James & Eliza Dickson

[FredP]

My mother's aunt Eliza Luke Williams, b Exeter 1847 and her husband James Dickson, b Gatehouse of Fleet, Kircubrightshire, Scotland (also 1847) lived in or near Napier, Hawk's Bay, where he died 16th June 1916. I have a picture of a quite impressive monument to him there.
I remember my mother receiving a share of her aunt's estate when she died about 10 years after her husband. Possibly her death was recorded on the monument.
Can anyone please let me know the actual date of her death? I am sure there were no chiklren. I believe she was a nurse but have no idea what her husband's occupation was. Nor do I know when or where they were married, or even whether they met in England.
She was in London at the time of the 1881 census. He had been in London in 1861 and possibly 1871, but I have so far found no likely reference to him in 1881, nor to either in 1891.
Any scrap of information about them, or suggestions as to where I might search, would be gratefully received.
Thanks, FredP.

[FredP]

Not a reply but an up-date.
Eliza Luke Dickson appears on the 1893 Electoral Roll as certified Nurse, No 4751 Hastings, Hawkes Bay.
In 1893 and 1896 there is a James Dickson, baker, but apparently not in the Hawkes Bay area.
On the 1911 Electoral Roll she is No 1750 at Nelson Street, Hastings, Hawkes Bay.
There is no reference to No 1751, but at 1752 is James Dickson, same address, stationhand.
Is anyone with access to these rolls able to explain the gap in the 1911 numbers, and the husband's
absence from the earlier rolls, and perhaps, what the occupation 'stationhand' involved.
Thanks, FredP.

[Chisel]

Unless somebody beats me to it, I'll chase this one along for you - since I live in Hastings.
If you have any other specific requests then post them and I'll see what I can achieve in the weekend.

ps Where are you located?

[Chisel]

www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
1888 Eliza Williams m James Dickson

You can order the certificate online only about $24NZ

I would assume that a Stationhand would be a general labourer at the railway station in the center of town.

[Chisel]

I've been to the cemetery and taken a couple of good photographs for you (pm me with your email address if you want them)
Headstone reads:
In Loving Memory
JAMES DICKSON
of Barharrow, Gatehouse
Scotland
Beloved husband of
(Nurse)
E.L.DICKSON
Who died 16th June 1916
Aged 69 Years
Also
ELIZA LUKE DICKSON
Wife of the above
Died 28th Aug 1924, Aged 77 Years
"A patient sufferer gone to rest"

[KathNZ]

Hi Fred

On the 1893 Electoral Roll there is a James Dickson, Hawkes Bay, Maraekakaho, Station Hand. A Station Hand could be somebody working on a sheep station.
Interestingly there is also a William Dickson in Hawkes Bay working as a Shepherd at Olrig which is near Hastings.

[Chisel]

:out:Doh, silly me - KathNZ is correct re Stationhand.

[FredP]

Thanks Chisel, and also Kath. Now I know when they were married I may be able to find out when they left for NZ and whether together or separately. That he worked on a sheep station is unexpected, but this might be explained if William were a relation. It has now become easier for me to check Scottish origins.
I should be very pleased to receive a photo of the headstone with Eliza's name on it. I have one with the husband only. I also have pictures of her in nurse's costume and of their house. Would you like to see them? It would be interesting to know if the house is still there. I live on the south coast of England, and my e-mail address is - fwp4221@sbys.freeserve.co.uk
Regards, FredP.

[Chisel]

Fred, if you have easy access to the electoral rolls, then can you please double check them. The street numbers are too large (lose 1 digit).
Nelson St is just around the corner from me - in fact all streets are. This is a small town of only 80k.

If somebody else did the searching let me know and I'll double check the addresses in the weekend.

[FredP]

Thanks again. This time for the pictures of the grave as it is now.
What information I had before was entirely from family members who had never visited New Zealand, and a chance contact I made when trying to find out about another relation who went to Australia. Sorry I can't recall which internet site I was using.
My query about the Electoral Roll number was because here in the UK a gap between the numbers would indicate someone else living at the same address; the numbers would not be the street number of the house.
Was any one else living there at the same time? I have no idea who would have dealt with her estate when she died, but it was divided between my mother, her four sisters and their two cousins - her surviving family and all living in England.
Any further info.that comes to light would be welcome, FredP.