Emmaretta Watts (Collis) Blomfield (1841 - 1930)

Born 12 Aug 1841 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Samuel Blomfield — married 25 Dec 1858 in St John's Church, Stratford, London and was registered in West Ham, Essex.

Descendants

Died 11 Aug 1930 at age 88 in Birkenhead, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Shirley Blomfield [send private message], Gail James [send private message], and K Anonymous [send private message]

Biography

Emmaretta (Collis) Blomfield migrated from England to New Zealand.

Emmaretta Watts Collis was born in the Leicester Union Workhouses in Leicestershire England on the 12th of August 1841 ^[1][2][3] to parents Alice Hickling and John Collis.

The Gertrude

Immigration to New Zealand-Onboard the Gertrude^[4] The Gertrude passengers were non-conformists and objectors to the payment of church tithes. They were farewelled at Holborn Church in London. Because of the Maori War which was then in progress, the men were presented with a gun, as well as an axe, a spade and a copy of the Bible. ^[5]

Among the passengers were also several Garibaldi soldiers, recently discharged from Italy's War of Freedom; as well as many others whose names became well known in Auckland[4]

The family travelled on the Gertrude a Ship of 1300 Tons, with Captain J.C. Congdon at the Helm and Surgeon Superintendent R.E. Fisher also in attendance. The Gertrude sailed from London on 4 November 1862 arriving in Auckland on 9 February 1863. A trip of 97 days. At arrival it was recorded that there were six deaths on board and one birth. [4]

76 passengers signed a petiton to Captain Congdon to thank him for his extreme sobriety of your conduct, by which you have set an examply to all under your charge. Here follow 76 signatures. [4] Also 'On Board the Gertrude 4td Feb 1863' To Mr John Allen, The First Mate of the Ship 'Gertrude' Another petition signed by 103 names thanking the First Mate for the services you rendered us, and at the same time to congrulate ourselves in having so able a seaman as second in command Another petition signed by 147 names to Mr Duff the Second Officer, for his obliging and gentlemanly conduct towards all on board[4]

Noted onboard as Elizabeth E. Bloomfield, Frances; Mary Ann, Charles, Ellen, Frederick W., Samuel, Emma, Alice, Grace<however some siblings may have been missed or not identified correct : ie Grace, Frances (or were they wives as noted as Bloomfields)[4]

Amongst the list of passengers the Bloomfields on the Gertrude were listed as 10 in total in Rootsweb transcript^[6] and ^[7]

1. Alice
2. Grace
3. Elizabeth E
4. Francis/Frances (spelt in the ships log as Frances) see PP article)
5. Mary Ann
6. Charles
7. Ellen
8. Frederick W
9. Samuel
10. Emma

What else was happening in NZ around 1862? ^[8]

Sir George Grey was Govenor

2 x days prior to their arrival, HMS Orpheus was wrecked^[9] at the entrance to Manukau harbour with a loss of 189 lives. The ship had been bringing 259 Naval Officer, seamen and Royal Marines with naval stores from Sydney. Unfortunately due to error, the ship was stuck aground the bar in the Manukau Harbour.

There is also that year one of the first recorded visits of an Opera Singer to NZ shores, Australian Marie Carandini

Her husband in Obituary is mentioned 'Mr. Samuel Blomfield continued his trade as a joiner and stair builder in New Zealand. Owing to deafness he did not see active service in the Maori War, but did duty in the Albert Barracks.

Gold in those HIlls

In 1867, following the discovery of gold, the family left for the Thames, where a hut built with cases and a tent housed the family. Mining proved too strenuous for Mr. Blomfield but he constructed many of the principal buildings in Thames. He and Mrs. Blomfield returned to Auckland in 1880, Mr. Blomfield following his trade. He died at the of 85. Mrs. Blomfield continued to reside in Auckland.

Issue

1. Mrs Emma Porter[8]
2. Mrs Grace McLennan [8]
3. Jane Blomfield[8]
4. William Blomfield[8]
5. Charles Blomfield[8]
6. Mrs Eva J. Carlson [8]
7. Fred Blomfield[8]
8. John Collis Blomfield[8]
9. Lilly Blomfield[8]
10. Mrs Mabel Huddlestone[8]
11. Tom Blomfield^[10]

Death and Burial

She passed away on the 11th of August 1940 at the age of 91 at her daughters home in Birkenhead, New Zealand^[11]and she is interred at the Birkenhead, Glenfield Cemetery in Auckland, New Zealand.

Her death^[12] is recorded with the NZ Dpt of Internal Affairs as ;Emmaetta'. This spelling is also on her headstone^[13]and her gravesite ^[14]

Obituaries

In the Auckland Star 1930: BLOMFIELD - On August 11, at her daughter's residence. Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, Emma Etta Blomfield, wife of the late Samuel Blomfield: aged 90 years. Funeral notice morning's paper. Emaretta will be interred at Birkenhead, Glenfield Cemetery, Auckland New Zealand^[15]

In the NZ Herald 1930: MRS. E. W. BLOMFIELD - LONG RESIDENCE IN AUCKLAND The death occurred at Birkenhead yesterday of Mrs. Emmaetta Watts Blomfield, widow of the late Mr. Samuel Blomfield, aged 90 years. Mrs. Blomfield was born in Leicester. She was married in London in 1858, and came to New Zealand with her husband in the ship Gertrude in 1863, arriving at Auckland a few hours after the Devonshire. Accompanying them were Mr. Blomfield's widowed mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Blowfield, and her seven children, one of whom was the late Mr. Charles Blomfield, an artist whose pictures, notably those of the pink and white terraces, are hung in the Auckland Art Gallery.

Research Notes

Acknowledgements

Graeme for addition of Sailing Passenger List Helena for further information prior Johnny Blomfield UK for geneology information and overall contribution to all Blomfield BIO's

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: COLLIS, EMMARETTA ; Mother's Maiden Surname: HICKLING ; GRO Reference: 1841 S Quarter in LEICESTER UNION Volume 15 Page 95 citing General Register Office, Southport, England, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ "GRO Ref: 1841 S Quarter Leicester Union Volume 15 Page 95", (https://www.gro.gov.uk/)
3. ↑ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5XX-VFH)
4. ↑ "ARRIVAL OF THE 'GERTRUDE.' DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 1736, 11 FEBRUARY 1863, PAGE 3";[1]
5. ↑ "COLONISTS' JUBILEE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME L, ISSUE 15197, 10 JANUARY 1913, PAGE 8";[2]:Accessed 26Dec2022
6. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18630211.2.5
7. ↑ Gertrude 1862/63 sailing passenger list
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1863_in_New_Zealand
9. ↑ https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sinking-of-hms-em-orpheus-em-nzs-worst-shipwreck
10. ↑ "NZ Herald 12 Aug 1930, pg 12"(https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNAK19300812.2.180.7)
11. ↑ "Find A Grave':(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160932971/emmaretta-blomfield)
12. ↑ "NZ Dpt. of Internal Affairs BDM Search"(https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz), Death Ref:1930/4937 Blomfield, Emmaetta Watts 90Y
13. ↑ "NZ Dpt. of Internal Affairs BDM Search" (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz). Death Re:1930/4937 Blomfield, Emmaetta Watts 90Y
14. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160932971/emmaretta-blomfield
15. ↑ "Auckland Star 11th August 1930 page 1":(https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19300811.2.3)

See Also:

• Biography of William Blomfield
  • "The Encyclopedia of NZ",(https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4b41/blomfield-william)