John FENSHAM + Levina WAKELIN - Carterton :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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John FENSHAM + Levina WAKELIN - Carterton

Journal by ngairedith

John FENSHAM (1851-1943) was born in Epsom, Surrey in 1851 to Henry FENSHAM (1817-1892) & Caroline Amelia Rachel WILLSHIRE (1826-1893) who married in 1844 in Holborn, England

John arrived in Wellington 18 Sep 1858 on the Oliver Lang when he was 7 years old, with his mother Caroline Amelia Rachel Fensham (nee WILLSHIRE), a brother (James 1853-1858) & 2 sisters (Caroline & Ann Frances).
* his father stayed behind (or was left behind), he remarried in 1877 to Emma Adams (1835-1912)
* They settled in Carterton, Wairarapa

John Fensham (1851-1943)
married on 5 July 1877 to
Levina WAKELIN (1855-1913)

JOHN & LEVINA had 7 known children
... 1
1880 - 1955 Caroline 'Cassie' Ann Fensham

* Caroline married Wilfred Russell YORK (1880-1949) in 1909
- 4th of 8 children of William Francis YORK & Ellen RUSSELL
- William Francis York & Alfred Russell had a Blacksmiths & Wheelwrights business in Greytown until 1877. After that William moved to Masterton and was a Builder amd with his sons Clarence Roy & Rupert James Leslie York, had the business known as York and Sons

... 2
1882 - 1950 Georgina May Fensham

- Georgina didn't marry
- she died 2 Sep 1950 aged 68

... 3
1886 - 1886 John Henry Fensham

- died aged 14 days

... 4
1887 - 1957 Ruby Norah Melita Fensham

- in Feb 1907, Ruby won the Methodist Sunday School gold medal from last years winner, Ida Alpin
- Ruby didn't marry
- she died 25th May 1957 aged 69, 5 days after her sister Amelia

...5
1890 - 1913 Lavina Evaline Fensham

- in 1906, in the results of the Sunday School Scripture examination, Lavinia got 64 points
** Lavinia married Edward Valentine VENNELL (1887-1958) in 1915
- last of 7 children of Edward Samuel VENNELL & Alice TOCKER

... 6
1893 - 1957 Amelia Rachael Willshire Fensham

- (named after her grandmother)
- Amelia didn't marry
- she died 20 May 1957 aged 63 (5 days before her sister Ruby)

... 7
1896 - 1978 Nina Elsie Letitia Fensham

- born 25 March 1896
- on 3 June 1907 Nina was a bridesmaid for Annie Ellen Banks when she married George John Holmes Miller in the Baptist Church, Manawatu
- Nina didn't marry
- she died 22 May 1978 aged 82


NOTE
A Henry Arthur BICK (1884-1939) enlisted for WII from Surrey Holme, Carterton. He served as Private 10/262 with the Wellington Infantry Battalion, Main Body. He embarked from Wellington 16 Oct 1914 listing his next of kin as John Fensham, Surrey Holme, Carterton
Evening Post, 5 Sept 1910 CARTERTON. A young man named Henry Bick, who is in the employ of Mr W. Moriarty, storekeeper here, had the misfortune to sustain a broken leg at the railway station late on Saturday afternoon. It appears that Bick was assisting to load a crate of iron, when the wood to which the crane hooks were attached failed, and the descending iron caught Bick, with the result that his leg was broken above the ankle. He was removed to the South Wairarapa Hospital


John Fensham died 11 May 1943 aged 92 and is buried in Plot 131, Clareville cemetery Carterton
Levina Fenham died in 1913 aged 57 and is buried with him
John donated his land for a Sanctuary for Native Birds and Trees


TIMELINE
3 Aug 1905 - CARTERTON
... One of the latest victims of sheep worrying by dogs is Mr J. Fensham, of Surrey Hill, Cobden-road, Belvedere

9 Aug 1905 - CARTERTON
... The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Belvedere Co-operative Dairy Company was held on Monday, Mr G. Stevens (chairman of directors) presiding. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs G. Stevens (Chairman), W. Morgan and C. Morgan were re-elected directors, and Mr J. Fensham was added to the board, in place of Mr J. F. Manning, who is leaving the district

* 30 April 1909 eve of CASSIE's wedding
... At Carterton, on Tuesday evening, Miss C. Fensham, who has been an earnest worker in the Methodist Sunday school and choir, was entertained at a social on the eve of her marriage to Mr York, of Te Wharau, which event took place yesterday (Thursday). During the evening she was the recipient of a handsome silver cruet and a cake fork and bread knife.

