Betsy (Mercer) Knight
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Betsy (Mercer) Knight (abt. 1836 - 1885)

Betsy Knight formerly Mercer aka Gifford
Born about in Yorkshire, England, United Kingdommap
Daughter of and
Sister of , [half], [half] and [half]
Wife of — married 1853 in New Zealandmap
Descendants descendants
Mother of , , , and
Died at about age 49 in Waimea East, Nelson, Nelson, New Zealandmap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 11 Jan 2012
This page has been accessed 361 times.

Contents

Biography

Betsy Mercer was born to John Mercer and Sarah (Unknown) Mercer about 1836. (aged 7 in 1843)

Immigration

Besty and her sister Mary with their parents came out to New Zealand on the ship "Indus" arriving 1843 at Nelson. The family traveled steerage and her father was listed as a stone cutter and farm labourer.[1][2]

  • John Mercer 27 Married Stone cutter & Farm Labr 1815
  • Sarah Mercer 27 Married Wife 1815
  • Betsy Mercer 7 1835
  • Mary Mercer 5 1837
  • Samuel Mercer 22 Married Quarryman 1820
  • Marg Mercer 22 Married Wife 1820

Marriage 1

On 20 April 1853 Betsy Mercer and Humphrey Gifford were married in New Zealand.[3][4]

Children

Children born to Betsy/Betsey Mercer and Humphrey Gifford

  • 1856 Eveanna Gifford.
  • On 13 May 1856 [Unnamed] Gifford was born to Betsey and Humphrey Gifford. [5]. On 2 August 1856 [Unnamed] Gifford passed away, aged 11 weeks.[6]
  • On 4 July 1857[Unnamed] probably Sarah Gifford was born to Betsey and Humphrey Gifford. [7]
  • On 26 November 1860 [unnamed daughter] Gifford was born to Betsey and Humphrey Gifford. [8]
  • On 4 January 1863 Clara Gifford was born to Betsey and Humphrey Gifford. [9] (On 4 April 1903 Clara Gifford passed away, aged 39Y [10])
  • On 21 July 1864 Edith Gifford was born to Betsey and Humphrey Gifford. [11] On 27 March 1865 Edith Gifford passed away, aged 8 months [12]

Death of husband 1

On 1 June 1865 Humphrey Gifford passed away, aged 37 [13]

In October/November 1866 Mrs Betsy Gifford in Appleby was advertising: T O L E T, 200 ACRES of GOOD LAND at the Moutere, on the Main Road to Motueka. For particulars, apply to Mrs BETSY GIFFORD, Appleby. [14]

Marriage 2

On 20 January 1867 Betsy Gifford (32) and Charles Knight were married at Christ's Church, Nelson. [15]

MARRIED. On the 20th January, at Christ Church, Nelson, by the Rev. G. H. Johnston, Charles Knight, plasterer, late of Dunedin, to Betsy, widow of the late Mr. Humphrey Gifford, Appleby.[16]

Children 2

Children (3 of 4) born to Betsy Gifford (32) and Charles Knight

  • On 22 December 1868 Herbert Knight was born to Betsy and Charles Knight. [17]
  • On 9 May 1872 James Harry Knight was born to Betsy and Charles Knight. [18]
  • On 8 July 1874 Maud Knight was born to Betsey and Charles Knight. [19]

Divorce

In May 1880 Betsy Knight from Appleby secured a divorce from Charles Knight. She had born him at least four children, aged 11 (Herbert?), 9, 8 (James?) and 5 (Maud?). She testified: " I had been married before, and had five daughters by my first husband. The eldest was then thirteen and the youngest four. I have four children living by my present husband. The eldest is eleven, the next nine, the next eight, and the youngest five." She also refers to her daughter Clara: " In May, 1877, I found him in the act of committing'adultery with my daughter Clara." Daughter Clara's age is mentioned: "On the 12th of the next month [July 1877] I again found him committing adultery with the girl, but I let it pass off for the; sake of the children, Clara was then about fourteen and a-half years old." (Estimated birth Jan 1863) . [20]

Regarding property, she testified: "The house and property belonged to me. It is a dairy farm. He has got a property of his own about three miles away, and I asked him to leave my place and go to it. He is a plasterer by trade."

