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.
Birth record:
Marriage record for Eliza Kay and Thomas Gee:
Death records for Eliza and Thomas Gee:
Grave records for Eliza and Thomas Gee:
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Eliza is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 20 degrees from Richard Adams, 22 degrees from Mel Blanc, 25 degrees from Dick Bruna, 28 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 25 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 23 degrees from Sam Edwards, 25 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 29 degrees from Marty Krofft, 24 degrees from Junius Matthews, 23 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 27 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
K > Kay | G > Gee > Eliza (Kay) Gee
Categories: British Empire, sailed 15 May 1864 | Homeview Cemetery, Hurunui District, Canterbury
- From Free BDM's - https://www.freebmd.org.uk/
edited by Jean (Cox) Price