, local historian.

Organised by NZ Society of Genealogists – Franklin Branch

The event was held on Saturday 13 March 2021 with a well attended guided walk. Some of the
presentations were by descendants of the people featured while others were presented by members
of the Franklin Branch of the NZSG.

The stories presented were:

1. MCINTOSH Peter Charles Muir and Lucy Morris. Row 5, Plot 2 & 3. Gillian Conroy

2. BAYNES Kezia and Robert. Row 6, Plot 12 & 13. Caron Hoverd

3. CONSTABLE Esther. Row 6, Plot 32. Val Gillanders

4. SPEEDY Rose Haultain and James. Row 8, Plot 39 & 40.

5. BRAUN Family. Row 9, Plot 29 & 30. Lois Hopping and Penny Prescott

6. BISCHOFF Charles Ferdinand, Eleanor, and Adelaide. Row 11 Plot 31-33 Judith Bischoff

7. GHEZZI Luigi, Mary Ann, and Louis. Row 11, Plot 12-18. Joan Brough and Rosemary Eden

8. BURNES Thomas. Row 20, Plot 31. Eric and Lynda Muir

9. MCNAMARA Mary. Row 19 Plot 45 Lindsay and Con Egan

10. PARKER Henry Stackpole and Lucy. Row 17, Plot 32 & 33 Bev McCracken

11. SEDGWICK Thomas and Kate. Row 14, Plot 13-16. April Van Dam(Walmsley)

12. CURRIE Catherine and William. Row 14, Plot 5 & 6 Cathy and John Currie

13. WHITESIDE Roy Samuel and Margery. Row 52, Plot 1 Janet Whiteside

NZSG-Franklin Branch 1

Waiuku Cemetery

Location

The Waiuku cemetery is located on the junction of Colombo, George and Cemetery Roads about 2kms
from the Kentish Hotel in Waiuku. The cemetery is well maintained, and each row is clearly marked
by number on wooden posts. There is a Returned Services Section (RSA) and there are three World
War 1 graves in the main cemetery. The cemetery is still in use and has room for further development.

In 1880 money was raised to repair the neglected cemetery of about 13 acres. Fern was cleared and
ornamental trees planted. A plan of the occupied ground was also envisaged. (NZ Herald 13 Feb 1880)

The oldest memorial is in Row 8, Plots 40-42 for Core Essex Holcome SPEEDY 1858, who was buried at
Mauku Pioneer Cemetery and is the infant son of Major James SPEEDY, 8th Kings Regiment and for
many years magistrate of the Waiuku district.

Burial Records for the cemetery are held by Auckland Council at Manukau Memorial Gardens, starting
in 1903. Although there are many headstones dated prior to 1903 these records were lost in a fire at
Waiuku.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 2

NZSG-Franklin Branch 3

Muir 1901-1932 & Lucy McIntosh 1904-1932

Peter Charles Muir McINTOSH was born on 10
June 1901 at Greendale in Canterbury, his
father Peter was 33 and his mother Margaret,
nee ALLAN was 28. He was their first child, and
both their families came from the Otago district
in the South Island.

He was named after his father Peter, his
McIntosh uncle Charles and Muir for the
surname of the family of brothers and sisters
who took his father in when Peter’s mother
Jessie MacPHERSON died at Woodside, West
Taieri in 1870. Peter was only aged 2 and the youngest in the family.

The Electoral Rolls state that Peter and Margaret were in Timaru in 1905-1906 and Geraldine in 1911
when Muir’s cousin Constance Keane, who remembered as a pre-schooler visiting and playing cricket
with Muir, -he was doing the batting. Later that year the family had travelled to Raurimu in the North
Island and Muir’s sister Margaret Alison (Peggy) was born in Taumarunui when he was 10. They farmed
at Kaitieke until June 1920, however by then Muir had already left and gone to work on the boats out

of Auckland and had even gone to the Islands.

When his parents and Peggy moved to Waiuku his father got him a job as an assistant at a new gas
plant, he was keen on the work and was still doing lessons, however the gas engine that Muir ran was
only going to be used for emergencies as the Franklin Power Board had taken over the territory.

In Peters letter dated February 22 1926, he mentions that Muir had a good competent wife. She is a
farmer’s daughter, about 4 miles from Waiuku. They have two nice kids; they call the girl Margaret
(Madge) and the boy John Allan.

Muir had married Lucy Morris Lowe on 6 January 1923 when he was 21, an Electrical Engineer, and
Lucy was 19. They were married at the Registrar’s Office in Auckland. Lucy was the only daughter of
Herbert Morris LOWE and his wife Lizzie nee PICKARD, farmers in Morley Road, Glenbrook.

Muir had taken to the wireless craze and had a nice set with loudspeakers and earphones. He was
fond of listening to concerts and entertainment. He made his own set and then made 2 more and sold
them. We understand that he imported Majestic radios and sold them into farmers homes, the radios
having big dry batteries. Muir was a licenced Radio Dealer and Agent in Queen Street, Waiuku with
the Telephone no. 148

In May 1926 another boy, Malcolm Charles was born (my father). The next year in August 1927 Peter
Donald was born but was called Muir in various family letters. In the electoral rolls of 1928, the family
were living in Kitchener Road, Waiuku where Muir was an Engineer and Lucy as a married woman.
In 1929 their fifth and last child Stuart Douglas was born

Muir and Lucy and the family then moved to the Central Boarding House in Bowen Street, Waiuku
where they had up to 12 boarders and sometimes 25 people for dinner. There was a main building
as well as an outbuilding.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 4

In 1932 the newspapers reported the following:

On 24 January 1932 Muir and Lucy with Madge aged 8 set
out for Te Toro where they hired a boat. They were fishing
in the Waiuku Channel off McLaren’s Beach, Glenbrook,
when shortly after 10 o’clock the small boat capsized,
there were people fishing in the vicinity and saw it sinking.
It suddenly overturned and they were thrown into the sea.
The other fishermen endeavoured to rescue them, with
Mr Warren Brown rescuing Madge, while Messrs D. Hayes
and Hill tried to rescue Muir and Lucy who appeared to be
entangled in the fishing lines. On reaching the beach,
artificial respiration was applied without success and Dr
C. E. Howden pronounced life extinct. The little girl was
conveyed to the Waiuku Memorial Hospital where she
made satisfactory progress.

The victims of the tragedy were well-known residents of
Waiuku, where Mr McIntosh had been in business for some years. They leave 5 children, whom the
girl Madge was the eldest. The funeral was largely attended, and they were buried together
afterwards in the Waiuku cemetery.

The local newspapers then reported that

On Wednesday February 3rd at 12 noon, the auctioneer Mr J.J. Kelliher offered for sale the whole of the
furniture and effects of the Central Boarding House in Bowen Street, recently carried out by the late
Mr and Mrs McIntosh. Included in their effects was an upright Grand English (Mills) piano, wardrobes,
beds, bedding, kitchen utensils, flooring, rugs, oil paintings, ornaments, tools of all description, 2 work
benches equipped with vices and also a motor car and motor van etc.

The children were dispersed to various families. John was already with his Grandma Margaret in
Pukekohe as it had been the school holidays and his parents were expected to come over with fish for
tea and to take him back home. Madge went to her Lowe grandparents in Glenbrook, Malcolm to the
Sharps who were farming neighbours of the Lowes, Dinny to Grandma Lowes brother Eastwood
Pickard in Waiuku and Stuart was taken in by Lucy’s friend and Bowen Street neighbour, Clifford
Leherty.

Muir and Lucy’s five children grew up with true grit and determination to get ahead in life and they all
succeeded in their various endeavours. They were also extremely fortunate with having the support
of the people they married.

Gillian Conroy – Granddaughter

Member NZSG -Franklin Branch

Sources:

Family letters, Family History,
Newspapers – Auckland Star, NZ Herald, Local papers
Waiuku Cemetery Row 5 Plots 2 and 3

NZSG-Franklin Branch 5

Robert 1822-1895 & Kezia Baynes 1834-

This is the grave of my 3x Gt Grandmother Kezia Jacob GODFREY and her 3rd husband Robert BAYNES
at the Waiuku Cemetery. There are also 2 infants in this grave, both named Robert.