* 8 May 1909 the marriage of CASSIE & WILFRED, NZ Free Lance ... a wedding of more that ordinary local interest was celebrated at Carterton on Thursday last (29 April), when Miss Cassie Fensham, eldest daughter of Mr J. Fensham, of Surrey Holme, Carterton, was married to Mr Wilfred Russell York, of Te Wharau, eldest son of Mr W. P. York of Motueka, Nelson. The bride looked very pretty in a dress of creme crystallne, trimmed with silk insertion, satin and accordion-embroidered-pleated chiffon. She wore a hand-embroidered veil with orange blossom and clematis and carried a shower bouquet of roses and maidenhair fern
The Rev W. L. Elliott performed the marriage and the bride was given away by her father. The bridesmaids were Misses Georgie and Ruby Fensham (sisters of the bride) and they were dressed in creme voile, trimmed with lace and satin and black and white 'Merry Widow' hats. The best man was Mr Roy York (brother of the bridegroom. Mr Harold York acting as groomsman)
The bridegroom's present to the bride was a handsome set of furs and to the bridesmaids, gold brooches. The bride's travelling dress was a brown hopsack trimmed with tucked net and silk and brwon and blue 'Merry Widow' hat. The reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents. The honeymoon is being spent in Palmerston North, after which the young couple will reside at Te Wharau

10 April 1913 - CARTERTON
... The death occurred at her residence, Richmond-road, Carterton, on Tuesday night of Mrs Lavinia Fensham, wife of Mr John Fensham, one of the district's well-known settlers. Deceased had been in poor health for some time

13 March 1914 - CARTERTON
... Messrs L. H. Smart, C. J. DeLacey and J. FENSHAM have been appointed delegates from the Carterton Oddfellows to confer with delegates of the other Lodges re new agreement with the Lodge surgeon

** 13 Feb 1915 the marriage of LAVINIA & EDWARD, Wairarapa Daily Times
... At Carterton on Thursday afternoon, Miss Lavinia Evelyn Fensham, fourth daughter of Mr John Fensham, of Carterton, was married to Mr E. V. Vennell, youngest son of Mrs A. Vennell, of Te Puku, Te Wharau. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in an embroidered ninon gown, wearing the usual orthodox veil and orange blossoms. She carried a pretty bouquet of English clematis and fern. She was attended by her three sisters as bridesmaids. Miss Ruby Gensham, the chief maid, wore a frock of silk striped voile, white satin trimmings, black hat with touches of pink, and carried a pale pink bouquet. Misses Rachael and Nina Fensham wore white spot muslin dresses, trimmed with white satin, black hats with touches of pink and pink bouquets. The whole of the bouquets were made by a friend, and looked very pretty. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr Earl Vennell, as best man, and his brother, Mr R. Vennell, as groomsman. The bride's travelling dress was a green costume and a white satin hat. The bridegroom's present to the bride and bridesmaids were gold brooches. After the ceremony at the church, a reception was held at the residence of the bride, where the usual toasts were honoured. The honeymoon is being spent in Wanganui. Mr and Mrs Vennell will reside in Carterton

26 Oct 1915 - CARTERTON
... The death took place at Carterton on Sunday night of Miss Fensham, sister of Mr J. Fensham, Mrs Arthur Philpotts and Mrs Gordon of Dalefield
NOTE this was John's sister, Ann Frances Fensham aged 59 (1856-1915)
* Mrs Arthur Phillpotts was their half sister, Charlotte Challis, daughter of their mother Caroline & her 2nd husband William Challis. Charlotte married Arthur Philpotts in 1897
* Mrs Gordon was their half sister, Emily Challis, daughter of their mother Caroline & her 2nd husband William Challis. Emily married George Gordon in 1885

23 Jan 1941 - PIONEERS MEET
... On the strange and lonely beach at Petone, just 101 years ago, the strains of "The Old Hundredth" echoed the great hope and courage with which the small group of Wellington's first settlers set foot on these shores. Yesterday the same hymn was sung by a group of early settlers, the majority of them descendants of those migrants who came in the first ship to found the city of Wellington.
January 22 in each year is the early settler's day and the large assembly of old people made certain that yesterday was no exception. Held under the auspices of the Wellington Early Settlers' Association, the annual social reunion was a happy hour for many whose lives are now lived largely among the memories of early New Zealand. The formal part of the function, which was in the hands of the secretary, Mr W. Toomath, was the singing of the same hymns as were sung on the Petone beach on January 22, 1840, and later those present enjoyed a social hour with tea and story.
Professor F. P. Wilson, president of the association, presided and among the guests was the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser). Items were given by Miss Kathleen Bond.
Reference was made by the president to the death of some members last year, and it was announced that the only names now on the original roll of honour since the inception of the associaiton were John FENSHAM, who arrived in the 'Oliver Lang' in 1856, W. B. Allen, born at Wellington and his sisters, Miss Allen and Mrs Chisholm, M. Maxton, J.P., Mrs Halley and Mrs Lloyd (nee Stratford)


