He was in New Zealand at least by 1868 when he was charged with a breach of the Customs Regulations Act - he was fined 24 pound, which in 2009 equated to $2,476
Again in 1869 he was charged with smuggling jewellery on board the steamer 'Murray' as he was leaving Hokitika to go to Greymouth
In 1872 he was giving evidence in court at an inquest on the body of a prisoner, James Thomas Purnell. There he states that he "had been a prisoner in the gaol for the last 22 months" ..
In 1876 he was charged with obtaining money from the BNZ by false pretenses
In 1892 George was in trouble for larceny of a piece firewood !!!
In 1900 George Knopp, well known as a pedlar of cheap jewellery, was sentenced at Westport to 2 months imprisonment for stealing lead.
In 1905 George was seeking a divorce from Phoebe because of her 'misconduct' with James Bailey (who was over 70) - the court case was in Wellington and said they were formerly from Hokitika and Westport.
In January 1905 Phoebe Knopp alleged she was assaulted by Tessie Russell who had hit her on the head with a stone. The case was dismissed
It could be that by 1912 George was living in Tawa Flat, Wellington
They had a daughter named Esther who was born about 1886 - she had a baby when she was 17. She married when she was about 30 to John McKenzie Beattie - he was about 20 George and Phoebe also had a son named Alexander born in 1889. In 1910 Alexander married Maude Hui Barnes
George died in 25th May 1920 aged 84 (born about 1836) - he is buried in the Jewish section of Karori Cemetery in Wellington Do not know what happened to Phoebe
A very interesting little 'song' was written about him by Henry John Curtis in 1878 after he took George to court and won the case. He named it THE JEWS LAMENT
John McKenzie BEATIE was born in 1899 - Matthew BEATTIE & Isabella 'Bella' McKENZIE 29 April 1897 At St Andrew's Church yesterday afternoon, Miss McKenzie (sister of Mrs Tait, proprietress of the Princess Hotel) was married to Mr Matthew Beattie, of Kekerongi (Marlborough). The bride, who was given away by Mr John Robinson, wore a dress of heliotrope silk poplin, with hat to match, and was attended by Miss Isabella Tait (niece of the bride) attired in blue velvet and white felt hat, and Miss Isabella Rees in a brown costume with hat to match. Mr L. Dobson acted as best man. The Rev C. S. Ogg officiated. Mr and Mrs Beattie will spend the honeymoon in Dunedin
the children of Matthew & Bella were: 1898 - ? Marion Janet Beattie - born in Maxwell road, Blenheim 1899 - John McKenzie Beattie - John married Esther KNOPP in 1919 1901 - ? Jessie Whelimina Beattie 1902 - 1958 William Kenneth Beattie 1904 - 1908 Alexander Matthew Beattie - Alexander died aged 3 in Blenheim
In 1911 Matthew was in trouble for not sending his childrento school until it was found that they had played truancy. In 1914 Matthew was in trouble for not paying the ordered 5s per week to maintain his son who had been committed to an industrial institution (didn't y which son)
17 Nov 1909in the Magistrate's Court, Isabella Beattie, living in Maxwell Road, appeared as informant in a case wherein Ada McNab was charged with assaulting her children, William Kenneth Beattie and John McKenzie Beattie
That is amazing what you have given me, my grandfather John McKenzie Beattie is part of the family tree I have been trying to find out about I stumbled across your information for the first time the other night. How many children did Esther have?? I know none where by my grandfather (or I'm assuming). They were never divorced John & Esther is that correct. Were they married very long. Do you know what became of my grandfather. Any information you could supply further would be so fantastic.
Hi Debbie Esther Beattie died on 14 Sep 1944 in Wellington and is buried at Karori Cemetery. As far as I know she did not have any children with your grandfather, but had two daughters from a previous marriage. I do not have a death for John McKenzie Beattie as yet.
Esther had a baby in Wellington on 27 Dec 1903 when she was 17. The baby's body was found a few hours later and Esther was arrested On 1 Feb 1904 a 'no bill' was returned against Esther
I do not know of a marriage previous to John McKenzie Beattie
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FURTHER INFORMATION YOU HAVE SENT ME. WHERE DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION ON MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WEDDING DAY?? DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THE OTHER CHILDREN OF MATTHEW AND ISABELLA BEATTIE HAD ANY CHILDREN THEMSELVES??
