Samuel Gribble (1822 - 1897)

Born 4 Nov 1822 in Redruth, Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Husband of Grace (Polkinghorne) Gribble — married 11 Aug 1842 (to 18 Jun 1847) in Redruth, Cornwall, England

Husband of Ann (Deeble) Gribble — married 1 Nov 1847 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 3 Dec 1897 at age 75 in Thames, Coromandel, New Zealand

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Biography

Samuel was born about 1823. He passed away about 1898 aged 75 years old.^[1]

Obituary

“Another of the pioneers of the Thames Goldfield has joined the great majority. We refer to Mr Samuel Gribble, who died at his residence, Franklyn street, Block 27, early this morning. The late Mr Gribble, who was well-known and much respected, had attained the ripe age of 75 years, having been born on the 14th November, 1822, at Redruth in Cornwall, England. When a young man of twenty, he felt that there was not sufficient scope for his energies in his native place, and as the Burraburra mines in South Australia were obtaining a world-wide recognition in the year 1841, he joined a party of Cornish miners bent on trying their lick in South Australia, and arrived in Adelaide in the following year. He obtained employment at Burraburra, where he worked for some years. He afterwards left Adelaide, came to Auckland, and was employed in the copper mine at the Kawau (which was owned by Messrs Heale and Whitaker) under the direction of the late Mr Rowe and Captain Innis. He was not engaged for any length of time at the Kawau, but having disposed of some property he had acquired at Mount Eden, he returned to the South Australian capital, and for some years was employed in the pursuit of mining.

After the opening of the Thames Goldfield in 1868, Mr Gribble decided to come here, ad arrived at the wharf in 1869. He went to work in the moes, and was regarded as an excellent miner. For some time he occupied the position of underground “boss” in the Moanataiari at the time it was managed by the late Mr James Gribble (who, however, was in no way related to him). Subsequently he managed the Alburnia mine for a short period, and was successful in unearthing a rich patch of gold in the Sons of Freedom reef at the Whau level. He afterwards managed other mines – the Hobson and Luck’s All – and then went tributing, being rewarded for his exertions with varying success. Abut five years ago, finding that the infirmities of age were creeping on him, he was compelled to give up active work.

Mr Gribble had been ailing for some time. Yesterday he complained of feeling unwell, and Dr Callan was summoned and attended. Mr Gribble retired to rest last night, and declined to allow his wife to sit up with him as she proposed to do. Upon going into his room at six o’clock this morning Mrs Gribble discovered that her husband was dead, having peacefully passed away in his sleep. The body was still warm, indicating that death could only have taken place a short time previously.

The late Mr Gribble was twice married, and our readers may remember that a few weeks ago a paragraph appeared in our columns giving a brief account of his golden wedding. He leaves a widow and family of eight to mourn their loss – four daughters, Mrs James Thomas, Mrs H Creamer, Mrs Martin and Miss Gribble, and four sons, Messrs Samuel, William, Malachi and James Gribble. All his married sons and daughters have been blessed with children, some having large families. Mrs Martin and Mr Samuel Gribble have both children and grandchildren. Mr Gribble was a regular attendant at the Wesleyan Church (of which he was a trustee and class leader), and was also a Freemason, having been initiated in the Sir Wlater Scott Lodge, but not having of late attended its meetings. Much sympathy will be expressed for the family in their berevement. The funeral will take palce on Sunday afternoon.”

Transcription of Obituary in Thames Star, Rorahi XXIX, Putanga 8933, 3 Hakitea 1897, Page 2.

In National Library of New Zealand archives.

Samuel was born in 1822. He passed away in 1897.

Sources

1. ↑ BDM NZ Death cert 1898/7029

• Harvey Watts