I have lived in Waiuku for 30 years now and
had a vague idea that my family had a
connection to this area, but I didn’t know
what that connection was. I did very little
research into my maternal grandmother’s
family and instead followed my maternal
grandfather’s story and other lines.
Then, one day I decided to have a look for
information about my grandmother’s father
who on her marriage certificate is noted as
being Sydney/Sidney WESTON, Gas Works
Manager1.
Sidney’s marriage certificate to his first wife
Mary Anne CARLQUIST had Sidney’s fathers
name as George Weston and his mother as
Harriet Weston, family name TIPPETT2. I
had heard that name before and thought it
sounded quite unusual, it shouldn’t be too
hard to find her. I did a google search for her
and found a website by Mr Don Ferguson
which included my Harriet Tippett in his
tree. However, Don’s tree had Sidney
Buckingham WICKS as Harriet Tippet’s
husband, not George Weston3.
So, I contacted Don Ferguson explaining my
connection and this is how I came find out about my 2nd Gt Grandmother Harriet Tippett, her mother
Kezia Baynes and her husband Sidney Buckingham Wicks aka George Weston. To cut a long story short,
Don Ferguson then put me in touch with Christine Clement from the Te Puke genealogy branch.
Christine had been researching Sidney Buckingham Wicks aka George Weston for her book The
Pioneers, Settlers and Families of Te Puke and District. I contacted Christine who in turn contacted Jill
and Vaughan Cullen who had done a huge amount of research into this family. Jill wrote back to
Christine with this:
“Hi Christine,
It’s a small world! The Waiuku Museum has a copy of the Crawford/Baynes manuscript so if you are
emailing Caron you can inform her all details are right under her nose! What a surprise she is going to
discover”4.

Of course, the first thing I did was go to the Waiuku Museum to look at the information they had which
were copies of Robert Baynes marriage to Kezia Tippett, Robert and Kezia’s death certificates and a
booklet written by Vaughan Cullen called “The Crawford’s of Katikati”
This was when I discovered that my 3x gt grandmother and her husband Robert Baynes were buried
in the Waiuku cemetery but how did these other names fit into the picture?

NZSG-Franklin Branch 6

It has proven to be a very complicated story because there are 4 families melded into one story.

Kezia’s Story:
Kezia Jacob Godfrey was born on the 17th December 1834 in Middlesex, England, the daughter of John
Godfrey, shoemaker, and Keziah Jacob5.
Kezia married Samuel Crawford on the 2nd August 1858 at the Beulah Chapel, Somers Town, London6.

On the 13th August 1859, Kezia, Samuel and baby Arthur sailed from Liverpool to South Africa aboard
the ‘Matilda Atheling’. They arrived at Table Bay on the 27th October 1859 and eventually settled at
The Paarl, north of Cape Town7. An entry in the family bible notes that Samuel Crawford, shoemaker,
departed this life Feb 19th 1860 and that baby John Crawford was born March 24, 1860.
However, according to a note attached to an immigration file in Cape Town Ref No. 1 BC1 dated the
1.11.1860, Samuel Crawford deserted his wife and child at the Paarl. I also have a letter dated 1st
November 1860 from the board of the parish church saying.

“It was also decided to allow a woman named Crawford 2/- per day instead of a ration. She has
been deserted by her husband and was perfectly destitute with two infants.”
Then on the 9th November:

Decided that Mrs Crawford be allowed 1/0 per day to maintain herself and infants instead of 2/ as
hitherto.

I can only imagine how hard life was for Kezia and her 2 children at that time.
Along came George Tippett who coincidentally was a shoemaker like her first husband Samuel and
her father John Godfrey. Maybe they all knew each other? George had lost his wife Rebecca the
previous year8.
George and Kezia were married at St. George’s Cathedral, Capetown, South Africa on the 21 October
18619. Two children were born in Capetown, George (06 Aug 1862)10 and Harriett (03 June 1864)11.
Baby George died on 29 May 1864 just 3 months before the family decide to emmigrate12.

Kezia and George Tippett set sail for New Zealand on the “Steinwaerder” which left Table Bay on the
18th August and arrived in Auckland 14th October 1864 as part of the Waikato Immigration Scheme13.
The Steinwaerder was the first of a total of 13 ships bearing settlers for the confiscated areas of the
Lower Waikato. The ‘Alfred’ was to follow. The scheme offered a free passage and land to those who
chose to come and settle in New Zealand. Passengers from the Steinwarder settled in the Waiuku and
Waipipi areas, George Tippet having been granted Lot 32, 5 acres Waipipi14.

Kezia and George were preparing to settle at Waipipi when disaster struck. The Daily Southern Cross
of the 31 January 1865 recorded:

A correspondent at Waiuku, writing under date January 14th, sends us the following. "A sad accident
occurred at this place today. A number of the lately arrived Cape emigrants are located at Waipipi,
about 6 miles from this village, and have to procure food from here. The road not being made, the only
communication is by water. Today six of the men started from Waiuku in a canoe, with a carcass of
beef and other provisions. There was smart head wind blowing, and in some places, there would be a
nasty sea for a canoe manned by inexperienced hands. When they had got over about half their
journey, the canoe swamped. One of the men struck out for the shore, but has not since been heard of,
and we fear that he has been drowned. The others wisely held onto the canoe until it drifted near
enough to the shore for them to land in safety. The poor fellow who was lost has left a wife and three
children to mourn his untimely fate”.15

After Georges death, a later entry in the Waipipi Allotment List (Section4) page 137, recorded George
Tippett (drowned) Sect 2, Lot 11, 5 acres. Allotted to widow.16 George’s body was never recovered.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 7

Kezia then meets Robert Baynes. According to Vaughan Cullen’s account, Kezia had stuck it out at
Waipipi for 5 months when she was offered a position as housekeeper for Robert Baynes, a settler
from Waiuku. After another 4 months it was decided that as they were compatible, they would
marry17.

Robert Baynes

Robert Baynes, the son of John Baynes and Margaret
Lawrence was born in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire,
England about 1822.
The earliest information I have about Robert is from an
article in the New Zealander, dated 29th August 1863.
In it, it states that “Robert Baynes, son of John Baynes,
late of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England,
deceased, formerly a Malster, and who died on the 7th
March, 1862, by his Will, dated the 15th June, 1861,
gave to his son, Robert Baynes, then or then lately
residing in New Zealand, the sum of 500 pounds
provided he should claim the same within three years
after his said fathers decease” 18 I am not sure if Robert
ever did claim his inheritance, maybe that’s how he
bought his plot of land. More investigation is needed.
An entry in The Old Colonists Association Register
(1919-1934) has a transcription record for Emma
McGinn, daughter of Robert and Kezia. It says that
Emma was born in Waiuku on the 11 January 1868 and
that her father had arrived in New Zealand about 1845
on the vessel ‘Himalaya’19.
According to the death notice of Robert Baynes in the New Zealand Herald of the 30th March, 1895,
Robert came to Waiuku during the war of 1863 from the Waikato and joined the Waiuku Volunteers.
At the end of the war, he purchased some land and became a settler20.
He was a very enthusiastic cricket player, his name appeared in many a newspaper article describing
the numerous games he played.
He was also a member of the Waiuku Literary Club which held a fortnightly meeting where readings
from the works of notable authors were made followed by discussions and deliberations of interesting
subjects. Other members of the club included well known Waiuku names such as Worthington,
Hamlin, Barriball, Smythe, and Campbell21.
Robert Baynes married Kezia Tippett on the 11th October 1865 at his house just on the outskirts of
town. The officiating minister was Mr Rushworth. Witnesses to the ceremony were John Hull, farmer
of Waiuku and Elizabeth Phillips of Whiriwhiri. Elizabeth was also a passenger on the Steinwarder.

