George

George William Cobb 
24 October 1873 - 30 August 1950

George was born in Christchurch, Hampshire on 24 October 1873. He immigrated to New Zealand on the ship Lady Jocelyn with his parents and eight siblings in 1883. They landed in Wellington on 1 January 1884. George was ten years old at the time. 

Joseph and Harriet with their children, 1883. 

George is probably the boy standing behind his father in this photo.

On arrival in Wellington, the Cobb family boarded the ship 'Kiwi' to take them to their new home in Napier. They arrived in Napier on 5 January 1884. 

In Napier the Cobb family were met by George's aunt, Emily Lydford, and her husband Richard who had arrived in New Zealand in 1879. There were three little cousins for George to meet, Richard Jnr, William, and baby George Lydford.

The Cobb family lived in Port Ahuriri for a short time before shifting to Hastings around 1885. The Cobbs returned to live in Napier in 1889.

George must have been a studious chap who liked learning. When in Standard II, he gained second place in his class at the Spit School, Napier. All the prize winners were announced in the Daily Telegraph 20 December 1884, Issue 4186.

When George left Napier in May 1889, aged 16, to undertake mission work in Waimarino, his church family described him as one of their 'prominent workers' then wished him well. A note in The Daily Telegraph of 5 May 1889 told how he had been sent off with the blessing of his church family. George spent four years as a Methodist Home Missionary.

At a Band of Hope meeting in 1893, George performed a recitation and his mum, Harriet, sang an item.

It looks as though George returned to Napier after his mission trip and helped out in his parent's photography studio. It is highly likely that an advertisement included in the Hawke's Bay Herald in March 1895 was from George. (We think G E Cobb is a typo, and should have been G W Cobb.) In the advertisement he seeks to buy a half plate camera with leather bellows, such as this one:

George worked as a photographic apprentice for six years in Napier at his parent's studio.

While growing up, George was heavily involved with church work. The Hawke's Bay Herald of 2 July 1896 gives a report of the bi-annual meeting of the Napier branch of the Christian Endeavor Society, an inter-denominational organisation for Christian young people which encouraged them to deepen their spirituality. George is mentioned in the report, as being the secretary of this organisation. It is interesting to note that George's future wife, Ellen Coveney, served as vice president!

In January 1897, George was re-elected to the role of secretary of Napier's Christian Endeavor Society, and Mrs Cobb (presumably his mother, Harriet) was elected president. The Hawke's Bay Herald of 23 September 1897 reported that George read the annual report at a society meeting. 

In January 1898, George was elected to the position of Society Steward within the Methodist circuit, a role which equated to being the church administrator. He was also appointed to the position of Superintendent of the Western Spit Sunday School. In February 1898, George was reported to have read a paper entitled, 'The Consecration Meeting - How to make it more helpful' at the Christian Endeavor Society. By July the same year, George was reported as being on Home Mission work. By September George was recognised as an officiating minister under the Marriage Act. 

George (25) married 31 year old Ellen Josephine (known as Viney) Coveney (1867 - 9 May 1945) in 1898. Ellen was the daughter of Irish immigrants to Australia, George Coveney (1817 - Jan 1888) and his wife Elizabeth Lowther (1826 - 15 Sep 1918). She was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia but after her father died in 1888, her mother and siblings relocated to Napier.

George and Ellen had a son and two daughters:

• George Bernard Garland Cobb (1899 - 14 Nov 1910) who was known as Bernard
• Enid Mabel Lowther Cobb (19 Feb 1901 - 1980?) who was known as Mabel
• Muriel Evelyn Cobb (15 May 1911 - 28 Dec 1999)

Little Bernard was born at the end of 1899. The following year was a year of moving about for George and Ellen. According to the Electoral Roll of 1900, they were home missionaries in Ohakune. Later, in May 1900 the Cobbs moved to Featherston, in the Wairarapa, and were given a special welcome by the townspeople, along with the new parson. George must have been a highly energetic and outgoing individual, because it wasn't long before he initiated a 'Young Men's Institute', and became involved in the Oddfellows Lodge, and also served as the secretary/treasurer of the 'Physical Training School'. George's contribution to this society resulted in him being made a life member in 1902. 

Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the local townspeople organised a solemn ceremony to mark her passing. The local clergy led a procession through the town. George was the clergyman representing the Wesleyans.

George preached an "appropriate sermon" at the Wesleyan's harvest thanksgiving service in March 1901, which was held at the Kahutara school.  

