Ellen Winsor (Soper) Aroa (1841 - 1917)

Born Jun 1841 in Totnes, Devon, England

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Aroa — married 27 Jul 1865 in Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 2 Feb 1917 at age 75 in Blenheim, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terry Bowden [send private message]

Biography

Ellen Winsor Soper was born to William Soper and Sarah Lakeman in Totnes, Devon in June 1841^[1]

In the 1851 census she is listed at Week Farm, Townstall, Devon with her parents and younger siblings (Winsor, Rowden, Wheaton, Edwin Day) as 9 years old ^[2]

In New Zealand on July 27 1865 she married to Robert Aroa at Wairau, Marlborough. ^[3]

Robert and Ellen had 9 children.

1. Sarah Elizabeth (1866)
2. John William (1868)
3. Richard (1869)
4. Isaac (1871)
5. Frank (1874)
6. Charlotte (1876)
7. Minnie (1878)
8. Robert (1881)
9. Eleanor May (1883)

Ellen Winsor Aroa died in February 1917, aged 75 ^[4]

When Ellen Aroa died in February 1917, the Marlborough Express published the following obituary:

The late Mrs Ellen Aroa, whose death occurred at Blenheim on Friday at the age of 75 years, was an old and esteemed resident of the Awatere district. Her husband, Mr Robert Aroa, who was a well-known settler at Blind River, predeceased her by several years. The deceased lady was born at Brixton. Devonshire and arrived at Nelson with her parents when she was eleven years old, her association with the colonising days thus dating back 64 years.

She was married to Mr Aroa in the Wairau district 51 years ago, and spent some thirty years of her life at Blind River, removing about 16 years ago to Blenheim. In recent years her health had weakened, but she remained in a comparatively active condition until almost the last, death being due to heart failure. Throughout her long life her kindly and hospitable nature endeared her to many friends.

She leaves five sons and three daughters. Mr John Aroa, of Blind River, is her eldest son, and four sons are settled down in the North Island. The surviving daughters are Mrs Stirling (Kaikoura), Mrs Noel Paton (Blenheim), and Miss Aroa who is a member of the nursing profession.

She is buried with her husband at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Ellen Winsor Soper in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
2. ↑ 1851 England Census for Ellen Soper Devon Townstall 4b
3. ↑ NZBDM marriages 1865/6608 Ellen Soper Robert Aroa
4. ↑ NZBDM deaths (2/2/1917) 1917/1014 Aroa Ellen 75Y
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #138546003