Francis (Frank) William Gardner
(1879 - 14 May 1943)
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| Frank Gardner c1906 Photo by Charles Sorrell, Dickens Street, Napier (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
Family roots
Family weddings
Frank would have been in attendance of the wedding of his sister Clara to George Henry Arrow (Oct 1879 - 29 Mar 1926) in 1904, in Waipawa. Later that year, Frank and his sister Alice were the official witnesses at the wedding of their eldest sister Mary when she married William Matthew Hazelhurst (12 Nov 1874 - 13 Mar 1943). The wedding was held at the Salvation Army Barracks on Victoria Christchurch on 8 December 1904.
Marriage and family
Frank married Ellen (Nellie) Burke (1873 - 21 Nov 1956) in Waipawa on 18 July 1906.
Frank and Nellie had four children, their first two being born in Wairoa:
Francis William Gardner was born in Ashburton, in 1878. He was known as Frank. His parents were English-born, George Gardner (9 May 1856 - 24 Dec 1886) and his wife, Jane Simmons (c16 Nov 1851 - 9 Jan 1917). Frank was probably given the middle name William in memory of his paternal grandfather, William Merry Gardner (Dec 1820 - 3 Dec 1911) who lived with his wife Mary, in Ashburton. Frank was the only son of George and Jane Gardner. There children were:
- 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)
Childhood
When Frank was born, his father was working as a labourer at Longbeach in South Canterbury on the rural estate owned by John Grigg.
In 1880, when Frank was about a year old the family moved north to Waipawa. His four younger sisters were born there, first Clara in 1880. Alice arrived on 11 June 1883, then Emily in January 1884, followed by Mabel in 1885.
The work of the Salvation Army Church began in New Zealand in 1883 and quickly attracted the attention of those who believed in temperance and in giving support to the economically disadvantaged in society. In a relatively short time this message had spread around New Zealand and 21 churches were established in towns and cities all over the country. Frank's parents were attracted to the Salvationist message and, with their children, attended the Salvation Army Church in Waipawa.
Tragedy in Waipawa
When Frank was about eight years old, his 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 young Frank and his siblings and it must have been especially tough happening at Christmas-time. Their father'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 Frank's poor mother ended up taking in washing to help make ends meet. Perhaps the older girls helped their mother with the washing and no doubt Frank played a supporting role as well. Life must have been very tough in the Gardner household at this time.
Around Christmas of 1887, Mary'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. Frank'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.
Frank's step brothers were born in Waipawa and Ashurst respectfully:
Scandal
Unbeknownst to Frank, his 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, Mary'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 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.
When Frank was born, his father was working as a labourer at Longbeach in South Canterbury on the rural estate owned by John Grigg.
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| Longbeach Photographer and date unknown (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
In 1880, when Frank was about a year old the family moved north to Waipawa. His four younger sisters were born there, first Clara in 1880. Alice arrived on 11 June 1883, then Emily in January 1884, followed by Mabel in 1885.
The work of the Salvation Army Church began in New Zealand in 1883 and quickly attracted the attention of those who believed in temperance and in giving support to the economically disadvantaged in society. In a relatively short time this message had spread around New Zealand and 21 churches were established in towns and cities all over the country. Frank's parents were attracted to the Salvationist message and, with their children, attended the Salvation Army Church in Waipawa.
Tragedy in Waipawa
When Frank was about eight years old, his 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 young Frank and his siblings and it must have been especially tough happening at Christmas-time. Their father'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 Frank's poor mother ended up taking in washing to help make ends meet. Perhaps the older girls helped their mother with the washing and no doubt Frank played a supporting role as well. Life must have been very tough in the Gardner household at this time.
Around Christmas of 1887, Mary'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. Frank'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.
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| Ruataniwha Street, Waipawa Photographer and date unknown (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
Frank'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)
Scandal
Unbeknownst to Frank, his 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, Mary'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 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.
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| Jane Gardner with four of her children, outside of her home.
Photo by W Billows. Date c1890s.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
|
Family weddings
Frank would have been in attendance of the wedding of his sister Clara to George Henry Arrow (Oct 1879 - 29 Mar 1926) in 1904, in Waipawa. Later that year, Frank and his sister Alice were the official witnesses at the wedding of their eldest sister Mary when she married William Matthew Hazelhurst (12 Nov 1874 - 13 Mar 1943). The wedding was held at the Salvation Army Barracks on Victoria Christchurch on 8 December 1904.