NOTES
JOHN's MOTHER
Caroline Amelia Rachel Fensham (1826-1893)
- married William CHALLIS (1822-1897) in 1864 as his 3rd wife (she was 38, he was 42). William had also been on board the "Oliver Lang"
CAROLINE & WILLIAM had 2 daughters
... 1
1864 - 1917 Emily Challis

- Emily married George GORDON in 1885 & had 5 children
(grandchildren of Caroline Amelia Rachel Fensham)
1886 - 1964 Ellen Caroline Ethel Gordon
- Ellen married Henry Herbert CURRY in 1911
1888 - ? Wilfred George Gordon
- nothing known
1890 - 1970 Charles Stanley Gordon
- Charles married Margaret KENNEDY in 1920
1892 - 1983 Emily Constance Gordon
- Emily married Roy Charles ANDERSON in 1923
1894 - 1956 Leslie Raymond Gordon
- Leslie married Clara Rose COX in 1921

... 2
1867 - 1959 Charlotte Challis

- Charlotte married Arthur PHILPOTTS in 1897 & had 2 children
(grandchildren of Caroline Amelia Rachel Fensham)
1898 - 1983 Bertha Pauline Philpotts
- Bertha married John Provan JOHNSTON (1892-1979) 20 Jan 1926
son of David Gibb JOHNSTON & Mary Lees PROVAN
1900 - 1986 Raymond Arthur Philpotts
- Raymond married Alice Mary MOLLOY (1900-1986) 2 June 1926
daughter of Francis Cornelius MOLLOY & his 2nd wife Alice Maud BRIGHT
- (Raymond died in March & Alice in Aug 1900)

JOHN's SISTER
* Caroline Fensham

- married Charles William SCHULTZE (1846-1911) in 1869
their known children
1876 - 1904 Letitia Winifred Schultze
- Letitia married Augustus Henry BAGGARLEY (1869-1955) in 1899
1880 - 1974 Ethel Beatrice Schultze
- Ethel married William GARNHAM (1888-1980) in 1901
1885 - ? Freda Claribel Schultze
- Freda married James Boland SMITH in 1920


JOHN's FATHER
? Henry Fensham (1817-1892), was a Gardener/Fruiterer in Epsom, England. He remarried to Emma ADAMS (1835-1912) in 1877 (he was 60, she was 42). He died in High street, Epsom on 7 April 1892 aged 77. His widow Emma died in the Epsom Workhouse Infirmary on 23 July 1912 aged 77. They are buried together, Grave F74A, Epsom cemetery

great reading and photos Epsom Union Workhouse, also history of the Epsom cemetery - from that site:- Please note: Epsom Union Workhouse was recorded in many official documents as Middle House or 49, Dorking Road, Epsom. This probably stems from the 1904 guidance issued by the Registrar General that workhouse births should be disguised by the use of non-committal addresses. Similar guidance relating to deaths was only issued in 1919. After the workhouse was closed the buildings became Epsom Hospital


