Genealogy of Russell Tuffery

Donald McKay and Ann MacMillan

Husband Donald McKay

         Born: 26 Feb 1823 - Strathmore, Sutherland, Scotland
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Roderick McKay (1803-      )
       Mother: Barbara Gunn (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife Ann MacMillan

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Children

1 F Flora McKay

         Born: 25 Oct 1860 - Wallacetown, Southland
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Robert Waldie (      -      )
         Marr: 26 Jul 1889 - Christchurch

2 F McKay

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

3 M McKay

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

4 U McKay

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

with John, pioneered the Cheviot (1865), Manapouri and Mararoa runs

Prominent runholder.

21 Jan 1863: election notice for Donald in the Southland Daily News

Later, a schoolmaster? (Flora's marriage cert.)

Gray's Wallacetown 100 - the Presbyterian Parish (1966) mentions Rev A Stobo baptizing 4 children of Donald's

source for his family info: Ray Matthews and Gaynor Paterson

Herries Beattie's Southern Pioneers 3rd volume p. 149 refers to Donald McKay's farm at Wallacetown

still alive Dec 1880 (G A Hamilton's History of Northern Southland, 1952, pg 63)

1865/67 Electoral Rolls:
District of Mataura:
McKay, Donald Wallacetown qualification - freehold & house hold at New River Wallacetown, part of town reserve, house near Wallacetown, section 1, block 1, New River hundred; sections 1 & 2, block 2, Invercargill hundreds"
and District of Invercargill:
"freehold and household sections 1,2, 20, 21, block 14 town of Invercargill"

General Notes (Wife)

says McKinnon on Flora's marriage cert.

General Notes for Child McKay

paralysed?

General Notes for Child McKay

lived in Scotland?
Allen Waiau Manson

Husband Allen Waiau Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Andrew Mouat Manson

Husband Andrew Mouat Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Fred Wallis and Barbara Manson

Husband Fred Wallis

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Barbara Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

Charles Stewart Manson

Husband Charles Stewart Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

David Trotter Manson

Husband David Trotter Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Donald Alexander Manson

Husband Donald Alexander Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Elizabeth Manson

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Elizabeth Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

Henry Hunt Manson

Husband Henry Hunt Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

John Robert Manson

Husband John Robert Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Thomas Barclay Manson

Husband Thomas Barclay Manson

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Donald Manson (1839-1904)
       Mother: Barbara Barclay (1848-1920)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

owner Waikaia Plains run 1916-32
Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Guy Vernan Richard Matthews (1886-1959)
       Mother: Mary Black (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Guy Vernan Richard Matthews (1886-1959)
       Mother: Mary Black (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: infancy
       Buried:

       Father: Eric Rupert Matthews (1891-1970)
       Mother: Nancy Park (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: WWII airforce
       Buried:

       Father: Eric Rupert Matthews (1891-1970)
       Mother: Nancy Park (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Guy Vernan Richard Matthews (1886-1959)
       Mother: Mary Black (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Matthews

Husband Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy, 5 months old,
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Anthony Stephen Matthews

Husband Anthony Stephen Matthews

          AKA: Stephen
         Born: 2 Jul 1955 - Dunedin
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Bryan Raymond Matthews

Husband Bryan Raymond Matthews

         Born: 28 Aug 1957 - Dunedin
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Clarence Percevil Matthews

Husband Clarence Percevil Matthews

         Born: 29 Nov 1888
   Christened: 
         Died: 1930's?
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage: Never Married

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

no fixed abode

"A son Clarence Percival became abnormal after having scarlet fever at 16. He was sent to the asylum" (Caroline's testimony at Reginald's trial 1921)

Medical Notes (Husband)

no record of death located (Ray Matthews, 1970's)
David Neville Matthews

Husband David Neville Matthews

         Born: Feb 1978 - Hamilton
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Richard Malcolm Matthews (1949-      )
       Mother: Kay Morris (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Eric Rupert Matthews and Nancy Park

Husband Eric Rupert Matthews

         Born: 20 Dec 1891 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 4 Jan 1970 - Russell
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage: 10 Oct 1917 - Wellington

Wife Nancy Park

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Children

1 M Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: WWII airforce
       Buried:

2 M Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: infancy
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

civil servant
Adam Oliver and Florence Mabel Matthews

Husband Adam Oliver

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage: 1 Apr 1913 - Ohakune

Wife Florence Mabel Matthews

          AKA: Mabel
         Born: 2 Nov 1882 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 25 Apr 1963 - Palmerston North
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

Children

1 F Tui Oliver

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Joe Miller (      -      )

2 F Joan Oliver

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Cyril Pritchard (      -      )

3 M Allan Oliver

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

4 M Eric Rupert Oliver

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

5 M John Scott Oliver

          AKA: Jack
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes for Child Eric Rupert Oliver

farmer, Taranaki

General Notes for Child John Scott Oliver

builder, Palmerston North
Graham Bruce Matthews

Husband Graham Bruce Matthews

         Born: 25 Aug 1951 - Dunedin
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

mechanical engineer
Kathryn Joy Matthews

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Kathryn Joy Matthews

         Born: 9 Mar 1964 - Napier
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

Martin Thomas Harold Matthews

Husband Martin Thomas Harold Matthews

         Born: 21 Sep 1961 - Napier
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Reginald Arthur Matthews

Husband Reginald Arthur Matthews

         Born: 1 Aug 1892 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 1982 - Marton
       Buried:

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage: Never Married

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

The Murder Trial

Sources: NZ Herald and Truth newspapers (see images)

Day 1, Tues 8 Feb 1921
Trial opened Supreme Court, Christchurch, Tues 8 Feb 1921 re death of Clarence Edward Wagstaffe (shot), 19 years old of Timaru, Oct 27, 1920.
Reginald Matthews " a short, thick-set youth" [he was 28 years old] was charged with his murder, pleaded not guilty, defended by Mr C S Thomas. Prosecution Mr A T Donnelly, Acting Crown Prosecutor. Jury trial before Mr Justice Herdman.
Wagstaffe lived with his parents in Seaview Terrace, Timaru. A friend (Clifford Knapp, a boarder at the house) and he, saw a prowler that evening, they pursued him, and the prowler "fired three shots at close range"
Mr Donnelly for the Crown opened the case, testimony from Mary Long and Madeline Reed, Bessie Parr, Constable J Smith, Clifford Knapp, Dr Gibson who did the post-mortem. [Much of the evidence appears to have been circumstantial] Matthews had recently been a seaman on the steamer the Waipori under the name Reginald Irving. Had been arrested at Lyttelton on the interislander the Maori, had with him an automatic pistol with which he resisted police. "The man identified by Knapp was about 5 8 and a heavier man. The only resemblance lay in the fact that both had smashed noses" A detective said he had known the step father, who he described as a "determined character, slightly addicted to drink"
Matthews had posted a parcel to his mother at the "White House", Taihape.
During the first day, Mr Thomas "in the course of cross-examination, announced that the defence would be a plea of insanity"

Day 2, Wed 9 Feb
Case for the Crown concluded, and Mr Thomas began for the defence. He said "he hoped to be able to prove conclusively that Matthews was insane"
"He proposed to lead evidence regarding the accused's hereditary history and his personal history. Both were most extraordinary"

The father was a "drunken waster" and "of intemperate sexual habits" and had veneral disease when he married Caroline. "His habits toward his wife and children were almost incredibly inhuman" A brother of the father, a solicitor, was struck off the rol because he stole and embezzled.. "Another was a paralytic, and another was committed as an epileptic to the Avondale asylum at age 25, died there at 42. Another brother called Frederick died in the lunatic asylum [probably the same person].

Thomas said "on the mother's side there was a frightful history" The grandfather was a doctor, a clever man, but "an habitual drunkard, and while in the East formed the habit of taking morphia". He died of a morphia overdose. The grandmother was also "unfortunate", "for a year or two she would be normal, and then she would suddenly take to drink...so bad at times she suffered from delirium tremens." A first cousin Mrs Manson was committed to Seacliff, and another committed suicide, another eccentic, and a "half-sister of the mother was an inmate of a farm institution at Invercargill"

Counsel said "the result of the union between these two unfortunate families was just what one would expect". The mother's eldest daughter had been at Seacliff, and was "a hopeless case" "A brother Clarence, began to show signs of abnormality at 16 or 17" and later got out a gun, shot at a man, and was committed to Seacliff. "He was there for a very short time and then disappeared". An infant of the family aged 5 months was "an idiot child". "He [the accused] was born probably predisposed to insanity"
Dr Crosbie from Sunnyside and Dr McKillop from Seacliff would say "they had not the slightest doubt that Matthews was suffering from paranoic insanity, with sexual and persecutory delusions, as well as being a well-defined epileptic".

The mother, from Taihape, gave evidence, and said her first husband frequently threatened to kill her. He died from drink. "Witness referred to accused's views on sexual matters and ascribed his alleged indecent actions to an internal weakness"

From Truth newspaper:

Headline "Family Record of Feeble-Minded Degenerates"
Reginald Matthews had a record of exhibitionism: Aug 1919, public gardens Ch'Ch by a tree with his clothes down - 9 months jail, but broke goal and got out of the country. In Wellington he exposed himself, and later seen with his braces down, "there was epilepsy in the family, the records of which showed vice, crime and insanity"
Caroline stated her first husband was "very bad", "almost constantly drunk", "he used to get up during his bouts on moonlight nights and go about quoting the Bible", "it was quite common for him to go and live in a hotel, leaving her with nothing in the house. She had had thirteen children in all. At times he would be maudlin and childish; at other times he would be violent. He had no sense of responsibility. He frequently struck her. Shortly before accused was born she had a separation order against her husband. He was in the habit of coming round to the house and frightening her. He was of abnormal sexual habits. He died in the hospital from the effects of drink. She was seventeen when she got married. It was not a love match. At the time of the marriage he had not properly recovered from a veneral disease, which she caught necessiating medical attention. . . Her father was Dr McChrystall who took morphia. He died at 50, found dead in his bed...an overdose of morphia. Her mother was addicted to drink. A cousin, Mrs Manson was committed to an asylum after the birth of a child. Another cousin, Donald Barclay became abnormal after getting a kick from a horse, and committed suicide. Another female cousin was eccentric and simple. In her own family witness had a daughter by Matthews who was in Seacliff Mental Hospital. A son Clarence Percival became abnormal after having scarlet fever at 16. He was sent to the asylum. Both the latter had been clever at school. Harold, the eldest boy, and and Eric and Clarence were subject to fits. She had a child who died when five months old which was malformed in the face. The doctor said it was an idiot and it was a good thing it died"

