William Cleaver II (1826 - 1900)

Born 8 Apr 1826 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England

Husband of Charlotte Jane (McDowell) Cleaver — married 7 Apr 1850 in Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 8 Oct 1900 at age 74 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga, New Zealand

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Biography

In the 1841 census15 year old William was in Bullen Lane, Bramford, Bosmere and Claydon, employed as a Gardener, with his 12 year old brother Robert.

Carpenter and Soldier; Sergeant, of the 10th Company, HM 58th Light Foot Regiment, he "went through Hone Heke's War in the North, and was at the attack on Rawhiti at the Ruapekapeka"; of Mercury Bay, Whitianga, formerly of Grey Street (later Greys Avenue), Auckland, New Zealand.

Epitaph

"Though Lost to Sight, To Memory Dear."

Military Service

In 1843 he enlisted in Regiment No 2114; in 1844 he sailed to Australia on the Pestonjee Bowranjee; in 1845 he went to Norfolk Island and in that same year went to New Zealand onboard the Louisa. He was discharged in 1857.

Marriage and family

On 7 April 1850 at Auckland, he married Charlotte Jane McDowell, the only daughter of Susan McDowell Gamble née Fogerty, and step-daughter of Thomas Gamble, of Auckland. They had issue five sons and five daughters (of whom one daughter died in infancy).

Residences

"In 1858 he resigned from the Army and with his wife proceeded to Mahurangi. After a short residence they returned to Auckland, then proceeded to Tairua [in c1870], and in 1895 went to Mercury Bay [Whitianga], where Mrs Cleaver resided until her death."

Death and burial

He died on 8 October 1900 at Mercury Bay, aged 74. He was buried in Mercury Bay Cemetery, Whitianga. His brother-in-law, James Gamble Sr, was the Informant on his Death Certificate. His widow died in 1923 and was buried with him.

Grave Inscription

"In Loving Memory of Susan, Relict of the Late Thomas Gamble, and Mother of Mrs William Cleaver of Mercury Bay, Died Sept 28th, 1900, Aged 89 Years, 'Not Dead But Sleepeth', Also, In Loving Memory of My Beloved Husband, William Cleaver, Died October 8th, 1900, Aged 74 Years, Though Lost to Sight, To Memory Dear."

Notes

His Death Certificate stated he was born in London, the son of William & Sarah [sic] Cleaver.

Sources

Obit 18 Oct 1900, NZH, Papers Past, NLNZ.[1]

Obit 24 Aug 1923, Charlotte Jane Cleaver (his Wife), NZH, Papers Past, NLNZ.[2]

A Time to Build: A Biographical Account of Thomas & Susan McDowell Gamble, William & Charlotte Jane Cleaver, John James & Sarah Louisa Wilson, William & Sarah Lee and Their Descendants Who Were Pioneers in the Mercury Bay District and Who Settled at Whitianga between 1868 and 1890, by Sonia Lee Edwards, Opotiki, NZ (1990).

1841 England Wales Scotland census Findmypast.

Death reg 1900/5739 William Cleaver, age 74, NZBDM.[3]

Find A Grave.[4]