CLAREVILLE CEMETERY
1893 - John's mother:
Caroline Amelia Rachel Challis died 14 Feb 1893 aged 67
* she is buried Plot 60, New Unsec
1896 - John's stepfather
William Challis died 20 Nov 1896 aged 75
* he is buried Plot 60, New Unsec
1904 - John's niece:
Letitia Winifred Baggarley died 9 Jan 1904 aged 28
* she is buried Plot 15, New Unsec
1913 - John's wife:
Levina Fensham died 9 April 1913 aged 57
* she is buried Plot 132, OU New Sur at Clareville
1915 - John's sister:
Ann Frances Fensham died 24 Oct 1915 aged 59
* she is buried Plot 61, New Unsec
1917 - John's half sister:
Emily Gordon died 17 Feb 1917 aged 52
* she is buried Plot 201, OU New Sur
1930 - John's son-in-law's brother:
Roger Larter Vennell died 7 Feb 1930 aged 46
* he is buried with in Plot 12, New Sur A. Roger's wife, Elizabeth Frances (nee GOODIN 1887-1942) is buried Plot 69, Sub 2
1934 - John's half sister's husband:
George Gordon died 14 June 1934 aged 82
* he is buried Plot 202, OU New Sur
1935 - John's stepfather's son: (from 1st marriage with Julia Springer), William Challis (jnr) died 13 Nov 1935 aged 89
* he is buried Plot 51, Old Unsec with his 2nd wife, Eliza Matilda Challis (nee Tuckwell 1856-1904)
1943 - John Fensham
died 11 May 1943 aged 92
* he is buried Plot 131, OU New Sur
1949 - John's son-in-law:
Wilfred Russell York died 7 April 1949 aged 69
* he is buried Plot 258, Sub 2
1950 - John's daughter:
Georgina May Fensham died 2 Sep 1950 aged 68
* she is buried Plot 132
1955 - John's daughter:
Caroline Ann York died 28 Jan 1955 aged 74
* she is buried Plot 257, Sub 2
1957 - John's daughter:
Amelia Rachael Willshire Fensham died 20 May 1957 aged 63
* she is buried Plot 131, OU New Sur
1957 - John's daughter:
Ruby Nora Melita Fensham died 25 May 1957 aged 69 (5 days after her sister)
* she is buried Plot 131, OU New Sur
1972 - John's daughter:
Levenia Evelyn Vennell died 15 Dec 1972 aged 82
* she is buried Block 1, Plot 584, Lawn A
1978 - John's daughter:
Nina Elsie Letitia Fensham died 22 May 1978 aged 82
* she is buried Block 1, Plot 790, Area Lawn A

Thomas Bertram Challis (1885-1957), son of William Challis jnr & Eliza Matilda, died 20 April 1957 aged 71 & is buried Plot 58


PICTURE
Staple Inn, Holborn c1900

last updated 21-9-12

by ngairedith Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2011-01-17 17:31:34

ngairedith has been a Family Tree Circles member since Feb 2008.

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Comments

by neich on 2012-09-20 05:02:06

if anyone requests help please get in touch with NEICH. she knows the family very well.. Surrey Holme still stands in Richmond Road, have been in it, but altered a lot! Have photoographs of the Fensham family.. Henry, father of the children remarried in Epsom, he is buried at Ashley Road. Cemetery on the outskirts of Epsom, on way to the Racecourse, no headstone.

by neich on 2012-10-28 20:54:56

Also.. Henry Fensham in Epsom, is buried at Ashley Road Cemetery, leads up to the Downs at Epsom. no headstone on the plot. Some years back, one of his side of the family contacted me, so put him in touch with the extended family here in NZ. I said there is a Bible in Carterton Museum belonging to the NZ side.. I collected it from a family in Tawa earlier... I used to work in Epsom...so know the cemetery etc.. Neich

by ngairedith on 2014-01-29 16:44:24

thank you to neich for the message:
Subject: FENSHAM
To: ngairedith
From: neich
Date: 2014-01-29 13:13:34
Ngaire, could you please delete the message you have about EPSOM. AUCKLAND, its EPSOM. Surrey for Henry Fensham, he never came to NZ, he remarried in Surrey, I have heard from descendants of that side in the last so many years, and working on the family in Epsom as off now again! Working with family here in NZ as well.. fascinating family! thank you.

by neich on 2014-01-30 18:04:41

now have photographs of the following graves for the family.
Wilfred Russell York and Caroline.
John Fensham, many names on the headstone in the old part of the cemetery.. Senior and Junior John Fensham and family.. done this morning.. then on another part of the cemetery, Challis with Fensham..
I have more on the family as off this morning!

by neich on 2021-07-18 06:43:14

Surrey Holme house is down Richmond Road. Carterton where the Fensham family lived. Now each side of the Fensham family hold a family bible, Neich knows this as what in touch with a person in Ashtead. Surrey who told her about it, the one for the Carterton family is held at Carterton District Heritage Society now in High St. Carterton. She went down to collect it early 2000 when Sec. of the Society, after receiving a letter about the bible being found in house in Karori! Neich has been in the homestead in Richmond Road. and know members of the family of Gordon. Challis. etc..

by Kiwimike on 2021-10-22 03:16:18

Hi there
I am looking for a photo of John Fensham who died in 1943 and donated the land for the sanctuary. i am doing some research for Forest and Bird who manage the reserve. Can you help me? thanks, Michael

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