Elizabeth (Lanfear) Barnett (1853 - 1937)

Born 9 Oct 1853 in Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Walter Henry Barnett — married 12 Feb 1877 in Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1937 at age 83 in Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

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Elizabeth (Lanfear) Barnett migrated from England to New Zealand.

Biography

Elizabeth (Lanfear) Barnett was born in England.

Elizabeth (Lanfear) Barnett was born in Wiltshire, England.

Elizabeth Lanfear was born on 9 October 1853, her birth being registered at Westbury in the last quarter of that year^[1]. She was the youngest daughter of James Lanfear and Mary Ann Kates. Her mother was about 43 years of age when Elizabeth was born.

1861 England Census
14 Slob Lane, Westbury, Wiltshire, England:

On 14 January 1862 her sister Matilda passed away at the age of 27. The following year, on 24 May 1863, her other sister Emma died at the age of 21.

Sadly Elizabeth's mother Mary Ann passed away in 1865 at the age of 55. Her father James remarried, to Mary Axford, the following year.

In the Enbland Census of 1871 at the age of 17 and single, Elizabeth Lanfear was probably working as a General Domestic Servant for Henry Cull (52) and his wife Elizabeth Cull (53) at 11 Park Place, Studley, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

With her mother dead, her three sisters passing away at young ages and her father remarried (unknown what happened to her brother Thomas), Elizabeth made the decision to emigrate from England to New Zealand. She either travelled on her own or with friends on the ship Rooparell. They departed from London on 23 February 1874, and arrived into Auckland on 30 May 1874, under Captain Sandberg. Her occupation was listed as a "General Servant"; aged 20.

THE ROOPARELL.

When she arrived at Auckland on May 30, 1874, the ship Rooparell, Captain Sandberg, 95 days out from London, or 90 land to land, brought no less than 367 immigrants, the largest number ever brought to the port up to that date. The large number of people arrived in good health. During the passage there were three births and three deaths. London was left on February 24, the meridian of the Cape was passed on April 25, and land near the North Cape of New Zealand was sighted on the morning of May 29."

The following was composed by fellow passenger Annie Crayford with regards to the voyage:

THE ROOPARELL

5 Hrs

When danger threatened us with doom

Our noble captain brave

He nobly braved the angry sea

And brought us safe again

6 Hrs

In all troubles grief and strife

They will lend a patient ear

With good advice and helping hand

They strive our hearts to cheer

7 Hrs

Long live our noble captain

We all wish him right well

God speed him on this voyage

In the good ship Rooparell

8 Hrs

We'll drink their health in water

they'll drink ours in wine

They will drink to their dear friends

And I will drink to mine

9 Hrs

And when landed in New Zealand

In after years we'll tell

Unto our little children

Of the good ship Rooparell

10 Hrs

We have met with great kindness

Both old and young as well

From captain crew and doctor

On board the Rooparell

11 Hrs

God speed them well when they shall leave

Us on a foreign shore

On their voyage to old England

We may never see them more

12 Hrs

We shall remember them with grateful hearts

For treating us right well

And now farewell to one and all

On board the Rooparell

Elizabeth was only briefly in Auckland before embarking on a (religious ?) mission to the island of Fiji in the Pacific, where she remained for two years. When she returned to Auckland she met Walter Henry "Harry" Barnett and they were married on 12 February 1877 at the house of Thomas Archbold in Victoria Street, Auckland. The Archbold family had arrived in New Zealand on the same ship as Elizabeth, the Rooparell. Harry's occupation was recorded as Carpenter.

They moved to Christchurch in the South Island soon after their marriage, where Harry opened a General Goods Store. The first five of their eleven children were born in Christchurch.

Her father James Lanfear died on 21 December 1882 back in Westbury, Wiltshire, England.

Elizabeth and her family moved back to Auckland from Christchurch in around 1886 where six more children were born. Sadly her daughter Alice passed away on 4 March 1888 at the age of 18 months as the result of diarrhoea (4 days) with convulsions (15 hours). The following year, on 8 January 1889, her daughter Chrissie died at the age of 15 days as the result of being born prematurely. They were both buried in Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.

Her youngest child, Baden, was born on 29 August 1900.

Elizabeth's home life was not always a happy one. Her husband was inclined to overindulge in alcohol and was sometimes abusive. One by one her daughters left home and got married: Emily to Charles Robert Bland on 12 November 1902 at the house of Reverend C. H. Garland in Karangahape Road, Auckland; Isabella to Symon Henry Williams on Christmas Day, 25 December 1902 in Foxton and Harriett to Joseph Nicholas Williams on 2 March 1907 in Palmerston North.

