Joseph James BIRCHLEY & Helen SHEARER - Manawatu :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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Joseph James BIRCHLEY & Helen SHEARER - Manawatu

Journal by ngairedith

journal written for sarnz who asked on 2017-02-17 00:54:29 joseph james birchley & helen shearer
in 1872 in nz joseph james birchley married helen shearer daughter of william shearer and mary miki married pre 1856. does anyone have anything they can add to this please

Joseph James Birchley (1850-1908) was born 24 July 1850 in Somers Town, St Pancras, England, to Samuel Birchley (1818-1900) & Susanna Mary Hulford (1828-1902). However, there is indication that as his father's name was not on the birth registration, that he was base born, as Joseph James Hulford, to Susanna Mary Hulford who later married Samuel Birchley. Joseph had a sister, Annie Elizabeth Hulford and siblings William Birchley Hulford, John Hulford Birchley, Charles Birchley (or Hulford) & Frances Martha Birchley. This needs following up.

Joseph arrived into New Zealand about 1857 with his uncle James Samuel Hulford (1823-1864 his mother's brother) and his wife, Joseph's aunt, Frances (1819-1899 nee Pigden)
Wellington Independent, 13 Sep 1864 HULFORD - On the 10th inst., at his residence, Murphy street, (Thorndon) Mr J. S. Hulford (buried Bolton Street)
NOTICE The friends of the late Mr J. S. Hulford, are respectfully requested to attend his funeral, which will leave his late residence, Murphy street, this day at half-past three o'clock. WALLIS, PARSONS & GASCOIGNE, Undertakers
ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS The Brethren of the Court Sir George Grey, are respectfully requested to attend the funeral of their deceased brother, J. S. Hulford, which will leave his late residence, Murphy street, this day, at half-past three o'clock. By order of the V. R., T. D. SMITH, Secretary
* Samuel's wife, Frances Hulford died 17 May 1899 aged 80
Auckland Star, 18 May 1899 DEATH
HUFFORD(sic) On May 17, 1899, Francis, in her 81st year, at the residence of Mrs Swain, Victoria Avenue, Eden Terrace. Private interment, Friday, Purewa
Frances is buried Block A Row 9 Plot 6
NOTE to find out who Mrs Swain was, this was found:
Surname: Burns (Burne?)
Reg No: 4265
Given Names: Charles Francis
Rank: Private
Unit: No 23 Company (Nelson section)
Contingent: seventh
County/City: Waipa
Occupation: baker
Ship: Gulf of Taranto 6 April 1901
Address: care of Mr W. Chappell, Pirongia
Next of Kin: Burns, Mr John
Relationship to Soldier: father
Next of Kin Address: c/o Mrs Swain, Victoria Avenue, Eden Terrace, Auckland
or, maybe it was a boarding house?

* On 15 Feb 1872 Joseph (as Birchley) married Hereni (Helen) Shearer (1855-1940)
Evening Post, 15 Feb 1872 - MARRIAGE On the 15th inst., by the Rev Mr Moir, Joseph James Birchly(sic) to Ellen(sic) Shearer, both of Wellington
* Helen was born in Kekerengu, Kaikora Coast, 1 of 12 children of William Shearer (1812-1887), a Mariner, Whaler, Farmer from Scotland, & Mere (Mary) Pikirewa Hine Korako Te Rehu from Taranaki. Hereni Shearer had a moko kauae (female chin tattoo) which indicated her status as a puhi (high-born, unwed woman), wahine rangatira (women of rank), kahurangi (chieftainess) or ariki tapairu (first-born in a family of note), depending on the woman
NOTES ...
Helen's mother on birth & marriage certs Mary is listed as Mary Shearer formerly Weki, formerly Miki, formerly Te Tuhi, formerly Hine Korako Te Rehu or formerly Pikirewa Te Hikoi
Helen's father William Shearer drowned at Foxton aged 75. His obit reads ... Mr William Shearer, who was drowned at Foxton recently, was one of the oldest whalers on the coast. Visiting New Zealand in an English whaler the 'Puzey Hall' owned by Mellish & Co., London, in 1830, he then left for Sydney, returning to Lyttelton in 1835 in the bargue 'Australia' commanded by the late Captain W. B. Rhodes, as third mate. He was one of the four who came up from Lyttelton to Queen Charlotte Sound in an open boat. He came over to Wellington and landed in Titahi Bay, Porirua harbour. He was afterwards connected with the Wellington cargo boats as foreman for Mr J. F. Wills. He left Wellington about 20 years ago and has lived at the Chathams, Taranaki and latterly at Foxton, where his death took place by drowning. He was 76 years of age. He could tell a good many tales about the old fighting days with the Maori round Kapiti