To summarize, I had no inkling about the strong family connections there were 30 years ago, but I had
a feeling that I belonged here. Since then, and thanks to Jill and Vaughan Cullen (who repaired the
headstone) Don Ferguson and Christine Clement I have been able to research the wider family
connections of which there are many.

Children of Kezia Jacob Godfrey and Samuel Crawford
Arthur Samuel Crawford (1859-1930)
John Crawford (1860-1937)

Children of Kezia Jacob Godfrey and George Tippett
Harriett Tippett (1862-1917)
George Tippett (1862-1864)

NZSG-Franklin Branch 8

Children of Kezia Jacob Godfrey and Robert Baynes
Robert Baynes (1866-1867
Emma Baynes (1868-1965)
Charlotte Baynes (1870-
Robert Baynes (1872-
Mary Baynes (1873-
William Baynes (1875-1948)
Eleanor Baynes (1877-1882)

Written and presented by Caron Hoverd

References:

1. Copy of Register of Marriage by Registrar of Richard Patrick Murphy and Zelma De Rose.
2. New Zealand BDMs online, at http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/ Marriage

Registration No: 1909/7435
3. Ferguson, Don: Fergus(s)on of Moulin : Accessed from

https://www.fergusontree.com/p332.htm#i4895
4. Cullen, Jill: email to Caron Hoverd Dated Sunday, February 06, 2011.
5. Ancestry.com: England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970.

Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2013
6. Free BMD: England & Wales, Free BMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
7. Cullen, Vaughan: The Origins of the Crawford’s of Kati Kati. Page 10
8. Cullen, Vaughan: The Origins of the Crawford’s of Kati Kati. Page 4.
9. Copy of Marriage Certificate: Marriages in St. Georges Cathedral, Capetown.
10. Entry in the family Bible written by Kezia: George Tippett Born August 6th 1862 at Buetengracht

Street, Capetown, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
11. Entry in the family Bible written by Kezia: Harriett Tippett, Born June 3, 1864, Upper Tennant

Street, Capetown
12. Entry in the family Bible written by Kezia: George Tippett died May 29 1864 aged 1 year 9

months 28 days, Upper Tennant Street, Capetown.
13. New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 289, 15 October 1864, Page 4 Accessed from

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18641015.2.5
14. New Zealand National Archives: Waipipi Location List
15. .Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2350, 31 January 1865, Page 4 Accessed from

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18650131.2.31
16. New Zealand National Archives: Waipipi Location List
17. Cullen, Vaughan: The Origins of the Crawford’s of Kati Kati. Page 2
18. New Zealander, Volume XIX, Issue 1960, 31 August 1863, Page 1

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18630831.2.2.5
19. Ellen Melville & Pioneer Women’s Memorial Hall Committee: Roll of Honour of Pioneer

Women. New Zealand Pioneers and Descendants Club (Inc) 1947 Page G 69.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9781, 30 March 1895, Page 4

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18950330.2.20
20. Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2757, 26 May 1866, Page 5

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18660526.2.23
21. Copy of Register of Marriage: 1865 Marriages in the District of Drury.

Waiuku Cemetery Row 6, Plot 12 & 13

NZSG-Franklin Branch 9

Esther Constable 1785-1865

Esther is both my three and four x great-grandmother and was one of only four surviving children (of
fourteen) born to William and Mary SPRINGFIELD of Rochester and Chatham in Kent.

On New Year’s Day 1801, at the tender age of sixteen, she married John CONSTABLE of Boxley, Kent.
His was the first generation born in Boxley, the family originating from East Dene, on the Sussex coast
above the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head.

During the early years of their marriage John served time with the West Kent Militia, whether as a
balloted man, or as a substitute has yet to be determined. Their first son, named William John for his
grandfathers, was born, and nine months later died, in Woodbridge, Suffolk, a river port where John
would have been on coastal watch duties. Nine children were baptised at home in Boxley.

In 1851 John and Esther were the House proprietors (inn keepers) of The Yew Tree Inn in Boxley. Her
father William also spent his last years there. We have evidence of Esther’s literacy in her application
to Admiralty in 1847, as executrix of his will, for money owing by the Royal Navy to William as a
superannuated messenger.

It was after John’s death in 1852 that Edward, who had emigrated in 1839, returned home and
persuaded family members to join him in New Zealand. On 10th March 1856 Esther embarked, in
company with Edward, daughter Mary Ann, grand-daughter Susannah and her nephew Edward
KNOWLES, for the voyage aboard the ‘Sandford’, departing at 4am the next morning.

Following their arrival in Auckland on 9th July 1856 the short journey down the Manukau Harbour to
Waiuku must have been quite a contrast to the long days spent aboard ‘Sandford’.

Although little is known of the day-to-day life and talents of
Esther we ponder that it may be from her that the musical talent
which flows through her descendants to this day originates.
Early reports record Edward, Susannah and great-grand-
daughter Ellen regularly performing at local events.

She died in 1865 at her home in Waiuku and the report of her
funeral records that “the mortal remains of Mrs Constable were
borne to their last resting place yesterday evening, followed by
the largest concourse of people that has ever been witnessed in
Waiuku, thus showing every mark of respect to the departed’.

I remain amazed at the courage of a woman who, in 1856,
undertook the arduous four-month sea voyage between London
and Auckland, New Zealand. Admittedly it was not in the
confined conditions of steerage, but as a cabin passenger,
nonetheless not one many 72-year-olds would have chosen.

Val Gillanders
Sources:

bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/,
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers,
nationarchives.gov.uk, findmypast.com
Waiuku Cemetery Row 6, Plot 32

NZSG-Franklin Branch 10

Rose Haultain Speedy 1863-1880

Rose was born in 1863 the daughter of James and Sarah Speedy and died tragically 13 August 1880.
Rose’s simple headstone quotes “Be ye so ready”
Her story today is best told by the Coroner’s report read as printed in the NZ Herald on 21st August
1880.

“The village of Waiuku was thrown into a great state of excitement and
surprise this morning by hearing that Rose Haultain, the youngest
daughter of the late Major Speedy, had died suddenly on board the
steamer Oregon.
It appears that about a week ago the chimney of her mother's house at
Karaotahi caught fire—the deceased and her mother only being at home.
The deceased went upon the house to extinguish the fire. In coming down
she slipped on the shingles and fell to the ground. The particulars will be
seen by the evidence given at the inquest. Constable Parker at once
communicated with Mr. VV. J. Harris, J. P., Acting Coroner. The inquest
was held in the Commercial Hall, at 2 o'clock p.m., before Mr. W. J. Harris, Acting Coroner, and a jury
of 12, of whom Mr. E. Constable was chosen, foreman. The jury having been sworn, and after viewing
the body, which was lying in the large room of the Kentish Hotel, the following evidence was taken:

Sarah Mason Speedy deposed: I am the mother of the deceased, Rose Haultain Speedy. She was
seventeen years of age. Yesterday week the chimney of our house caught fire, and the deceased went
on the house to extinguish the fire. She and I were alone in the house. She told me that her foot
slipped on the shingles. She knocked over the ladder in falling, and she fell to the ground, about eight
feet. She did not complain of being hurt then. On the ensuing Monday she took to her bed, and
complained of pain in her stomach, and frequently vomited, which we could not stop. We did not feel
alarmed until Thursday, when we determined to go to Auckland for medical advice. She seemed much
better this morning when we brought her to Waiuku.
With her brother's assistance she stepped on board the steamer Oregon, when she seemed to lose
her breath. I advised her to sit down. She said she preferred going into the cabin. Ongoing there, she
fainted on the steps. After the faint, she recovered, and spoke, but immediately fainted again and
died. During her illness we did all we could to do her good. We had the assistance of Ann Walters, who
is an experienced person. All the deceased said, after the first faint, was, " Why do you make so much
fuss about me; I shall soon be better."
The medicine we administered was camphorated spirits of wine. There were no external marks on her
body. She complained of her shoulder being sore, but there were no marks. We did not think it
necessary to send for medical advice until Thursday, when we decided on taking her to Auckland.