"...She remembered Reginald having a dog [which died]...soon after that he left home and she did not see him for two years...he was somewhat peculiar after coming out of goal..excitable and talked on subjects men don't usually discuss with their mothers...sex matters and girls...Her second husband was very strict with her boys - too much so, she thought. He was too ready to hit them on the head...there was nothing the matter with the children born of the second marriage. Matthews never treated her as a sane man would treat his wife...Reginald had been the kindest of boys...he complained of pains in his head...his head had been hurt in a railway accident having fallen from a train in America...Matthew Robertson, second officer of the Waipori...said Reginald was a good worker...Charles William Harvey, a Christchurch accountant said that as a youth of 12 he had often visited the Matthews home and found them without food. The father was reading the Bible while the family starved. Mrs Matthews had to seek the protection of the police many a time"

"Dr Arthur Crosbie, superintendant of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, examined by Mr Thomas said he considered Matthews to be insane, because he suffered from delusions...Matthews believed he was capable of reforming sexual and social conventions. ...He was thoroughly dissatisfied with the usual restraints in regard to intercourse between the two sexes, or as he called it, false prudery and mother grundyism...he advocated sterpiculture - race improvement on scientific lines...Matthews said that under the surface, the police had a set on him on account of his radical views and because he was opposed to the Government...[he advocated] licensed houses for intercourse...
Dr McKillop from Seacliff spoke about Ethel Bullman, who had been admitted there Jul 14 1911 and discharged in October. Readmitted June 1920 with "acute mania" He had just recently examined her again, there was no prospect of her recovery. Clarence had neen admitted Mar 1909 with "semi-stupor", he tried to shoot someone and to hang himself. He was dull, taciturn, confused.
Drs Gribben and Gray disputed that he was insane.
Matthews was noted as having a hesitancy in speech. He apperars to have have been in goal in America, and suspected of being a "IWW man" [Intl Workers of the World], and connected with "dope fiends"[cocaine]

On Friday 11 Feb, Thomas gave his closing address to the jury, firstly indicating that the evidence was circumstantial only - Matthews bullets had a small scratch, absent from the deceased's bullet. "This was a case which had aroused a great amount of prejudice against prisoner". It was show night in Timaru and consequently "that sort of crowd"; it had been a moonlight night, yet Knapp did not pick the accused. Matthews was a "runt of a man". If they did find him guilty, they must find him insane, "born of diseased parents"
"...a person burdened by hereditary strain was liable to bend under stress." The medical testimony was contradictory, it was up to the jury to decide, "the accused was a mental leper and as long as he was allowed at liberty would be a menace to the community" [note, this is the defence speaking!!!]

Sat Feb 12: Crown address to jury, in summing up, Mr Donnelly for the Crown said, "the whole case of insanity had been broken and discredited..", it was "a plain ordinary case of murder..." Judge summed up, clearly inferring a guilty but sane verdict, the judge noted that Matthews had had three seaman's discharges, all showing he was a good and capable seaman, on the Waipori he had been promoted from able seaman to leading seaman. The jury retired for an hour, guilty and sane, sentence imposed of death by hanging.

The Truth of 26 Feb 1921 reported that Mr Thomas had asked the Minister for Justice to have a further examination made into Matthews mental state, and a petition had been got up in Invercargill seeking a reprieve. Truth called for an abolition of the death penalty.

The Truth of 5 March reported a 1,000 plus public meeting in Christchurch which urged a further re-examination of his mental state; the reprieve petition was being circulated widely. Said Mr D G Sullivan MP "no sane man fighting for his life would laugh while his counsel was addressing the jury", Sullivan drew a harrowing picture of the mother.."Her life had been a tragedy..."

Truth of 12 March reported that the Governor General (Lord Jellicoe) had commuted the death sentence to imprisonment for life, after Cabinet had commissioned another examination, by Drs Hay and Hassall. Both saw him over 5 days at Paparua prison and judged him insane. The Minister of Justice, Mr E P Lee commented that in his opinion, "Matthews will go completely insane and die in comparatively a few years"
Richard John Matthews and Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal

Husband Richard John Matthews

         Born: 11 Sep 1839 - Norwich, England
   Christened: 
         Died: 1 Sep 1901 - Invercargill
       Buried: 3 Sep 1901 - St Johns Cemetery, Waikiwi (Block 7, Lot 7)

       Father: Richard Matthews (1813-1863)
       Mother: Alice Catchpole (1819-1878)

     Marriage: 27 Sep 1880 - Oamaru, St Lukes Church of England

Wife Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal

         Born: 11 Aug 1862 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 3 Dec 1942 - Wellington
       Buried:  - Karori Cemetery

       Father: John McCrystal (alias) (1830-1873)
       Mother: Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay (1834-1918)

 Other Spouse: Richard Williamson Hall (1856-1932) - 2 Oct 1901 - All Saints Church, Invercargill

Children

1 F Ethel Alice Matthews

         Born: 15 Jul 1881 - Queenstown
   Christened: 
         Died: 8 Jul 1931 - Thames
       Buried:

       Spouse: Anthony Bulman (      -      )
         Marr: 10 Jul 1907 - Invercargill

2 F Florence Mabel Matthews

          AKA: Mabel
         Born: 2 Nov 1882 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 25 Apr 1963 - Palmerston North
       Buried:

       Spouse: Adam Oliver (      -      )
         Marr: 1 Apr 1913 - Ohakune

3 M Harold Humphrey Matthews

         Born: 1 Jul 1884 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 12 Feb 1969 - Christchurch
       Buried:  - Memorial Garden Crematorium, Johns Rd, Harewood

       Spouse: Winnifred Alice Marion Dawson (1882-1971)
         Marr: 15 Apr 1909 - Invercargill, St Peters Methodist Church, Elles Rd, Rev A Pybus

4 M Guy Vernan Richard Matthews

         Born: 21 Dec 1886 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 21 Aug 1959 - New Plymouth
       Buried:

       Spouse: Mary Black (      -      )
         Marr: 6 May 1913 - Invercargill

5 M William Ernest Matthews

         Born: 1887
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 22 Jan 1888 - St Johns Cemetery, Waikiwi, with father (Block 7, Lot 7)

       Spouse: Never Married

6 M Clarence Percevil Matthews

         Born: 29 Nov 1888
   Christened: 
         Died: 1930's?
       Buried:

       Spouse: Never Married

7 M Eric Rupert Matthews

         Born: 20 Dec 1891 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 4 Jan 1970 - Russell
       Buried:

       Spouse: Nancy Park (      -      )
         Marr: 10 Oct 1917 - Wellington

8 M Reginald Arthur Matthews

         Born: 1 Aug 1892 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 1982 - Marton
       Buried:

       Spouse: Never Married

9 U Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy, 5 months old,
       Buried:

10 U Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

11 U Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

12 U Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

13 U Matthews

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

came to NZ about 1842 with his mother and lived at the Hokianga until moving to Auckland in the 'Victoria' arriving 13 Jan 1846

solicitor Auckland, Thames, Invercargill

The Murder Trial

Sources: NZ Herald and Truth newspapers (see images)

Day 1, Tues 8 Feb 1921
Trial opened Supreme Court, Christchurch, Tues 8 Feb 1921 re death of Clarence Edward Wagstaffe (shot), 19 years old of Timaru, Oct 27, 1920.
Reginald Matthews " a short, thick-set youth" [he was 28 years old] was charged with his murder, pleaded not guilty, defended by Mr C S Thomas. Prosecution Mr A T Donnelly, Acting Crown Prosecutor. Jury trial before Mr Justice Herdman.
Wagstaffe lived with his parents in Seaview Terrace, Timaru. A friend (Clifford Knapp, a boarder at the house) and he, saw a prowler that evening, they pursued him, and the prowler "fired three shots at close range"
Mr Donnelly for the Crown opened the case, testimony from Mary Long and Madeline Reed, Bessie Parr, Constable J Smith, Clifford Knapp, Dr Gibson who did the post-mortem. [Much of the evidence appears to have been circumstantial] Matthews had recently been a seaman on the steamer the Waipori under the name Reginald Irving. Had been arrested at Lyttelton on the interislander the Maori, had with him an automatic pistol with which he resisted police. "The man identified by Knapp was about 5 8 and a heavier man. The only resemblance lay in the fact that both had smashed noses" A detective said he had known the step father, who he described as a "determined character, slightly addicted to drink"
Matthews had posted a parcel to his mother at the "White House", Taihape.
During the first day, Mr Thomas "in the course of cross-examination, announced that the defence would be a plea of insanity"

Day 2, Wed 9 Feb
Case for the Crown concluded, and Mr Thomas began for the defence. He said "he hoped to be able to prove conclusively that Matthews was insane"
"He proposed to lead evidence regarding the accused's hereditary history and his personal history. Both were most extraordinary"

The father was a "drunken waster" and "of intemperate sexual habits" and had veneral disease when he married Caroline. "His habits toward his wife and children were almost incredibly inhuman" A brother of the father, a solicitor, was struck off the rol because he stole and embezzled.. "Another was a paralytic, and another was committed as an epileptic to the Avondale asylum at age 25, died there at 42. Another brother called Frederick died in the lunatic asylum [probably the same person].

Thomas said "on the mother's side there was a frightful history" The grandfather was a doctor, a clever man, but "an habitual drunkard, and while in the East formed the habit of taking morphia". He died of a morphia overdose. The grandmother was also "unfortunate", "for a year or two she would be normal, and then she would suddenly take to drink...so bad at times she suffered from delirium tremens." A first cousin Mrs Manson was committed to Seacliff, and another committed suicide, another eccentic, and a "half-sister of the mother was an inmate of a farm institution at Invercargill"

Counsel said "the result of the union between these two unfortunate families was just what one would expect". The mother's eldest daughter had been at Seacliff, and was "a hopeless case" "A brother Clarence, began to show signs of abnormality at 16 or 17" and later got out a gun, shot at a man, and was committed to Seacliff. "He was there for a very short time and then disappeared". An infant of the family aged 5 months was "an idiot child". "He [the accused] was born probably predisposed to insanity"
Dr Crosbie from Sunnyside and Dr McKillop from Seacliff would say "they had not the slightest doubt that Matthews was suffering from paranoic insanity, with sexual and persecutory delusions, as well as being a well-defined epileptic".

