WILLIAMS family

WILLIAMS Family

Herbert Benjamin WILLIAMS was born circa 1843 in London, England. I have been unable to find any birth registration for him at this time. His parents were John Herbert WILLIAMS and Sarah EVERRET.

John and Sarah were married 23^rd November 1842 in Islington, Middlesex, England.

John gave his occupation as a victualler (beer seller). Sarah was a minor at the time of the marriage so would have needed her parents consent to marry. Johns’ father another John is noted as an artist on the marriage certificate, and Sarahs’ father Benjamin a gardener. I have been unable to positively identify either family on the early English census.

Herbert came to NZ around 1865 again I cannot find him on any documents.

On 30^th December 1886 he married a widow Mary Jane LEWIS nee MILLRAY at the Registrars office in Christchurch. Mary Jane had come to NZ with her first husband James LEWIS and one daughter, they arrived in Dunedin on the ‘SS Arawa’. James died in 1886. They had married in Lancaster, England, in 1883 James aged 33 and Mary Jane aged 19.

At the time of Herbert and Mary Jane’s marriage, Mary Jane was 22 and had two small children to provide for. Herbert was 44 years old and described himself as an Agent probably a newspaper agent. It has been suggested that Mary Jane had fallen on hard times and had been taken in by a church group before answering an advertisement for a housekeeper placed in the paper by Herbert.

Herbert and Mary Jane went onto have at least 8 children six boys and two girls, so Mary Jane had at least ten children although it is thought she had more.

Herbert died aged 73 years of senile decay; he is buried at Linwood cemetery in Christchurch. Mary Jane died when she too was 73; she was living in Prebbleton at the time. Mary Jane is buried at Bromley Cemetery.

Children:- Herbert Frederick born c1889, died 1978.

George Ingram born c1890, died 1944.

James Ernest born c1892, died 1924 as a result of an accident.

Jessica Everett born c1893, died 1956.

Joseph Edward born c1895, died 1968.

Stanley Arthur born 1898, died 1898.

Henry Richard born c1899,

Hayton Millray born c 1903, died 1958.

Gwendoline Beatrice born 1906, died 1956.

I haven’t done a lot of research on the WILLIAMS offspring, not surprising it is not all that easy to trace people with a name like WILLIAMS.

Herbert Frederick born 1889 in Christchurch. Married Evadne E P DRYDEN in Christchurch in 1917.Herbert was a vulcanising agent and declared bankrupt in 1922. I don’t have any children recorded for this couple, but there may well have been some. Herbert died in 1978.

George Ingram born 1890 in Christchurch. Married Ivy Winifred REES in 1925. Ivy had previously been married to George’s younger brother James. When James died George married his widow. George was a labourer. George died in 1916 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery.

James Ernest born c1892 in Christchurch. He married Ivy Winifred REES in1914 in Christchurch. James died as the result of an accident aged 32. He had been a sawyer at the time of his death.

Jessica Everett born 1893 in Christchurch was the first born daughter of Herbert & Mary Jane. She married William WATSON in 1914. Jessica died in 1956 a widow. She is buried at the Ruru Lawn Cemetery.

Joseph Edward was born April 1895 in Christchurch. He worked as both Taxi Driver and Boot maker. Joe married Edith Elizabeth REES in 1916. Joe died in 1968 and is also buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery.

Henry Richard was born c1899. I have little information about him. He married a Margaret GARLAND.

Hayton Millray was born in 1903. He was deaf, after his early schooling at Little River, Phillipstown & Cust schools he attended the Sumner Institute for the Deaf & Dumb. Hayton married Mary DUGGAN who was also deaf. Hayton died in 1958 in Wellington, and is buried at Taita Cemetery.

Gwendoline Beatrice (see separate entry).