The following verdict was returned: —
"That the said Rose Haultain Speedy on the 21st of August 1880, did die in consequence of injuries
accidentally received by falling from the roof of a house on Friday, the 13th instant." The sad affair
has cast a gloom over: the whole district. — [Own Correspondent, August 21.]

Presented by Rosemary Eden Member NZSG Franklin Branch
Sources:

Paperpast.natlib.govt.nz -New Zealand Herald
Vol.XVII, Issue 5856. 24 August 1880 Page 6.
Waiuku Cemetery, Row 8 plot 39.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 11

The Braun Family

Maria Henrietta Frederica MEESHERN, known as Henrietta, was born in Germany about 1835. She
met and married Heinrich Wilhelm BRAUN, also German and son of a shoemaker.
In their early 20s, and finding life difficult in their home country, they sailed for South Africa on
22 August 1858 where they settled at the Cape of Good Hope and had two children.

As part of the Waikato Immigration Scheme the family boarded the Steinwarder on 18 August 1864
and headed to New Zealand, arriving on 14 October. There were 212 passengers on the barque,
including three stowaways. The family appeared on the passenger list as BRAUR. Wilhelm was 28 and
an arbeitsmann or labourer, Henrietta was 29 and their two children Anna (3yrs) and Louis (3 months).
Finally, on 2 February they were one of 63 families put in possession of their allotment – on the left
about a mile and a half up Whiriwhiri Road near Waiuku.

Now in New Zealand the family worked together to make it their home gradually becoming known by
both the German and Anglicised version of their names e.g., Braun / Brown.

Wilhelm worked hard to provide for his family in many modes of work: labourer, baker, mailman,
carter, cab and bus driver. Henrietta made a home and together they had six more children:

Mary Henrietta born in 1865 was married and divorced twice – to Samuel HOLLAND (1885) then
Frederick MURRAY (1900) with whom she had a child. In 1920 she married William FRANKPITT, a
Widower whose previous wife, Nellie, had disappeared after two weeks of marriage but not before
selling up the house while he was away. He believed her deceased but seven years later when he
married Mary, Nellie reappeared so William quickly divorced her. Unfortunately, William and Mary
then quarrelled and parted. William arranged for their marriage to be annulled in 1922. Later Mary
sued for maintenance, but William took his case to the Supreme Court where Mary was told that she
was not legally married, and maintenance was out of the question. By this time William had been
severely crushed in an accident and he died in 1924. Mary’s surname was WATTS when she died in
1944 and she was buried in Purewa Cemetery.

Wilhelmina Elizabeth was born in 1868 and married Charles Lewsey LEWIS in 1880. She died in 1954
and was buried in Waikumete Cemetery with Charles who had passed away in 1952.

Charles was born in 1870 and married Bridget SKELTON in 1900. They had four children born between
1901 and 1912. Charles died and was buried in Kimihia Cemetery, Huntly in 1913. Bridget passed
away in 1940 and was buried with him.

Henry was born in 1873. In 1883 he was lucky to survive being accidentally shot by a local settler,
Anthony MAY, who was cleaning a revolver when it accidentally went off. The ball entered Henry’s
right side and exited on the right side of the backbone. Doctors said that it was a serious case.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 12

It is presumed that Anthony May was the man Anna Braun later married to make him Henry’s brother-
in-law.

Sadly, on 7 February 1888, Henry was attempting to bring in a beast destined for market but he was
thrown from his horse. When the rider less horse was found a search for Henry began and he was
found with a fractured skull. He remained in a semi-conscious state until his death the next day.

Benjamin was born in 1875. He married Rachel Sarah Te Kaaho EDMONDS in 1898 and they had four
children born between 1899 and 1909. Benjamin died in 1943 and was buried at Purewa Cemetery.
Rachel was buried with him in 1955.
Margaret was born in 1877 and married Robert Arthur SMITH in 1898. Their four girls were born
between 1899 and 1906. Margaret died in 1907 and was buried in Waiuku Cemetery alongside family,
with Robert joining her in 1940.
As to the older children Anna, born in 1861, married Anthony May in 1884. They had nine children
born between 1885 and 1906. Anna died in 1948 and was
buried in Row 23, Waiuku Cemetery with daughter Mabel
(1955). Anthony died from illness during the influenza
epidemic in November 1918 and was buried in Waiuku
with their son Ernest Charles who died in December 1918
(World War I).

And George William, who had been called Louis, born in
1864, married Esther Sarah TROTT, known as Sarah, in
1887. Their nine children were born between 1889 and 1908.
George died in 1938 and Sarah in 1943 and they are buried in
Row 11, Waiuku Cemetery.

Their youngest daughter, Doreen May, sadly died in 1905 aged
2 years six months. The cause was a heart attack brought on
from major breathing difficulties.

In October 1895 Henrietta became ill with pneumonia and
passed away aged 60. Wilhelm struggled in later life. However,
he was granted Naturalisation in 1910 and was proud to be a
New Zealander.

Sadly, his mental health gradually deteriorated, and he seemed
to decide to give up by going to bed one day and staying there.
He passed away in 1914 six months after going to live with
George. We have confirmed Wilhelm is interred in this
cemetery but not where.

Henrietta, her young son Henry, and wee granddaughter, Doreen, are buried here together.

Sources:

FamilySearch.org - Probate records
Ancesty.com NZ Civil Index Records 1800-1966
Papers Past. natlib.govt.nz / Find A Grave
NZ BDM Historical Records / Death Certificates
Register of Interments- Waiuku Cemetery
Waiuku Cemetery Row9, Plot 29 & 30
Researchers: NZSG members Penny Prescott and Lois Hopping

NZSG-Franklin Branch 13

Charles 1820-1898 & Eleanor Bischoff 1826-1910

Charles Ferdinand was born in London on 17 December 1820. His
father was Ferdinand Henry Bischoff and his mother Mary Hutin
Bischoff. They were aged 22 and 20, when they married in January
1820. They had a daughter, Louisa Mary, in 1822. She died soon after
birth and Mary died in 1823. Ferdinand never remarried; he was an
artist and engraver, a member of the Royal Academy. He exhibited
between 1823 – 1849.

Charles was admitted to the Royal Academy School in 1840 and in
1851 was lodging with his father in Ipswich in Suffolk. They advertised
in the 'Ipswich Journal' of 25 October 1851 'Mr. Bischoff and Son. Beg
to inform the Gentry of Ipswich and its Vicinity that they receive
Visitors at their Residence, No. 2, Great Colman Street, and having
had considerable experience, can ensure unqualified satisfaction to
those who may favour them with commissions. Specimens may be seen and terms ascertained on
application. Likenesses taken in Crayons and in every style of the Art. Instructions in drawing and
painting by Mr. Bischoff, jun.
Ferdinand died at Ipswich, 13th December 1854, aged 59.
Charles had married Eleanor CANN at Ipswich a few days earlier on 7th December 1854.

Eleanor Cann was born on 22 November 1826 at Battersea, South West London. She was the seventh
of ten children born to Thomas Cann of Somerset and Margaret BURTON of Middlesex, so she had a
very different family life from Charles. She was called “Nelly” in her family.
Her mother, Margaret, came from a Quaker family and was disinherited by her father for marrying
out of her faith. The family appear to have moved several times and Thomas Cann is listed as being a
gentleman, a boarding-housekeeper, Curator of the Insane and licenced victualler.

Charles and Eleanor came out to Auckland in 1855 on the “Merchantman”. The ship is recorded as
arriving on September 8th and their eldest child, Adelaide, was born in Auckland on September 13th,
1855.
Charles continued his profession as a portrait painter in Wakefield Street, Auckland. Then in 1857 the
family moved to Waiuku and he became a farmer. They lived and farmed on Shakespeare and
Cameron Roads and named their property Woodlands. Charles was the first Lay Reader in the Anglican
Church in Waiuku and established a Sunday School.