In February 1902 George preached his farewell sermon at the local Wesleyan Church. He was confirmed in the St Andrew's Church on 2 March of the same year. After the church elections in 1903, George was appointed to the vestry. 

The visiting Lord Hawke's cricket team played a match against the Wairarapa cricket team. The following photograph of the local lads was probably taken by George:

The Wairarapa cricket team. Taken from the NZ Graphic, 7 February 1903, page 373.
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19030207-373-1

On 9 May 1903, there was a train crash in Featherston. George probably took the following photograph of the wreckage:

Wreckage of a train accident. From the NZ Graphic, 9 May 1903, page 1295
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19030509-1295-1
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19030509-1295-1

George and Ellen with their children, Mabel and Bernard.
Photographer unknown. Photo take around 1903.
(Photo courtesy of A Kendall)

George, Mabel, Bernard and Ellen. Photo taken around 1903.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland.)

In July 1904, George was appointed to the Loyal Unity Lodge.

It seems that at some point George started some theological training, completing part of the course before leaving, and shortly after, in November 1904, was elected to the Featherston County Council, in the position of clerk. His salary was 250 pounds per year. He was, at the time, already clerk of the Featherston Town Board and the Wairarapa River Board.

George was a lay reader for two years in the St John's Church at Featherston, ending in 1905. He must have been highly esteemed, and was described as "defatiguable in his work."

In October 1905 George was one of the main organisers of the Lower Valley Athletic Club annual sports meet. 

Ellen and Mabel were pictured with the Martinborough Lawn Tennis Club members in a picture taken around 1905. 

Martinborough Tennis Players. c1905
Ellen is seated in the front row, second from the right, with Mabel seated in front of her.
Photo courtesy of Masterton District Library and Archive. Used with permission.

In 1906 George took a series of photographs of the important businesses and buildings in Martinborough and Featherston, including the Featherston County Council: Martinborough Office where he worked. The photos are currently housed in the Library Archives in Masterton but can be viewed online.

The Martinborough Sports day was held on 22 January 1907 in which lots of althletic activities and highland games were enjoyed by the townsfolk, to the sound of bagpipes! In the evening there was a "grand Caledonian concert" in the Town Hall which was largely organised by George. Later the same year year, he was elected to the Martinborough Caledonian Society and put on the team responsible for organising programmes. 

In October 1907, George was asked to be the judge of the photography entries to the local Show which would be held the following month. 

On 18 May 1908, George's brother in law, John Coveney accidentally drowned in the Mangatera Stream. He was buried in the Settlers Dannevirke Cemetery. 

In mid 1908, George took a three week holiday from his duties. He spent his break in Nelson according to the local newspaper.

In March 1909 George and his family were involved in a serious accident which could easily have proved fatal. They were driving from Kaikoura to Martinborough when an approaching horse and buggy rounding a sharp bend caused George to take evasive action. This resulted in their gig flying over the edge and falling 6-9 metres down the bank. In the process George, Bernard and Muriel were thrown clear of the vehicle before it stopped, but Ellen was not. She suffered shock and bruising, but thankfully, no serious injury. 

The Cobb family.
From left unknown woman (probably Ellen's mother,
Elizabeth Coveney), Bernard, Mabel, Ellen.
Date and photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of A Kendall)

Mabel Cobb and her brother, Bernard,
Date and photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of A Kendall)

November 1909 George, already County Clerk for Martinborough, was suffering from what the newspapers described as a "serious attack of influenza."

George must have had a hectic life. in 1910 he was already County Clerk and served his community as the secretary of several committees including the Dry River Water Race Committee, the Cemetery Trustees, Wairarapa Racing Club, the Patriotic Society and on the Martinborough Library committee. For a time George wrote for the Wairarapa Standard in the position of correspondent, was chairman of the Caledonian Society, member of the St Andrew's Vestry, and chairman of the local school board.

Also in April of 1910, George's wife, Ellen was praised in their church's annual meeting for her efforts to raise funds for the church. At the same meeting, George was appointed the Parishoner's Warden.

George had a poultry farm for a short period. Details about it are presently unknown.

In the newspaper clipping from the Wairarapa Age, 7 September 1910, Vol XXXII, Issue 10087, we see that both George and his wife were involved in operating the Martinborough Tennis Club, George being the secretary and treasurer, and Ellen, a committee member.

