|
The Pritchard Family |
||
|
The New Zealand Connection |
| JOHN JAMES PRITCHARD | HEBER PRITCHARD |
The eldest son of John and Mary was born 19 May 1843 in Herefordshire, England.
He married Charlotte Andrews, of London, at the Registrars Office, Turanga (Gisborne) on Christmas Day 1871.
They had 5 children:
| Charlotte Pritchard | born in Gisborne |
| Emily Pritchard | born in Gisborne |
| John James Pritchard | born in Napier |
| Louisa Pritchard | born in Napier |
| Frederick Pritchard | born in Napier |
The family returned to Gisborne after the birth of Frederick where Heber took up a job as a carter. In June 1883 while "pursuing his ordinary calling", Heber ruptured a blood vessel. This accident left him and his family destitute as Heber was no longer able to work. This, in the days of no benefits, must have been an appalling situation for a family of five young children.
On the 5th July 1883, through the "Poverty Bay Herald" a public appeal was launched to help Heber and his family. On July 7 Heber was back in hospital. The Poverty Bay Herald, July 24, reported that £40 had been raised and this "was placed on fixed deposit for six months and sufficient money on current account to render them a little relief weekly. Most of the money was raised by a Mrs Hacche was given in small amounts of 2s.6d. up to £1. 1s.
However on December 2nd 1883, 6 months later, Heber aged 40, died of stomach cancer caused no doubt by the accident.
So far we have been unsuccessful in tracing the lives of Charlotte, and Louisa.
Emily married John Edward Charles and had four sons and a daughter. She was a member of the Gisborne Old Settlers Association and was well known in the district.
Frederick never married.
John James married Ruth Charlotte Moore, daughter of a well-known blacksmith. They had
five sons and one daughter. John James and his wife died within six months of each other, he as a result of a logging accident at Tolaga Bay. (P. Burden).
