Born April 5 1845 in Linton Hereford was only 2-3 years old when the family arrived in New Zealand. Her schooling would have taken place at Howick and she would have only been a young woman of 16 when the family moved to Napier. It was here that she met and married Thomas Gebbie, at the age of 16, the Rev. P. Barclay officiated.

Court news: Louisa Gebbie took W.H. Pritchard to court for the non-payment of 15s. per week as the agreed amount for taking care of his children when his wife returned to Australia.

And its at this point that the family Bible provides us with so much information, where it lists the births and in some cases deaths of the children.

In the 1878—79 Directory, Thomas Gebbie’s occupation is given as Dairyman and he was "well known and respected person in the Taradale area". There is a Gebbie Road in Taradale.

Thomas Gebbie died April 17 1909 aged 86 years and is buried in the family plot at the Taradale Cemetery.

Louisa died 17 October 1936 at age 91 years and is buried at Waikumete Cemetery under the name Louisa Gebbie Davie. From her death certificate it was learned that she married Thomas Gebbie at age 16.

Return to Home Page