In 1858 Eleanor’s younger sisters, Catherine Sarah, and Isabella Adelaide, travelled out to New Zealand
to join her. Isabella married John Hull, who was also farming in Waiuku. Catherine married Thomas
Chadwick, a storekeeper in Waiuku and they moved to British Columbia in 1862

The family had settled in Waiuku at the beginning of a time of transition. Waiuku was strategically
important because of the portage between the Waikato and Onehunga via the Awarua Stream and
the Waiuku River. As tensions grew from settler pressure elsewhere in the Colony, it seems that both
Maori and Pakeha in the Waiuku area tried to stay out of the fray.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 14

In the end it wasn’t possible and at times settlers
sheltered in the pa and blockhouse in Waiuku or
women and children went to Onehunga to stay.
Charles was part of the Waiuku Volunteers who
augmented the military by protecting their own
areas.
After hostilities ceased in 1866 settler landowners,
including Charles and Eleanor, were compensated
for interruptions to their land production and the
area became home to some of a wave of new
immigrants who were required to spend time
building infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Eleanor Cann Bischoff with sons, Left to right, Ferdinand,
Thomas and Charles. Ca 1868

Eleanor and Charles had five children: Adelaide born 1855,
Thomas 1857, Ferdinand 1859, Charles 1861 and
Eleanor 1863.

Adelaide became a teacher. She died in 1891 aged 36. The
youngest son, Charles, continued living and farming Waiuku.
The other children all married and left the district. Thomas
to Onehunga, Ferdinand to Taranaki and Eleanor (Madden)
to Maungaturoto.
Visits and holidays are recorded.

Charles Bischoff with daughters
Eleanor and Adelaide ca 1868

Charles died in 1898 aged 78.
Eleanor died in March 1910 aged 83.

Adelaide’s story continues next page

NZSG-Franklin Branch 15

Adelaide Bischoff 1855-1891

Adelaide Bischoff was the eldest child of Charles Bischoff and Eleanor Cann Bischoff. She was born in
Wakefield Street a few days after they arrived in Auckland from Suffolk in 1855.

She would have been about two years old when the family moved to Waiuku and experienced the
upheaval of the Land Wars before she turned ten. She also had three younger brothers and one little
sister – born with about two years between them. I have found no record of whether Eleanor, her
mother, and the children went to Onehunga at any time from 1863-1865; the Hull family records show
that Isabella Hull, Eleanor’s sister was there in 1863, so they may have.

With this background it is impressive that by November 1871 she and the children she taught at the
Waitangi School (which would have included her brothers and sisters) had passed examination by the
School Inspector. The article records that the school had been established eighteen months previously
but had been under Board of Education supervision for only nine months. That takes the
establishment of the school to May 1870 – Adelaide would then have been fourteen years old and just
over fifteen at the time of the inspection.

In May 1874 another school examination is recorded.
“Here the Inspector also found things clean and orderly. This school is under the management of Miss
Bischoff. The examination consisted of reading, writing, grammar, geography, dictation, etc. The
children acquitted themselves creditably. There were about 20 present.”
The main school was at Waiuku with 45 pupils, another at Waipipi with 40 present and Whiriwhiri with
33 children. The teachers in all these schools were men.

In April 1883 Adelaide is recorded as achieving partial success towards Class E Teachers Examination
– women slightly outnumbered men in the results.
In October 1883 a third school at Mauku is opened; ”….three cheers were given for the opening of the
school, with another one for the teacher, Miss Bischoff, who has for some years so successfully carried
on the Waitangi School, and lately the Bald Hill School. At present these schools are to be worked at
half time…”

Adelaide later taught at Karaka School and left there sometime after 1889 to take up a position at the
Wade – area now known as the Weiti River and Silverdale.
Her sudden death there on 11 September 1891 is reported in that day’s Herald. Her funeral took place
two days later at her parent’s home, with a blessing at the Waiuku Holy Trinity Church and then burial
at the cemetery. The report of that records that it had been her intention to retire at the end of the
year and come home to live with her aged parents

Presented by Judith Bischoff (Great granddaughter of Charles and Eleanor, great niece of Adelaide)
Thanks to Val Gillanders for the Suffolk Artists link and to the Hull Family for their records.

Sources:

https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid=707
Papers Past NZ Herald 11 Nov 1871
Papers Past NZ Herald 2 May 1874
Papers Past NZ Herald 24 Oct 1883
Papers Past NZ Herald 28 Sept 1891
Waiuku Cemetery Row 11 Plot 31-33

NZSG-Franklin Branch 16

Luigi 1829-1917 & Mary Ann Ghezzi 1845-1905

Luigi GHEZZI left Italy, aged around 23, under a cloud as he was one of the
followers of the revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini and Garibaldi movements and
was issued a summons to court for his “crimes” in 1857. The courts ‘suggested’
that he should leave Italy immediately or face a jail term. He never knew that
in later years he was actually granted an amnesty. Therefore, he was never a
criminal but should be considered as one of the heroes who fought for the
liberation of Italy from foreign rulers and for achieving the independence of his
country.

He left Italy and went to Argentina
but did not stay there long. On a
voyage to India he was shipwrecked off the coast of South
Africa where he stayed and later met and married Mary
Ann CURTAIN (born in Limerick, Ireland) at St Johns
Church, Cape Town, on January 1861.

In Italy he had been a baker and in SA he was a
confectioner. Luigi and Mary had two children in South
Africa, Anastasia and Joseph, before sailing to New Zealand
in 1864 on the ship ‘Reiherstieg’, which was one of the 13
ships that were part of the Waikato Immigration scheme.

They landed in Onehunga and from there sailed to Port Waikato and settled in Maioro where they
were amongst the first families to take up land. Each family was given a bag of flour, a camp oven, a
tent and 5 acres of land. As the years went by and they purchased more land around their holding,
their 5 acres grew to 500 acres of prime land; most of which had an iron sand base and is now mostly
owned by NZ Steel who carries sand from the edge of the farm in Ghezzi Rd to the steel mill at
Glenbrook.
Over the following years they had another 11 children, some left NZ for Australia or further afield
while others settled throughout New Zealand.
Young Luigi nearly 17 years, was tragically drowned in the Waikato River on September 1887. He was
going up the river on a barge when the boom struck him and knocked him over. His body was found
in early October. He is buried here at Waiuku and is noted on the family memorial along with his
parents.

Isaac married Ada HANHAM and they had one daughter, Gertrude and Isaac are buried here at
Waiuku.
Baby Louis (Louis Francis Thomas) died suddenly at home at age 2 in 1890, an inquest was held. He is
also buried here at Waiuku.

Albert married Ida HOLMES and they settled in Waiuku. They had no children and Albert died in 1938
aged 58. Aunty Ida was a widow for 36 years and even though she had no children of her own she
always looked forward to our visits and welcomed our family to her home (and there were five
children in my family). They are both buried side by side at Waiuku Cemetery.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 17

Other brothers - Orlando went to Alaska to seek his fortune
in the Klondike gold rush. Two years later Alfred (Alf) left
New Zealand to go and find him …. he also got caught up in
the excitement of prospecting and eventually caught up
with Orlando after 11 years. Neither ever returned to live
in NZ. Orlando was a prospector all his life. Alfred (Alf) met
his wife and settled in Fairbanks and amongst other things
he was Postmaster for quite some time and eventually went
into business. He returned to NZ just once in 1959 when he
was aged 78 and it had been 56 years since he left. My
grandmother Rosetta was delighted to see her long lost
brother. He hadn’t let her know he was coming so was a
huge surprise for her. I was 11 years old at the time and he
stayed for 3 months. He made a huge impression on me and
my siblings with his tales of travel, war, of searching for
gold, and making his fortune! Both Orlando and Alf died
and are buried in Fairbanks.

Rose and Alf at Whenuapai
Airport for his departure back
to Alaska 1959

My grandmother was the eleventh child of Luigi and Mary,
Rosetta Maria Matilda Ghezzi, and she lived to 84 years old.
She is buried in the Hillsborough Cemetery in Auckland. She
and her husband Stan VAUGHAN had one daughter – Rosa
Mabel Heath Vaughan (my mum) who married Robert
William MOORE from Te Kuiti, and they had five children.

