John Neal Bethell, Catherine Bethell, Clara Bethell

John Neal Bethell, born Yatten, Keynell, Wiltshire, 7 November 1855, d. 8 January 1943; also Catherine d. 28 September 1900, a. 32; and Clara d. 16 November 1918, a. 48.

Historical information

Clara's original headstone now at MOTAT. Headstones appear to have been combined into one recently. See also Timespanner:

http://timespanner.blogspot.co.nz/2009/09/bethell-headstone-mystery.html

http://timespanner.blogspot.co.nz/2009/10/update-on-motat-headstones.html

The Bethell family led by John’s father Francis came from Broomfield Farm, Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire. They arrived at Onehunga in 1858, and settled in Newmarket. In 1894 John Bethell purchased Te Henga. He would spend the summers there, and winter at first in New Lynn, then from around World War I in Avondale on Great North Road, close to the Whau River. He bought a five acre block there and built what Mary Woodward in her book “The Landscape of my Heart” described as “an ambitious house.”

Jack Diamond recorded the story that folks passing along Great North Road and the old man sitting in his hollowed-out kauri seat, thought the old bloke was yelling to himself. In fact, with his neighbour just on the other side of the Whau Creek in New Lynn, that was the way they conversed.

From Woodward’s book:

“Towards the end of his life Pa Bethell spent ever more time in his kauri seat, a hollowed-out log sunk on its end and roofed over with thatch, near the gate of his Avondale home. When funerals passed on their way to the cemetery at Waikumete he would stand and raise his hat. His turn came on a January day in 1943. Aged 87 he had a fatal heart attack and fell forward off his seat. On his watch chain he was wearing the tooth of one of his favourite dogs mounted in gold and round his neck his prized hei tiki. The tangi which incorporated several traditional Maori elements, was held at his Avondale home. He lies between his two wives, Catherine and Clara, in the churchyard at St Ninians …”

MR J N BETHELL

A man who for 50 years was identified with the progress of the Waitakere district, and the west coast resort of Te Henga, Mr John Neale Bethell, of 2154, Great North Road, Avondale, died recently at the age of 87. Mr Bethell was born at Wiltshire, England, and had been a resident of New Zealand for more than 80 years. In his youth he had a close association with the Maori race and was their official interpreter on many occasions. He was widely known and respected in Auckland. Mr. Bethell is survived by three sons, two daughters, 25 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Auckland Star 9 January 1943, p. 3

Catherine Bethell died at her mother’s residence in Chelsea, and her body was conveyed back to Auckland from the Northcote ferry tee. (Death notice, NZ Herald 1 October 1900)

Clara Bethell was J N Bethell’s second wife. During the Spanish Influenza epidemic of November 1918, she died of pneumonia at the Vincent Street Hospital set up during the epidemic. Her death notice read “A kind and loving wife and mother to my motherless children. Nothing in my heart I bring/Simply to Thy Cross I cling. Inserted by her sorrowing husband and daughters.” (NZ Herald, 27 November 1918, p. 1)

Row C, Plot 7: John Neal, Catherine and Clara Bethell