More information about the BATES family will be added during 2018
Elizabeth Ann BATES
Born
11 November 1856 St Helen’s Lancashire, England
Birth Registered
19 November 1856 Prescot, St Helen’s, Lancashire, England
Parents
Joseph BATES and Annie CLARK
Emigration
28 November 1858 Arrived in Littleton, New Zealand on the ship ‘Indiana’. Left London 2 August 1858
Occupation
1877 Millina
1884 Ran a drapery business from a shop owned by her father Joseph BATES at Akaroa, Bank’s Peninsula, New Zealand
Married
12 November 1877 Akaroa, Bank’s Peninsula, New Zealand
Children
Joseph William THOMAS
Annette Mary Eleanor Jane THOMAS
Married
John HEWETT 1 April 1884 St Peter’s Anglican Church, Akaroa, new Zealand
About John HEWETT
Children
James Gordon HEWITT
Stanley John Livingstone HEWITT
John Edward HEWITT
Note
4 June 1885 Eliza’s drapery business failed forcing John to file for bankruptcy. In his sworn statement to the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, on 4 June 1885, he stated that the business had been carried on by his wife for about three years. He said: “She has left the business and the place and I do not know where she is at present. I have filed my petition in consequence as I know there are large liabilities but I do not know to whom”. Two weeks later Eliza had been located and swore a statement which revealed some fairly loose business arrangements, not common today, but probably typical of the time. By 1887 John was out of bankruptcy and he published a notice in the local newspaper stating he was no longer responsible for his wife’s debts.
Note
1904 son Stanley had an accident. He was describe as ‘son of Mrs Hewitt of Wainui’. There was no mention of John, his father. Eliza and John never reconciled.
Separation
About 1890. John charged with assaulting Eliza on 21 December 1889. The report on the court case said: “the evidence disclosed a meleancholy state of affairs”. John was fined one shilling. After John and Eliza had separated custody was awarded of the two children, Gordon and Stanley to Eliza, and John was ordered to pay maintenance. Eldest son Edward was not included in the custody and maintenance orders as he was being brought up by his aunt and uncle. John failed to keep up the maintenance payments so the matter was back in court in July 1891. By this time John was working in Pahiatua bush felling.
Died
13 July 1916 at 317 Montreal Street, Christchurch, New Zealand. A house most likely owned by, and shared with, her daughter Annette
Cause of Death
Cordis morbus, 9 years, Chronic Nephritis 7 years 4 months, Ulcer of the palate and pharygtis 1 and 3 quarter months. Exhaustion 1 month, Uraenia 10 days
Buried
15 July 1916 Private Internment, Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, New Zealand
Will
10 July 1916 Husband John HEWITT not named as executor or beneficiary
Probate
20 July 1916 Filed in Christchurch, New Zealand. Executors Harold Thomas and Hans Kennedy – Estate valued at under 800 pounds.