Rosetta Maria Matilda VAUGHAN (nee Ghezzi)

We had many happy times as children visiting Waiuku
and interacting with the many cousins in the district
and also throughout greater Auckland and the rest of
the country. Some of our happy memories as children
were at Waiuku, not only with relatives but also with
friends the Ghezzi family had made over the years and
descendants of those families who all arrived together
to start their new lives in New Zealand and settled
together in the greater Waiuku area.

Alf, Rose and her five grandchildren 1959

NZSG-Franklin Branch 18

Mary Ghezzi was 60 years old when she died in 1905, and Luigi died 12 years later in 1917 aged 88. He
was survived by five sons and four daughters.

The Ghezzi’s were one of the many pioneering families who travelled to New Zealand for a better life,
sometimes under very trying conditions. They worked hard, and worked long hours, and developed
the land which shapes the country as it is today.

Prepared by Joan Brough Great Granddaughter of Luigi and Mary Ann Ghezzi.

Read by Rosemary Eden NZSG member of Franklin Branch
Sources:

Personal Family History
Waiuku Cemetery Row 11, Plots 12-18

NZSG-Franklin Branch 19

Thomas Byrnes (Burnes) 1849-1915

Thomas BURNES is one of the lesser-known individuals in Waiuku cemetery. He was born Thomas
BYRNES in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland in 1849 and died Thomas Burnes in Waiuku on Sunday, 10
January 1915. The spelling probably morphed to the more common Burnes as it was easier.

Thomas sailed from Belfast for New Zealand on 28 May 1875 on board the
Dover Castle, arriving in Auckland on 25 August. Of the 364 passengers, 357
were Irish, 3 English and 4 Sco�sh. Thomas must have felt at ease with so
many of his fellow countrymen for company and perhaps already knew some
of them.

On arrival in New Zealand the ship was immediately quaran�ned to Motuihi Island where the
passengers were disembarked to the facility there. There had been nineteen cases of scarla�na (or
Scarlet Fever as we refer to it today), including two deaths during the voyage. The authori�es were
anxious to prevent any community transmission. There were strict instruc�ons for the Captain and
Officers to ensure appropriate disinfec�on was carried out. Fortunately, the stay was brief and the
passengers were permi�ed to disembark in Auckland a few days later.

One of 173 single men on board, Thomas gave his age as 25 on the ship’s passenger list. He gained
employment with Wiseman’s leather goods factory at 165 Queen Street in Auckland where he worked
for a good number of years as a saddler. Perhaps this was a skill he gained at Wiseman’s as there were
no saddlers listed on the passenger list. Thomas came to be known as “Old Tom” and it was at
Wisemans that he met a young lad named James GRIBBLE who was beginning his career in saddlery.

About 1899 Thomas moved to Waiuku and a year or two later took up employment with James Gribble
who by then was well established on his own account as a saddle and harness maker, and a direct
importer of quality equestrian equipment such as whips, spurs, s�rrups, bits, and travel bags.

At the �me of his death Thomas Burnes resided at Brown’s Boarding House in Waiuku. As stated in an
obituary to him in the Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Thomas “was well read and had an intelligent grip
of the leading ques�ons of the day, par�cularly as affec�ng Great Britain.” He obviously had not
forgo�en his homeland and perhaps he frequented the Ken�sh Hotel and discussed his views with
other patrons. Although a bachelor he apparently lived right up to his income and at the �me of his
death his realisable estate was of small dimensions.

Thomas passed away quite suddenly on Sunday morning, 10 January 1915. Although he had suffered
from heart trouble for some �me, he had not seen his doctor since the previous July. A�er saying he
did not feel very well that morning, he returned to his room and passed quietly away.

A small graveside service took place at the Waiuku Cemetery the following a�ernoon. The Rev Father
Skinner officiated, and a number of representa�ve townsmen and se�lers a�ended.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 20

Thomas was blessed in his friendship with his employer James
Gribble for it was he who kindly undertook responsibility for the
funeral arrangements and expenses. These would have
extended to erecting the gravestone we see here today.
Thomas was 65 but, as his obituary stated, seemed to be rather
older.

James Gibble, benefactor. ca1931

Thomas died alone and without any known relatives in his new country but was obviously very well
thought of by his employer and was known for keeping up to date with current events and
developments on the other side of the world.

In Loving Remembrance
of Thomas Burnes,
Died 10th Jan 1915
Aged 65 years.
R.I.P

Sources: 21
New Zealand Herald
Pukekohe & Waiuku Times
BDM Historical
Findagrave.com
J. Bishoff
Waiuku Cemetery Row 20, Plot 31

NZSG-Franklin Branch

John 1860-1936 & Mary McNamara 1862-1949

Both John Thomas McNAMARA and Mary Isabella EGAN were born in
Capetown, South Africa to parents who had previously emigrated from
Ireland. When John son of Patrick and Bridget McNAMARA was 4 years
old, and Mary daughter of Mary and Cornelius EGAN was 2 years old
the families sailed to New Zealand on the ‘Steinwarder’ arriving in
Auckland on 14 October 1864.

The EGAN family were accommodated in army tents at Pura Pura
outside Waiuku township, until they could be allocated their holdings.
Tracks had to be cut and a considerable amount of raupu and rushes
cleared, and roads made. Pura Pura was called The Landing and was
situated where we know Stoney Creek, not far from the cemetery. A
flax mill was established
there along with a Hotel and store.

There were many Maori constantly moving up and down

Awaroa stream, as this was a main route when a party of

Maori kidnapped little Mary. The Maori’s had no time to

launch their canoes into the stream so ran into the raupo

and hid Mary. Mary’s mother soon missed her and raised

the alarm. Many men who were working nearby joined

the search. Mr Tom Hickey had the honour of finding

Mary, who was fast asleep in the raupo none the worse The original McNamara homestead still in use today

for the experience.

Mary was employed as a domestic servant at the Kentish Hotel in Waiuku and upon marriage was
presented a bread knife and board which is still with the family today. Mary and John were married in
1884, and together had 9 sons and 5 daughters. With the return of peace after the Maori wars the
McNamara family eventually settled in Whiri Whiri, where John lived and farmed until his death in
1936. The farm was opposite Mary’s parents Mary and Cornelius Egan on Whiri Whiri Road.

As a young man John served with the mounted rifles
attaining the rank of Sergeant, he was for some years
Honorary Secretary of the Waiuku Racing Club. He also
was a prominent cornetist and was a member of the
Waiuku Band. He as a founder of St Anthony’s Catholic
Church in Waiuku.
When John passed away in 1936 the graveside service
at Waiuku cemetery was conducted by the Rev Father
Kirrane. Mary died at her home in Whiri Whiri, Waiuku
in 1949 and is buried with John.

Presented by Con and Lindsay Egan - descendants

Source:

Waiuku Cemetery Row 19 Plot 45

NZSG-Franklin Branch 22

Henry 1834-1908 & Lucy Parker 1841-1920

Henry was born in France 1834 as was a younger brother although his other siblings were born in
England. I haven’t been able to find out why the family was in France, but Henry’s father Wilmot was
a London barrister and his mother Julia Seraphina ZOTTI was the daughter of an Italian writer and
teacher of English. He later grew up in London and immigrated to NZ arriving on the “Miles Barton”
in 1853 as an 18yr old. In 1864 he married Lucy ENGLAND.

Policing was the responsibility of Auckland Provincial Government, but they were nearly bankrupt
a�er bearing the brunt of early war funding. So Waiuku decided to fund its own Policeman. Henry
started du�es on 2 June 1868 as a District Constable with an annual salary of 50 pounds. These part
�me policemen were recruited from the local community and given full powers, but s�ll permi�ed to
have a separate income a bone of conten�on with the full-�me constables las�ng beyond the turn of
the century.

