Claremont Africa Wood (1853 - 1943)

Born 1853 in Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Alice (Jones) Wood — married 1878 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died 1943 at about age 90 in New Zealand

Biography

New Zealand Herald 17th December 1928 page 12 ^[1]

GOLDEN WEDDING.

MR. AND MRS. C. A. WOOD - LINK WITH ALBERTLAND.

'The golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Claremont Africa Wood of Te Roma, King Edward Parade, Devonport, was celebrated on Friday. Their marriage was solemnised by the Rev. R. Laishley at Thames, on December 14th, 1878.

Mr. Wood's parents left London for the goldfields at Bendigo (Australia) 76 years ago, but owing to the ill-health of Mrs. Wood, they landed at Capetown and opened a store at Claremont, where Mr. C. A. Wood was born and named Claremont Africa after his birthplace. The family came to New Zealand in the ship Frederick Bassel in 1866.

Mrs. Wood, who came from Manchester with her parents in 1862, is one of the original Albertland settlers. Her father, Mr. John Polling Jones, was interested in the printing trade and the first copy of the Albertland Gazette and Ocean Chronicle was printed on his printing press. It was edited by Mr. Samuel Johnson. One of the copies of the first issue and the first copy printed on arrival at Port Albert are still in the possession of the family. Mr. Jones later settled in Auckland and held noncommissioned rank in the 2nd Waikato Militia during the Maori War. Mr. Jones then removed to the Thames, and as there was no Government school at the time, he opened the Karaka school where many prominent men received their education.

Mr and Mrs Wood have 11 children surviving, and there are 15 grandchildren.

Buried in O'Neils Point Cemetery, Bayswater, Row W - Plot 135

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 12

• N.Z. MARRIAGES - 1878/2475 - Sarah Alice Jones & Claremont Africa Wood
• N.Z. DEATHS - 1943/25494 - Wood Claremont Africa aged 90 years