Info 1858-3c, Georgina eliza Grooby/Prebble

Info 3c. Georgina eliza origins

Georgina Eliza was born about 1891 in Collingwood, Golden Bay, a premarital birth.
source:- her age -77 at death in 1968 and age of 22, when she married in 1914.
Her natural mother was May (mary) Elizabeth Thompson, the father is unknown. and no conclusive record has been found of Georgina's birth. It seems probable she was named by her adoptive parents.

May (Mary) elizabeth Thompson b.~1866 Tuamarina, Wairau Valley, Marlborough,
She worked as a barmaid in a hotel in Takaka, family hearsay has it that she was encouraged to sleep with the patrons. This cannot be confirmed, but if it was the case, May may not have known who the father was. If the case were otherwise she may not have let on but there is no knowledge as to his identity.

A couple of Years after the birth and Adoption of Georgina, her mother ,May Elizabeth Thompson married on March 1st 1893 to John Grooby at the house of Mr Alec Thompson (elder brother) in Takaka and went on to give birth to a further 7 children.

 Thompson Origins © Helen Jennings;
 Christopher
 Thompson
 b.1835 Monk Bretton, Yorkshire UK
 d.05may1896
 |
 m.15jun1859 St Pauls Episcopalain Church, Wellington, NZ
 |
 Mary ann
 Key
 b.10oct1840 at 25 Market St. Paddington, London, UK
 d.30mar1916 Picton, NZ
 |
 |===========|===========|============|=========|============|=========|=========|===========|========|======||
 George      Alex        May (mary)   Amelia    Louisa       Maria     William   Archibald   Albert   Allen
 |           |           elizabeth    |         ann          charlotte frederick |           edward   |
 b.1861      b.18mar1862 b.~1866      b.1868    b.1870       b.1873    b.1875    b.1877      b.1878   b.1879
 d.          d.          d.20jun1953  d.        d.12nov1873  d.1874    d.1876    d.06may1896 d.1878   d.
                         |                      aged 3y 5m   aged 7m   aged 4m               aged 7m
                         |
 p?......................m.01mar1893 Takaka, NZ
 |                       |
 ?                       John
 ?                       Grooby  son of Herbert Grooby and Catherine Day
 |                       b.1863 Nottinham, UK
 |                       d.14jun1940 Takaka, NZ buried Rototai cemetery
 |                       |
 |=======//==|==========|==========|==========|==========|==========|==========|=======||
 Georgina    Maud       Catherine  Walter     Mary       John       Mona       Annie    
 b.~1891     myrtle     (Kate)     charles T. constance  alexander  christina  gertrude  
 adopted     b.1894      b.1897    b.1897     b.1900     b.1904     b.1905     b.1907    
 1891-1893

May Elizabeth's father Christopher Thompson was born Monk Bretton, Barnsly, Yorkshire uk, christened 3rd April 1835 Royston( about a mile north of Monk Bretton).

1851 census
Source          HO107; Piece: 2332; Folio: 674; Page: 5/6           
Place           Monk Bretton Yorkshire
Dwelling        schedule 21 Old Mill

John      Thompson  head m  47  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
Mary Ann  Thompson  wife m  45                         Wakefield
Mary      Thompson          19                         Monk Bretton
John      Thompson          18  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
Christopher Thompson        16  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
Robert    Thompson          15  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
Thomas    Thompson          13  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
Samuel    Thompson          11  Linen Weaver           Monk Bretton
William   Thompson           8                         Monk Bretton
Elizabeth Thompson           5                         Monk Bretton

Circa 1855 he signed on with the 65th regiment of foot and was sent to New Zealand aboard the Lancashire Witch, arriving in Wellington 20th July 1856.

Taraniki Herald, 2nd August 1856.
The Lancashire Witch arrived on Sunday evening from London, via Hobart Town and Sydney, with a detachment of 257 men of the 65th regiment, under the command of Capt. Peebles of the 11th regiment, and Ensigns Lewis, Leonard, and Pennefatber, of the 65th regiment, and Assistant Surgeon Birkett, of 74th regiment, Having landed a detachment of the 11th regiment at Sydney. She has made quick passage of eight days from Sydney. The Lancashire Witch is, we believe tbe largest, and ia certainly one of the finest vessels that has entered this harbour. It ia reported she will proceed to Auckland.—

Taraniki Herald, 2nd August 1856.

