Clara

Clara Lorraine Gardner

(3rd qtr 1880 - 6 August 1920)

Clara Arrow, nee Gardner 1907
Photo by Mrs Cobb
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Clara Lorraine Gardner was born in the small rural town of Waipawa in the third quarter of 1880. Her parents were English immigrants to New Zealand, George Gardner (9 May 1856 - 24 Dec 1886) and his wife Jane Simmons (c16 Nov 1851 - 9 Jan 1917). George was a local baker at the time of Clara's birth. George and Jane had six children:

• Mary Elizabeth Jane Gardner (1878 - 1961) 
• Francis (Frank) William Gardner (1879 - 1943)  
• Clara Lorraine Gardner (1880 -  6 Aug 1920)
• Alice Maud Gardner (11 June 1883 - 10 May 1950) 
• Emily Annie Gardner (Jan 1884 - 19 Feb 1972)
• Mabel Gardner (1885 - 31 Aug 1968)

Tragedy in Waipawa
When Clara was six, her father, George (30), contracted encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and after being seriously ill for three days, died on Christmas Eve 1886. His death must have come as a awful shock to the family, and it must have been especially tough happening at Christmas-time. George's funeral was the first one held in the Waipawa Salvation Army Church. Afterwards, the family buried him at the Waipawa Cemetery, Plot 046.

Following the funeral, the members of the Salvation Army Church and the local community, took a special collection for the destitute family, but Clara's poor mother ended up taking in washing to help make ends meet. Life must have been very tough in the Gardner household at this time.

Around Christmas of 1887, Clara's mother met a new man, and then on 22 February 1888, within two months of meeting him, they married at the family home on Ruataniwha Street, Waipawa. Clara's new step-father was Thomas George Smith (25 Feb 1852 - 12 Dec 1919) a 31 year old travelling shoemaker who was originally from Shipton under Wychwood, Oxfordship which was a short distance from his new wife's hometown.

Ruataniwha Street, Waipawa
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Clara's step brothers were born in Waipawa and Ashurst respectfully:

• Thomas Edward Smith (1889 - 20 Jan 1917)
• Frederick (Fred) James Smith (24 Oct 1890 - 1 Aug 1961) 

Around 1890 Thomas moved the family to Ormondville where he worked as a shoe maker and repairer. He advertised his business in The Bush Advocate from at least May 1892 until July 1893. By this time, the three youngest Gardner girls were attending the Ormondville School along with step-brother, Thomas. The older three children, including Clara, had probably finished their schooling. The girls would have been helping their mother with domestic duties at home while Frank may have helped his step-father at the shop. A measles epidemic during 1893 may have affected the children.

Scandal
Unbeknownst to Clara, her mother had received a strange letter from the Dead Letter Office addressed to 'Mrs Thomas Smith, Oamaru' and sent from Thomas Smith in Ormondville. Jane had opened the letter and read it. To her horror she discovered that her husband had another wife and family in the South Island. For whatever reason, Clara's mother decided not to tell a soul about the contents of the letter. However, shortly afterwards, Thomas disappeared without warning.

In September 1893 Thomas was arrested for failing to comply with a court order to support his first wife and children and as a result his bigamist activities came to light. They were reported publicly, in The Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 831, 14 September 1893:







The court case was reported on 23 September 1893. At his trial, Thomas pleaded guilty to bigamy and was sentenced to two years hard labour at the Napier Prison (New Zealand's oldest prison). The Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 835, published on 23 September reported the following facts from the trial:








The New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9312, 22 September 1893 reported the case succinctly, as follows:







It is not clear what happened to Jane and the children after Thomas was sent to prison. We believe she moved back to Waipawa at the end of 1893 as four of her children, including Mabel, completed the school year at Ormondville. We also know that she continued to use the surname Smith because her son Fred named Mrs T Smith his next of kin when he enlisted for war. It appears that although Thomas returned to his first wife, Bridget, after he was released from prison, he kept in touch with his youngest sons, and for a time, lived in Waipawa.

Jane Gardner with four of her children, outside of her home.

Photo by W Billows. Date c1890s.

(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Four of the Gardner girls, Clara, Mary, Alice (at back), and Mabel.