On 14 November 1910, George and Ellen lost their son Bernard after he underwent an operation for appendicitis. Bernard was 11 years old at the time of his death. Ellen was a few months pregnant with daughter Muriel at the time. Bernard was buried in the Martinborough Puruatanga Road Cemetery, Plot 76. Also interred in the plot were five others: Agnes Mary Eagar, Margaret Flynn, Ronald George Hoare, Rosina Elizabeth Hoare, and Robert Webb (an infant buried on 7 July 1906). It is unclear what relationship these people had to the Cobb family. 

Four months after Bernard's death, George's father, Joseph, passed away in Napier, aged 70. 

George continued to use his expert photographic skills to record the progress in the Wairarapapa district. He was particularly interested in documenting the progress of the new bridge over the Ruamahanga River.

The photo above, from the supplement to the
Auckland Weekly News, 16 March 1911, page 2, is attributed to George Cobb.
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19110316-2-5

The arrival of a baby girl would have brought some joy back to the Cobb household. Muriel's birth announcement was made in May 1911. 'The Bungalow' may have been the name of their home. 

The new bridge over the Ruamahanga River was completed in early 1912. George took a series of photographs on the day it opened:

The opening of the bridge. Taken from the Supplement to the
Auckland Weekly News, 1 February 1912, page 10.
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19120201-10-2

George Cobb's photo appeared in the supplement to the
Auckland Weekly News, 1 February 1912, page 10.
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19120210-10-1

George's photo of a heavy load on the bridge appeared in the supplement to the
Auckland Weekly News, 1 February 1912, page 10.
Courtesy of the Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19120210-10-3

George and Ellen were active in their community. George served as the parishoner's church warden in 1912, was a lay-pastor for one year. At Martinborough's Spring Show, Ellen won two first prizes for cut her flowers. 

In 1914, George was nominated for a position on the Martinborough Town Board. 

Ellen won third prize in a coupon collecting contest in early 1915. She won a tailor-made outfit! It is also reported that she donated a Christmas cake to the Lady Liverpool Equipment and Allie's Relief Fund.

In 1916 George was elected to chairman of the Martinborough Town Board.

George was a layman with the St Andrew's Church in Martinborough. He served the church as their treasurer and often read the readings to the congregation on Sundays since the church was without a vicar. At the 1917 annual general meeting of the church, George was presented with a gift to thank him for the work he had done for the church. 

Also in 1917, George was put on the New Zealand Army World War 1 Reserve Roll, 2nd Division, along with several of his brothers. He listed his residence as Grey Street, Martinborough.

In December 1917, George's daughter Mabel performed a piano solo at a concert at her boarding school, Solway College. She performed again in July 1918. Mabel won several prizes in 1917, and also won prize for needlework when she was in Form 5. (Solway College was founded in 1916 and was one of the first girl's boarding schools to open in New Zealand.)

He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in the Martinborough area in 1918. 

In September 1918, George's mother-in-law, Elizabeth Coveney, passed away. Of her children, only Ellen, lived in Martinborough, so it is likely that she lived with them there. The following obituary for Elizabeth was in printed in the paper:

        A link with the very early days of 
Victoria has been severed by the death 
at Martinborough on September 15, at 
the age of 92 years, of Mrs. Elizabeth 
Coveny. Seventy-seven years ago, at 
the age of fifteen the deceased, with 
her parents (Mr. and Mrs. John Low-
ther), arrived at Melbourne in the
ship Alexander. Married at nineteen,
the late Mrs. Coveney, with her hus-
band (the late Mr. George Coveney), 
spent many years in the Geelong and 
Bungaree districts. Here many thril-
ling encounters were experienced with
 the aboriginal natives. She came to 
New Zealand in 1885, where, with the 
exception of one son, the family has 
since resided. The deceased's husband 
predeceased her by some thirty years. 
Of nine children, six are still living. 
There are also fourteen grandchildren
and seven great-grandchildren. The 
four daughters are: Mesdames A. L. 
Williams (Taranaki), E. T. Sadd (Dun-
edin), F. McAllum and G. W. Cobb 
(Martinborough). Of the two sons, one 
is resident in Victoria. It is interesting 
to note that the deceased lady came 
from an historical Irish family, she 
being a direct descendent of the Lord 
Edward Fitzgerald's family.

