John Thomas Bone (1868 - 1956)

Born 28 Jun 1868 in 1 Wellington Tce, Camberwell, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Esther Hewitt (Hay) Bone — married 25 May 1894 in the home of Mr W. Bowman, Temuka, New Zealand

Husband of Agnes Hellen (King) Bone — married 13 Mar 1907 in The home of Mr M. King, John St, Mornington, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1956 at age 88 in Gleniti, Timaru, New Zealand

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Biography

Early Years

John was born at Camberwell, London in 1868^[1] to John and Mary Bone. The family lived in this area of London until they boarded the Allahabad in 1873 bound for New Zealand. They were one of numerous families that took the offer of assisted immigration, where the New Zealand Provincial Government loaned the money required for the passage.

After having been in New Zealand for six years John was enrolled at the Sumner Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Christchurch. He had lost most of his hearing during his early years. Gerrit Van Asch opened the school with five pupils, on the 10th March 1880, in Beach Glen. As well as John, the other pupils were Charles Horton, Henry Theyers, John Weastall and Helen Tullock. ^[2] The school was later renamed the Vann Asch Deaf Education Centre and is still in operation to this day. See attached pdf "Deaf and Dumb Institution" for official Governmental reports from 1881.

John boarded at the school for eight years which would have made him about twenty when he left. "He had slight hearing, was a good speaker and lip reader and had a good education." The charge for board, lodging and education was 50 pounds per year, which had to be paid half yearly in advance. It was possible for parents to obtain a Government subsidy to assist in meeting the cost of this type of education as it was deemed to be of greater benefit to have these children grow to be productive members of society.

In 1882, John's first wife, Esther Hay enrolled in the school. While he was there he also met Alice King, the younger sister of "Nellie", who enrolled in the school in 1884. One of the aims of the school was to teach the children a trade or a practical appreciation of gardening and farming. Later John moved to Temuka and may have used this knowledge to gain employment as a gardener there.

Marriage

The marriage between John and Esther^[3] took place at the home of Mr William Bowman in Temuka and it was conducted by John Dickson. The ceremony was witnessed by Samuel Bowman and Henrietta Dundas Bowman, both of Temuka.

Esther passed away in 1906 after a difficult battle with cancer and John married Agnes King^[4]. The wedding to "Nellie" took place at the home of Mr M. J. King John Street, Mornington and was conducted by the Minister Nathaniel A. Davis. It was witnessed by Andrew Bone and Alice Harriet King. Agnes was known by everyone as "Nellie" and even appeared in the Electoral Rolls under this name.

Nellie was a lovely lady who never let her hearing and speech disability frustrate her and everyone had a soft spot for her. If she wanted to tell you something she would attempt to communicate with signs and if this failed she would resort to writing in her slow hand.

Business

John, Nellie and the surviving children all moved to Gleniti where John started a nursery business. Initially John started the Nursery on land that he leased. He periodically advertised the business in the local paper.

TREES. TREES. TREES^[5].
LARGEST NURSERIES IN THIS DISTRICT.
Trees of all descriptions.
FRUIT TREES. FOREST TREES. ORNAMENTALS. NATIVE PLANTS. HEDGE PLANTS. ETC.,ETC.
OUR STOCK in the above lines is exceptionally fine, strong, healthy and well-rooted.
REMODELLING, LAYING OUT GARDENS. Planting, and all kinds of Garden Work by contract.
JOHN BONE,
NUSERYMAN,
WAI-ITI ROAD, GLENITI.

FOR SALE^[6].
FOR SALE—Potatoes, in any quantity. John Bone, Nurseryman, Glen-iti.

TREES^[7]
SEEING that my lease is about to expire, and that I have taken over the property of Mr Fyfe, where I intend to carry a larger and up to date stock, and as I do not want the burden of shifting my stuff, everything will be reduced to bedrock price.
JOHN BONE,
NURSERY: GLEN-ITI.

The Fyfe property consisted of 15 acres and allowed the business to expand. Eventually it was called John Bone & Sons with both Archie and Tom becoming involved in the business.

TREES. TREES^[8].
I WISH TO DRAW the attention of the Public to the very fine selection of TREES in my new Nursery.
The LARGEST STOCK of Forest Trees, Shrubs, Fruit Trees, etc., in South Canterbury.
INSPECTION INVITED.
Telegrams and Letters will receive prompt attention
JOHN BONE,
Nurseryman, Glen-iti.

TREES Now is the time to plant^[9].
All kinds of Trees in Stock: Fruit Trees, Forest Trees, Shelter Trees, He’dge Trees, and Shrubs, etc. All examined and passed by the Government Inspector. We have one year old Apples averaging up to six feet in height, Plum and other Stone Fruit up to eight feet, the photos of which can be seen in Fyfe’s, the Bookseller’s Shop Window. Still the largest Nurseries in the district. It will pay you to have a visit.
JOHN BONE.
NURSERYMAN : GLEN-ITI.

Running along the back of the property there was a gully called the "Quarry", where John would plant any pine trees that had become to large to be of use at the nursery.

Where the nursery once stood there is now the Gleniti Hotel and Strathallan Retirement Village. The "Quarry" is now part of Centennial Park.

Death

John was buried at the Timaru Cemetery^[10] on the 22nd November 1956. He was interred in the same plot as his wife Nellie.

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2XQN-6WZ : accessed 15 February 2015), John Thomas Bone, 1868; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," index, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Camberwell, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ See page 21-22 of "They Hear With The Eye."
3. ↑ Marriage - Central Registry Office for New Zealand - 1753/1894
4. ↑ Marriage - Central Registry Office for New Zealand - 1552/1907
5. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14192, 2 May 1910, Page 1
6. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume XCVII, Issue 15000, 20 March 1913, Page 12
7. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15353, 23 May 1914, Page 5
8. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15700, 7 July 1915, Page 6
9. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 165560, 12 June 1918, Page 10
10. ↑ Timaru Cemetery Row 57 Plot 1240

See also

• Death - Central Registry Office for New Zealand
• "England and Wales Census, 1871," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRNS-3PZ : accessed 22 March 2015), John Bone in household of John Bone, Camberwell, London, Surrey, England; from "1871 England, Scotland and Wales census," index and images, findmypast (www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 10, folio 121, p. 29, Camberwell registration district, St George subdistrict, ED 9, household 181, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 824,715.
• "They Hear With The Eye" by A.B. Allen - A Centennial History of the Sumner School for Deaf Children - P. D. Hasselberg, Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand - 1980

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