Photo by Crown Studios, Whallby & Co, Palmerston North.

Date unknown but around1900

Marriage & family
Clara married George Henry Arrow (Oct 1879  - 29 March 1926) in Waipawa in 1904. He was a carpenter / joiner, and from the well-known Arrow family of Waipawa. George and Clara had four children, the first three being born in Waipawa.

• Joyce Lorraine Arrow (6 Jan 1905 - 20 Feb 1943)
• Mavis Eileen Arrow (21 Feb 1908 - at least 1980)
• Reta D'nyst (or Rita Dynyst/De Nyst) Arrow (21 Mar 1910 - 27 June 2001) known as Molly
• Frank Leonard Arrow (25 May 1915 - 28 Dec 2006)

Family weddings

Several months after her own wedding, a heavily pregnant Clara may have traveled with her siblings to Christchurch for the wedding of their eldest sister Mary who married William Matthew Hazlehurst (12 Nov 1874 - 13 Mar 1943) on 8 December 1904.

On 6 January 1905, just one month after Mary's wedding, George and Clara's first child, Joyce Lorraine Arrow, was born in Waipawa.

Clara would have attended the wedding of her brother Frank to Ellen (Nellie) Burke (dates unknown) in Waipawa on 18 July 1906.

Another family wedding was held in Waipawa on 4 December 1907 when Clara's sister, Alice, married Robert (Rob) Charles Cobb (20 Oct 1870 - 20 Dec 1949). The following wedding photo shows George, Clara (pregnant with her second child), and their daughter Joyce, with Clara's mother and most of her siblings.

The wedding of Robert (Bob) Cobb and Alice M Gardner. Waipawa, 1907.
Back row: George Arrow, Mary Hazelhurst (nee Gardner), Robert (Bob) Cobb,
Alice Cobb (nee Gardner), Mabel Gardner, Thomas Smith Jnr, Emily Gardner
Front row: Clara Arrow (nee Gardner) with daughter Joyce Arrow,
Jane Smith (nee Simmons), and sitting on the ground is Fred Smith.
Photo taken by Mrs Cobb.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

George and Clara welcomed their second daughter, Mavis Eileen Arrow, on 21 February 1908, in Waipawa.

The Arrow family probably attended the 1909 wedding of Clara's sister, Emily who married John (Jack) Barnes (c1872 - 7 Aug 1964).

On 21 March 1910, George and Clara's third daughter Reta D'nyst Arrow (variant spellings include Rita Dynyst or De Nyst) was born in Waipawa. She was known as Molly. The name 'D'nyst' came through the Arrow family line.

The 1911 Electoral Roll shows that George and Clara lived at 21 Berry Street Gisborne. George was employed as a joiner in the area. The Arrow family moved to Palmerston North in late 1911. We are unsure why the family moved at this time but perhaps there were greater work opportunities for George there. An added bonus would have been that Clara's sister, Alice, also lived there with her family. Both families attended the Salvation Army Church. The 1911 Electoral Roll lists George Arrow (joiner) living at 93 Church Street East. In 1914 and 1919 the Arrows are recorded as living at 97 Ferguson Street East. Alice's brother and sister-in-law, Alf and Laura Cobb, who were also Salvationists, lived at number 91 Ferguson Street.

War broke out in mid 1914 and life for everyone changed for good.

On Thursday 4 February 1915 Clara and her sisters, Mary and Alice, took their children into the Billens studio in Palmerston North for a photo shoot. The following photo of the cousins was taken on this occasion. We know that a copy of the photo was sent to their brother Frank, and probably to their sister Emily as well.

Cousins 4 February 1915
From left: Mavis Arrow (7), Lionel Cobb (6), Mollie Arrow (5),
Dulcie Cobb (2 years, 9 months), Muriel Hazlehurst (5),
Joyce Arrow (10), Jack Hazlehurst (14 months)
Photo by Billens, Palmerston North
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

On 25 May 1915, George and Clara's son Frank Leonard Arrow was born in Palmerston North.

Frank Arrow c1915-16
Photo by The Crown Studios, Whalley & Co, Palmerston North
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Clara's youngest sister, Mabel married Scotsman James (Jim) Preacher (14 July 1883 - 5 Oct 1918), a carpenter, in Waipukurau on 11 November 1915. Clara probably attended this wedding.