George was part of a delegation from the Featherston County who visited Taranaki in March 1919 to visit points of interest in the region. While there, it is probable that he met up with his brother Bob and his family, who had recently moved to New Plymouth.

In December 1919, George had a visit from his nephew Robert Ashcroft, who came down to Martinborough from Auckland. He had just returned to New Zealand from serving in World War 1. While there he attended a dance at the Town Hall with George, Ellen, his cousin Mabel, and probably her boyfriend George. 

George and his wife hosted a evening of games and music for friends (some were Ellen's relatives) at their home, 'The Bungalow', in March 1920. They decorated the house with fresh flowers, and offered prizes to the winners of the games. 

On June 1920, George's daughter Enid (known as Mabel) was engaged to George F Loney (from Wellington), who worked at the Union Bank in Martinborough. (He was transferred to the branch in Wellington a few months later.)

George served as the acting District Coroner in a case of sudden death in August 1920. 

George wrote a letter of resignation of appointment as a Justice of the Peace on 21 June 1921. This letter is in the Archives New Zealand - Wellington branch.

George was not re-elected to the Town Board in the 1920 election. This may have been connected to the fact that he was found out to have defrauded the city council of 300 pound according to a newspaper report in The Evening Post, 29 June 1921.






George's trial was held in the Wellington Supreme Court on 5 July 1921. The following newspaper article (NZ Truth, 9 July 1921) gives George's account of his misdemeaner:





The Auckland Star, 5 July 1921 reported George's sentencing in this way:

The Evening Post, 5 July 1921 indicates that George was keen to sell some assetts to pay off his debts. According to the New Zealand Police Gazette of 1923, George was sent to Waikeria Prison near Te Awamutu, which was a prison farm for prisoners that were perceived as likely to be reformed. The Police Gazette (1923) describes George's physical appearance as follows:

• Height: 5 foot 2 inch
• Completion: fresh
• Hair colour: Grey
• Eyes: Brown
• Nose: Medium
• Distinguishing marks: Scar on the back of right hand. F.P. [Finger prints were taken]. Released on licence.

Two mugshots (under copyright) of George appeared in the New Zealand Police Gazette 1922, page 6.

Life must have been really hard for Ellen and her daughters when George was sent to prison. It is unclear what happened to them or how they coped. What we do know is that starting in 1921, prisoners were given a 'wage' to support their dependents. 

According to the New Zealand Police Gazette of 1923, George was released from custody in the week ending 6 January 1923. Following that, family records suggest that George became a fruiterer and confectioner, living in Wanganui. 

The New Zealand census records indicate that in 1928, George and Ellen were living together at 41 Plymouth Street, Wanganui. Family records indicate that around this time George was a fruiterer and confectioner working from his shop named Fair Dinkum. 

At this time, George, also operated as a commercial traveller. Family records also state that George was declared bankrupt on 18 January 1930. This is unverified at this point.

New Zealand Electoral Roll for 1935 shows that George was living in Waimauku and working as a farm hand. Ellen is shown on the 1935 Electoral Roll to be living at 11 Amesbury Street, Palmerston North, with daughter Muriel.

George may have gone to Te Kuiti to live near his younger sister Dorothy at some point because in October 1937 there is a record stating that Mr G W Cobb of Te Kuiti was a guest at the Waverly Hotel in Taranaki.

The Electoral Rolls show that George lived in the following places:

• 1938 - Waikaka Est., Ongarue. George was working in Ongarue as a farmhand.) Ellen was still living in Palmerston North with Muriel, on Amesbury Street. This time they were living at number 20. (Note that Ellen died in 1945.)
• 1946 - Te Rau Street, Manaia. Occupation, clerk.
• 1946 - Palmerston North. At this point he was retired and living at 537 Church Street.
• 1949 - Palmerston North

On 9 May 1945 Ellen died in Palmerston North, aged 78 years. Her death notice was published in the Evening Post:

COBB - On May 9, 1945, at Palmerston 

North, Ellen Josephine, dearly-loved wife of 

George William Cobb, of Te Kuiti, and beloved 

mother of Muriel Kendall, Palmerston North, 

and Mabel Loney, Australia; aged 78  years.


Ellen was buried next to Bernard, in the Church of England section of the Martinborough Putuatanga Road Cemetery, Plot 77. Cemetery records say that two other people were also interred in the plot - Alfred George Eagar (a 94 year old retired motor mechanic) and Beatrice Maud Hutchison. It is unclear what relationship these people had to Ellen.

