James Davies (aft. 1855 - 1924)

Born after 30 Oct 1855 in Matakana, Rodney, North Island, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ellen (Beswick) Davies — married 24 Jun 1878 in Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 8 May 1924 before age 68 in New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Debra Davies [send private message]

Biography

Birth date from www.ancestry.com.

James lived in Kerikeri, Northland in 1863 with his mother and stepfather John Edmonds. In 1867 " James and Hugh went to live in Coromandel with their uncle Montgomery Davies. James became a Bush Contractor/Kauri Logger working up Boulder Gulley and Blue Mountain."^[1]

He married Mary Ellen Beswick, the niece of his uncle Montgomery Davies (Mary being the child of Montgomery's wife's previous marriage).

James Davies is listed on the 1882 Freeholders List (his father James has been dead for 20 years):- Davies James Settler Lower Matakana Rodney 58 £ 30 (value)

His brother Hugh, Matakana is Witness on his Marriage Certificate 1898. James is a Bush Contractor at that time.

From his wife's Obituary:- "Later the family took up farming at Koputauaki and deceased lived there until her marriage to James Davies. There were no roads at that time and transport was by rowing boat or bridle track over the hills or round the coast. The Davies’ first home after their marriage was at Kikowhakarere and later at Tiki Road while her husband took up bush contracting and then mining. About 1908 the Davies went farming at Kikowhakarere until Mr Davies died in 1924. "

The 1886 Census of the Colony of New Zealand Kikowhakarere Total population 20 Males 10 Females 10

DEATHS.,^[2] DAVIES.—On May 7, 1924, At the residence of his sister, 34 Edgar Road, Richmond. James Davies, the beloved husband of Mary Ellen Davies, of Coromandel; aged 65 years. Funeral will leave residence. Tiki Road. 3 p.m. to-day (Thursday)

On his son Stanley Gordon Davies army enlistment in 1942, Stanley lists his fathers cause of death as 'Miners' disease. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ www.ancestry.com
2. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18703, 8 May 1924
3. ↑ miners’ phthisis, or miner’s complaint – a lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust.

Source list:

• Marriage Certificate
• http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19240508.2.2.4
• www.ancestry.com
• https://www3.stats.govt.nz/Historic_Publications/1886-census/Results-of-Census-1886/1886-results-census.html
• 1882 Freeholders List Auckland City Library
• Source: S556008337 Repository: #R550367268 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=106897031&pid=1124
• Thames Public Library, Thames, New Zealand from “Even more true tales of Northern Coromandel” compiled by Coromandel Town History Research Group Inc, Oct 2910 printed by Fusion Print, Hamilton
• https://www.valleyprofile.co.nz/2022/07/17/brothers-catch-dreaded-mining-disease/
• https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18617416 (Stanley Gordon Davies war record WW2)