Wedding Anniversaries

Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 37, September 1993

By Gordon Mathieson

JIM AND EUNICE BROWN: The 71st wedding anniversary of Jim and Eunice Brown, of Ohinemuri House Paeroa was celebrated on 3 May 1993. Mr and Mrs Brown are foundation members of the Paeroa Historical Society and it is with much pleasure therefore, that the Society is able to place on record the celebration of their 71st wedding anniversary. Surely this must be our districts longest marriage. Mr and Mrs Brown were married at Gisborne and came to Paeroa in 1940. (An interview with the Browns is recorded in Journal 35.)[see Journal 35: Jim and Eunice Brown - E]

To record the occasion of an important wedding anniversary, such as a silver, golden or a diamond, stands out as a milestone in the lives of those who are party to such and event.

OTHER LONG MARRIAGES: Considerable research has located details of a number of other couples in our district who have achieved over 60 years of marriage.

1 Mr & Mrs Alf Alley (nee Clara Nicholas) of Hikutaia, married in 1887 - 65 years. Mrs Alley died on 29 October 1952 aged 87 and Mr Alley on 12 May 1957 aged 92. (See Journal 15) [see Journal 15: Early Hikutaia Settlement - E]

2 Mr & Mrs W H Armour (nee Minnie Worth) of Waihi, married in 1909 - 68 years. Mr William Henry (Harry) Armour died on 18 May 1978 and Mrs Armour on 25 June 1980. Both were aged 93 years. (See Journals 6. 10, 12, 15).[see Journal 6: Contributors, Early Waimata; Journal 10: Early Waihi Bushland Settlers, Journal 12: Armour - Diamond Wedding, Journal 15: Art of the Wheelwright - E]

3 Mr & Mrs F H Bennett, of Netherton and Paeroa, married in 1920 - 66 years. Mr Francis Henry (Frank) Bennett died 29 July 1986 aged 91 years and Mrs Harriet (Hetty) Bennett on 24 December 1987 aged 88 years.

4 Mr & Mrs W Hall of Paeroa, married in 1905 in England, came to New Zealand in 1911 - 66 years. Mr William Hall died on 26 January 1972 aged 90 and Mrs Teresa Hall in 1980 aged 100. (See Journals 13, 16, 19, 31)

5 Mr & Mrs D McWatters of Paeroa, married in 1916 - 61 years. Mrs Annie May McWatters (nee Phillips) died on 7 March 1978 aged 92 and Mr David McWatters on 2 July 1981 aged 94. Mr McWatters had a menswear shop in Paeroa from 1914 until 1977, now owned by his eldest son Phil. (See Journals 4, 17, 21)[see Journal 4: Long Business Record - E]

6 Mr & Mrs Ben Gwilliam of Whangamata, Karangahake and Paeroa, married at Lower Hutt on 19 April 1899 - 63 years. Mr Gwilliam died on 19 April 1962 aged 89 years and Mrs Mary Ann Gwilliam (nee Fleet) on 9 March 1970 aged 94. (See Journals 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 26)

7 Mr & Mrs T B Yeates of Karangahake and Paeroa married in 1919 - 62 years. Mr Tinsley Bradford Yeates died on 22 September 1981 aged 81 and Mrs Florence Elizabeth Yeates (nee McAlpine) on 1 November 1987 aged 85. The Yeates' ran Welfare Homes in Paeroa for some years.

8 Mr & Mrs J Burndred of Paeroa, married in 1915 - 65 years. Mrs Esther Ann Burndred died on 7 February 1981 aged 96 years and Mr John Burndred on 27 April 1982.

9 Mr & Mrs G Berry of Komata married on 7 December 1921 - 60 years. Mrs Emily Mary Berry, a daughter of Mr George Henry Vowles, died on 28 September 1982 aged 83, and Mr George Berry on 15 December 1986 aged 91.

10 Mr & Mrs L J Jamieson of Netherton and Paeroa married in 1919 - 62 years. Mr Leslie John Jamieson died on 14 July 1981 aged 88 and Mrs Ann Jamieson (nee Milnes) on 19 July 1987 aged 90. (See Journal 16)

11 Mr & Mrs R Smeath of Paeroa married in 1921 - 60 years. Mrs Annie Ellen Smeath died on 7 December 1981 aged 83 and Mr Robert Smeath on 11 August 1982 aged 91.

12 Mr & Mrs F M Innis of Paeroa married 27 February 1907 as part of a double wedding, two brothers and two sisters - 60 years. Mr Francis Maurice Innis died on 6 November 1967 aged 88 and Mrs Hannah Mary Louisa Innis (nee Adamson) on 16 June 1976 aged 95. The other couple married concurrently were Arthur J Innis and Emily Adamson. Mrs Louisa Innis was the oldest ex-pupil to attend the centenary of Paeroa District High School/ Paeroa Central School held in 1975. She had been a pupil from 1885 to 1890 when the first Netherton School on Old Netherton road opened, near where the family lived. (See Journals 3, 13, 16, 19)

13 Mr & Mrs N W Hedges of Waitakaruru married 28 February 1922 - 61 years. Mr Neville Walter Hedges died on 15 January 1984 and Mrs Alice Edith Hedges (nee Dobson) on 27 January 1985. Both were 88 years of age. Mrs Hedges was the second of six daughters of the Rev. and Mrs F B Dobson, Vicar of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Paeroa from 1916 to 1926.

14 Mr & Mrs E B Williams of Netherton and Paeroa married in 1926 - 64 years. Mrs Dulcie Madeline Williams (nee Johnson) died on 28 September 1990. Mr Ernest Williams died on 28 July 1992, aged 86.

15 Mr & Mrs J Buchanan (nee Grace Jones) of Paeroa, Ngarua and Komata married in 1925 - 60 years. Jack Buchanan died on 12 July 1985. Mrs Buchanan died in August 1992 age 91. (See Journal 29)

16 Mr & Mrs C M Kelly of Puriri and Paeroa married on 1 March, 1916 - 65 years. Mrs Mabel Eveline Kelly (nee Moyle) died on 9 January 1982 aged 86 and Mr Colin Maurice Kelly on 13 June 1987 aged 92 years.

17 Mr & Mrs G P White of Waihi married in 1900 - 62 years. Mr George Peterson White died on 28 October 1962 aged 91 and Mrs Anne Elizabeth White on 29 September 1964 aged 89.

I close this list with apologies to any that may have been overlooked but encourage others to add any people not included.

TABLE OF ANNIVERSARIES