In December 1947, George attended the 40th wedding of his brother Robert and his wife Alice, held in New Plymouth. He is shown in the photograph below with three of his siblings- Robert, Elsie and Alf, along with Robert's family. (Alf, Robert, Elsie & George were the eldest surviving children of Joseph and Harriett Cobb.)

Robert and Alice's 40th wedding anniversary celebration - 4 December 1947.

Back row, from left: John (Jack) Cobb, Esmae & Maurice Hitchcock, Dulcie & Eric Lambert, Freda Cobb, Lionel Cobb

Seated, from left: George Cobb, Elsie Ashcroft, Robert & Alice Cobb, Alf Cobb, Rod Lambert

Children at front, from left: Ian Lambert, Pete Lambert, Bev Hitchcock.

Photo by Tru-Tone, Hawera.

(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

George died on 30 August 1950, aged 76 years. His last known address was 537 Church Street, Palmerston North, and his occupation was listed as accountant. He was buried in the Kelvin Grove Cemetery and Crematorium, H Block 012 (the Anglican block), Plot 008. His grave is marked, "In loving memory of George William COBB died 30 August 1950 aged 75 years."



The children of George & Ellen Cobb

• George Bernard Garland Cobb (known as Bernard) (1899 - 14 Nov 1910) 
• Bernard was born in the fourth quarter of 1899. His birth was registered in New Plymouth.
• Bernard died after an operation for appendicitus when he was just 11 years old. It seems as though he was buried on 16 November, possibly at the Martinborough Cemetery, although this is unverified. 
• Enid Mabel (known as Mabel) Lowther Cobb (19 Feb 1901 - 1987)
• Mabel was born on 19 February 1901, in Featherston. When she was nine years old her brother Bernard died after suffering appendicitus. No doubt this was a traumatic experience for her. Not long after Mabel's tenth birthday, her younger sister Muriel was born. 
• Mabel was sent to Solway College, a girl's boarding school in Masterton, in 1916. Although she was not one of the 21 girls who began on the school's founding day (8 February 1916), she must have started there shortly thereafter, as she is registered as the school's 27th student in the Admission Register. (No date is given for her admission into the school.) Mabel competed Form IV and V at Solway College. During her time there Mabel took piano lessons, and performed at several school concerts. She was also in the hockey team. Mabel was withdrawn from the school in December 1917. 



Solway School hockey team, 1916. Mabel is seated at the front left.
Photo from We Built a School, Solway College - A Pictorial History 1916 - 1991
by Judy Hill; p 4. Used by permission.

• Mabel returned to at least one function at Solway College during 1921, according to Issue 3 of the school magazine, Silver and Green, 1921.
• Mabel married George Francis Loney (10 March 1889 - 17 Oct 1980), a returned WW1 soldier, on 7 September 1922 in the All Saints Church, Kilbirnie, Wellington. George was a bank clerk. He worked for some time at the Union Bank of Australia, and was elected to the New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild. They lived for a time in Wellington where George was originally from, and in 1934, they lived in Oroura, near Fielding. Around 1938, they returned to live in Wellington, and in November 1939, George was transferred to Auckland to be sub manager of the Union Bank there. George was transferred to the main office in Melbourne, Australia in 1940 where he was the sub-manager. (One of her mother's brothers lived in Victoria too.) After three years, the family were transferred to Adelaide where he was chief of South Australia for four years. Following that, he was transferred back to Melbourne as chief for Victoria and Tasmania. George retired aged 62.
• George and Mabel had two daughters:
• Margaret Morwenna (Wenna) Loney (4 Nov 1924 - 1988)
• Wenna married twice, but had no children. Her first husband was George Stanley Henley (dates unknown). They were married in Melbourne in 1953. Sadly, he died in Trinidad while the couple were taking a world trip.
• Her second husband was Philip Gordon Grassick (1913 - 1979). They married in 1965.
• Wenna worked as a clerk.
• Wenna and Philip are buried together at the Allambe Memorial Park, Broadbeach, Queensland.
• Kay Loney (28 Dec 1931 - )
• Kay was named after her father's sister.
• She was a nurse.
• Kay married Englishman, Peter Willoughby Williams (dates unknown) in Melbourne in 1954. They lived in the UK following their marriage. Peter and Kay had two children, a daughter and a son.
• Mabel was described by her daughter Wenna, as "a very reticent person." Mabel never spoke of her father to her children. Wenna recalled being told by her father, that her grandfather, George, had spent time in prison. It was kept a "dark and deadly secret" wrote to Wenna, in a letter to a cousin.
• Mabel suffered from Alzheimer's disease prior to her death. She died in 1987 and was buried in the Allambe Memorial Park, Broadbeach, Queensland.
• Muriel Evelyn Cobb (15 May 1911 - 28 Dec 1999)
• Muriel was born in Martinborough in 1911 not long after the death of her brother Bernard and grandfather Joseph E Cobb. 

