Mabel

Mabel Gardner

(1885 - 31 August 1968)

Mabel Gardner c1915
Photo by Bunting, Palmerston North & Napier
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Mabel Gardner was born in small rural town of Waipawa, in 1885. Her parents were English-born immigrants,  George Gardner (9 May 1856 - 24 Dec 1886) and his wife Jane Simmons (c16 Nov 1851 - 9 Jan 1917). Mabel was the youngest child of their six children:

• Mary Elizabeth Jane Gardner (1878 - 1961) 
• Francis (Frank) William Gardner (1879 - 1943)  
• Clara Lorraine Gardner (3rd qtr 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 Mabel was one, 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 an 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 Alice'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, Mabel'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. Mabel'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)

Mabel'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, Mabel was attending the Ormondville School along with Alice, Emily and step-brother, Thomas. The older children 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 Mabel, 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 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, Mabel'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

Family weddings
Mabel would have attended several family weddings in the early 1900s. Firstly, her sister Clara married George Henry Arrow (Oct 1879 - 29 Mar 1926) in Waipawa in 1904. Later that year, on 8 December, her sister Mary married William Matthew Hazlehurst (12 Nov 1874 - 13 Mar 1943) in Christchurch.

On 18 July 1906 Mabel's brother Frank married Ellen (Nellie) Burke (dates unknown) in Waipawa. The following year, on 4 December 1907 her sister Alice married Robert (Rob) Charles Cobb (20 Oct 1870 - 20 Dec 1949) in Waipawa.

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)

In 1909 Mabel's sister Emily married John (Jack) Barnes (? - 7 Aug 1964). Then, in 1915, it was finally Mabel's turn to be a bride!

Marriage 
On 11 November 1915 Mabel married blue-eyed Scotsman James (Jim) Preacher (14 July 1883 - 5 Oct 1918) who had immigrated to New Zealand alone around 1901. He had worked as a carpenter in Waipukurau in 1911 and then in Hastings in 1914. It is unknown how James and Mabel met. James had no family in New Zealand as far as we know.

James and Mabel Preacher c1915
Photo by Fischer's Studio, Napier
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Postcard sent to Mabel from James Preacher (left) and his friend
(Courtesy of G J Bland)

The wedding would have been a simple affair since it was wartime. After their marriage, Jim and Mabel lived on Northumberland Street, Waipukurau where Jim continued to work in the carpentry trade. Mabel's sister Emily and her husband, John (Jack) Barnes, also lived in Waipukurau.


The War Years
On 6 March 1916 Mabel'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.

1917 was a tragic year for Mabel. 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 Mabel'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 Mabel's step-father, to inform the family that Fred (Mabel'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.


Birth of Daughter
A delightful ray of sunshine broke the gloom of war, when Jim and Mabel's only daughter was born on 7 July 1917.

• Gladys Mary Preacher (7 July 1917 - 20 Oct 1994)

Jim enlisted for war on 14 September 1917 when his daughter was only two months old and barely a month after that he was engaged in military training at the Trentham Military Base near Wellington. Initially he was part of the 34th, then 35th and finally the 36th reinforcements for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, also known as the 3rd Brigade.

James Preacher with an unknown child c1917

Unknown photographer.

(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Mabel and baby Gladys probably saw Jim and his comrades off from the Wellington wharf on 23 April 1918. It was the last time they saw him.


Loss of Jim
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. He was initially buried in the Crevecoeur Courtyard Cemetery in France, then re-buried in the Anneux British Cemetery, near the town of Cambrai, in Nord, France (plot III B37). With him lie over one thousand other casualties of the war who fought in the nearby countryside. 85 New Zealanders are among the dead there. Jim is still remembered in Waipukurau to this day as his name is engraved on the War Memorial there. More information about Jim's life and military involvement can be found at the blog, They Served.


Rebuilding after loss
It must have been incredibly hard for Mabel to cope with the death of her beloved Jim. They had only just married and started a family. His death cut down all their hopes and dreams. Poor Gladys would grow up never knowing her dad.

Following Jim's death, Mabel took baby Gladys and moved to Palmerston North. They lived with her sister Clara Arrow, and family, at 200 Ferguson Street. No doubt Clara was a source of great comfort to Mabel. The 1919 Electoral Roll shows that Harriet Cobb, the mother-in-law of Mabel's sister, Alice, also lived with the Arrow family. Harriet's grandson Lynch Cobb, and her youngest son, John Wesley Cobb had both died in 1917 while on active war duty. She would have understood exactly what Mabel was going through and been a huge support to the young widow.


Post War
Mabel is likely to have attended the wedding of her 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.

Tragically, Mabel experienced the loss of another loved one when her dear sister Clara died on 6 August 1920 at the age of 40. She was buried in the Terrence End Cemetery, Palmerston North, Block 051, Plot 021.