* About 1875 Joseph moved to Foxton where he was a flax dresser, he also ran a Billiard Saloon there
* In 1877 he took over the Foxton & Lower Gorge Ferries and with George Boyd became the Ferrymen
* In Nov 1878 his company Bowe & Buckley were ... "pushing on with their contract for removing the Hydrabad's cargo. They have about 160 tons ready for shipment at Harley's. Six teams are constantly engaged and four more are to join them this week. This lot should make short work of it"
* In Feb 1879 Mr F. Cooper of Wellington, who bought the wreck of the 'City of Auckland,' sold it to Bowe & Birchley, keeping for himself the steering wheel, binnacle, compasses and one bower anchor and chain
* In 1879 he was a Stock Dealer in Palmerston North, in partnership with Thomas Bowe in the firm Bowe, Birchley & Co., until he bought out Thomas's share of the business and ran it with Pat Mangan
* In March 1890 Mr J. S. Morrison, flax dresser of Newtown, Wellington, sued Joseph for breach of contract in failing to deliver 12 tons of best hemp
* In March 1891 he leased the Okaua hemp mill in Shannon
* In Aug 1895 Joseph bought the house and land in Thynne St, Foxton from Mr J. R. McMillan
* In Oct 1899 Helen sold some land she owned in Foxton to Ade Isabel Cook
* In Jan 1901 Joseph asked the Pahiatua County Council for a concession in the toll charged for sheep passing through the toll gate at Upper Gorge Bridge. It was resolved that a concession be allowed of half rates for mobs of 500 and over
* In Oct & Nov 1902 his brother Charles (from outside NZ) put ads in the local newspapers looking for him
* In 1903 he purchased a farm in Taihape and sold his 13 acre property, with 6-roomed house, stables, barns, cowshed etc in Hokowhitu. This went up for auction but was passed in at £1000. It was later purchased by Mr F. Tyer of Palmerston North
* In 1903 his son 'Sid' was charged in connection with an accident on the River bank in which Miss Elizabeth Baker was seriously injured. It was a long, drawn-out trial and because of constant jury disagreement, a new trial began in Sep 1903. Again the jury disagreed and the Crown finally abandoned the case
* In Dec 1903 Joseph put up for sale his well-known property at Hokowhitu, 15 miles from Pohangina & 10 miles from Apiti, consisting of 13 acres with a comfortable dwelling
* On 13 July 1907 his son Jim, who worked in the railway workshops at Aramoho, contracted an illness and died at their home home, 44 Lombard St., Palmerston North, aged 29
* On 28 Feb 1915 his daughter Hilda (Mrs John Dalrymple Oliphant) died in Wanganui giving birth, she was 29. She had only been married 2 years and left 2 sons (her son later died in Dec 1915 aged 10 months)
* In Dec 1917 his son Corporal Malcolm Sydney 'Sid' Birchley, horsebreaker with the Wellington Mounted Rifles, returned to Palmerston North after fighting on the Peninsula. He was the first to offer his services when war broke out & travelled on the transport with 700 horses. He was wounded at Gallipoli. He also took part in the Boer War

Of interest, Joseph bought the gigantic, historic shipwreck 'Hydrabad'
In 1878 the 224-feet long iron-hulled vessel crashed into the coastline 1km south of the tiny Waitarere Beach community in what the papers of the time described as "a furious hurricane". None of the 35 people on board were killed, but the 1350-tonne vessel could not be refloated. Ravaged by fires and rust, she sat in shallow waters out from Waitarere Beach and became a local icon.
Joseph bought the hulk and all the gear etc in 1881 for £5 (equivalent today of $842) when it came ashore at Otaki. He sold a portable engine, a steam winch, a donkey pump, 4 large iron tanks, 2 large cooking ranges (1 suitable for cooking for 60 people) and about 1 ton of old brass and muntz metal. He offered to sell a boiler and steam winch to the Waitara Harbour Board. The 6ft figure head and several of her seats were at one time at his residence, The Avenue, Foxton.