Hi Judianne,
George was an 'itinerant' or 'travelling jeweller'
He was described as a 'Pole' who sometimes called himslf Kenopp
George and Phoebe were living in Westport
He was in New Zealand at least by 1868 when he was charged with a breach of the Customs Regulations Act - he was fined 24 pound, which in 2009 equated to $2,476
Again in 1869 he was charged with smuggling jewellery on board the steamer 'Murray' as he was leaving Hokitika to go to Greymouth
In 1872 he was giving evidence in court at an inquest on the body of a prisoner, James Thomas Purnell. There he states that he "had been a prisoner in the gaol for the last 22 months" ..
In 1876 he was charged with obtaining money from the BNZ by false pretenses
In 1892 George was in trouble for larceny of a piece firewood !!!
- he was declared bankrupt, and made an application for discharge in 1894
In 1900 George Knopp, well known as a pedlar of cheap jewellery, was sentenced at Westport to 2 months imprisonment for stealing lead.
In 1905 George was seeking a divorce from Phoebe because of her 'misconduct' with James Bailey (who was over 70) - the court case was in Wellington and said they were formerly from Hokitika and Westport.
In January 1905 Phoebe Knopp alleged she was assaulted by Tessie Russell who had hit her on the head with a stone. The case was dismissed
It could be that by 1912 George was living in Tawa Flat, Wellington
They had a daughter named Esther who was born about 1886 - she had a baby when she was 17. She married when she was about 30 to John McKenzie Beattie - he was about 20
George and Phoebe also had a son named Alexander born in 1889. In 1910 Alexander married Maude Hui Barnes
George died in 25th May 1920 aged 84 (born about 1836) - he is buried in the Jewish section of Karori Cemetery in Wellington
Do not know what happened to Phoebe
A very interesting little 'song' was written about him by Henry John Curtis in 1878 after he took George to court and won the case.
He named it THE JEWS LAMENT
ngairedith I HAVE JUST FOUND THIS STORY, I AM THE GRAND DAUGHTER OF JOHN MCKENZIE BEATTIE AND WISH TO SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION FROM YOU
hello Debbie,
I will see what I can find
John McKenzie BEATIE was born in 1899
- Matthew BEATTIE & Isabella 'Bella' McKENZIE
29 April 1897 At St Andrew's Church yesterday afternoon, Miss McKenzie (sister of Mrs Tait, proprietress of the Princess Hotel) was married to Mr Matthew Beattie, of Kekerongi (Marlborough). The bride, who was given away by Mr John Robinson, wore a dress of heliotrope silk poplin, with hat to match, and was attended by Miss Isabella Tait (niece of the bride) attired in blue velvet and white felt hat, and Miss Isabella Rees in a brown costume with hat to match. Mr L. Dobson acted as best man. The Rev C. S. Ogg officiated. Mr and Mrs Beattie will spend the honeymoon in Dunedin
the children of Matthew & Bella were:
1898 - ? Marion Janet Beattie
- born in Maxwell road, Blenheim
1899 - John McKenzie Beattie
- John married Esther KNOPP in 1919
1901 - ? Jessie Whelimina Beattie
1902 - 1958 William Kenneth Beattie
1904 - 1908 Alexander Matthew Beattie
- Alexander died aged 3 in Blenheim
In 1911 Matthew was in trouble for not sending his childrento school until it was found that they had played truancy.
In 1914 Matthew was in trouble for not paying the ordered 5s per week to maintain his son who had been committed to an industrial institution (didn't y which son)
17 Nov 1909 in the Magistrate's Court, Isabella Beattie, living in Maxwell Road, appeared as informant in a case wherein Ada McNab was charged with assaulting her children, William Kenneth Beattie and John McKenzie Beattie
That is amazing what you have given me, my grandfather John McKenzie Beattie is part of the family tree I have been trying to find out about I stumbled across your information for the first time the other night. How many children did Esther have?? I know none where by my grandfather (or I'm assuming). They were never divorced John & Esther is that correct. Were they married very long. Do you know what became of my grandfather. Any information you could supply further would be so fantastic.
Hi Debbie
Esther Beattie died on 14 Sep 1944 in Wellington and is buried at Karori Cemetery.
As far as I know she did not have any children with your grandfather, but had two daughters from a previous marriage.
I do not have a death for John McKenzie Beattie as yet.
Esther had a baby in Wellington on 27 Dec 1903 when she was 17. The baby's body was found a few hours later and Esther was arrested
On 1 Feb 1904 a 'no bill' was returned against Esther
I do not know of a marriage previous to John McKenzie Beattie
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FURTHER INFORMATION YOU HAVE SENT ME. WHERE DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION ON MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WEDDING DAY?? DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THE OTHER CHILDREN OF MATTHEW AND ISABELLA BEATTIE HAD ANY CHILDREN THEMSELVES??
Maude Hui Barnes & Alexander Knopp may be my husband's grandparents.
Does anyone know more about Maude?