Marriage and family
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| Frank and Nellie Gardner c1906 Photo by Charles Sorrell, Dickens Street, Napier (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
Frank and Nellie had four children, their first two being born in Wairoa:
- Edmund Merry Gardner (1908 - 16 May 1971)
- Michael George Gardner (Jan 1909 - ?)
- Mary Magdalen Gardner (1 Aug 1911 - ?)
- Patrick Francis Gardner (16 July 1914 - ?
Frank and Nellie probably attended the wedding of his sister Alice to Robert (Rob) Charles Cobb (20 Oct 1870 - 20 Dec 1949) in the Waipawa Salvation Army Hall on 4 December 1907.
Frank and Nellie's first child, Edmund was born in Wairoa in 1908.
Another family wedding was held in 1909. This time it was Frank's sister Emily, who married John (Jack) Barnes (? - 7 Aug 1964). Around this time, Frank and Nellie's second son, Michael, was born.
Settling down
The Electoral Roll for 1911 show two addresses for Frank and Nellie. The first was at Turiroa, Hawke's Bay, where Frank was listed as a labourer, and then at 602 Ellison Street, Hastings. Mary, Frank and Nellie's only daughter was born on 1 August 1911.
By 1914, Frank had moved his family to Whitehead, Hastings where he worked as a driver. It was here that the family grew to included a fourth child, Patrick. He was born on 16 July. Less than two weeks later, war was declared in Europe.
The War Years
On 11 November 1915, Frank's sister, Mabel, married Scotsman James (Jim) Preacher (14 July 1883 - 5 Oct 1918) in Waipukurau. Frank probably attended this wedding with his siblings and mother.
Frank's step-brother, Fred, enlisted for war on 6 March 1916, and Frank himself, was put onto the Reserve Roll. Fortunately he was never called up.
After the War
Nothing much is know of Frank's life following the war. Electoral Rolls for the period 1935-38 indicate that Frank and his family lived at 417 Whitehead Rd, Hastings, and that he worked as a laborer.
Death
Frank died in Hastings on 14 May 1943. He was buried at the Hastings Cemetery Block N, Plot 182.
Nellie lived with her eldest son and his wife who were living at 1023 Waipuna Street, Hastings. She died in Hastings on 21 November 1956 aged 86 and was buried next to her husband at the Hastings Cemetery. (Block N, Plot 181).
The family of Frank & Nellie Gardner
- Edmund (Ned) Merry Gardner (1908 - 16 May 1971)
- Ned was born in Wairoa. The name 'Merry' was a nod to his paternal great grandfather, William Merry Gardner (1820 - 3 Dec 1911).
- Ned lived in in Hastings where he worked as a labourer, fitter & turner, a rabbiter, a buyer, an assistant manager, and later a boiler attendant.
- Ned married Elsie May Cain (was Patchet) (1903 - 11 Oct 1987) when he was 38 years old. She was 43. They appear to have had no children.
- Ned died in 1971 and was buried in the Mangaroa Cemetery, Hawke's Bay, Block D, Plot 93.
- Elsie's last known address was the family home at 1023 Waipuna Street, Hastings. She died in 1987 and was cremated.
- Michael George Gardner (Jan 1909 - ?at least 1978)
- Michael was born in Wairoa in 1909.
- He worked as a clerk, and lived in several places including Motuhora (1935), and Marsden (1956). By 1946 Electoral Rolls show him living at 417 Whitehead Road, Hastings with his widowed mother, and sister Mary.
- Michael married someone with the middle name Gladys (first and surname unknown)
- The 1978 Electoral Roll shows Michael and his wife were retired and living at 7 Ely Place, Levin.
- Mary Magdalen Gardner (1 Aug 1911 - ?at least 1949)
- The 1935 Electoral Roll listed Mary (spinster) as living at the family home at 417 Whitehead, Hastings, along with her widowed mother and brother Patrick.
- The Electoral Rolls of 1946 and 1949 show that Mary (spinster) was still living at the family home. Her brother Michael had returned to live at home too.
- It appears that Mary remained a spinster all her life.
- Patrick Francis Gardner (16 July 1914 - ?)
- The 1935 Electoral Roll listed Patrick as living at the family home at 417 Whitehead, Hastings, along with his widowed mother and sister Mary (spinster).
- Patrick married Mabel Lily Kathleen (surname unknown)
- The Electoral Rolls for 1946 and 1954 show that they lived in Featherston, where Patrick worked as a farmer. In 1963 they lived on Rangiora Rd, Reikorangi.
- They retired in Levin around 1978. Patrick's brother Michael and his wife had also retired nearby.
Sources of Information
- Hastings Cemetery Search
- Ancestry.com
- Family records and photos courtesy of G J Bland
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