Eliza (Kay) Gee
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Eliza (Kay) Gee (abt. 1838 - 1897)

Eliza Gee formerly Kay
Born about in Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England, United Kingdommap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 1862 in Stepney, London, England, United Kingdommap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 59 in Cheviot, Hurunui, Canterbury, New Zealandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 16 Jul 2014
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Biography

Eliza Kay was born 1838 in Bethnal Green, East End of London, England. She was the second in a family of four daughters.

Eliza married Thomas James Gee in 1862, and the couple came out to New Zealand in 1864 on the British Empire, with their first child, Mary Louise Maria (b. 1863). They sailed from England 31 May 1864, arriving at Lyttelton on 6th September 1864.

Her husband Thomas Gee was a builder and contractor and worked for many years in Christchurch, erecting several large premises during this time.[1]

Thomas and Eliza had another seven children in New Zealand, all born in Christchurch: Amy (1865- 1932), Thomas George (1868-1943), Bertha (1870-1943), Walter James (1873-1952), Benjamin (1875-1875), Ernest Benjamin (1876-1960) and Emma Serina (1877-1961).

In 1869 Eliza’s parents (George Peter Kay and Maria Juliana Nation) and two of Eliza's sisters joined Eliza and Thomas in Christchurch, arriving on the Mermaid, 8 January 1869.

Eliza's father George worked in New Zealand as a school teacher and he was also a keen gardener: it is recorded that he won prizes for sweet peas at the December Horticulture Show, 1871. George was initially teaching at Stoke School then moved to Sumner in 1880 and became headmaster at Sumner School. George died in Sumner on 23rd Aug 1894, aged 81 years, Maria died in Sumner 11th April 1902, aged 89 years.[2] Both her parents are buried at the Woolston Cemetery, along with her two unmarried sisters, Louisa Eleanor Kay and Charlotte Elizabeth Kay.

After Eliza's husband Thomas retired from the building trade he took up a grazing run in Cheviot and he and Eliza shifted to the country.[3] Eliza died at Cheviot 27 November 1897, aged 59 and is buried in the Homeview Cemetery, Cheviot.

Two of Eliza and Thomas's sons took over the run and Thomas returned to Christchurch to live. He died at Grafton Street Christchurch 20 March 1911, aged 73 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Christchurch.[4]

Some of the family of Eliza and Thomas remained in Canterbury: Their oldest son Thomas was a member of the Canterbury Land Board and was also a very successful shower of harness ponies.[5] Their eldest daughter Mary Louise married Albert Hight and lived in Tinwald, Ashburton. Their youngest daughter Emma Serena married George William Forbes from Cheviot, who went on to become Prime Minister of New Zealand 1930-1935.

Sources

  1. Obituary in LYTTELTON TIMES, VOLUME CXXII, ISSUE 15596, 21 APRIL 1911, Page 7.
  2. information held on George Peter Kay at the Canterbury Museum: https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/712917/macdonald-dictionary-record-george-peter-kay#&gid=1&pid=1
  3. Obituary in LYTTELTON TIMES, VOLUME CXXII, ISSUE 15596, 21 APRIL 1911, Page 7.
  4. Obituary in LYTTELTON TIMES, VOLUME CXXII, ISSUE 15596, 21 APRIL 1911, Page 7.
  5. information on Thomas James Gee at the Canterbury Museum: https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/711345/macdonald-dictionary-record-thomas-james-gee

Birth record:

Marriage record for Eliza Kay and Thomas Gee:

Death records for Eliza and Thomas Gee:

  • NZBDM 1897/2297: Gee Eliza 59Y
  • NZBDM 1876/153: Gee Thomas 67Y

Grave records for Eliza and Thomas Gee:





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Thomas James Gee married Eliza Kay in Stepney, June quarter, 1862, Vol 1c, page 879

- From Free BDM's - https://www.freebmd.org.uk/

posted on Unknown-244232 (merged) by Jean (Cox) Price
edited by Jean (Cox) Price

Rejected matches › Elizabeth Hay (abt.1839-)

K  >  Kay  |  G  >  Gee  >  Eliza (Kay) Gee

Categories: British Empire, sailed 15 May 1864 | Homeview Cemetery, Hurunui District, Canterbury