Muriel Cobb
Photographer & date unknown.

• Muriel played the piano. Her niece, Wenna, recalled that she loved playing a piece called, 'The Wedding of the Painted Doll'.
• Muriel married Ronald (Ron) Hector Kendall (5 May 1914 - 23 February 1973) but the date of their wedding is unknown at present. (Ronald was born in Adelaide, South Australia.) It appears that they had two sons and two daughters:
• A Kendall
• K Kendall
• P Kendall
• Electoral Rolls show that the Kendalls lived in Palmerston North in the 1940s, then moved to the Bay of Plenty, living at 18 Otonga Road, Rotorua. Ronald worked there as a panelbeater.
• Ronald died in 1973. His body was cremated and his ashes are buried at Rotorua Cemetery, Berm Lawn 4C, Plot 25. Muriel passed away, aged 86, in Rotorua. She too was cremated. 

Sources of information:
Photographs from: A Kendall, G J Bland
Family held records
Papers Past
Ancestry - Electoral Rolls
Births, Deaths and Marriages Online
Palmerston North City Council - Cemetery and Cremation Search
Church Papers Online
Masterton District Library & Archive
Ancestry.com - Electoral Roll information: George W Cobb
Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph: George Francis Loney
Archway Record - Military Personnel File: George Francis Loney
Geni: Ronald Hector Kendall
Rotorua District Council - Cemetery searching 
Solway College - Silver and Green (School magazine)
Hill, J. (1991) We Built a School, Solway College - A Pictorial History 1916-1991
P Cleaver
Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of NZ, Prison Farm at Waikeria 1919
Libraries Heritage Images

South Wairarapa District Council Cemetery Search

• Ellen Josephine Cobb https://rates.swdc.govt.nz/cemeteries/14639 
• George Bernard Garland Cobb https://rates.swdc.govt.nz/cemeteries/15043

The family of Ellen F Coveney

Parents

George Coveney (1817 - 23 Jan 1888)

• George was born in County Cork, Ireland.
• He was a 23 year old labourer when he immigrated to Australia on the ship Thetis, arriving in Port Phillip (later renamed Melbourne) on 17 Feb 1842.
• George was a Protestant.
• He was literate.
• George became a shoemaker when living in Victoria, Australia.
• George married Elizabeth Lowther in the St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Geelong, Victoria, in 1845. 
• George and Elizabeth had nine children.
• George worked as a shoemaker however, in 1866 he was made bankrupt. 
• George's wife and children immigrated to Australia in the 1880s. He didn't go with them. Why?
• George (70) died on 23 Jan 1888 in Warrenheip, Victoria, and was buried at the New Ballarat Cemetery, Section 14, Church of England B, Plot 15.

Elizabeth Lowther (1826 - 15 Sep 1918)

• Elizabeth was born in Ireland. Her parents were John Lowther and his wife Ellen Cormack.
• The Lowther family (John and Ellen, and their children Thomas (17), Elizabeth (15) and Kate (13) immigrated to Australia on the ship Alexander. They arrived in Port Phillip (later renamed Melbourne) on 27 Dec 1841.
• Elizabeth married George Coveney in the St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Geelong, Victoria, in 1845. 
• George and Elizabeth had nine children
• Elizabeth and her children immigrated to Napier, New Zealand. Not all at the same time. When? Why?
• Husband George died in Victoria, Australia in 1888.
• Elizabeth was living with her youngest child, Ellen and her family, in Martinborough, at the time of her death. She was buried at the Settlers Dannevirke Cemetery, Block F, Plot 51, next to her son John, who predeceased her.