* He served on the jury at inquests
* He had thoroughbred horses and polo ponies. His son Maurice rode a number of the winners. When he was 11 years old he came off his mount 'Black Watch' at the 3rd hurdle but got straight back on and completed his round
* He was an enthusiastic gardener and his 'prodigious' veges were well know around town

Joseph & Helen had 13 chldren
(the last 11 born in Foxton)
...1 Sep 1873 - 1943 Helen Amelia 'Nellie' Birchley
- Helen was born in Kaikoura. She married William Joseph Thomas Park (1859-1927) in 1897 and had 5 children (note how their names match her siblings)
* 1898 - 1981 Ethel Florence Park
* 1900 - 1952 Walter James Park
* 1902 - 1991 William Sydney Park
* 1903 - 1921 Malcolm Clifford Park
* 1906 - 1963 Maurice Lionel Park
William shot himself at Mangamahu, 30 miles from Wanganui, on 23 Feb 1927. He was 68. It was said he was having financial worries

...2 Oct 1874 - 1959 Alice Maud Birchley
- Alice was born in Wellington. In April 1930 she was at the Arbitration Court in Napier seeking compensation for her injury (fracture) sustained during her employment as housekeeper for Samuel McGaffin, farmer of Mangatahi. She was earning £1 a week at the time and was unable to work for years after. She was awarded £127 by the Arbitration Court against his estate (2½ years wages). She never married
NOTE Samuel (1853-1930) died just 2 months before the case but he had told her that all would be better for her when she finally received a pay out

...3 (? month) 1876 - 1958 Clara Mary 'Tottie' Birchley
- In 1892 Clara nicely sang 'Little Sweetheart' at a concert and minstrel entertainment at the Hall in aid of the Foxton Brass band. She married Joseph Burne in 1898 and had 7 children (note how their names match her siblings)
* 1899 - 1937 Sydney Joseph Birchley Burne
* 1900 - Muriel Helen Jane Burne
* 1902 - 1990 Malcolm Gordon Shearer Burne
* 1904 - 1980 Hilda Laura Maud Burne
* 1906 - 1977 James Hilton William Burne
* 1908 - 1998 Hector Wilson Isaac Burne
* 1910 - 1999 Mana Myrtle Evelyn Burne

...4 Apr 1878 - 1907 Joseph James 'Jim' Birchley
- Jim attended Foxton State School in 1891. In July 1906 the Aotea Maori Land Board consented to his leasing Ngarukehu A. (Manawatu) No 10, sec 2, of 541 acres 2 roods. He died the following year aged 29

...5 Jun 1880 - 1966 Walter Lionel Birchley
- In Aug 1906 Walter was charged with failing to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. He married Eda Mary Florence Palenski (Eda Marion Florrie 1887-1965) in 1910.
Eda was a daughter of Heinrich (Henry Theodore) Palenski & Augusta Meissner from Prussia. She died 18 Aug 1965 in Porirua
Manawatu Standard, 8 Jan 1910 WEDDING
They had a daughter
1910 - 1995 Ethel Edith Josephine Birchley who married Thomas Francis McGowan in 1932
In 1919 Walter was charged 2s for riding a cycle without a light
NOTE If that illegitimate child was male and if we could find out who he was, there may still be descendants in NZ. Because of the lack of males producing male offspring the name Birchley dwindled out in the 1970s ...

...6 Nov 1881 - 1939 Malcolm Sydney 'Sid' Birchley
- Sid enlisted for the South African war in 1902 from Wanganui. In June 1907 he was the M.C. at the very enjoyable bachelors' ball held in the public hall at Oroua Bridge. About 80 couple attended. A spouse not found

...7 Nov 1884 - 1915 Hilda Mary Birchley
- Hilda had her father's passion of race horses and was an owner in early 1900s. She married John Dalrymple Oliphant in Wanganui Jan 1913. She had 2 sons:
* 1914 - 1999 John Dalrymple Oliphant
* 1915 - 1915 Maurice Joseph Oliphant
Hilda died due to the birth, her son Maurice died 10 months later

...8 Jun 1886 - 1956 Laura Ethel Birchley
- Laura attended Foxton State School, she excelled at athletics. By Dec 1896 she had not missed one day of school during the last 6 months. Laura never married

...9 Apr 1889 - 1981 Kate 'Myrtle' Birchley
- Myrtle, like her siblings enjoyed sports and did very well in athletics. She was winning school sports races from the age of 8 (Foxton). She was Standard IV at Terrace End school in 1901. She resigned her teaching position at Pine Creek school in April 1911. The school was in Carnarvon (now named Himatangi) and was moved to Ngaturi in 1916 when it had an average attendance of 12 pupils. Myrtle never married