Her husband Walter Henry "Harry" Barnett passed away in Auckland Hospital on 7 May 1908 at the age of 63 from acute nephritis. Their youngest child was only eight years old. Elizabeth would have attended his funeral service on Sunday, 10 May 1908 at 2 p.m. with some of her children. There, the Grand Master of the Orange Lodge conducted the burial service. Just 12 days later, her last remaining unmarried daughter Rachel wed John Leith White on 19 May 1908.

Elizabeth stayed three more years in Auckland before deciding to relocate with her youngest children to Foxton, where her married daughters Isabella Williams and Harriett Williams were living. Her son Bertie remained in Auckland, as did her older married daughter Emily Bland.

Elizabeth lost a son during The Great War

Four of her sons fought in the 1st World War; Sydney Walter Barnett, Stanley James Barnett, Bertie Edward Barnett and Arthur William Barnett. They all managed to survive the battlegrounds, but sadly Bertie died in France on 8 March 1917 at the age of 24 as the result of "illness" (spinal meningitis). He is buried at St Pol Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Although Elizabeth would have been eligible to vote in the New Zealand General Elections, it wasn't until 1922 that she was enrolled and was recorded living at Union Street, Foxton (probably with her married daughter Isabella Williams). She was still at this address in the NZ Electoral Rolls of 1925 and 1931.

She lived out her days in Foxton, leading a quiet and reserved life but with a large group of friends and her family around her. She passed away on 17 August 1937 at the grand old age of 83 and was buried on 19 August 1937 at Foxton Cemetery, Cnr Hickford And Avenue Road, Foxton, New Zealand^[2][3]. Location in Cemetery: Anglican Block 3 Plot 28

Inscription:

IN FOND MEMORY OF

ELIZABETH BARNETT

DIED 17th AUG. 1937

AGED 83 YEARS.

AT REST.

Obituary

MANAWATU HERALD, VOLUME LVII, ISSUE 4827, 23 AUGUST 1937, PAGE 3:

MRS ELIZABETH BARNETT, AGED 84 YEARS.

The death occurred at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. I. Williams, on Tuesday last, of Mrs Elizabeth Barnett, aged 84 years, a resident of Foxton for the past 26 years. Deceased was born at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England in 1853 and came to New Zealand in the sailing ship "Ruparelle," the voyage occupying six months. After a sojourn in the Dominion, deceased went to the Fiji Islands where she remained for two years when she returned to Auckland and in 1877 married the late Mr. W. H. Barnett. In 1911 she came to here until the time of her demise.

She led a quiet and reserved life but nevertheless endeared herself to a large circle of friends who will regret her passing. she leaves a grown-up family of four sons and four daughters. They are Messes S. W. (Auckland), S. J. (Foxton), A. W. (P.N.) and B. T. Barnett (Utiku) and Mesdames White (Masterton), Williams (Hamilton, Williams (Foxton), and Bland (Auckland). One son was killed in the Great War. The funeral took place locally last Thursday.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NCH-V4J : accessed 10 April 2015), Elizabeth Lanfear, 1853; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Westbury, Wiltshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194468295/elizabeth-barnett : accessed 26 February 2022), memorial page for Elizabeth Lanfear Barnett (9 Oct 1853–17 Aug 1937), Find A Grave: Memorial #194468295, citing Foxton Cemetery, Foxton, Horowhenua District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand ; Maintained by lindylou631 (contributor 49254308)
3. ↑ https://www.horowhenua.govt.nz/Services/Cemeteries/Cemetery-Search
4. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19370823.2.21?end_date=31-12-1937&items_per_page=10&query=Nellie+Barry&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1936#print

• NZ BDM Marriage Records Online: Registration No: 1877/172 | Bride's Given Name(s): Elizabeth | Bride's Family Name: Lanfear | Groom's Given Name(s): Harry | Groom's Family Name: Barnett | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Rooparell.htm

• http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS18740530.2.15

• http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Bre01Whit-t1-body-d225.html

• http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1875-I.2.1.5.7

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: Registration No: 1937/27360 | Family Name: Barnett | Given Name(s): Elizabeth | Age at Death: 83Y | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

See also:

• "England and Wales Census, 1861," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7V1-C6W : accessed 10 April 2015), Elizabeth Lanfear, Westbury, Wiltshire, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZL-N2Z : accessed 11 September 2015), Elizabeth Lenfear in entry for Henry Cull, 1871.