The mother, from Taihape, gave evidence, and said her first husband frequently threatened to kill her. He died from drink. "Witness referred to accused's views on sexual matters and ascribed his alleged indecent actions to an internal weakness"

From Truth newspaper:

Headline "Family Record of Feeble-Minded Degenerates"
Reginald Matthews had a record of exhibitionism: Aug 1919, public gardens Ch'Ch by a tree with his clothes down - 9 months jail, but broke goal and got out of the country. In Wellington he exposed himself, and later seen with his braces down, "there was epilepsy in the family, the records of which showed vice, crime and insanity"
Caroline stated her first husband was "very bad", "almost constantly drunk", "he used to get up during his bouts on moonlight nights and go about quoting the Bible", "it was quite common for him to go and live in a hotel, leaving her with nothing in the house. She had had thirteen children in all. At times he would be maudlin and childish; at other times he would be violent. He had no sense of responsibility. He frequently struck her. Shortly before accused was born she had a separation order against her husband. He was in the habit of coming round to the house and frightening her. He was of abnormal sexual habits. He died in the hospital from the effects of drink. She was seventeen when she got married. It was not a love match. At the time of the marriage he had not properly recovered from a veneral disease, which she caught necessiating medical attention. . . Her father was Dr McChrystall who took morphia. He died at 50, found dead in his bed...an overdose of morphia. Her mother was addicted to drink. A cousin, Mrs Manson was committed to an asylum after the birth of a child. Another cousin, Donald Barclay became abnormal after getting a kick from a horse, and committed suicide. Another female cousin was eccentric and simple. In her own family witness had a daughter by Matthews who was in Seacliff Mental Hospital. A son Clarence Percival became abnormal after having scarlet fever at 16. He was sent to the asylum. Both the latter had been clever at school. Harold, the eldest boy, and and Eric and Clarence were subject to fits. She had a child who died when five months old which was malformed in the face. The doctor said it was an idiot and it was a good thing it died"

"...She remembered Reginald having a dog [which died]...soon after that he left home and she did not see him for two years...he was somewhat peculiar after coming out of goal..excitable and talked on subjects men don't usually discuss with their mothers...sex matters and girls...Her second husband was very strict with her boys - too much so, she thought. He was too ready to hit them on the head...there was nothing the matter with the children born of the second marriage. Matthews never treated her as a sane man would treat his wife...Reginald had been the kindest of boys...he complained of pains in his head...his head had been hurt in a railway accident having fallen from a train in America...Matthew Robertson, second officer of the Waipori...said Reginald was a good worker...Charles William Harvey, a Christchurch accountant said that as a youth of 12 he had often visited the Matthews home and found them without food. The father was reading the Bible while the family starved. Mrs Matthews had to seek the protection of the police many a time"

"Dr Arthur Crosbie, superintendant of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, examined by Mr Thomas said he considered Matthews to be insane, because he suffered from delusions...Matthews believed he was capable of reforming sexual and social conventions. ...He was thoroughly dissatisfied with the usual restraints in regard to intercourse between the two sexes, or as he called it, false prudery and mother grundyism...he advocated sterpiculture - race improvement on scientific lines...Matthews said that under the surface, the police had a set on him on account of his radical views and because he was opposed to the Government...[he advocated] licensed houses for intercourse...
Dr McKillop from Seacliff spoke about Ethel Bullman, who had been admitted there Jul 14 1911 and discharged in October. Readmitted June 1920 with "acute mania" He had just recently examined her again, there was no prospect of her recovery. Clarence had neen admitted Mar 1909 with "semi-stupor", he tried to shoot someone and to hang himself. He was dull, taciturn, confused.
Drs Gribben and Gray disputed that he was insane.
Matthews was noted as having a hesitancy in speech. He apperars to have have been in goal in America, and suspected of being a "IWW man" [Intl Workers of the World], and connected with "dope fiends"[cocaine]

On Friday 11 Feb, Thomas gave his closing address to the jury, firstly indicating that the evidence was circumstantial only - Matthews bullets had a small scratch, absent from the deceased's bullet. "This was a case which had aroused a great amount of prejudice against prisoner". It was show night in Timaru and consequently "that sort of crowd"; it had been a moonlight night, yet Knapp did not pick the accused. Matthews was a "runt of a man". If they did find him guilty, they must find him insane, "born of diseased parents"
"...a person burdened by hereditary strain was liable to bend under stress." The medical testimony was contradictory, it was up to the jury to decide, "the accused was a mental leper and as long as he was allowed at liberty would be a menace to the community" [note, this is the defence speaking!!!]

Sat Feb 12: Crown address to jury, in summing up, Mr Donnelly for the Crown said, "the whole case of insanity had been broken and discredited..", it was "a plain ordinary case of murder..." Judge summed up, clearly inferring a guilty but sane verdict, the judge noted that Matthews had had three seaman's discharges, all showing he was a good and capable seaman, on the Waipori he had been promoted from able seaman to leading seaman. The jury retired for an hour, guilty and sane, sentence imposed of death by hanging.

The Truth of 26 Feb 1921 reported that Mr Thomas had asked the Minister for Justice to have a further examination made into Matthews mental state, and a petition had been got up in Invercargill seeking a reprieve. Truth called for an abolition of the death penalty.

The Truth of 5 March reported a 1,000 plus public meeting in Christchurch which urged a further re-examination of his mental state; the reprieve petition was being circulated widely. Said Mr D G Sullivan MP "no sane man fighting for his life would laugh while his counsel was addressing the jury", Sullivan drew a harrowing picture of the mother.."Her life had been a tragedy..."

Truth of 12 March reported that the Governor General (Lord Jellicoe) had commuted the death sentence to imprisonment for life, after Cabinet had commissioned another examination, by Drs Hay and Hassall. Both saw him over 5 days at Paparua prison and judged him insane. The Minister of Justice, Mr E P Lee commented that in his opinion, "Matthews will go completely insane and die in comparatively a few years"

Medical Notes (Husband)

buried with his mother, son William Ernest (aged 1), and Ethel May Russell aged 15 (buried 18 May 1883). She is probably a dgter of his sister Alice who married William Russell. Plot purchased by William Russell, Bay Rd, Invercargill

General Notes (Wife)

deserted by a drunkard husband says Tui referring to Matthews

see Richter's letters - images attached, impt points below:

A €500 bank draft was sent out from England in 1873, and arrived at the time of Dr McCrystal's death. His widow did ultimately receive it. Whether this was part of the Gratwicke Trust cases distribution, or part of his regular remittance, it is not known.

J E Richter composed a song "When the wattles are in bloom" and dedicated it to Caroline McCrystall, sending it to her when Tui Lundie-Robertson was a small girl. He had a great affection for Caroline.

Richter, letter Oct 5 1906 asserts: "Henry Peters was married to Miss Gratwick in 1825 at Arundel...

J E Richter to a Mr Harvey, 12 April 1907:
A neighbour of mine at Wyong named Levett recently took a trip to England, and as he has a brother in London who is a barrister and KC, I gave him a history of the case, to induce his brother to investigate, which he did to a certain extent and the result is briefly as follows:
"William Gratwicke died 1821, leaving the life interest in his landed estate to his grand daughter for her lifetime, and after her, to her husband. They enjoyed the benefits of the property till about 1860 when both died, leaving no children. The property was then to be sold, and turned into money in terms of the will, and divided amonst the next of kin. As the testator could not possibly know who were likely to be the next of kin - they, the next of kin, had to find themselves out to participate in the distribution of the money which amounted to €150,000
The next of kin were found in the grandchildren of Gratwicke's three married sisters, of whom the mother of Dr McCrystall was one of the grandchildren. This mother died about 1850, leaving the Doctor entitled to her share. The case was before the Equity Court in London for a year or two about 1872-75, €500 was sent out to the Doctor as a progress payment of the Court's award in 1873, but he died before it arrived at Switzers, where he was then in practice. Mrs McCrystall however received this money. When this money was sent it was intimated that more was to come, probably €2000-€3000. But none came, or any tidings thereof. It is supposed that the rest of the money of the doctor's share was appropriated by his step brothers and sisters, but that has to be ascertained yet. The doctor's mother's maiden name was supposed to be Jupp, and there were some two or more participants in the distribution.
Mrs R Matthews is one of the Doctor's daughters, residing at Appleby, the solicitor's wife, and Mrs John Brown of Appleby, wife of the valuator of the County Council in Southland is another. Both of those husbands are now deceased. They both have large families. Should you have any curiousity or interest in the Gratwicke affair, you will find it in the law books: Heasman v Pearse in L.R. Equity vol 8, 599 also L.R. Equity vol 11, 522 These cases were tried about 1872. There was also another one tried about 1864 - see 1 Eqs 177
The Appleby people are in much excitement over these recent developments, but I fear that too much time has now passed (34 years) for anything to be now got out of that estate. There is no telling though - and money may even now be lying in Chancery for them.

Law reports. Equity cases
C/UK Davis Law Library

Oct 1920, address: White House, Taihape

The Murder Trial

Sources: NZ Herald and Truth newspapers (see images)

Day 1, Tues 8 Feb 1921
Trial opened Supreme Court, Christchurch, Tues 8 Feb 1921 re death of Clarence Edward Wagstaffe (shot), 19 years old of Timaru, Oct 27, 1920.
Reginald Matthews " a short, thick-set youth" [he was 28 years old] was charged with his murder, pleaded not guilty, defended by Mr C S Thomas. Prosecution Mr A T Donnelly, Acting Crown Prosecutor. Jury trial before Mr Justice Herdman.
Wagstaffe lived with his parents in Seaview Terrace, Timaru. A friend (Clifford Knapp, a boarder at the house) and he, saw a prowler that evening, they pursued him, and the prowler "fired three shots at close range"
Mr Donnelly for the Crown opened the case, testimony from Mary Long and Madeline Reed, Bessie Parr, Constable J Smith, Clifford Knapp, Dr Gibson who did the post-mortem. [Much of the evidence appears to have been circumstantial] Matthews had recently been a seaman on the steamer the Waipori under the name Reginald Irving. Had been arrested at Lyttelton on the interislander the Maori, had with him an automatic pistol with which he resisted police. "The man identified by Knapp was about 5 8 and a heavier man. The only resemblance lay in the fact that both had smashed noses" A detective said he had known the step father, who he described as a "determined character, slightly addicted to drink"
Matthews had posted a parcel to his mother at the "White House", Taihape.
During the first day, Mr Thomas "in the course of cross-examination, announced that the defence would be a plea of insanity"

Day 2, Wed 9 Feb
Case for the Crown concluded, and Mr Thomas began for the defence. He said "he hoped to be able to prove conclusively that Matthews was insane"
"He proposed to lead evidence regarding the accused's hereditary history and his personal history. Both were most extraordinary"

The father was a "drunken waster" and "of intemperate sexual habits" and had veneral disease when he married Caroline. "His habits toward his wife and children were almost incredibly inhuman" A brother of the father, a solicitor, was struck off the rol because he stole and embezzled.. "Another was a paralytic, and another was committed as an epileptic to the Avondale asylum at age 25, died there at 42. Another brother called Frederick died in the lunatic asylum [probably the same person].