...10 Aug 1891 - 1973 Maurice George Birchley
- Maurice attended Terrace End school. He served in WWI as Trooper 58452, 37th Reinforcements, Mounted Rifles Brigade, NZEF. He embarked for Suez, Egypt on the 'Manuka' 13 June 1918. He was a Stock Agent at the time of enlistment. His next of kin was his mother Helen of Lombard Street, Palmerston North. Maurice married Rita Ellen Park (1905-1970) in 1935 (daughter of Edward Park & Emma Sophia Waller). He was 44 and Rita was 30. Not know if there were children

...11 Jul 1893 - 1983 Alma Josephine Birchley
- Alma received a Good Conduct gold medal in Dec 1909 at the Convent High School. In 1917 she was living at Kimbolton. She married Wallace Royal Gooding (1887-1961) in 1924
Wallace was the 10th of 10 known children of Charles Gooding (1848-1925) & Caroline Iggulden (1844-1912)

...12 Jun 1896 - 1974 Muriel Edith Birchley
- Muriel and sister Alma received honours in Nov 1907 at St Peter's Sunday School, Terrace End. In Dec 1912 she got the highest marks for English, Dictation & Spelling and Arithmetic at the Convent High School. She never married

...13 Dec 1897 - 1977 Henrietta Gertrude 'Etta/Ettie' Birchley
- Etta excelled at sport and in 1914 she was chosen as one of the full-backs in the NZ hockey team to play against England in England. She marred Alexander Joseph John Samuel 'Jack' Brown (1887-1957) in 1927. They had a son in Feb 1929 at Nurse Smart's Kipling Obstetric Hospital in Newmarket, Auckland. Etta and her son spent a few weeks with her parents in Palmerston North in 1932-33, returning to Epsom, Auckland
NOTES
* Alexander was a son of John Brown & Agnes Woodill
* Nurse Ruby Haleen Smart (nee Law 1894-1968), married Herbert Cecil Smart (1892-1969) in 1925. The Kipling Ave Hospital (c.1926-1935), later shifted to Great South Road, Papatoetoe

NOTE On BDM there is a Kathleen May Birchley who died 16 May 1884 aged 6 months?? They do not have a birth record for her. Not yet followed up

Joseph James Birchley died 15 Oct 1908 aged 58, 15 months after the death of his eldest son Jim
Manawatu Standard, 16 Oct 1908 - OBITUARY There passed away at his residence, Terrace Street, yesterday afternoon, at 2.15 o'clock, an old and respected resident of the Manawatu in the person of Mr Joseph James Birchley. Deceased, who was 58 years of age, had been ill for some time. He had taken to his bed two days after the last Winter Show and has been confined there ever since, the end coming peacefully yesterday. Mr Birchley came out to New Zealand from London with an uncle and aunt when he was about seven years of age and lived in Wellington for some time. Thirty-five years ago he went to Foxton and settled there, making many friends. He interested himself in the flaxmilling industry for a time and then took to stock dealing and droving. After remaining in Foxton for twenty-six years he removed to Palmerston North, where he has since resided. He was wifely known and respected throughout the district for his many estimable qualities and his numerous friends will join us in tendering the sincerest sympathy to the family in their sad bereavement. He leaves a widow and three sons and nine daughters, two of whom are married, to mourn their loss. The interment takes place to-morrow afternoon
Manawatu Standard, 19 Oct 1908 - HIS FUNERAL The interment of the late Mr Joseph James Birchley took place on Saturday afternoon. The cortege was a large one, friends from all parts of the district having gathered to pay their last respects to deceased. The boy was first taken to St Peter's Church, Terrace End, where the Rev C. C. Harper conducted a short service and thence to the cemetery, where an impressive burial service was also conducted by the vicar
Helen Birchley died 32 years after him on 28 May 1940.
They are buried Plot 29, Block 5 at Terrace End in a family plot, along with:
* 1907 - son Joseph James aged 29
* 1939 - son Malcolm Sydney 'Sid' aged 57
* 1956 - spinster daughter Laura Ethel aged 70
* 1959 - spinster daughter Alice Maud aged 84
* 1974 - spinster daughter Muriel Edith aged 77
* 1981 - spinster daughter Kate Myrtle aged 92 (died Awapuni hospital)
* they all lived at 44 Lombard Street, Palmerston North

PHOTO
Plot 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31, block 5 at Terrace End cemetery, grave of those listed above

by ngairedith Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2017-02-17 13:37:50

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