Benjamin Drury (abt. 1842 - 1907)

Husband of Mary Charlotte (Colsey) Drury — married about 1878 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died 4 Jul 1907 at about age 65 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Houston [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin was born about 1842, probably in England.

He married Mary Charlotte Colsey in 1878 in New Zealand. By 1884 they were living in Rakaia, apparently spelling their surname Durey, later Druey, and finally Drury. They had several children. Benjamin operated stables and horse carriages. They moved to Christchurch by 1890.

He passed away in 1907 in Christchurch, aged 65, and was buried at Sydenham Cemetery.

Sources

• Births, Deaths & Marriages online search for marriage registration no. 1878/1276, marriage of Mary Charlotte Colsey and Benjamin Durey.
• Births, Deaths & Marriages online search for death registration no. 1907/6227, Benjamin Drury, age at death 65 years.
• Christchurch City Library - Church Register index cards marriage entry for Daniel Bradley & Eliza Mary Drury, 3 June 1903 at St Mary's, Addington. Eliza's parents named as Benjamin & Charlotte Mary Drury nee Collsey, occupation carrier.
• Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database 4399 Benjamin Drury, death 4 July 1907, burial Sydenham Cemetery 8 July 1907 block 6H plot 53, age 65, occupation carter.
• Find a Grave 161882534 Benjamin Drury, death 4 July 1907, burial Sydenham Cemetery block 6H plot 53.
• In Memoriam, Lyttelton Times, 4 July 1908, via Papers Past in memory of Benjamin Drury who died 4 July 1907.
• Births, Deaths & Marriages online search for birth registration no. Births: 1879/5110, Christiana Elizabeth Durey, parents Mary and Benjamin; 1882/16280, Eliza Mary Durey, parents Mary & Benjamin; 1884/15446, Emas Henry Druey, parents Mary & Benjamin; 1886/5110, Annie Charlotte Druey, parents Charlotte & Benjamin.
• The Press, 13 August 1884 via Papers Past Mr Benjamin Durey of Rakaia had his chaff-cutter burnt at night at Sherwood.
• Ashburton Guardian, 2 July 1886 via Papers Past at the end of this article, mentions Benjamin Druey taking stables at Rakaia.
• Charge of false pretences, Lyttelton Times 4 January 1890 via Papers Past Benjamin Drury, livery stable keeper, now of Christchurch, formerly of Rakaia.
• Alleged false pretences, The Press, 4 January 1890 via Papers Past further details of the incident above.
• Star (Christchurch), 6 July 1907, page 5 via Papers Past Funeral notice for Benjamin Drury, leaving the hospital for the Sydenham Cemetery on Monday 8 July 1907, at noon.
• Papers Past newspaper search at the national library of New Zealand search "Benjamin Drury" will find many articles generally referring to legal issues with his horse cab businesses in Christchurch.

Research notes

• No probate found via FamilySearch as of 4 May 2021.
• There's a scan of a letter at Ancestry, not publicly available, from Benjamin Drury dated 16 June 1903 requesting a licence to drive a cab. The address on the letter is 84 Montreal Street, Christchurch. He says he has been resident in the city for 18 years and is married with a large family [thanks to Paul Masini for info].
• According to Lena Harden's family tree at Ancestry (not publicly available?), Benjamin was originally Benjamin Shutler, born in 1847 at Crewkerne, Somerset, England, to Amos Shutler & Mary Ann Shutler. Then he would also have a brother named Emas, matching the name of his son.
• Lena Harden gives details about the name change at Ancestry. He apparently travelled to NZ in 1868 in the ship Ballarat. He enlisted in the Armed Constabulary, 6 Division at Auckland in October 1868, but deserted in December, He went to Christchurch, meeting Edward Drury, a cabman, and adopted the same surname, but initially misspelt it. His 5 children had the same names as 5 of his siblings: Richard, William, Emas, Eliza and Christiana.
• Colonist, 21 August 1868, page 2 via Papers Past Arrival of the Barque Ballarat from London, J. Allan master, left London on 18 April and Portland Roads on 1 May ... arrived at Nelson on 18 August ... passengers include "Shutler".
• NZ Militia, Volunteers and Armed Constabulary of New Zealand 1863-1871, via Auckland Libraries search for surname Shutler and click the name for details; Benjamin Shutler, born c.1849, Tearle, Somerset, Armed Constabulary Division 6, service commenced 13.10.1868, service ended 22.12.1868, deserted, former occupation: labourer, ship of arrival: Ballarat 1865, record ID: 2574.
• Benjamin Shutler family tree record at FamilySearch; 12 Aug 1847, Merriott, Somerset, England, parents Amos Shutler & Mary Ann Parker.