Thomas said "on the mother's side there was a frightful history" The grandfather was a doctor, a clever man, but "an habitual drunkard, and while in the East formed the habit of taking morphia". He died of a morphia overdose. The grandmother was also "unfortunate", "for a year or two she would be normal, and then she would suddenly take to drink...so bad at times she suffered from delirium tremens." A first cousin Mrs Manson was committed to Seacliff, and another committed suicide, another eccentic, and a "half-sister of the mother was an inmate of a farm institution at Invercargill"

Counsel said "the result of the union between these two unfortunate families was just what one would expect". The mother's eldest daughter had been at Seacliff, and was "a hopeless case" "A brother Clarence, began to show signs of abnormality at 16 or 17" and later got out a gun, shot at a man, and was committed to Seacliff. "He was there for a very short time and then disappeared". An infant of the family aged 5 months was "an idiot child". "He [the accused] was born probably predisposed to insanity"
Dr Crosbie from Sunnyside and Dr McKillop from Seacliff would say "they had not the slightest doubt that Matthews was suffering from paranoic insanity, with sexual and persecutory delusions, as well as being a well-defined epileptic".

The mother, from Taihape, gave evidence, and said her first husband frequently threatened to kill her. He died from drink. "Witness referred to accused's views on sexual matters and ascribed his alleged indecent actions to an internal weakness"

From Truth newspaper:

Headline "Family Record of Feeble-Minded Degenerates"
Reginald Matthews had a record of exhibitionism: Aug 1919, public gardens Ch'Ch by a tree with his clothes down - 9 months jail, but broke goal and got out of the country. In Wellington he exposed himself, and later seen with his braces down, "there was epilepsy in the family, the records of which showed vice, crime and insanity"
Caroline stated her first husband was "very bad", "almost constantly drunk", "he used to get up during his bouts on moonlight nights and go about quoting the Bible", "it was quite common for him to go and live in a hotel, leaving her with nothing in the house. She had had thirteen children in all. At times he would be maudlin and childish; at other times he would be violent. He had no sense of responsibility. He frequently struck her. Shortly before accused was born she had a separation order against her husband. He was in the habit of coming round to the house and frightening her. He was of abnormal sexual habits. He died in the hospital from the effects of drink. She was seventeen when she got married. It was not a love match. At the time of the marriage he had not properly recovered from a veneral disease, which she caught necessiating medical attention. . . Her father was Dr McChrystall who took morphia. He died at 50, found dead in his bed...an overdose of morphia. Her mother was addicted to drink. A cousin, Mrs Manson was committed to an asylum after the birth of a child. Another cousin, Donald Barclay became abnormal after getting a kick from a horse, and committed suicide. Another female cousin was eccentric and simple. In her own family witness had a daughter by Matthews who was in Seacliff Mental Hospital. A son Clarence Percival became abnormal after having scarlet fever at 16. He was sent to the asylum. Both the latter had been clever at school. Harold, the eldest boy, and and Eric and Clarence were subject to fits. She had a child who died when five months old which was malformed in the face. The doctor said it was an idiot and it was a good thing it died"

"...She remembered Reginald having a dog [which died]...soon after that he left home and she did not see him for two years...he was somewhat peculiar after coming out of goal..excitable and talked on subjects men don't usually discuss with their mothers...sex matters and girls...Her second husband was very strict with her boys - too much so, she thought. He was too ready to hit them on the head...there was nothing the matter with the children born of the second marriage. Matthews never treated her as a sane man would treat his wife...Reginald had been the kindest of boys...he complained of pains in his head...his head had been hurt in a railway accident having fallen from a train in America...Matthew Robertson, second officer of the Waipori...said Reginald was a good worker...Charles William Harvey, a Christchurch accountant said that as a youth of 12 he had often visited the Matthews home and found them without food. The father was reading the Bible while the family starved. Mrs Matthews had to seek the protection of the police many a time"

"Dr Arthur Crosbie, superintendant of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, examined by Mr Thomas said he considered Matthews to be insane, because he suffered from delusions...Matthews believed he was capable of reforming sexual and social conventions. ...He was thoroughly dissatisfied with the usual restraints in regard to intercourse between the two sexes, or as he called it, false prudery and mother grundyism...he advocated sterpiculture - race improvement on scientific lines...Matthews said that under the surface, the police had a set on him on account of his radical views and because he was opposed to the Government...[he advocated] licensed houses for intercourse...
Dr McKillop from Seacliff spoke about Ethel Bullman, who had been admitted there Jul 14 1911 and discharged in October. Readmitted June 1920 with "acute mania" He had just recently examined her again, there was no prospect of her recovery. Clarence had neen admitted Mar 1909 with "semi-stupor", he tried to shoot someone and to hang himself. He was dull, taciturn, confused.
Drs Gribben and Gray disputed that he was insane.
Matthews was noted as having a hesitancy in speech. He apperars to have have been in goal in America, and suspected of being a "IWW man" [Intl Workers of the World], and connected with "dope fiends"[cocaine]

On Friday 11 Feb, Thomas gave his closing address to the jury, firstly indicating that the evidence was circumstantial only - Matthews bullets had a small scratch, absent from the deceased's bullet. "This was a case which had aroused a great amount of prejudice against prisoner". It was show night in Timaru and consequently "that sort of crowd"; it had been a moonlight night, yet Knapp did not pick the accused. Matthews was a "runt of a man". If they did find him guilty, they must find him insane, "born of diseased parents"
"...a person burdened by hereditary strain was liable to bend under stress." The medical testimony was contradictory, it was up to the jury to decide, "the accused was a mental leper and as long as he was allowed at liberty would be a menace to the community" [note, this is the defence speaking!!!]

Sat Feb 12: Crown address to jury, in summing up, Mr Donnelly for the Crown said, "the whole case of insanity had been broken and discredited..", it was "a plain ordinary case of murder..." Judge summed up, clearly inferring a guilty but sane verdict, the judge noted that Matthews had had three seaman's discharges, all showing he was a good and capable seaman, on the Waipori he had been promoted from able seaman to leading seaman. The jury retired for an hour, guilty and sane, sentence imposed of death by hanging.

The Truth of 26 Feb 1921 reported that Mr Thomas had asked the Minister for Justice to have a further examination made into Matthews mental state, and a petition had been got up in Invercargill seeking a reprieve. Truth called for an abolition of the death penalty.

The Truth of 5 March reported a 1,000 plus public meeting in Christchurch which urged a further re-examination of his mental state; the reprieve petition was being circulated widely. Said Mr D G Sullivan MP "no sane man fighting for his life would laugh while his counsel was addressing the jury", Sullivan drew a harrowing picture of the mother.."Her life had been a tragedy..."

Truth of 12 March reported that the Governor General (Lord Jellicoe) had commuted the death sentence to imprisonment for life, after Cabinet had commissioned another examination, by Drs Hay and Hassall. Both saw him over 5 days at Paparua prison and judged him insane. The Minister of Justice, Mr E P Lee commented that in his opinion, "Matthews will go completely insane and die in comparatively a few years"

Notes (Marriage)

said to have been 13 children to Matthews, others died in infancy?

General Notes for Child Ethel Alice Matthews

at Seacliff hospital 14 July to 14 Oct 1911

General Notes for Child Harold Humphrey Matthews

from son Ray Matthews:

"electrical and waterworks engineer to Rangiora council from 1928 to 1958 when he retired to Christchurch. He commenced a mechanical apprenticeship with J Johnston and Sons Foundry 1900-06. As construction and erection engineer for the Southland Engineering Co. for four years, he spent much of his time in the back country of Southland, erecting and repairing sawmilling, dredging and quarrying plant. He was at the NZR workshops 1910-12.
In 1912 he joined the Invercargill Tramway and Electrical Dept as asst engineer in the power station prior to its commissioning. In 1920 he became station superintenent. For the Linton Coal Co. he prepared a scheme for electrification of their Ohai mine. When the station at Invercargill closed its generation equipment after hydro power became available in 1927, Harold worked in Dunedin for a short period before moving to Rangiora in 1928. During his 30 years with the Rangiora Borough Council, much work was accomplished on the borough's electrical reticulation. He was also in charge of the borough water supply after it was installed in 1931.
A fellow of the NZ Inst. Engineers, member Inst. of Mechanical Engineers, Ass. Inst. Electrical Engineers, member Royal Society, and some time member of the exec. Municipal Electrical Supply Authorities Assn.
Star Football club member (rugby) and past President and life member Rangiora Bowling Club.

from an unsourced newspaper obituary (George Onslow Browne's scrapbook):
"When Mr Harold Humphrey Matthews died recently in Christchurch, at the age of 84, many Southalnders lost a good friend.
He was born and educated in Invercargill and worked here for almost half his career as an engineer.
As first assistant engineer at the then Invercargill Power Station from 1920 to 1927, he installed the steam turbine that carried the load for all the reticulated area of Southland before the Monowai Power Station came into operation.
In 1908, at the age of 23, he was selected from a staff of 50 at the Southland Engineering Co to raise the sunken dredge Cardrona which he did in 6 weeks.
Mr Matthews was educated at South School from 1890 to 1897 continuing to take lessons from a private tutor after that while he attended Southland Technical College. He also completed a correspondence course in electrical engineering,
He became an apprentice at Johnston's Foundry in 1900 while still continuing his education and joined the Southland Engineering Co in 1906.
Becoming an electrical engineer in 1910, he joined the engineering branch of the Railways Dept fot 2 years. In 1920 he took up a post as first asst engineer at the Invercargill Power Station becoming station super. at 1927.
The following year he joined the Rangiora Borough Council as borough engineer and retired from that post in 1958.
Survived by his wife...and two children..."