The children of George and Elizabeth Coveney

• John Lowther Coveney (1850 - 18 May 1904)
• John was born in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia.
• He never married.
• Died aged 54. He accidentally drowned in the Mangatera Stream, Dannevirke.
• John was buried at the Settlers Dannevirke Cemetery, Block F, Plot 50. His mother, Elizabeth was buried next to him. The Bible verse on John's headstone says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, thou art mine."
• Catherine Ellen Coveney (1851 - 1852)
• Catherine was born in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia.
• She died in Point Henry, Victoria, aged 5 months.
• Alice Lowther Coveney (1855 - 1938)
• Alice was born in Ashby (later renamed Geelong West), Victoria, Australia.
• Alice became the second wife of Henry Davis Williams (1830 - 1904) on 2 Sep 1884, in Nelson, New Zealand. Henry's first wife had passed away the previous year.
• The children of Alice and Henry Williams were:
• Henry Lowther Williams (1885 - 1960)
• Henry married Margaret Ward (dates unknown) in 1913.
• Kathleen Edythe Helen Williams (1887 - 1978)
• Kathleen married Frank Duckworth (dates unknown) in 1912. 
• George Thomas Coveney (1858 - ?)
• George was born in Ballarat, Australia.
• George married Carol Shearer (dates unknown) in Victoria in 1885. They settled in Gippsland, Victoria and were living there until at least 1949.
• Edward Coveney (1860 - ?)
• Edward was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
• Anna Maria Lowther Coveney (1862 - 13 July 1947)
• Anna was born in Symthesdale, Victoria.
• Anna married Robert Thomas Sadd (1858 - 1937) on 21 June 1882, in Nelson, New Zealand. Robert and Anna lived in Blenheim and Dunedin. Robert became the Senior District Surveyor for the Nelson district.
• The children of Robert and Anna were:
• Leila Elizabeth Sadd (1885 - 1965)
• Leila married William Harold May in 1906.
• Muriel Agnes Sadd (1886 - 1888)
• Eleanor Mary Sadd (1890 - 1958)
• Eleanor married Frederick Parkin (dates unknown) in 1916.
• Gerald Lowther Sadd (18 Feb 1891 - 1 Dec 1969)
• Gerald served with the New Zealand Army during World War I and World War II. 
• Gerald married Mabel Ivy (surname unknown) (1905 - 1982) in 1928. He worked as a civil servant.
• Gerald (78) died in Riverton Hospital. His ashes were interred at Invercargill Kerb, Block 2, Plot 102. His wife's ashes were also interred there.
• Edgar Coveney Sadd (1894 - 1974)
• Edgar married Marinota Marguerita Terry Tuck (1909 - 1998) in 1929. Their daughter was:
• Jennifer Lowther Sadd (19 Aug 1932 - 27 May 2004).
• Doris Myra Sadd (1897 - 1988)
• Dorris married Trevor Graham de Clive-Lowe (1900 - 1984) in 1922.
• Alison Lowther Sadd (1901 - 1983)
• Alison married Douglas Henderson Hastings (1898 - 1973) in 1927.
• Anna died in Dunedin and was cremated. Her ashes were scattered.
• Florence Coveney (1864 - 1941)
• Florence was born in Little Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
• Florence married Frederick (Fred) McAllum (1859 - 1934) in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1888. Fred and Florence later settled in Martinborough, Wairarapa.
• Fred and Florence's children were
• Frances McAllum (1888 - 1953)
• Frances married Joseph Alexander Grant (dates unknown) in 1914.
• She died in Masterton.
• Hilda McAllum (27 Feb 1890 - 23 Sep 1890)
• Hilda died aged 7 months. She was buried at the Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Plot 12558.
• Frederick McAllum (? - 22 Aug 1934)
• Fred was buried in the Martinborough Cemetery, Plot 53.
• Florence McAllum (? - 19 Dec 1941)
• Florence was buried in the Martinborough Cemetery, Plot 54.
• Ellen Josephine Coveney (1867 - 1945)
• Ellen was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
• Ellen was living in Napier, New Zealand in 1896.
• Ellen married George William Cobb (24 Oct 1873 - 30 Aug 1950) in 1898. They settled in Martinborough where they had three children
• George Bernard Garland Cobb (1899 - 14 Nov 1910)
• Enid Mabel Lowther Cobb (19 Feb 1901 - 1980?)
• Muriel Evelyn Cobb (15 May 1911 - 28 Dec 1999)

Information about the Coveney family came from Family Tree Circles
http://www.familytreecircles.com/george-coveney-elizabeth-lowther-57531.html
Author name: ngairedith
Accessed 4 Sep 2018


Last updated 22 June 2020