Lena Beatrice (Boyd) Griffin (1878 - 1966)

Born 24 Dec 1878 in Wellington, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 16 Jun 1966 at age 87 in Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

Lena Beatrice was born on 24 December 1878 at Alma Lane, Tory Street, Wellington, the daughter of John Frederick Boyd and Letitia Edwards. Lena was the only known child of Letitia but John had 10 children from a previous marriage.

Lena moved with her parents from Wellington to Wanganui in about 1884 and from there to Whangarei in about 1887.

From John Boyd’s letter of 1896 to Lena's half sister Amelia it is clear the family called their daughter Beatrice, not Lena. Perhaps because of this her actual name was recorded incorrectly on a variety of documents, usually as Eleanor. The information below records her name, and that of her children, as it appeared at source.

Eleanor Beatrice Boyd married John Griffin on 20 January 1898 at the residence of the Bride’s Parents, Wangarei [sic]. The officiating minister was L. L. Cubitt. Their marriage certificate recorded John was a bachelor of full age and a settler. His usual residence was stated as Wangarei. John was born in London, England the son of Edward John Griffin, a farmer and Elizabeth Griffin. Eleanor Beatrice was a spinster and minor. Her usual residence was also stated as Wangarei. Eleanor was born in Wellington, N.Z. to John Frederick Boyd, a tailor, and Letitia Boyd nee Edwards. Their witnesses were Nellie Buston[?], a settler of Wangarei and J F Boyd, tailor of Wangarei, her father.

This couple had five known children named Ethel Nena Griffin [1898], Eleen Myrtle Griffin [14 January 1900], Cecil Thomas Edmond Griffin [1902], Lorna Edeline Griffin [1905] and John Maurice Griffin [1910]. Eleen was born at Maungakaramea, Northland. Her birth certificate also recorded her father as John Griffin, a farmer, aged 25, born London, England and her mother as Ellenor Beatrice Griffin formerly Boyd aged 20, born Wellington, New Zealand. The informant was John Griffin, father.

The birth indexes show Ethel's parents were named as Lena Beatrice and John, Cecil and Lorna's as Ellenor Beatrice and John and son John's as Eleanour Beatrice and Gerald John.

John and Eleanor Beatrice Griffin both appeared in the 1905-06, 1911 and 1914 Marsden electoral rolls. Their address was Maungakaramea and John was a farmer. In 1919 only Eleanor Beatrice appeared on the 1919 Marsden roll.

From The Northern Advocate dated 27 May 1914, Pg 7 - A WIFE DESERTER. ORDER MADE FOR MAINTENANCE. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr E. Page, S.M., Lena Beatrice Griffin applied for maintenance orders aggregating £2 10s a week and back maintenance £25 against her husband, Gerald John Griffin, in respect of herself and five children. Mr Carruth appeared for complainant and stated that in the absence of Griffin, whose whereabouts were unknown, he was proceeding under the provisions of the Destitute Persons Act to secure an order against defendant’s estate (since sold by the mortgagee) without personal service of summons. Complainant was practically destitute, and had five children to keep. Her husband had lived at Maungakaramea up till three years ago, when he left complainant, having previously sold all the stock and mortgaged the estate to the extent of £400. She had received nothing from him since 1912. The State Advances Office had sold the estate by auction for £1000, and he claimed that the balance, after paying the mortgage and interest (about £500) should go to complainant, as it would be wasted if Griffin got it. One of the children was paralysed, and the others were not yet able to contribute anything towards the upkeep of the family. Mrs Griffin gave evidence concerning her husband’s neglect and desertion of her, and stated she was practically destitute, except for the charity of her neighbours. Thomas O’Carroll, of Maungakaramea, stated that Mrs Griffin was an industrious and honest woman, who had had a hard and brave struggle since her husband deserted her. He considered that she would use any money the Court made orders for wisely and prudently. His Worship granted the application, and made the order in accordance with Mr Carruth’s suggestion, to be attached to the State Guarantee Office, which would make the payments.

In the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Northern District, IN DIVORCE BETWEEN ELENA BEATRICE GRIFFIN of Marua Hikurangi in the Provincial District of Auckland in the Dominion of New Zealand Married Woman Petitioner AND JOHN GERALD GRIFFIN formerly of Maungakaramea in the said Provincial District Farmer but now of the City of Sydney in the State of New South Wales of unknown occupation Respondent.

