James Burnard French Jr. (1867 - 1937)

Born 18 Oct 1867 in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Emily Elizabeth (Wicks) French — married 3 May 1909 in Blenheim, South Island, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 11 May 1937 at age 69 in Wairau Hospital, Blenheim, South Island, New Zealand

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Biography

James Burnard "Jimmy" French Jr. was born on 18 October 1867 and was baptised on 24 November 1867 at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Manuka Street, Nelson. He was the only son of James French and Jane Barnett. His middle name was variously spelt Barnard, Burnard and Bernard.

Sadly his younger sister Mary died on 17 January 1872 from sunstroke. Three years later his father James died on 2 February 1875 at the Provincial Hospital in Nelson after he contracted Tetanus. As a result his mother Jane was left a widow with three young children to support.

On 7 March 1876 his mother Jane appeared in the Spring Grove Magistrate's Court on a charge of insulting language. It was headed Hawkes v French and is believed to be her brother-in-law, John William Hawkes, who was a near neighbour. She was supposed to have attended at an earlier date, but did not, so was brought up by the Police on warrant. Young Jimmy was about 9 years of age at the time, and it is not known if he was left to care for his younger sisters. His mother was found guilty and on her own recognizance put on a good behaviour bond for six months and to pay costs of £3, 7s. and 6p. which would have been alot of money at the time.

When he was old enough Jimmy moved from the South Island to Foxton in the North Island in order to work in the flax milling industry which was a huge industry at the time. In due course he met Elizabeth "Jane" Williams, a widow with five young children, who was a few years older than him and the family story is that she "fell in love with a handsome younger man". They lived together in Jane's farm house at Springs Road, Moutoa (between Shannon and Foxton on the banks of the Manawatu River); they had what was called in the day a "Common Law Marriage". They went on to have seven children together:

1. James Bernard French Coley (b. 12 Mar 1893, d. 10 Apr 1981)
2. David Augustus French Coley (b. 16 Sept 1894, d. 10 Apr 1981)
3. Harriet Jane Coley (b. 22 Jul 1896, d. 24 Jan 1937)
4. Annie Myrtle Vera Coley (b. 9 May 1898, d. 3 Jan 1929)
5. Eva Caroline Coley (b. 20 Jan 1900, d. 29 Nov 1983)
6. Oswald Coley (b. 9 May 1901, d. 30 Mar 1982)
7. May Florence Coley (b. 31 Dec 1903, d. 13 Feb 1995)

Jane registered the births of their first three children; the rest were notified in writing by Jimmy. Their youngest daughter May was registered by both parents and appeared as Coley and French on the birth indexes. (On 17 May 1968 May obtained her birth certificate under the name Florence May French). All their children (except May who attended Shannon school) attended the Moutoa public school, a one story wooden building of one classroom capable of holding thirty to forty pupils, situated on one acre that included the master's residence and a large playground. A Mr. Samuel Dale McCosh had occupied the head master's position since 1893.

On 15, 17 and 20 April 1895 the Manawatu Herald reported that after a long drought it began to rain on Friday and Saturday, water came over the small embankment flooding Walden's Mill. All of Moutoa was under water and there was a great loss of stock. Moutoa Estate lost 100 sheep as there was no dry land to put them. There was much damage to road, rail line and bridge. Water was up to the windows of one house. Water on some parts of Moutoa Road was nearly ten feet deep.

In the 1896 and 1899 New Zealand Electoral Roll (1853-1981), James Barnard French was recorded living at Moutoa in the Manawatu, employed as a Farmer.

Apparently Jimmy was put under a lot of pressure from the family to marry Jane but it would appear marriage was not on his mind, his excuse being that he was already married to a Catholic woman who had two daughters and would not give him a divorce (which has not been verified). Jane was a staunch Anglican and Jimmy was a Roman Catholic. There is a family photo taken circa 1900 of Jimmy and his children James, David, Harriet and Annie, which gives the impression that he was proud of Jane and cared about and supported all of the children.

In the 1905/06 NZ Electoral Rolls (1853-1981), James Barnard French was recorded living at Moutoa, a Farmer.

There is a family story that Jane sent Jimmy into town with money to take care of some transaction, possibly in the vicinity of £70, to pay off the farm or to buy a horse, however neither eventuated. Jimmy, who liked a drink, ended up in the local hotel and met some sailors. The next thing he knew he was waking up on a boat at sea. He sent Jane a telegram (either from Wanganui or Napier) asking for money to help him get back home. She refused and consequently their relationship ended.

James Burnard French appeared on the 1905-06 Waiapu Supplementary Electoral Roll at Reads Quay, Gisborne, a farmer. The election was held on 6 December 1905.

His mother Jane died on 5 May 1908 in Nelson. Just under a year later he married Emily Elizabeth Wicks (the daughter of Henry Charles Wicks and Julia Sarah Ball) on 3 May 1909 at the Wesleyan Church in Blenheim. They went on to have two children:

1. James Henry Burnard French (b. 1910, d. 1910)
2. Elsie Winifred French (b. 27 Feb 1913, d. 29 Jan 1997)

In about 1910 Jimmy returned to Shannon in the Manawatu, and there is a family photograph of him with a horse and trap with a girl of about eight years of age sitting in it. On the back is written "Mae (Florence May French-Coley) and James French, Shannon, taken about 1910".

In the 1925 NZ Electoral Rolls (1853-1981), James Bernard French was recorded living with his wife Emily Elizabeth French at Valleyfield, Renwicktown, Wairau, Marlborough, employed as a Ploughman.

His married daughter Annie Hansby became very sick with Septic Pneumonia and passed away on 3 January 1929 at about age 32 leaving a husband and three young daughters.

In the 1931 and 1935 NZ Electoral Rolls (1853-1981), James Bernard French was recorded living with his wife Emily Elizabeth French at 8 Park Terrace, Blenheim. He was still employed as a Ploughman.

Jimmy was working as a farmhand when he suffered a stroke and was admitted to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim, where he passed away on 11 May 1937 at the age of 69, Intestate. He was buried on 13 May 1937 at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand^[1]. Cemetery Division: No. 3 Lawn, Block Number: 29, Row Number: 0, Plot Number: 30

Inscription:

In Loving Memory Of

JAMES FRENCH

DIED 11TH MAY 1937

AGED 69.

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206230724/james-french), memorial page for James French (1868–11 May 1937), Find A Grave: Memorial #206230724, citing Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim, Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand ; Maintained by Sharon Bliss (contributor 48309751)

• New Zealand BDM Historical Birth Records: Registration No: 1867/20396 | Family Name: French | Given Name(s): James | Parents: Jane & James | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• NZ BDM Historical Marriage Records: Registration No: 1909/1712 | Bride's Given Name(s): Emily Elizabeth | Bride's Family Name: Wicks | Groom's Given Name(s): James Burnard | Groom's Family Name: French | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: Registration No: 1937/22276 | Family Name: French | Given Name(s): James | Age at Death: 69Y | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

• http://horowhenua.kete.net.nz/en/site/topics/2888-elizabeth-jane-coley-nee-williams

• https://www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemetery-records-search

• Photographs in the possession of family members include:
  • Jimmy French, a drayman, driving a four horse team and a five horse team
  • Family group of Jane, Jimmy and all of her children
  • Jimmy with four of his children
  • May in Granny's trap
  • Granny's house at Coley Point
  • Jane and David, Eva and Oswald
  • Eva at Rangatikei River Bridge
  • Eila May Turley and Timothy Patrick Leen
  • Eila May Turley's four daughters
  • Studio Photos of Jane, Harriet, Annie, Eva and May