Medical Notes for Child Harold Humphrey Matthews

at his home 39 Jennifer st, Bryndwr, Christchurch

General Notes for Child Guy Vernan Richard Matthews

treasurer

General Notes for Child Clarence Percevil Matthews

no fixed abode

"A son Clarence Percival became abnormal after having scarlet fever at 16. He was sent to the asylum" (Caroline's testimony at Reginald's trial 1921)

Medical Notes for Child Clarence Percevil Matthews

no record of death located (Ray Matthews, 1970's)

General Notes for Child Eric Rupert Matthews

civil servant

General Notes for Child Reginald Arthur Matthews

Husband Richard Malcolm Matthews

         Born: 2 Nov 1949 - Dunedin
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Humphrey Raymond Matthews (1920-      )
       Mother: Mabel Yvonne Lock (1921-      )

     Marriage: 2 Feb 1974 - Napier

Wife Kay Morris

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Children

1 M David Neville Matthews

         Born: Feb 1978 - Hamilton
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

social worker
William Ernest Matthews

Husband William Ernest Matthews

         Born: 1887
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 22 Jan 1888 - St Johns Cemetery, Waikiwi, with father (Block 7, Lot 7)

       Father: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
       Mother: Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal (1862-1942)

     Marriage: Never Married

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Monica McCrystal

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Monica McCrystal

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy
       Buried:

       Father: John McCrystal (alias) (1830-1873)
       Mother: Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay (1834-1918)

Onslow McCrystal

Husband Onslow McCrystal

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy
       Buried:

       Father: John McCrystal (alias) (1830-1873)
       Mother: Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay (1834-1918)

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

John McCrystal (alias) and Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay

Husband John McCrystal (alias)

          AKA: Humphrey Peters McCrystal, Humphrey Peters
         Born: 
   Christened: 24 Oct 1830 - Arundel, Sussex as Humphrey Peters
         Died: 23 Jul 1873 - Switzers (Waikaia), aged 50 (death cert.)
       Buried:  - Hospital Hill, Switzers

       Father: Henry Peters (1803-1879)
       Mother: Caroline Jupp (1805-1843)

     Marriage: 4 Oct 1860 - Registrar's Office (J Blacklock), Invercargill (no 8.)

Wife Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay

         Born: 1834? - Sutherland, Scotland
   Christened: 
         Died: Sat 1 Jun 1918 - Anne st, Gladstone, Invercargill
       Buried: Mon 3 Jun 1918 - Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, no 180, Block 8 - no stone

       Father: Roderick McKay (1803-      )
       Mother: Barbara Gunn (      -      )

 Other Spouse: George Lott Hunt (1826-      ) -  (Widowed)

Children

1 F Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal

         Born: 11 Aug 1862 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 3 Dec 1942 - Wellington
       Buried:  - Karori Cemetery

       Spouse: Richard John Matthews (1839-1901)
         Marr: 27 Sep 1880 - Oamaru, St Lukes Church of England

       Spouse: Richard Williamson Hall (1856-1932)
         Marr: 2 Oct 1901 - All Saints Church, Invercargill

2 F Frances Jupp (Martin) McCrystall

          AKA: Fanny
         Born: 29 Aug 1866 - Long Bush, Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 14 Nov 1952 - Manse st "Ramornie", Appleby, Invercargill
       Buried:  - Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill

       Spouse: John Browne (1840-1904)
         Marr: 1883 - Invercargill

3 M Arthur McCrystall

         Born: 14 Feb 1872 - Switzers
   Christened: 
         Died: 11 Jan 1954 - Invercargill
       Buried:  - Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, separate plot

       Spouse: Annie Stuart (1882-1944)
         Marr: 23 Sep 1903 - Waikaia (FIrst Presbyterian Church)

4 M Onslow McCrystal

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy
       Buried:

5 F Monica McCrystal

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: in infancy
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

He was an "old identity" in Southland

Marriage and death cert's point to his date of birth as 1823 or 1825, and Herries Beattie says he was 48 when he died suddenly.

General Medical Council, London found no trace of him - their register began 1858 (26-5-1977). Similarly the Medical Council of NZ whose register began 1868 (27-2-1976)

Debrett Ancestry Research engaged 1978-80 reference W/0945
http://www.debrettancestry.co.uk/

€110.84 = $200.02 ( 29/6/78)
€127.43 = $251.02 (15/5/79)
€73.00 = $148.02 (15/6/79)

=€311.27 ($599.06) spent
They issued their report in August 1980.

Family tradition had it that (from Tui Gratwicke Lundie-Robertson):
his mother was Lady Caroline Gratwicke Onslow, whose husband was John Peters, altho' not a titled man, was a 'gentleman'. She died at an early age, and John Peters remarried, the second wife taking all the money. Dr McCrystal had some sisters in England and there was a dispute over a will. [in fact this was the Gratwicke Trust cases of the 1860's, 1870's]

It is known that one of Caroline's children possessed the Onslow crest and it hung on their lounge wall.

Dr McCrystal was reputed to be a first cousin to Lord Onslow, once Governor of NZ.

Debretts in 1980 stated: ..."he was only 28 or 29 when he arrived in NZ, which is bound to raise doubts about his movements before that time. No trace has been found in the medical registers...and it seems unlikely that he would have had sufficient time to qualify as a surgeon and to spend some years in India by that age"

Debretts also dismiss the Earl of Onslow link, but cannot explain his brother's name Onslow Peters "which may perhaps keep speculation alive..."

He "walked" Guys Hospital in London (like an internship)

Surgeon with a Diploma on parchment from Trinity College, Dublin. Caroline (Carry) carried it in her handbag but lost the bag in the 1920s sometime.

Served as a Surgeon in the British Army during the Indian Mutiny. Supposed to have fought a duel there with an officer over a red-haired woman! He had been wounded in the chest either thru this event or another. This is probably why he came to New Zealand and assumed a new identity - duelling was illegal and a disgrace- he was a "remittance man" i.e. he received regular remittances or payments from England, but these stopped on his death. The chest wound and/or his probable contact with malaria would help to explain his addiction to morphine and other pain killers.

The late Tui Gratwicke Lundie-Robertson (one of his daughter Caroline's children by her second marriage to Hall) had an Indian silk shawl - originally ivory colour, faded to rose pink - which he apparently brought from India. Tui wrote in January 1978: "when he married Granma McCrystall she wore it, and my mother was christened in it, and various members of the family"

Arthur, his son had his pistol and is supposed to be in the Southland Museum.

The Southland News of Wed Aug 13 1873, p. 2 wrote:
"An old identity, Dr McCrystal - one of the earliest settlers in this part of the province - died at Switzers on the 23rd ult., aged 50 years. His living so long was a puzzle to those who knew that, for the last 15 years at least, he had been in the habit of taking laudanum or morphia - as circumstances rendered the supply of the one or the other most easily accessible - in quantities that would be considered fabulous if stated here. To this habit, his death, it seems was directly attributable - an overdose of morphia having accelerated the effect of heart disease, under which he was suffering. He enjoyed the reputation of being a skilful surgeon, and, when freefrom the enthralling influence of his favourite medicines, was a welcome guest in many social circles. It transpired at the inquest that his real name was Humphrey Peters, eldest son of Mr John Peters, whi is supposed to be residing at Effingham House, near Brighton, England. Mrs Peters, we learn, is left with three young children totally unprovided for"

Jane, his widow, is reputed to have jumped up and down on his grave at some stage, and cursed all his descendants!

The main published writing about Dr McCrystal appears in Fulton, pgs 112-117:
Fulton, Robert Valpy, 1865-1922.
Medical practice in Otago and Southland in the early days : a description of the manner of life, trials and difficulties of some of the pioneer doctors, of the places in which, and of the people among whom, they laboured / by Robert Valpy Fulton.
Variant Title: Medical practice in the early days.
Publisher: Wellington, N.Z. : Colonial Associates, 1982.
304 p., [48] p. of plates : ill., maps, ports. ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 0959758577 (hbk.) : $30.00, limited distribution (200 copies: 140 @ $30; 60 @$49.95)
Note: Cover title: Medical practice in the early days.
Facsimile reprint of ed. published Dunedin, N.Z. : Printed by the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers, 1922

This account is repeated (but not in its entirety) in
Records of early Riverton and district (compiler Mr J C Thomson)
Publisher: [Invercargill, N.Z.] : Times Printing Service, 1971.
144 p., [16] leaves of plates : ill., ports. ; 21 cm.
Note: Reprint of the 1937 ed. published by Southland Times

The same material from the Riverton book appeared in the Western Star newspaper (a biweekly Wallace County Gazette) of Fri 4 May 1934, material collected by J C Thomson. Newspaper is in the Riverton Museum. Also reprinted in the Southland Times of Wed Dec 9, 1925.

Much of what is below is sourced from photocopies of cuttings in George Onslow Browne's scrapbook.

Hall-Jones wrote in Invercargill Pioneers (Invercargill, 1946) p. 56: (note, his accuracy has been found to be badly wanting relating to other matters)
"in 1858, three doctors - Martin, McCrystal and Monckton - arrived in Invercargill. All took up bush sections in Dee st, a veritable "Harley street" of those days, and all were closely associated with Riverton, the principal and more populous centre of the 50's. McCrystal (1825-23.7.73) after serving in India during the Mutiny, came in 1858 to Riverton and Invercargill, where he purchased the present site of Empire Forwarding Co.....At the inquest [into his death] it appeared that his correct name was Humphrey Peters, eldest son of John Peters of Brighton. His health since his arrival in Southland has necessiated his taking fabulous quantities of medicine. His family comprised Arthur (Otatara), Onslow (died in infancy), Mrs Caroline Hall, and Mrs Fanny Brown"

The Southland News and Foveaux Straits Herald of Sat 13 July 1861 has his card inserted:
"J McCristol, surgeon and accoucheur", along with Dr Martin's card.