The War Years
The war made a big impact on everyone's lives. Everyone knew somebody who had enlisted to fight. On 6 March 1916 Clara's 25 year old step-brother, Fred Smith, enlisted for war. After a brief period of training he departed for the western front on 26 June. Around this time George was put on the New Zealand Army Reserve Roll. Fortunately, he was never called up for service.

1917 was a tragic year for Clara. First, her mother Jane, died aged 60, in Waipawa on 9 January. The family buried her in the Waipawa Cemetery with her first husband, George Gardner. Less than two weeks later Clara's step-brother, Thomas (28), tragically died in Palmerston North Hospital as the result of a motorcycle accident. He was buried at the Terrence End Cemetery, Palmerston North, Block 9, Plot 33.

In June 1917, news was cabled to Clara's step-father, to inform the family that Fred (Clara's youngest brother) had been wounded in action in France. His injuries were so severe that he was sent back to New Zealand and discharged from service.

Clara's brother-in-law Jim Preacher (Mabel's husband), enlisted for war on 14 September 1917 and after a period of military training, departed from the Wellington wharf on 23 April 1918. He would never return. 35 year old Jim was killed in action on 5 October 1918 in the Le Cateau area, a mere eight days after arriving at the front line. Following the loss of Jim, Mabel Preacher and her baby, Gladys, came to live with the Arrow family.

The 1919 Electoral Roll shows that the Arrow family lived at 200 Ferguson St. Also living at the home was Harriet Sophia Cobb, who was Clara's sister Alice's mother-in-law.

Clara is likely to have attended the wedding of her youngest step-brother, Fred, to Doris Ethel Walker (1899 - 31 August 1988). The wedding was held on 7 July 1919 at the St Matthews Church in Hastings.

The Arrow family c1919
From left: Joyce, Frank, George, Mavis, Molly, and Clara
Photo by Charles Allen, Palmerson North
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Around 1919, Clara's sister, Alice and her family, relocated to New Plymouth. Mabel Preacher and Harriet Cobb followed them to New Plymouth shortly afterwards.

Clara died on 6 August 1920 at the age of 40. She was buried in the Terrence End Cemetery, Palmerston North, Block 051 (the Wesleyan Block), Plot 021. Her burial record states that she belonged to the Salvation Army.

George died in 1926 aged 46. He was buried with his wife at the Terrence End Cemetery. His burial record notes that he was a Salvationist.

Following the death of their father, the Arrow children were placed in children's homes. 