The Lancashire Witch arrived on Sunday evening from London, via Hobart Town and Sydney, with a detachment of 257 men of the 65th regiment, under the command of Capt. Peebles of the 11th regiment, and Ensigns Lewis, Leonard, and Pennefatber, of the 65th regiment, and Assistant Surgeon Birkett, of 74th regiment,
Having landed a detachment of the 11th regiment at Sydney. She has made quick passage of eight days from Sydney.
The Lancashire Witch is, we believe tbe largest, and ia certainly one of the finest vessels that has entered this harbour.
It ia reported she will proceed to Auckland.—

In 1859 he married Mary Ann Key.
Christopher was granted a land settlement at the end of the wars - 1865 , however he sold this and moved to Picton, New Zealand as a Saw Miller.

1870-71 Picton, Marlborough
Christopher Thompson, Anikiwa,Household, Queen Charlotte Sound, part of Thom's Claim

1876 Marleborough
Christopger Thompson, AraPawa Island, Queen Charlotte sound

1890 Wairau, Marlborough
Christopher Thompson, residential, Grove Rd ,Blenhiem, Labourer

sheet 2

New Zealand Herald 4th August 1870
ACCIDENT. A very painful accident occurred at the Grove on Wednesday afternoon last. It appears that, a son of Mr. Christopher Thompson, about eleven years of age, and another boy, were chasing a rat amongst some sawn timber on Mr. Duncan's wharf, when a heavy tier of timber fell on the boy Thompson, nearly crushing him to death. Assistance was immediately procured by the other boy, and Thompson was soon removed from beneath the pile of timber, and conveyed insensible and bleeding to his home.

New Zealand Herald 4th August 1870

ACCIDENT. A very painful accident occurred at the Grove on Wednesday afternoon last. It appears that, a son of Mr. Christopher Thompson, about eleven years of age, and another boy, were chasing a rat amongst some sawn timber on Mr. Duncan's wharf, when a heavy tier of timber fell on the boy Thompson, nearly crushing him to death. Assistance was immediately procured by the other boy, and Thompson was soon removed from beneath the pile of timber, and conveyed insensible and bleeding to his home.

Wellington independant, 29th October 1873
Married womans protection order; Mary Ann Thompson made a similar application to the Bench against her husband, Christopher Thompson, but as his Worship saw no sufficient reason, from the evidence placed before him, to break up the home of the parties, and lead to further unhappiness between them, he refused to grant the order.
Evening Post, 19th April 1879
Christopher Thompson, who did not appear, was summoned to show cause why a protection order under the Married Woman's Property Act should not be granted to bis wife. An order was made for defendant to contribute 25s a week towards the support of his wife for three months, and after that 20s a week.

Evening Post, 30th March 1880
MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE. Christopher Thompson, a wild-looking man, was charged with using threatening language to his wife, Mary Anne Thompson on the 22nd instant. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mrs. Thompson deposed that on the day in question her husband came home drunk, and as she would not let him in to her room he threatened to do for her and smashed in the door. She was afraid, if not bound over to keep the peace, he would do her some bodily injury, he had struck her before, and she felt sure would do the same again. Prisoner— Mother, dear, you know that is not true. Am I not a good husband to you?- Mrs. Thompson Yes, Christopher; you are a good husband when you are in soberiety. Mr. Thompson Aint I always in sobriety Don't I always bring my wages and put them on the table, mother dear? Mrs. Thompson your own children know what you are. Miss Thompson, a girl about 17, was called to give evidence, but asked to be excused, as sne did not want to come between her father and mother. Her evidence was dispensed with. The Chairman said it would do defendant no harm to be bound.over to keep the peace. The defendant said he had three witnesses' who could prove that he was innocent. The witnesses were called. They consisted of two lodgers and a son of the parties. The defendant then made a statement, in which he made his wife the aggressor. She was always nagging at him, and he had no peace, nor ever should have, as long as he was with her. She had more than once thrown knives at him. The Bench ordered the prisoner to sign a bond for £10, to keep the peace for six months.