Henry was able to con�nue farming and in the early 1890’s
started the first mail coach service between Pukekohe and
Waiuku. The horse driven coach was driven first by his son
Bill. The unmetalled roads of the �me were frequently near-
impassable and when condi�ons became too bad passengers
had to get out of the coach and walk or even push the coach.
Detours through adjoining farmland would also have to be
made but in the determined spirit of the �me the coach
always got through. This coach service was the fore runner
to Parkers’ buses later taken over by his sons and then his grandsons, my Dad Les and Uncles Reg and
Eber.

Henry re�red in 1900 at age of 65 a�er 32 years of service to the town. In future years periods of
service by a policeman in one area was shortened to less than 4 years so that a man didn’t become
too familiar with the locals!!!!!

Lucy was born In Kororareka (Russell) in 1841. Her father
Joseph England was a boot maker and built a house from pit -

sawn Kauri which is now The Gables
Restaurant. The chequered history of
the house includes being a brothel, a
shop, a bakehouse, and Salva�on
Army boy’s home. It is now listed as a
Heritage building.

The family were living in Russell when Hone Heke cut down the flagpole in
1844 for the first �me. In 1845 Heke and his followers a�acked the town
and set it on fire. Joseph, his wife Asenath and 5 children including 4yr old
Lucy were evacuated by ship to Auckland. Joseph set up business there and
later the family se�led in Waiuku.

Presented by Bev McCracken
Sources

www.thegablesrestaurant.co.nz/gallery
Waiuku Cemetery Row 17 Plot 32

NZSG-Franklin Branch 23

Thomas 1851-1902 & Kate Sedgwick 1851-1911

Kate FRENCH born 21.Dec.1851 and Thomas SEDGWICK born.18.April.1851
were married on 24th June 1878 at Waiuku at the
home of Edward Constable, owner of the Ken�sh
Hotel.
Thomas arrived in New Zealand from Chatham,
Kent, England in 1871, Kate his fiancé, also from
Chatham, joined him seven years later in 1878
after nursing her mother.

In 1876 Thomas was granted the licence for the Ken�sh Hotel Waiuku
from the previous lease holder Mr A Campbell. Prior to this Thomas was a commercial traveller with
T.S. Morrin and Co.
A busy life followed, with renova�ng and embellishing the Ken�sh to provide accommoda�on for
guests alongside involvement in community ac�vi�es such as the catering for sale yard days, local
cricket games, func�ons and races.

During this �me Kate and Thomas raised a family of six
children namely –
Esther (m. James Gribble), Edgar Thomas (m. Leila Alicia
Harris), Norman James (m. Jessica Hawkins), Kate (m.
Robert Adair Gardner, Stella Annie (m. Harry Stephen
Limmer) and Ethel Marion (m. William Cory Sco�
Hosking). Edgar, Norman, Stella and Ethel with their
spouses are buried in the Waiuku Cemetery. Esther is
at rest in the Hillsborough Cemetery and Kate is in the
Rotorua Cemetery. Kate and Thomas were fortunate to
be grandparents to sixteen grandchildren.

Some sixteen years later (1892) the Ken�sh
licence was transferred to Sara and William
Wa�erman.

A�er relinquishing the Ken�sh, Thomas and
Kate built and opened a general store with
accommoda�on upstairs, on the corner of
Queen Street and Bowen Street. They later
added a single-story extension on the Queen
Street side. The Sedgwick family lived in the
two-story house built next door in Bowen
Street.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 24

Unfortunately, in 1897 Thomas fell from a horse onto the metal road. It appears this caused ongoing
health issues. He passed away 14th December 1902 aged 51 years. Kate continued to manage the
store and accommodation with family help.

Sadly, Kate passed away 30th December 1911 aged 59 at Esther’s, her eldest daughter’s residence.
Esther and her husband James Gribble bought the Sedgwick store and dwelling and later leased it to
Mr McQueen for a drapery business and Mrs Christie as a restaurant and private lodging house.
Their obituaries acknowledged that they were well liked members of the community, always involved
and interested in the welfare of the district.

Presented by: April Van Dam (Walmsley)

Sources and thanks to:

Madeleine Judson (researcher of Kate),
Judy and Diana Bischoff (family tree scribed by Joan
Bischoff their Mum),
Obituary for Thomas - NZ Herald Issue 12148 19
December 1902,
Charlie Buchanan, Waiuku Museum researched and
forwarded records/photos pertaining to the Sedgwick
family.
Image of Thomas Sedgwick from page 167 Edward
Constable –Settler Waiuku, New Zealand by Hazel
Holmes
Waiuku Cemetery Row 14, Plot 13-16

NZSG-Franklin Branch 25

William 1821-1907 & Catherine Currie 1829-1902

One of Waiuku’s early settlers William CURRIE,
was born in North Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. His
parents were Margaret CURRIE and Henry
MACKIE. After his father died, when William was
around 8 years of age, he was raised by his
mother’s 2 maiden sisters. He used his mother’s
maiden name ‘CURRIE’ when he left home.

William CURRIE c1902. His father Henry was a sea captain, and by the Catherine CURRIE c1902.
Image source: Catherine CURRIE time William was aged 12 years, he too was lured Image source: Catherine CURRIE
to sea. Adventure found him aboard the Leith
packet ship ‘Earl of Wemyss' when he narrowly
escaped with his life in a fierce gale in which the
vessel was wrecked with 11 souls lost, upon the
Brancaster coast of Norfolk en-route from London
to Edinburgh in 1833.

At the age of 18 William sailed to Sydney by the barque ‘Cornwall’ and went on to Norfolk Island with
the vessel which was chartered to transport military to supress a mutiny in 1839.

He returned to Sydney from whence he was engaged in coastal trading to Adelaide, and Melbourne
before coming to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840 by the Schooner ‘Kate’.

William went to Wade where he traded timber. He supplied timber for the building of Dr Maunsell’s
house at the Waikato Heads, the Rev Mr Hamlin's house at Orua Bay, and for the Rev Mr Whiteley at
Kawhia.

In 1847 William purchased the 16-ton schooner `Victory' in partnership with James CUMMINS and
traded sundries between Kawhia, Raglan and Auckland, before the vessel was advertised for sale in
1848.

After selling the ‘Victory’, William supplied timber for the construction of the Fencible settlement at
Otahuhu on a government contract. He felled Kauri on the Awhitu Peninsula, and the Huia area,
transporting the timber on barges towed by cutter to Onehunga, and Annes Creek at Westfield.

William was employed by the government with Captain David Rough in 1849 to survey the Waiuku
township and inlet, prior to going to Sydney with James CUMMINS where they purchased a 75-ton
schooner rigged clipper which they named the “William and James”.

While in Sydney, William married Catherine WATSON at St Andrews Church, Cumberland on January
13th 1850.

Catherine was the daughter of Mary NICHOLLS and James WATSON a civil engineer who had
involvements in shipping. She was baptised in St Matthews, Walsall, Staffordshire. Her death
registration records that she was born in Birmingham. Catherine’s mother passed away when she was
a young girl and her father remarried.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 26

Newlywed, William and Catherine sailed for Auckland, with passengers and cargo aboard the ‘William
and James’ commanded by William. From Auckland they embarked with cargo and passengers
including James Cummins and his wife, William`s friend Edward Constable, and James Watson to San
Francisco. Returning via Tahiti to Sydney in December 1850. Edward Constable bought out James
Cummins financial interests in the vessel and it was advertised for sale in Sydney. William and
Catherine returned to Auckland where they ran a grocery business before William obtained a licence
for the Aurora Hotel in 1852.

The hotel was leased out in 1856 and William and Catherine settled in Waiuku. Although the Aurora
was sold some years later, William retained a substantial property which he purchased on the corner
of Hobson and Wellesley Streets in 1856 known as ‘Prospect Place’ until his death.

At Waiuku William employed several teams in transporting goods from the Pura Pura landing where
Maori bought produce from the Waikato by canoe to trade. William carted the goods along the
Portage road to Waiuku, and then by cutter to Onehunga where he traded directly with the settlers in
Princes St.