A new life in New Plymouth
It is possible that Mabel Preacher and Harriet Cobb both moved to New Plymouth following Clara's death. They probably stayed with Alice Cobb and her family for a while before getting their own places to live.

Electoral Rolls show that Mabel lived at the following places in New Plymouth:

• 1928 1935 - 158 Leach Street 
• (The 1928 Electoral Roll shows that Harriet Cobb also lived with them. Harriet died in 1929.)
• 1938, 1946, 1949, 1954, 1957 - 113 Leach Street
• 1963 -  232 Carrington Street

Mabel and Gladys got involved with the Salvation Army Church in New Plymouth which was where Alice Cobb and her family attended. Gladys learnt violin and played in the Salvation Army orchestra along with her cousins, Dulcie and Freda Cobb.

Mabel Preacher with her daughter Gladys c1920s
Photographer unknown but probably H S Cobb.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Mabel was an accomplished seamstress. She took in sewing at home to make money.

Mabel lost her sister, Alice Cobb on 10 May 1950. Alice was buried in the Hawera Cemetery.


Death
Mabel died on 31 August 1968. She was 83. She was buried at the Awanui Cemetery, New Plymouth, Block 4, Plot 56.


The family of James and Mabel Preacher
James and Mabel Preacher had one daughter:

• Gladys Mary Preacher (7 July 1917 - 20 Oct 1994)

• Gladys was born in Waipukurau. 
• Her father enlisted for war when she was two months old. He was killed in action in France on 5 October 1918 when she was 15 months old.
• Gladys's mother, Mabel, initially relocated to Palmerston North around 1918 where her sister Clara Arrow lived. After Clara's death in 1920 we believe Mabel and Gladys moved to New Plymouth to be closer to another sister, Alice Cobb, and her family.

Gladys Preacher

Photo on left by Anderson's Studio, Palmerston North, c1919

Photo on right by Oakley, New Plymouth c1921-22

(Photos courtesy of G J Bland)

Gladys Preacher

Photo on left by unknown photographer c1923-24

Photo on right by Swainson's, New Plymouth 1925

(Photos courtesy of G J Bland)

• Gladys attended the Salvation Army church in New Plymouth with her mother. She played violin in the church orchestra in the late 1920s / early 1930s with her cousins Dulcie and Freda Cobb.

The New Plymouth Salvation Army orchestra, late 1920s.
Freda Cobb (violin), back row, first on the left.
Dulcie Cobb (cello), front row, on right.
Gladys Preacher (violin), second row, third from the left.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

• Gladys lived as a spinster most of her life. She had no children.

Gladys Preacher
Photographer & date unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

• Her mother, Mabel, died on 31 August 1968 and was buried at the Awanui Cemetery, New Plymouth.
• When she was around 50 years old, Gladys became the third wife of Roy Henry George (1 Jan 1910 - 12 May 1984). They appear to have been married at the Spiritualist Church, in Auckland in the late 1960s. Roy was a farmer. He had previously been married to Eileen Fevre (1913 - 31 July 1956) with whom he had eight children. Roy's second wife was Thelma Daisy Florence Berry (Jan 1909 - 9 Jan 1966). 

Wedding of Gladys Preacher and Roy George. Late 1960s.
From left: Jack Cobb (Gladys's cousin), Jean Cobb, Roy, Gladys,
unknown women and man.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland

Gladys George (seated second from the right) and her
husband Roy (standing second from right) with his children
from his first marriage. c1970
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

• The 1969 Electoral Roll shows that Roy and Gladys lived at 75 Queen Street, Waitara. Roy worked in the area as a farmer.
• In 1978 Gladys was living at 16 Barriball Street, New Plymouth. Roy wasn't listed as living there. 
• In the late 1970s and early 80s, Gladys lived at 2/62 Wallace Place, New Plymouth. Roy was not listed as living there.
• Roy died 12 May 1984 and was buried at the Inglewood Cemetery, in the Memorial Area, Row E1, Plot 16N with his first wife, Eileen.
• Gladys's last known address was 5 Parris Street, Waitara.
• She died aged 77 and was buried with her mother at the Awanui Cemetery, Block 4, Plot 56.

Sources of Information
Family records and photos courtesy of G J Bland
Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph
New Plymouth District Council Cemetery Search
James Preacher's military records
They Served: James Preacher
They Served: Frederick J Smith
Ancestry.com
Papers Past



Notes:
James Preacher
1905/06 Electoral Roll. Lived at Disraeli Street, Gisborne (Carpenter)
1911 Electoral Roll. Lived at Waipukurau (Carpenter)
1914 Electoral Roll. Living at 602 Queen St East, Hastings (Carpenter)


Last updated 21 December 2019