Evening Post, 30th March 1880

MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE.
Christopher Thompson, a wild-looking man, was charged with using threatening language to his wife, Mary Anne Thompson on the 22nd instant. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mrs. Thompson deposed that on the day in question her husband came home drunk, and as she would not let him in to her room he threatened to do for her and smashed in the door. She was afraid, if not bound over to keep the peace, he would do her some bodily injury, he had struck her before, and she felt sure would do the same again.
Prisoner— Mother, dear, you know that is not true. Am I not a good husband to you?-
Mrs. Thompson Yes, Christopher; you are a good husband when you are in soberiety. Mr. Thompson Aint I always in sobriety Don't I always bring my wages and put them on the table, mother dear? Mrs. Thompson your own children know what you are.
Miss Thompson, a girl about 17, was called to give evidence, but asked to be excused, as sne did not want to come between her father and mother. Her evidence was dispensed with. The Chairman said it would do defendant no harm to be bound.over to keep the peace. The defendant said he had three witnesses' who could prove that he was innocent. The witnesses were called. They consisted of two lodgers and a son of the parties. The defendant then made a statement, in which he made his wife the aggressor. She was always nagging at him, and he had no peace, nor ever should have, as long as he was with her. She had more than once thrown knives at him. The Bench ordered the prisoner to sign a bond for £10, to keep the peace for six months.

sheet 3

Colonist, 7th May 1896
FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT. TWO MEN DROWNED. [From Our own COrrespondent] Takaka, May 6. Yesterday afternoon a fishing boat capsized off Pohara in rough weather. The Occupants were Christopher Thompson, an old identity here, laborer and fisherman, and his son Archibald, both being drowned. The news was brought through during the afternoon by Mr Constable, of the Tatas, that a boat was in the bay bottom up, and fish were floating ashore. Mr George Winter, of Wainui, saw the capsize, but having no boat could render no assistance. The bodies were recovered between nine and ten last evening, at low water, and brought into Takaka, where they now lie in the Courthouse. The deoeased were both hard working men, and well respectsd by all. They leave numerous relatives to mourn their loss.
Marlborough Express, 8 may 1896
DROWNING Fatality.— With reference to the recent boat accident at Takaka, by which Mr Christopher Thompson and his son Archie lost their lives, our Picton oontemporaiy states:— Mr C. Thompson was one of the earliest settlers m this distrust, having been engaged handsawing m the Waitohi Valley before mills were ereoted. He afterwards worked at the late Mr A. S. Duncan's mill at the Grove, and when that was worked out went to the district in which he met his end. His son Archie only left Pioton about twelve months ago to join him, and he will be remembered as living with Mr George Whiting. Mr Thompson leaves a widow (also well known in this district) and a large family, most of whom are married and settled m various parts of the Colony, the only two remaining in the district being George, living at Para, and Mrs George Whiting of this town.
Nelson Evening Mail
In regard to the late Mr Christopher Thompson aud his son, who were recently drowned at Takaka, the "N.Z. Herald" (Auckland) says:— The two men were wero father and brother of Mr Herbert Fell, of this city. Mr Thompson came to New Zealand in the early days as orderly to Mojor Willis, and saw a good deal of service in the Maori war. On his discharge from the service he settled in Wellington, taking to farming. Some time afterwards he sold tho farm, and later on settled in Picton, where he brought up a large family, A few years ago he left Picton, and went to Takaka, where he lived until his untimely end. He was greatly respected, on account of his integrity and geniality. Deceased leaves a widow, three daughters, and four sons (Mrs Fell being the youngest daughter) to mourn their loss.

sheet 3

May elizabeth died 20th June 1953 in Motupipi, Golden Bay.
Buried Rototai Cemetery Row 3, Plot 10, beside her husband John Grooby.

Sacred to the memory of JOHN Dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Grooby who passed away June 14 1940 aged 77 Years Also Elizabeth his wife who passed away Jan 20th 1953 Reunited Ever Remebered

VOTERS
1911 takaka motueka


1928 Takaka Motueka
John      Grooby, Takaka, Labourer
Elizabeth Grooby, Takaka, married
Constance mary Grooby, Takaka, spinster
Mona christina Grooby, Takaka, spinster

1957 Miramar, Wellington
Mary constance Grooby, 20 Falkirk Ave, Spinster
Jill           Grooby, 20 Falkirk Ave, Spinster

1963 Miramar, Wellington
Mary constance Grooby, 20 Falkirk Ave, Spinster
Jill           Grooby, 20 Falkirk Ave, Typist

Updated 25th April 2016