Harnett & Co Dunedin and Invercargill Directory of 1864 states:
"McCrystal, surgeon, Don st"

From the Southern Cross newspaper of Aug 29 1936 "The Days Gone By: Boyhood Memories of Early Invercargill" Series, part no 17: [no 1 appeared 18-4-1936]
"...one of these draper shops was occupied by Mrs McCrystal, widow of Southland's earliest medics who arrived at Riverton in 1857, later coming to Invercargill...a sequence of events is associated with the McCrystal family more sensational than mass works of fiction"

From the Southern Cross newspaper of Sat Oct 3 1936 "The Days Gone By: Boyhood Memories of Early Invercargill" Series, part no 22:
Dr Grigor...none has been more generally popular. During a period of nearly 50 years he was, by a large section of the people, affectionately known and referred to as "The Doctor"...Although Dr Grigor was early on the scene, he was not the first medical man to practise his profession in Invercargill. That distinction probably belongs to Dr McCrystal - at least so far as the province is concerned. In all likelihood Dr Monckton actually practised in Invercargill before him.

Having survived the turmoil of the Indian Mutiny as a surgeon in the British Army, Dr McCrystal arrived in Dunedin as ship's medical officer on a vessel in the late 50's and chance brought him into contact with a robust trader from the Jacobs River settlement, named J R MIlls. Mr Mills had landed at Dunedin from the south in his schooner, Eclair, about the same time as Dr McCrystal's arrival [The Otago Witness of Dec 19 1857 states "Dec 16, Eclair, 30 tons, Bryant from Port Cooper; Passengers Mr & Mrs Mills; Mr & Mrs Le Cren"], and it transpired that they not only were staying at the same hotel, but occupied adjoining rooms. Partitions in the early wooden hotels were not over sound proof and during the evening Mr Mills heard two men talking in the next bedroom. The conversation turned on the question of where one of them would begin his medical practice. Quickly the doughty trader from the south chipped in and, through the wall, advised him to give Riverton the benefit of his skill.

This, Dr McCrystal at length decided to do, and his advent in the Whaling Settlement was hailed with delight. The following year, 1859, a ship named the "Sydney Griffiths" introduced measles to Riverton, and this created the first major dilemma in the doctor's new career. The epidemic wrought sad havoc among the Maoris. Not knowing what was the matter, they rushed into the water to cool themselves, with the result that many died. At last, in desperation, Dr McCrystal caught the chief, and saved his life by locking him up in Capt Howell's house.

The next serious problem we hear of in connection with this first Southland surgeon was when the life of a sailor in the district was in grave danger through having had his foot severely burned. The doctor happened to be within call, but minus his instruments and other necessities, so acting on the axiom that "disease desperate grown, by desperate means must be cured, if at all", he had the sailor held in control by three men and successfully Removed the Leg with the rude implements at hand usually associated with a meat operator's block. Report has it that the man recovered and lived many years afterwards, which seems a high tribute alike to the skill of the surgeon and toughness of the Jack Tar. Dr Fulton, in his book 'Early medical days in Otago and Southland' states "some of the operations carried out by Dr McCrystal are of a particularly interesting nature" and these are referred to in detail in Dr Fulton's work. Dr McCrystal must have possessed considerable skill and resource and his service and advice were eagerly sought throughout the province.

He afterwards moved to Invercargill, and Dr Monckton took up the practice in Riverton. Several of Dr McCrystal's descendants occupy prominent positions in different parts of this dominion and in other places beyond it His name will ever be associated with the stirring infant days of Southland.

An unsourced photocopy relates: "On still another occasion Owen narrowly escaped death in a different form. He was a frequent caller at Paulin's accommodation house. At one end of the large tap room was a Maori fireplace filling one end of the apartment, and wide enough for bunks at the back and each side. Owen, looking on the wine when it was red, fell asleep near the big log fire, and when he was found, parts of one leg were severely burned. He was in a terrible state, in fact, and a horseman rode poste haste to Invercargill for a medical man. He found there Dr McCrystal, who had just arrived from India, where he had seen service in the Mutiny as a surgeon and had been wounded in the chest. He came out and using one of Owen's own saws, amputated the injured leg, making,a s it proved, a first class job of the operation. Owen made a good recovery and was soon out and about again on a cork or wooden leg of his own making"

another unknown source: "Dr John McCrystal died at Switzers in 1873. He had served in India...and in 1858..came to Riverton and Invercargill... [Mrs Jane Hunt] lived for many years in a cottage on the site of H & J Smith's tea rooms..."

When he died his remittance money stopped coming from England. When he was living in Switzers, he rec'd papers from home, but he accidentallylit his pipe with these papers. Jane was understandably furious.

His wife's death notice (1918) says "relic of Humphrey Peters McCrystal"

Both Fanny and Arthur have the double l spelling: McCrystall

From Invercargill Pioneers by F J Hall-Jones, 1946, p. 29-30, a sometimes erroneous account of the Hunts and McKays:

"George Hunt
George Henry Hunt came with his brother Frederick (went to Pitts island, Chathams and another brother Charles is stated to have discovered the Thames goldfield) to Lyttelton in 1851, and there married 19 May 1852 Jane McKay, who had come out from Sunderlandshire with her parents on the Cressy. Hunt lived at Rangiora for a while, and in the middle of 1856 drove a mob of cattle south to the Maroroa run for his wife's brothers John Clark and Donald. In Sept 1856 he was J T Thomson's guide from the Mataura to Invercargill, and was employed on the survey of the harbour. Mrs Hunt's father, Roderick, came south and settled at Wallacetown, taking over the property vacated by John Mitchell of New River Ferry. Of Roderick's family, J C McKay was a prominent runholder, versifier, member of the Provincial Council and owner of the hotel site at the cnr of Tay and Deveron sts; Donald was embroiled in litigation concerning his mental capacity; Barbara married Thomas Barclay, who came down with their four children to Longbush in Dec 1856; Anne married one Coutts, a flourmiller) The Hunts settled with their two children in Invercargill at the end of 1856 and their son Henry was one of the first children born in the town. Their home was on the site of H & J Smith's tearooms and at the rear towards Esk st was their sawpit, the first in Invercargill. Hunt also acquired a boat and engaged in lightering. He lost his life at New River Heads 7 Dec 1858 when taking the Wilson-Grieve wedding party across to Ruapuke.
He had taken up his sawpit section in Esk st in the name of his infant son George Henry, but was unable to secure a title to his Tay st section. This was taken up by W H Calder at the first sale of sections and was conveyed by him in 1859 to Hunt's daughter Jane. This was arranged by Hunt's brothers who had the property registered in the daughter's name not the widows as it would automatically pass to the latter's husband if she remarried. It was here that Alexander McNab's sister died. When she came of age, Jane Hunt transferred the section to her mother, then Jane Peters, widow, who sold it in 1879 to Price and Bulleid for €2000. In the latter year a section of Hunt's at Wallacetown (J P McGearty's) was also conveyed by his eldest son (as heir) to Jane Peters, and the Est st section was later sold by Henry Hunt to Peter M Peters, draper.
In Oct 1860 Mrs Hunt married Dr John McCrystal, and for some reason, William Stuart was appointed by the Court in 1864 as the legal guardian of her four children. On the doctor's death, she married Peters, and her fourth and last helpmate was Charles W Reid, a letter carrier. Of Hunt's first family, George McKay Hunt was a coachdriver for 27 years and a storeman at both Switzers and Invercargill; he died about 1900, leaving a family of 5 or 6. Jane Scobie Hunt remained single and John Hugh Hunt became a carpenter. George Henry Hunt was educated in Invercargill, worked on country stations and took up sawmilling., He married 9 Oct 1879 Frances Elizabeth, a daughter of John Henry Dawson, of Seaward Bush and grand daughter of William Dawson who was town engineer of Invercargill for 20 years. They left in the eighties for the North Island and celebrated their diamond wedding in 1939. Hunt could remember Puetellkow's boat being hauled down Tay st by a team of bullocks, also the opening of the Makarewa railway, when his brother George had to walk home in the rain.
By her marriage to Dr McCrystal, Hunt's widow had a second family - Caroline (married Richard Williamson Hall, solicitor), Fanny (married John Brown, valuer), Arthur (Invercargill and Otatara) and Onslow (died in infancy).

Research Notes (Husband)

General Medical Council, London may have a record of the Dr

Trinity College, Dublin advised, 21 Jan 1976, that they could find no record of him under either name

Medical Notes (Husband)

Burial at Hospital Hill: fire destroyed all crosses / records

Death cert shows his age as 50

Have copy of Inquest from National Archives, here transcribed, ref J1 1873/2187

"Inquisition soliciting the death of Dr McCrystal of Switzers on the Sat 26th day July 1873
Before John Francis Herbert acting in the absence of any other Coroner of Her Majesty the Queen for the said colony upon view of the body of John McCrystall M.D. then and there lying dead, and upon the oaths of William Williams, J. H. Davidson, H Hawson, W Davidson, J Lennie, G Skene, H Thomas, W Middleton, R Allen, D Matheson, D McRea, F Hutchinson

William Williams, Foreman

say upon oath that "his death was caused by disease of the heart and accelerated by congestion of the membranes of the brain, caused by an overdose of morphia, administered by the deceased himself"

Mary Smith of Switzers, on the nth said as follows: I am a servant in the employ of Mr Duncan Matheson of the 'Old Man Hotel' Switzers.
I remember Tuesday last the 22nd instant, I saw the deceased alive in Duncan Mathesons on that evening, he procured a bed there on that night...I went into the bedroom of the deceased on the following day at about 1o'clock and thought he was asleep. I did not speak or call to him but closed the door again. I told James Handyside who is in the employ of Duncan Matheson that he was asllep, he asked me "if the deceased was awake to have some dinner", I told him he was asleep, he said it was "allright".
I went into the deceased's room again at about 4 o'clock and saw that the deceased was lying in the same position that he was lying in before. I then called James Handyside to awaken him.I was under the impression that the deceased was asleep all the time. Handyside came to me when I called and saw him go to the deceased's bed, take hold of his hand, shake him and then he said he was dead. I left the room then.
The deceased seemed to be quite sober at the time he went to bed, I did not see the Dr take any morphia that evening, he did not complain to me of being unwell. The deceased went to bed a little before six o'clock that evening.

