James Samuel Suisted (1844 - 1910)

Born 1844 in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Laura Jane (Eyre) Suisted — married 1864 in New Zealand

Husband of Florence Margaret Lavania (Ferens) Suisted — married 1904 in New Zealand

Died 2 Jul 1910 at about age 66 in Westport, West Coast, New Zealand

Biography

Birth
James Suisted was born in Wellington in 1844^[1] and baptised 26 November 1844. He was the third son of Mr Charles Eberhard Suisted of Bader Carlsbadt, Sweden. ^[2] The family moved to Otago in 1848 then went to England where James completed his schooling They returned to Otago in 1861.

Marriage
In 1864, 23 November, James Suisted married Laura Jane Eyre, eldest daughter of A. Eyre, Esq., Wentworth, Yorkshire, England, at Park House, Lindon Street, Dunedin.
^{[3] [4]} Laura Jane Suisted died in 1903 aged 63 years^[5]1903[6] and James married Florence Margaret Lavania Ferens in 1904^[6][7]They had twin daughters, Thelma (Standen) 1906 and Erlin (1906-1974)

Occupation
When James returned from England to Otago in 1861 he took up sheep farming and mining. In 1867 he went to Thames, Auckland, and later to Greymouth. In 1869 he opened a business as a butcher in Westport with his brother.

Local Government
James Suisted took an active part in public affairs, was Mayor of the Borough of Westport from the years 1888 to 1890, and again from 1892 to 1893.

He is further referred to as chairman of the Westport Harbour Board, and is a member of the firm of Suisted Bros. ^[8]He was for a time chairman of the Licensing bench and was a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and of the Borough Council.
^[9]

Accident
'A serious accident happened to Mr James Suisted on Saturday (December 1871) last at Westport. While in the act of splitting down a sheep, the cleaver meeting with little resistance at the neck sank into his leg, inflicting a very ugly wound below the right knee joint.' ^[10]

Death
James Suisted (66) died 2 July 1910, Westport, NZ.^{[11] [12]} He was buried in the Orowaiti Middle Cemetery, Westport. [7]

Probate
James' will and probate records [8] named wife Florence Margaret Lavinia, nephew Robert Richmond Suisted, late wife Laura Jane Suisted, brothers John Francis Bernadotte Suisted, Eckermann Selby Suisted and Robert Richmond Secundus Suisted.

Obituary
^[13] News was received in Wellington yesterday of the death at Westport on Saturday of Mr James S. Suisted, for many years a prominent figure in the public life of Westport, a Mayor, chairman of the Harbour Board, (and member of the board since its inception), and member of other local bodies. He was the third son of Mr Charles Suisted, an early pioneer, and was born in Wellington sixty-six years ago.

The family, with many others, left this place in consequence of the frequency of earthquakes, and removed to Otago, where Mr Suisted, sen., engaged extensively in sheep farming. At an early age the deceased went with his parents to the Old Country, where he was educated. He returned to New Zealand in 1860. In the following year the gold rush attracted him to Otago, and he was afterwards mining in the Thames district.

In 1869 Mr Suisted settled at Westport, and with his brother established a successful butchery business. He was Mayor of Westport from 1859 to 1863, was one of the seven members appointed by the Government to constitute the Westport Harbour Board, and was for some years chairman of the Licensing Committee.

In 1864 Mr Suisted married Miss L. J. Eyre, who possessed considerable literary ability, and contributed many articles to leading English and American periodicals and magazines. ^[14]

INANGAHUA TIMES, 4 JULY 1910, PAGE 4 Mr Jas Suisted, of Westport, a member of the Westport Harbour Board, and for many years its chairman; also ex-Mayor and member of different local bodies died on Saturday afternoon. Mr Suisted married a sister of Mr T. W. J. Ferens, manager of the National Bank in Reefton.

Research Notes

• There is a photo of James here[9]

• Mr. JAMES SUISTED , Chairman of the Westport Harbour Board has been a member of the Board since its inception, and had in 1905 been for thirteen years its chairman. periodicals and magazines,[10]

• SUISTED BROS . (Ekermann S. Suisted and James S. Suisted, J.P.), Wholesale, Retail and Shipping Butchers, Palmerston Street, Westport. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales. Private residence, Cobden Street. This business was established in the year 1869, and the firm of Suisted Bros, is one of the oldest firms on the West Coast. Mr. Ekermann Suisted is further referred to as a former councillor of the borough of Westport, and Mr. James Suisted as a former Mayor, and as the chairman of the Westport Harbour Board. ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ NZBDM BIRTH 1844/55 Suisted James Samuel Mary Emma Charles Eberhard
2. ↑ NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN, VOLUME I, ISSUE 9, 7 DECEMBER 1844, PAGE 2 [[1]
3. ↑ 1864/6592 Laura Eyre James Suisted
4. ↑ OTAGO DAILY TIMES, 17 DECEMBER 1864, PAGE 5 [2]
5. ↑ 1903/5646 Suisted Laura Jane 63Y
6. ↑ NZBDM MARRIAGE 1904/5941 Florence Margaret Lavania Ferens James Samuel Suisted
7. ↑ NZBDM BIRTH 1873/18361 Ferens Florence Margaret Lavinia Margaret Thomas
8. ↑ Suisted[3]
9. ↑ OTAGO WITNESS, ISSUE 2940, 20 JULY 1910, PAGE 58
10. ↑ GREY RIVER ARGUS, VOLUME XII, ISSUE 1063, 22 DECEMBER 1871, PAGE 2
11. ↑ NZBDM DEATH: 1910/5296
12. ↑ OTAGO WITNESS, ISSUE 2938, 6 JULY 1910, PAGE 51 SUISTED. — On July 2 (after a short illness) at his private residence. "St. Leonard," Westport, James, the beloved husband of Mrs Florence Suisted and brother-in-law of Mr Thomas J. W. Ferens (National Rank. Reefton). Mr G. A. Ferens (Oamaru). and Mr W. H. Ferens (of this town). Deeply regretted.
13. ↑ NEW ZEALAND TIMES, VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 7170, 4 JULY 1910, PAGE 5
14. ↑ Miss Eyre[4]
15. ↑ [5]