John Groves (1844 - 1905)

Born 31 May 1844 in Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Sarah Jane (Munro) Groves — married 27 Apr 1867 (to 10 Sep 1868) in Te Wairoa, New Zealand

Husband of Harriett Sophia (Cripps) Groves — married 1875 in New Zealand

Husband of Georgina Ann Tunstall (Shires) Groves — married 30 Mar 1896 in Masterton, Wairarapa, Wellington, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1905 at age 61 in Suva, Rewa, Central, Fiji

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Biography

John Groves migrated from United Kingdom to New Zealand.

John Groves lived in Wairarapa, New Zealand.

John Groves, often referred to as John Groves junior, emigrated with his family from the Isle of Wight to New Zealand when he was 11 years old, and arrived on the 'New Era' in 1855. He was the son of John and Ann Groves née Peach, and had been baptised on 14 July 1844 at St John. He was their seventh child. His father was a carpenter who had been born at Freshwater, Isle of Wight.

In 1867, John married Sarah Jane Munro. ^[1] Their son, John Albert Munro (known as Albert), was born in July 1868. Sadly, Sarah - who was only 20 - died two days later from childbirth complications.

In 1875, John married Harriett Sophia Cripps in 1875. ^[2] Harriett had been born on the Auckland Islands, a sub-Antarctic region, during the Hardwicke settlement. They were to have eight children before her death in 1894.

In 1895, he married a third time, to Georgina Anne Shires.^[3][4]

A contemporary biography of John Groves was published in 1897 in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, page 944.[1]; and a photo of the Groves family is was taken on the opening of the Tinui Church. [2], East Wairarapa Anglicans History.]

It was on returning from a visit to the "Old Country" with his third wife that he died following surgery undertaken in Fiji on their way back to New Zealand.

The obituary published on 7 December 1905 indicated that his death had come as a surprise.

"Mr Groves was born in the Isle of Wight about sixty-two years ago, where he lived until he was eleven years of age, when the family left the quiet but beautiful island for far away New Zealand. For over fifty years he had lived in the Te Nui district, where he was widely known and highly respected. For some years Mr Groves lived at Rock View, close to the township of Te Nui, but subsequently he bought the Bush Grove property in the well-known Mangapakeha Valley, where his family were living at the time of his death."

"Mr Groves was a strenuous worker, and it was chiefly by hard work and carefulness that he rose to the position he occupied at the time of his death. If there was one thing he detested more than another it was laziness. He firmly believed in the old adage, "If a man would not work, neither should he eat." He was of a very cheerful disposition, having a pleasant word for everyone he met, and will be greatly missed by his large circle of acquaintances. About nine months ago Mr and Mrs Groves left New Zealand for a trip to the Old Country, where they spent a most enjoyable time. They travelled home by way of America and Canada, crossing the Rocky Mountains and sailing from Vancouver. On arriving at Fiji Mr Groves underwent an operation in the hospital. Peretonitis supervened, and he passed away on Tuesday, 28th November. For many years he was a member of the Te Nui Court of Foresters and of the Masterton Lodge of Freemasons. He leaves a widow and nine children, five sons and four daughters."

"Very great sympathy is felt for his family, and especially for Mrs Groves, whose homecoming will be so very sad." THE LATE MR JOHN GROVES.,Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8317, 7 December 1905, at Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand [3].

John is buried in Suva cemetery. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ NZ BDM 1867/6574 Sarah Jane Munro John Groves
2. ↑ 1875/1885 Harriett Sophia Cripps John Groves
3. ↑ NZ BDM 1896/4217 Georgina Anne Shires John Groves
4. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18960401.2.18
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191030301/john-groves: accessed 16 December 2023), memorial page for John Groves (1844–29 Nov 1905), Find a Grave Memorial ID 191030301, citing Suva Cemetery, Suva, Rewa Province, Central, Fiji; Maintained by Clancy (contributor 48290237).

• England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 19 October 2019), database entry for GROVES, JOHN (Mother's maiden PEACH), GRO Reference: 1844 S Quarter in ISLE OF WIGHT Volume 08 Page 206

• England Select Births And Christenings - Ancestry.com, England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database online] Provo, UT, USA. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014. Name: John Groves; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 31 May 1844; Baptism Date: 14 July 1844; Baptism Place: St John, Carisbrook, Hampshire, England; Father: John Groves; Mother: Anne; FHL Film Number: 1470804
• England Census 1851 - Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1663; Folio: 216; Page: 14; GSU roll: 193570; Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Name: John Groves; Age: 7; Estimated birth year: abt 1844; Relation: Son; Father's name: John Groves; Mother's name: Ann Groves; Gender: Male; Where born: Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke; Civil Parish: Carisbrooke; Ecclesiastical parish: St John
• New Zealand Marriage Index - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: John Groves; Marriage Year: 1867; Spouse: Sarah Jane Munro; Folio Number: 757
• New Zealand Marriage Index - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: John Groves; Marriage Year: 1875; Spouse: Harriett Sophia Cripps; Folio Number: 2013; Notes: H.S. Criffis
• Global Find-a-Grave Index - Memorial #117041058 [4]
• Cyclopedia of New Zealand - WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL DISTRICT, section on North Wairarapa County Council. Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington, available online through Victoria University of Wellington Library. Creative Commons Licence applies. [5]

• https://www.facebook.com/624647914290150/photos/a.740452772709663.1073741889.624647914290150/978700095551595/?type=3&theater

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Groves-352 created through the import of tree1.ged on Jan 27, 2012 by Stephen Alexander. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Stephen and others.