Thomas Kennedy Douglas, duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Tapanui, I have seen the body of the late Dr McCrystall this afternoon, I made a postmortem examination and opened the body of the deceased and examined the organs of the chest. The lungs were healthy, the heart was very much diseased in the exterior surface, it was, what you may term a infarct heart[?], the organs in the abdoman were healthy but the liver was slightly enlarged. The substance of the brain was healthy but the membranes were very much congested being full of blood., the extreme point of the nails and extremities of the fingers were very much congested. The pupils of the eyes were natural. I did not examine the bladder as the kidneys were healthy.
I think that death was caused from morphia acting upon a very ? heart and think that morphia would cause congestion of the brain. I have seen the contents of the bottle that was found in the deceased's room and find it was ? of morphia. I found no external marks on the body.

This deponent James Handyside, on the nth said as follows, I am in the employ of Duncan Matheson of the 'Old man Hotel' Switzers. I remember Tuesday the 22nd July last, I saw the deceased alive on that evening, he asked for a bed at about 5pm. I told him he could have one, he went to bed at about 6 o'clock. I saw him in his bedroom about a half seven and stayed with him about an hour. I was in his room again, about 9 o'clock and remained with him about half an hour. I was with him again about 10.15 and stopped about 5 or 10 minutes. That was the last time I saw him alive. I went in to take the candle away that he had, the deceased said "jimmie you must not take the candle away, but must bring me a whole one. I procured a candle and cut it in two halves, and brought it in, then he got into a temper and said "Why did you not get me a whole one?". I left the whole candle and took the half one away, rolled up the curtains and went to bed. At the time I left him the last time, the deceased was perfectly sober having had only one nobbler during the evening, or just after he went to bed. He complained to me of feeling unwell and said he had a pain across the lower part of his stomach.
I did not see him again until the Wed evening next, on that occasion Mary Smith came to me and asked me to go to tell the deceased to get up "as she wanted to make the beds", I did so, went to the deceased's room and asked him if he was going to sleep all day. I received no answer. I then went and took hold of his arm and found he was dead. I felt his chest and found no pulsation of the heart. I said to Mary Smith after that, that the Dr was dead, and saw the chemist, and told him the Dr was dead. He looked at him and felt his pulse, and said in his opinion he was dead. I never saw the deceased that evening take any morphia, he said he could not sleep without a candle, that was the reason he required one. I saw a bottle the one produced, it was standing by the side of him on a table. I do not know if there was any morphia in the bottle. A boy* was sleeping in the same room with him that night, the boy left the house about 8am, he said nothing about the Dr at all.

* it was James Busbridge, who recounts in
Beattie, H. (Herries), 1881-1972. : Pioneer recollections. Fourth series, Mainly of the Gore district / collected by H. Beattie. Publisher: [Gore, N.Z.] : Gore Publishing Co., 1956. 60 p. ; 21 cm. "Reprinted from a series of articles in the "Mataura Ensign" in the years 1947-1948." (page 22):

"we put up with Duncan Matheson, who had a combined store and hotel. I slept in a room with two bunks, one of which was occupied by Dr McCrystal. In the night I heard a gurgle but thought it was a snore. I was up at daybreak and thought the doctor looked to be in an awkward position but thought no more about it until I heard he was dead. The man who told me jokingly said I had killed my room-mate but I did not have to attend the inquest. They opened him and found nothing in him but a bit of dry toast; an overdose of morphia had kiled him" (Dr McCrystal died suddenly on July 23 1873, aged 48 - H. B.)

*********** ******************

Note that in both court documents below, Jane, his widow, his referred to as "Jane Peters of Invercargill"

Supreme Court, Otago & Southland District

In the goods of Humphrey Peters calling himself John McCrystal late of Switzers, Otago, Surgeon, deceased, Affidavit by Mrs Peters of the death of her husband and value of his property, 5 Dec 1873
F Wade, Solicitor, Invercargill, agent for Messrs Nott Gooday, Solicitor Lawrence & Switzers

I Jane Peters of Invercargill, widow, say...
1. I first became acquainted with the deceased Humphrey Peters about 15 years ago [i.e. 1858] at Invercargill where he was then practising as a Surgeon under thye name of John McCrystal and he married me Jane Peters in the name of John McCrystal on or about the 4th October 1860. There have been three children of our marriage vide-licet [i.e. namely] Caroline Elizabeth Peters, Fanny Jupp Martin Peters and Arthur Peters who are all now living and are under the age of 21
2. I was married to my said husband in the Office of the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages at Invercargill by license
3. My said husband was as he informed me a native of Sussex in England and came to this colony before we were married
4. Previously to and at the time of my marriage I knew my said husband by the name of John McCrystal and did not know him by any other name and had no reason to suspect that his true and correct name was not John McCrystal until some time after our marriage when he informed me that his name was Humphrey Peters.
5. The said Humphrey Peters alias John McCrystal died at Switzers in the province of Otago on 23 July 1873 intestate [i.e. not having made a will]
6. I say that I have made diligent search amongst the papers of my said husband but have not found any will or testamentary papers whatsoever
7. That as far as I am able to ascertain my said husband was not possessed of or entitled to any real estate whatever.
8. The personal estate which my said husband died possessed of or entitled to consisted of a sum of €500 which was in course of being remitted to him from England and of other personal estate in New Zealand. The total amount of all the said personal estate is as I verily believe under the under the value of €600.

Sworn at Invercargill 5 Dec 1873 before me Richard Matthews(?) , Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NZ, signed Jane Peters

~ Probate granted 27 Jan 1874 to Jane Peters

Administration Bond, Supreme Court, Otago & Southland District, signed 19 Feb 1874, Edward Cook, Solicitor, Dunedin (by seal); Wade Solicitor by signatures
transcribed and summarised:

...we Jane Peters, widow, Edwin Duke Cooper of Invercargill, and George Bailey, butcher(?) of Invercargill, Chemist and Druggist are held...and heirs executors and firmly bound unto Edward Ffrancis Ward, Registrar... in the sum of €1,200
Whereas by Order of this Court of the 27th January 1874, it is ordered that Letters of Administration of the personal estate effects and credits of Humphrey Peters calling himself John McCrystal late of Switzers, ...Otago...surgeon deceased be granted to the said Jane Peters widow...on her giving security for the due administration thereof and whereas the said...hath swore...the said personal estate...are under the value of €600. Now the condition of the above written bond is that if the above boundee Jane Peters shall exhibit unto this court...an inventory of all the personal estate of the deceased...by 27th April, and shall administer it on or before 23rd July, then this bond shall be void and of none effect.

General Notes (Wife)

she was "addicted to the bottle" - Tui Lundie-Robertson. No wonder perhaps, after all, her first husband drowned at around age 30, leaving her to cope with four young children. Her second marriage ended 13 years later, leaving her again with three young children (two had died in infancy), and unprovided for.

and no wonder she reputedly jumped on Dr McCrystal's grave and cursed him, especially as she was aware of an inheritance which had only started to arrive (the €500 bank draft) or had been at his fingertips.

Tui also says she apparently wasn't good with money - no "business head".

heard on Radio Southland's pioneer diary 2 April 1976 (Station 4ZA):
"Mr and Mrs McKay & daughter Jane came out in the late 1840's to Lyttelton on the ship Cressy and were the first settlers in Wallacetown.
A brother J C McKay had a run in Te Anau. George Henry Hunt was drowned coming from Ruapuke island. His widow was given a large property where Smith and Calder McKays stands today. If she remarried it was to revert to her daughter Jean. She did remarry to Dr McCrystal who practiced medicine and surgery in Riverton and Invercargill, before moving to Switzers in 1869. There he died in July 1873"

"Sawpit section 1856-57 in Esk st by present site of H & J Smiths tearooms - title to George Henry Hunt. Front Tay st section taken up by W H Calder at first sale of sections and conveyed to Jane Hunt in 1859, who transferred it to her mother Jane, who sold it to Price and Bulleid in 1879 for €2000. In the latter year a section of Hunts at Wallacetown (J P McGeartys) was also conveyed by his eldest son as heir to Jane Peters and the Est st section was later sold by H Hunt to Peter M Peters, draper"
(source?)

Medical Notes (Wife)

Copy death cert.

Notes (Marriage)

copy marriage cert. states he was 35, Jane 26

General Notes for Child Caroline Elizabeth McCrystal

General Notes for Child Frances Jupp (Martin) McCrystall

George Browne's bible says born 23 Aug 1865, and obituary says born Switzers, 1865

1874, Waihopai Park School (1st yr pupil)

Vera remembers visiting "Ramornie" in Manse st - very homely with a lovely garden

Southland Times Obituary, Tuesday, undated (G O Browne's scrapbook):
"Mrs Franes Browne, who died recently at her home in Manse street was born at Switzers (now Waikaia) in 1865. She was the daughter of the late Dr John McCrystal formerly of the Indian Army, and Mrs Jane McCrystal. Her father, who was the pioneer surgeon in Murihiku came to Riverton in 1858 and was in practice at Invercargill in the early sixties and later at Switzers, where he died in 1873.
Frances was 8 years old when her father died. As a young woman she came to Invercargill. In 1883 she was married to Mr John Browne, who in the fifties had taken up land in the Forest Hill district, besides a block near Mabel Bush known as "Druids Grove". Mr Browne died in 1904.
Mrs Browne was of a retiring disposition, and her hobby for many years was her flowers and garden, for which her pleasantly secluded home was ideally suited. She was also a diligent reader, and had a keen memory of people and events of the earlier days of Invercargill.
...survived by one brother Arthur..., and five sons and three daughters...Frederick (Melbourne), Charles (Ngahere), George, Arthur, Thomas (Invercargill), Miss Annis Browne (Invercargill), Mrs W Miller (Kaihiku) and Mrs E A Grant of Clyde."