William and his eldest son 15-year-old James continued trading with Maori during the New Zealand
wars after the settlers had fled to safety, and William also transported supplies for the troops at New
Plymouth and into the Waikato.

William had purchased 7 allotments of land in January 1863 which considerably increased the size of
the property he had purchased in 1857 which was situated on the corner of Hull and Bright Roads.
After the New Zealand Wars, he cleared the land and settled into a life of farming on 238 acres.

Forest Farm Homestead Waiuku c1893
Currie family members on veranda: Kate, William, with Eunice, George, Catherine, Charlotte holding Evie

William and Catherine raised a family of 7 boys and 4 girls. For some years they also cared for a
grandson who was sent to live with them for the treatment of his asthma by William who practiced
herbalism.

NZSG-Franklin Branch 27

Their 2 youngest sons both gave service to the Waiuku Volunteers and served in the South African
War. Their grandson also served with the Waiuku Volunteers and with the Auckland Mounted Rifles
during the first world war.

3 daughters married at Waiuku’s Holy Trinity Church, the eldest remained single and lived with her
parents.

To the locals, William was known as ‘Bill’, and he was recognised in his community for introducing
innovative labour-saving farming methods to the area.

In 1888 a young horse lashed out at William knocking him down and kicking him causing serious injury.
One of Williams thighs was so badly broken in the accident that he required the aid of crutches and
then a wheelchair until the end of his days.

Compiled and presented by Catherine CURRIE using
the following sources:

Auckland Highway Assessment Rolls Waiuku 1867, 1868, 1869
Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns,
1754-1937 ancestry.com
Birth, Death and Marriage Registrations Internal Affairs New
Zealand
Brancaster 1833 – A Sad Tale
https://norfolktalesmyths.com/2018/09/03/brancaster-1833-a-
sad-tale/
BRUCE Donald Personal knowledge 1995
Certificates of British ship registry
Currie Laurence correspondence to Mrs BRUCE and Stan Currie
1960
Deeds Registers Archives New Zealand Auckland
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, Family Search
Franklin Branch NZSG 2017, Waiuku Cemetery
HEDLEY Philippa, The True Life Story of the MACKIE Family
Hotel License Archives New Zealand Ref BADW A130/12 1852
Land Information New Zealand Plans
Military personnel files Archives New Zealand
Newspaper NSW - Sydney Herald, Sydney Morning Herald,
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser
Newspapers NZ –New Zealander, Daily Southern Cross, New
Zealand Herald, Auckland Star
Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, FamilySearch
The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1902, Christchurch,
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Vol 2 Auckland

NZSG-Franklin Branch CURRIE Headstone inscription: Sacred to the memory
of Catherine the beloved wife of William Currie born
Sheffield May 14 1829 died Waiuku March 16 1902.
Her last words were Praise God from whom all
blessings flow All priase him sing his praises. Also
William Currie the beloved husband of the above who
died January 1 1907 aged 85 years. AT REST
Image - Catherine Currie 2021

28

Dr Roy 1901-1985 & Margery Whiteside 1899-1989

Dr Whiteside was the first Mayor of Waiuku and was in practice
in Waiuku as a General Practitioner, initially on his own and
then with Dr Rae WEST. He was born at Onewhero on the 13th
August 1901. His father, George Samuel Whiteside, had arrived
in New Zealand as a baby with his parents on the Ganges from
Ireland in 1864.

Dr Whiteside (he was known as Sam) was one of eight children
and while he was young, the family moved to the top of the
South Island. He attended Nelson College and did very well
both academically and in sport and in 1915 was awarded a New
Zealand Scholarship. He was in the First XV as were also his
brother George and his son Peter when they attended Nelson
College. He also won various cups and medals in distance
running. He was obviously very much an all-rounder.

Dr Whiteside then studied medicine at Otago University and
graduated with M.B. Ch.B. in December 1924.

In March 1925 Dr Whiteside became a House Surgeon at the King George V hospital at Rotorua. While
he was at the hospital, he met Margery EVERETT who was a nurse there. Margery, who was born 23
August 1899 was also from a large family and came from Riwaka. They married on 31 March 1926 in
Margery’s family home in Riwaka. While they were in Rotorua, they had their first son, Peter, who was
born in 1927. They left Rotorua in 1928 and moved to Waiuku where Dr Whiteside set up in private
practice. A newspaper article about their farewell describes Mrs Whiteside as wearing a frock of navy
georgette, relieved with Chinese red. Dr Whiteside was presented with a brass cigarette box, Mrs
Whiteside with a brass tray and Master Peter with a china porridge bowl.

The Whiteside’s stayed in Waiuku for the rest of their lives. Their second son, Ian, was born in 1932.
Dr Whiteside was appointed as Medical Officer for the Franklin Racing Club, a position he kept for
many years and in 1939 became the part time Medical Officer at Franklin Memorial Hospital. He led a
very full life and at various times over the years held the positions of President of the South Auckland
Rugby Union, the Waiuku Golf Club, the Waiuku Rugby Union and the Waiuku Yacht Club and even
represented New Zealand in bowls in the 1938 Empire Games.

He stayed in medical practice until he retired in his 70s and was very highly
regarded. He was generous to his patients and if someone could not pay his
fees, was happy to receive something in kind such as ducks in the hunting
season.

Dr Whiteside wearing his Masonic Regalia

NZSG-Franklin Branch 29

He became the first Mayor of the Waiuku Borough Council
in 1955, remaining in that position until 1971, and was Mayor
at the time of the establishment of the Glenbrook Steel Mill,
becoming its Medical Officer for some years.

Mayor Whiteside wearing the
Waiuku Borough Council Mayoral
chains.

The peak of Dr Whiteside’s career was
being awarded the OBE in 1966. It was
announced in the Queen’s Birthday
honours list of 11 June 1966 and noted in
the Supplement to the London Gazette of
the same date. Dr Whiteside went to
London with Mrs Whiteside and his sister,
Madge, for the investiture by the Queen.

In London to receive his OBE with his
wife Margery and sister Madge Harris

On the way they travelled through the Middle East.
Dr Whiteside was particularly impressed by Israel
and wrote a seven-page letter to his family back in
New Zealand, describing everything they had seen
in Israel.
Dr Whiteside died at the age of 84 in 1985 and Mrs
Whiteside died just after her 90th birthday on 27
August 1989.
Presented by Janet Whiteside – Granddaughter

Waiuku Cemetery Row 52, Plot 1

NZSG-Franklin Branch 30



Waiuku Cemetery

Cemetery Road

G Dark blue indicates approximate location of grave sites.
e
o 59 1~60
r 58 001~60
g Settlers 57 001~61
e Memorial Garden 56
55 1~64
R DRIVE WAY 54 1~64
53 2~64
o Rose 52 000~61
Gardens 51 1~60
a 50 1~56
49 1~56
d 55~1 Row 83 48 1~56
55~1 82 47 1~56
Row 46 1~56
Ashes row 45 22~1 45 CAR PARK
Ashes row 44 22~1 44 Row 1 S1
41 2 S2
Ashes row 43 22~2 43 40 3 S3
32~1 42 4 S4
39 5 S5
32~1 38 6
37 7 1~51
41~1 36 8
35 9 1~54
46~1 14 10 RSA 1~40
15 11 RSA 1~59
45~1 16 12 RSA 1~55
17 13 RSA 2~59
45~1 18 31 RSA 1~59
19 32 1~25 1~59
48~1 20 33 1~25 1~55
21 Row 34 1~63
43~1 22 1~35 1~63
23 1~63
43~1 24 OLD SECTION 1~63
25 1~38
42~1 26 children 1 1~47
27 children2
44~1 28
29
44~1

46~26

48~1

44~1

44~1

40~1

42~1

34~2

37~2 OLD SECTION
Row 30
35~3

36~1

36~1

25~1

29~6



Prin�ng Sponsored by -
Aaron Gillanders and Julie Henson

Speedy Signs Rotorua
www.speedysigns.co.nz/store/rotorua