"Sarah Gifford deposed she was the eldest daughter of the last witness"

Death

Betsy died on 21 February 1885[21] at Waimea East, Nelson, New Zealand.[22]

Research Notes

Sources

  1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6P5S-PNC?i=2&cc=1609792 New Zealand, Archives Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 New Zealand 1842 Indus
  2. ↑ https://www.geni.com/projects/New-Zealand-Settler-Ships-Indus-1843/16330
  3. ↑ NZBDM marriages 20/4/1853 1853/1031 Betsy Mercer, Humphrey Gifford
  4. ↑ "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24J-J1C6 : 4 October 2016), Humphrey Gifford and Betsy Mercer, 1853; citing Marriage, New Zealand, registration number 1853/1031, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.
  5. ↑ NZBDM births 13/5/1856 1856/5076 Gifford, NR, Betsey, Humphrey
  6. ↑ NZBDM deaths 2/8/1856 1856/500 Gifford, NR, 11W
  7. ↑ NZBDM births 4/7/1857 1857/5908 Gifford, NR, Betsey, Humphrey
  8. ↑ NZBDM births 26/11/1860 1861/8629 Gifford, NR, Betsey, Humphrey
  9. ↑ NZBDM births 4/1/1863 1863/11777 Gifford, Clara, Betsey, Humphrey
  10. ↑ NZBDM deaths 4/4/1903 1903/8480 Gifford, Clara, 39YA
  11. ↑ NZBDM births 21/7/1864 1864/23521 Gifford, Edith, Betsey, Humphrey
  12. ↑ NZBDM deaths 27/3/1865 1865/7835 Gifford, Edith, 8M
  13. ↑ NZBDM deaths 1/6/1865 1865/7943 Gifford, Humphrey, 37Y
  14. ↑ Page 4 Advertisements Column 1, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 207, 2 November 1866
  15. ↑ NZBDM marriages 20/1/1867 1867/6745 Betsy Gifford, Charles Knight
  16. ↑ Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 10, 22 January 1867 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18670121.2.7
  17. ↑ NZBDM births 22/12/1868 1868/22019 Knight, Herbert, Betsey (sic), Charles
  18. ↑ NZBDM births 9/5/1872 1872/24658 Knight, James Harry, Betsy, Charles
  19. ↑ NZBDM births 8/7/1874 1874/35875 Knight, Maud, Betsey, Charles
  20. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18800520.2.20 DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL COURT., New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 5969, 20 May 1880
  21. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-1DSS-D2?cc=1865481&wc=4BZB-7DG%3A1045248801%2C1045261301 : 15 October 2015), Nelson Court > Probate records 1854-1904 P554, P561, P567, P531-P568A surnames J-L > image 261 of 369; Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office.
  22. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-1DSM-63?cc=1865481&wc=4BZB-7DG%3A1045248801%2C1045261301 : 15 October 2015), Nelson Court > Probate records 1854-1904 P554, P561, P567, P531-P568A surnames J-L > image 268 of 369; Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office.
  • "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
    • Marriage Registration / 1853/1031 Betsy Mercer & Humphrey Gifford
    • Death Registration / X / Name: X /


  • WikiTree profile Mercer-380 created through the import of Family Tree March 2011.ged on Jan 11, 2012 by Lorraine MacKenzie. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Lorraine and others.







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Images: 4
Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1880
Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1880
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 17, 21 January 1867
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 17, 21 January 1867
Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4076, 28 February 1885
Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4076, 28 February 1885
olonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4070, 23 February 1885
olonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4070, 23 February 1885


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Featured National Park champion connections: Betsy is 18 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 19 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 19 degrees from George Catlin, 19 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 28 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 20 degrees from George Grinnell, 24 degrees from Anton Kröller, 23 degrees from Stephen Mather, 13 degrees from Kara McKean, 22 degrees from John Muir, 17 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 32 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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Categories: Indus, sailed 1 October 1842 | Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, Tasman