The family of George and Clara Arrow

• Joyce Lorraine Arrow (6 Jan 1905 - 20 Feb 1943)
• Married Arthur Main (14 May 1899 - 27 Sep 1956), in 1925.
• Arthur and Joyce had one daughter and three sons:
• Violet Margaret Main (1926 - 19 Apr 1943)
• Died in Palmerston North two months after her mother's death She was 17. Violet's cemetery record shows that she was an invalid. It also states that she was a member of the Salvation Army Church. Violet was buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery with her mother.
• Stanley Arthur George Main (1928 - 1994)
• Stan worked as a Dispatch Clerk at the time of his death.
• He died in 1994 aged 65 and was buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Area S, Block 015, Plot 049. Stan's burial record lists his denomination as Salvation Army.
• Robert Stephen Main (1 Oct 1930 - 4 Oct 1930)
• Robert died a few days after birth and was buried at the Terence End Cemetery, Block 051, Plot 021, at the foot of his grandparent's grave. His denomination was listed as Wesleyan.
• Leslie Frank Main (1933 -  8 Aug 1997)
• Married Jeanette (surname unknown). They had at least two daughters according to the 1981 Electoral Roll.
• Leslie worked as a traffic assistant in Kellyville, Mercer in 1957. The Main family later moved to 158 Tennessee Avenue, Mangere. In 1969 Les worked as a barman. In 1972, Les was again working as a traffic assistant and Jeanette was a cafe assistant. In 1978, Les was working as a shunter while Jeanette was a manager. In 1981 Les was listed as a clerk along with one daughter, and Jeanette was a shop assistant
• Leslie died in 1997 aged 63. He was cremated.
• Arthur worked as a storeman and later a driver. The Main family lived at 20 Dahlia Street, Palmerston North according to the 1928 Electoral Roll.
• Joyce died in 1943, aged 38 and was buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Area I, Block 003, Plot 021. Her burial record shows that she was a Salvationist. Daughter Violet was buried with her . When Arthur died in 1956, his ashes were interred there as well.
• Mavis Eileen Arrow (21 Feb 1908 - at least 1980)
• Mavis was born in Waipawa. 
• She married Reginald (Reg) Ashmore (dates unknown) in 1926 but they later divorced after he fathered a baby with Mavis' sister, Molly.
• Mavis later married Reginald (Reg) Parker (? - at least 1980), a salesman. 
• By the late 1950s Reg and Mavis had based themselves at 92 Bunnerong Road, Pagewood, Sydney, Australia. There were some other Parkers living on the same street but it is unclear at this point if they were relatives. Electoral Rolls show them living at the same address until at least 1980. It is unknown if they had any children.
• Reta De Nyst (or Rita Dynyst / D'nyst / Denise) Arrow (21 Mar 1910 - 27 June 2001) 
• She was known as Molly and was born in Waipawa.
• Her middle name 'D'nyst' came from the Arrow family.
• Molly had a son with Reg Ashmore, her sister's husband:
• Harold (19 Aug 1932 - 2004) 
• Harold was born in Wellington and given up for adoption. He was renamed  'Donald' (surname unknown). It appears that he lived very a lonely life, never married, and found it hard to get close to people. Donald worked for Kilbernie Post Office and was a regular church-goer. Later in life he tried unsuccessfully to locate his birth-mother.
• The 1935 Electoral Roll records that Molly (spinster) lived at 20 Dahlia Street, Palmerston North, the home of her sister Joyce. The 1949 Electoral Roll shows that Molly lived at 184 South Street, Feilding. Her brother, Frank, and his family lived down the same road. In 1954 Frank and his wife were living at number 184. By that time, Molly had moved to 7 Queen Street, Feilding. 
• Molly married Stacey Thomas Tapp (1904 - 23 May 1977) sometime between 1954 and 1963, and they settled in Fielding. 
• The 1963 Electoral Roll shows that Stacey and Molly lived at 26 Glasgow Terrace, Feilding. Stacey is listed as a labourer. The 1969 and 1972 Electoral Rolls listed him as a driver.
• Molly (housewife) was listed in the 1978 Electoral Roll as living at 48 Glasgow Terrace. Stacey is not listed.
• Stacey died in the Palmerston North Public Hospital in 1977 after suffering stomach cancer. He was cremated. 
• Molly died in 2001, aged 91, in Chiswick Park Home, Palmerston North. She too was cremated.
• Frank Leonard Arrow (25 May 1915 - 28 Dec 2006)

Frank L Arrow c1917
Photo by Charles Allen, Palmerston North
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

• Frank spent time in a children's home after his parents died.
• The 1938 Electoral Roll shows that he was working as a labourer in the Manawatu-Wanganui region. In 1946 he lived at 28 Dahlia Street, Palmerston North, which was four houses away from his childhood home.
• He married Isla Lilian Entwistle (14 Mar 1915 - 24 Oct 1980) in 1947. Isla already had 3 children from a previous relationship. Frank and Isla had a further 3 children together.
• Frank volunteered to serve during WWII
• The 1949 Electoral Roll shows Frank and Isla living at 78 South Street, Feilding. Frank was employed as a carpenter there. Frank's sister Molly lived down the road at 184 South Street. By 1954 the Arrow family had moved into 184 South Street too where they lived until at least 1972. By this time Molly had moved to Queen Street. Frank and Isla lived at 1 Murihau Place, Feilding in 1978. 
• Isla (65) died in Palmerston North, in 1980. She was cremated. Frank (90) died in the Peppertree Rest home, Palmerston North, in 2006. He too was cremated. Their ashes are interred together at the Feilding Cemetery, Block 2, Row B, Plot 24.

Sources of Information

Palmerston North Cemetery & Cremation Search

Auckland Cemetery Search

Manawatu District Council Cemetery Search

Family held records and photos courtesy of G J Bland

Ancestry.com