Monday the 26th day of March 1917 - THE PETITION of Elena Beatrice Griffin of Marua Hikurangi in the Provincial District of Auckland in the Dominion of New Zealand Married Woman sheweth as follows:- (1) THE Petitioner was on the 20th day of January 1899 [sic] lawfully married to John Gerald Griffin then a Bachelor at the residence of Mrs. Boyd in Whangarei in the said Provincial District of Auckland by the Reverend L. L. Cupid [sic]. (2) AFTER her said marriage the Petitioner lived and cohabited with her husband at Maungakarema at Waikiekie and at Ruatangata in the said Provincial District of Auckland and the Petitioner and her husband have had issue of their marriage five children to wit: Ethel Nora aged 18 years, Eileen Myrtle aged 13 years, Cecil Rhodes aged 15 years, Adeline Lorna aged 13 years and John Morris aged 6 years [names as shown]. (3) IN or about the 3rd day of July 1910 and on other days between that date and the 3rd day of July 1915 the said John Gerald Griffin committed adultery with May Farrow (then a Spinster) at Ruatangata at Whangarei and Maungakaramea aforesaid and at Sydney in New South Wales. (4) ON or about the 10th day of July 1911 the said John Gerald Griffin wilfully deserted the Petitioner without just cause and for five years and upwards namely from that date down to the present time has continued to desert the Petitioner without just cause. (5) THE Petitioner was born at Wellington and is now domiciled in New Zealand and resides at Marua Hikurangi in the said Provincial District of Auckland. (6) THE Petitioner's said husband was born at London and at the time he deserted the Petitioner as aforesaid and for 14 years prior thereto was domiciled in and had resided in New Zealand. (7) THE Petitioner prays 1. That the said marriage of the Petitioner with her said husband be dissolved. 2. That the Petitioner have the custody of the children of the said marriage. 3. That the Petitioner have such further or other relief in the premises as may be just. Signed: E B Griffin. Witness: Signed, Solicitor, Auckland.

In support of these proceedings was the following affidavit - I, CLIVE HENRY JENNER WILY of Auckland Solicitors Clerk hereby make oath and say:- (1) THAT I am in the employ of Messieurs Reed Bailey & Towle Solicitors for the Petitioner herein. (2) THAT acting on instructions from the petitioner I caused inquiries to be made as to the present whereabouts of the Respondent herein. (3) THAT I was informed by the Mother of May Farrow and verily believe that Respondent left New Zealand in company with the said May Farrow and resided in apartments with her at Sidbury Belmont Road Coogee in Sydney in Australia. (4) THAT my said informant stated she had received letters from time to time from her daughter from that address and is not aware of the Respondent having any other address SWORN at Auckland this 26th day of June 1917. Signed: Clive H J Wily Before me: W A Black, A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

IN CHAMBERS Friday the 13th day of July 1917 UPON READING the Motion Paper filed herein and the Affidavit of Clive Henry Jenner Wily sworn and filed herein and after hearing Mr. A. R. Graham Counsel for the abovenamed Petitioner IT IS ORDERED that the time within which the Respondent may enter his appearance and file his answer to the Petition herein is 42 says after service of the Citation herein upon the Respondent exclusive of the day of such service and that such time be inserted in the said Citation AND THAT the time for the trial of this suit shall be at the first Civil Sittings of the Supreme Court at Auckland to be held after the expiration of the said period of 42 days after service of the said Citation. By the Court Signed Deputy Registrar.

Following her divorce Lena and children moved to Auckland.

In the 1928 Auckland Central electoral roll Elena Beatrice Griffin was living at 5 Brunswick St. Daughter Edline Griffin was living at 2 Bradnor St.

In the 1935 and 1938 rolls Elena Beatrice and son John Morris Griffin were living at 3 Napier St [Freemans Bay]. John was a bootmaker.

In the 1946 roll Elena Beatrice, son John Morris and his wife Kathleen were living at 2 Froude St. John was still a bootmaker.

In the 1954 Auckland Central roll Elena Beatrice was shown as living at 6 Froude St with son Cecil Edward Griffin. Cecil was a freezer [sic] worker.

However in the 1954 Mt Albert roll Lena Beatrice, Cecil Edward, John Maurice and Kathleen Griffin were all shown living at 16 McDonald St. Cecil was then a labourer and John a carpenter.

Kathleen Griffin did not appear in the 1957 Mt Albert roll but Doris Agness, Cecil's wife, was included in the supplementary roll. The family was still at 16 McDonald St. Cecil was once again working as a freezing worker and John was a labourer.

By 1963 Lena Beatrice had moved to live with her daughter and son in law Edeline and Herbert Facoory at 30 Commercial Rd, Grey Lynn.

Lena Beatrice Griffin died on 17 June 1966 aged 87 years. She was buried at Waikumete Cemetery [PROTESTANT BERM B Row 24, Plot 68]. Her headstone reads - In Loving Memory of Lena Beatrice Dearly Loved Wife of the Late John Griffin. And Loved Mother of [Ei]leen, Cecil, Edeline, Jack and the late Ethel. Died 17th July [sic] 1966.