Medical Notes for Child Frances Jupp (Martin) McCrystall

private funeral in the garden of Ramornie, Manse st

General Notes for Child Arthur McCrystall

Sid Hall recalled how his mother made Arthur go out to work when he was just 9 years old

Copy birth cert. but celebrated his birthday on the 18th

On his son's George's birth cert. his name as the father, is Arthur Onzlo - however, the birth was registered by Marion Emma Robson, Annie's mother, who was then aged 52. The mother is recorded as "Aimie McCrystall, formerly Robson"

Engineer by trade

Dredge Engine Driver, Waikaia, 1909

Southland Daily News article "The Bushman's heart was stirred to poetry" 24 Nov 1951 by F W G Miller

latter life at 113 Lorne st, Invercargill (son George bought this home for him)

Arthur and Annie were the first couple to be married in the First Presbyterian Church, Waikaia (23 Sept 1903). Their house was just by the present fire station which was the old courthouse.
About 1916, they moved from Waikaia to Adams Flat, Milton. Les was born there.
1917 to Woodend, Invercargill, then Granity. In 1921 to 1922 to Riverton (the old boiler house), then moved to Te Tua, Tuatapere for a few months.
In 1923 they moved to Stewart Island, first living at Hicks Road, then to a second house in the same road - this house burnt down. The first house belonged to Hamilton, the second to Bob Hicks.
Thirs house was Hicks cottage at Halfmoon Bay, near Ferndale Lodge. The next house was at Kaipipi - a sawmill house, next a wee cottage on Kaipipi road, then to a house adjacent Halfmoon Bay cemetery. Seventh house between tennis court and Halfmoon Bay., then to Horseshoe Bay, rented from the Robertsons.
In 1933 on 25 May, at the height of the Great Depression, to Clyde st Invercargill, “an awful dump”, then a better place at Ettrick st, then Otatara in 1937 a wee house on a hill. Arthur's latter years at 113 Lorne st.
Vera worked at the Rosedale woollen mills with Dot, then nursed at Seacliff. Met Norman at Otatara, and moved to Melbourne st. To Dipton in 1943 in a railway cottage, and in 1945 to Josephville - a railway house. In 1946 to an old motor camp caravan in Invercargill, and from 7 July 1948, 110 Isabella street, Invercargill (state house rental)
Antony McCrystall

Husband Antony McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Terence Raymond McCrystall (1936-      )
       Mother: Lyn McNabb (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Arthur McCrystall and Annie Stuart

Husband Arthur McCrystall

         Born: 14 Feb 1872 - Switzers
   Christened: 
         Died: 11 Jan 1954 - Invercargill
       Buried:  - Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, separate plot

       Father: John McCrystal (alias) (1830-1873)
       Mother: Jane Scobie McKay or Mackay (1834-1918)

     Marriage: 23 Sep 1903 - Waikaia (FIrst Presbyterian Church)

Wife Annie Stuart

         Born: 13 Sep 1882 - Lawrence
   Christened: 
         Died: 16 Apr 1944 - Invercargill
       Buried:  - Invercargill

       Father: Donald Bethune Stuart (1845-      ) ¹ ²
       Mother: Maryann Emma Dapp (      -      )

Children

1 M Onslow Harold McCrystall

         Born: 18 Jun 1904 - Waikaia
   Christened: 
         Died: 4 Feb 1991 - Wairua Hospital
       Buried:

       Spouse: Grace Lilian Phillips (      -      )
         Marr: 19 Jul 1926 - Registrar, Invercargill

2 M William Arthur McCrystall

          AKA: Bill, Shortie
         Born: 16 Aug 1905 - Waikaia
   Christened: 
         Died: 5 Jun 1942 - Kew Hospital, Invercargill
       Buried:  - Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, with mother

       Spouse: Never Married

3 M George Frederick McCrystall

         Born: 22 Jan 1909 - Waikaia
   Christened: 
         Died: 15 Jun 1976 - 444 Jackson st, Petone (home of Dulcie Kerr)
       Buried:  - Karori Cemetery (Cremated), ashes buried at sea

       Spouse: Ada Light Crowe (      -      )
         Marr: 5 Feb 1945 - Registrar, Wellington

4 M Leslie Charles McCrystall

          AKA: Les
         Born: 25 Jul 1916 - Milton, Otago
   Christened: 
         Died: May 1941 - killed in Crete, World War Two
       Buried:  - Common grave, Crete, identity disc found

       Spouse: Never Married

5 F Vera Marion McCrystall

         Born: 17 Oct 1917 - Invercargill
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Norman Tuffery (1916-1992)
         Marr: 30 Mar 1940 - St Johns Anglican Church, Invercargill, Archdeacon J A Lush

6 F Dorothy Margaret McCrystall

          AKA: Dot
         Born: 17 Nov 1921 - Riverton
   Christened: 
         Died: Dec 1999? - Woodville
       Buried: 
       Status: Twin

       Spouse: Bob Campbell (      -      )
         Marr: 26 Jan 1950 - Registrar, Palmerston North

7 F Irene Annie McCrystall

          AKA: Rennie
         Born: 17 Nov 1921 - Riverton
   Christened: 
         Died: 19 Jan 1990 - Kew Hospital, Invercargill
       Buried: 
       Status: Twin

       Spouse: Frank Wilfred Aicken (      -      )
         Marr: 11 Nov 1940 - Invercargill

8 M Lance Maurice McCrystall

         Born: 12 Aug 1923 - Riverton
   Christened: 
         Died: 15 Sept 1994? - Invercargill
       Buried:

       Spouse: Rose Booth (      -      )
         Marr: 5 Jan 1949 - Bascilla, Invercargill

General Notes (Husband)

General Notes for Child Onslow Harold McCrystall

Old Coach Rd, Havelock, 1991

General Notes for Child George Frederick McCrystall

step dgter Joan Blick, Stratford (Ada's first marriage)

Able seaman, capt in merchant navy (qualified 1950), and served merchant navy in WWII

Had Cert. of Proficiency; Restricted Radio-Telephone Operator's Cert.

Dulcie Kerr and George intended to marry

General Notes for Child Leslie Charles McCrystall

Private 15816, 20 battalion, 2NZEF, presumed killed 29 May 1941

Medical Notes for Child Leslie Charles McCrystall

"L C McCrystall" appears on face 13 of the Athens Memorial

His entry, page 77 of the book below: "McCrystall, Pte. Leslie Charles, 15816. NZ Infantry. 29 May 1941. Age 24. Son of Arthur and Annie McCrystall, Invercargill, Southland, NZ Face 13"

Below from: The war dead of the British Commonwealth and Empire: the register of the names of those who fell in the 1939-1945 war and have no known grave: The Athens Memorial Part II (Lac-Zuh) / London: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 1960:

The Athens Memorial commemorates 2,888 members of the land forces of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 and 1944-45, in the Dodecanese Islands in 1943-45 and in Yugoslavia 1943-45, and have no known grave. Their numbers (army) are made up as follows:
UK: 2,018
Australian: 331
NZ: 481
South African: 2
Indian: 56

The Athens Memorial stands in Phaleron War Cemetery which lies a few kilometres to the South-East of Athens, at the boundary between old Phaleron district and Kalamaki district. It is on the coast road from Athens to Vouliaghmen, 5 kilometres west of the international airport. It is on the western slope of a hill facing the Gulf of Saronika. Looking towards the sea, the town of Old Phaleron is on the right and across the Bay of Phaleron is the Piraeus Peninsula forming the southern arm of the ancient port of Athens; to the left is the open sea separated from the cemetery by the coast road, well laid out series of double tracks and avenues of oleander trees.
The memorial is built of Pentelicon marble, similar to that used in the Parthen..? A rectangular shelter or tempietto leads through square-headed openings on to an open paved terrace from which rise eight large pillars, four on each side, bearing the names of those commemorated. Along the centre, between the pillars, are flower beds and at the far end a short flight of steps leads up to the Stone of Remembrance. The terrace is bounded on each side by low walls of Glyfada stone and three seats stand on pebbled pavings.

General Notes for Child Vera Marion McCrystall

Arthur and Annie were the first couple to be married in the First Presbyterian Church, Waikaia (23 Sept 1903). Their house was just by the present fire station which was the old courthouse.
About 1916, they moved from Waikaia to Adams Flat, Milton. Les was born there.
1917 to Woodend, Invercargill, then Granity. In 1921 to 1922 to Riverton (the old boiler house), then moved to Te Tua, Tuatapere for a few months.
In 1923 they moved to Stewart Island, first living at Hicks Road, then to a second house in the same road - this house burnt down. The first house belonged to Hamilton, the second to Bob Hicks.
Thirs house was Hicks cottage at Halfmoon Bay, near Ferndale Lodge. The next house was at Kaipipi - a sawmill house, next a wee cottage on Kaipipi road, then to a house adjacent Halfmoon Bay cemetery. Seventh house between tennis court and Halfmoon Bay., then to Horseshoe Bay, rented from the Robertsons.
In 1933 on 25 May, at the height of the Great Depression, to Clyde st Invercargill, “an awful dump”, then a better place at Ettrick st, then Otatara in 1937 a wee house on a hill. Arthur's latter years at 113 Lorne st.
Vera worked at the Rosedale woollen mills with Dot, then nursed at Seacliff. Met Norman at Otatara, and moved to Melbourne st. To Dipton in 1943 in a railway cottage, and in 1945 to Josephville - a railway house. In 1946 to an old motor camp caravan in Invercargill, and from 7 July 1948, 110 Isabella street, Invercargill (state house rental)
Arthur James McCrystall and Ivy McLean

Husband Arthur James McCrystall

          AKA: Bunty
         Born: 12 Aug 1929 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Onslow Harold McCrystall (1904-1991)
       Mother: Grace Lilian Phillips (      -      )

     Marriage: Mar 1950

Wife Ivy McLean

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Donna McCrystall

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Donna McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Lance Maurice McCrystall (1923-1994)
       Mother: Rose Booth (      -      )

Jason McCrystall

Husband Jason McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Onslow Harold McCrystall (1927-      )
       Mother: Agnes Ramsay (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Neil Rich and Joan Elizabeth McCrystall

Husband Neil Rich

          AKA: Tub
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Joan Elizabeth McCrystall

         Born: 23 Sep 1944 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Onslow Harold McCrystall (1904-1991)
       Mother: Grace Lilian Phillips (      -      )

Children

1 M Brendan Rich

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

2 F Janine Rich

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

3 F Carolyn Rich

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Julieanne McCrystall

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Julieanne McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Terence Raymond McCrystall (1936-      )
       Mother: Lyn McNabb (      -      )

Leslie McCrystall

Husband Leslie McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Lance Maurice McCrystall (1923-1994)
       Mother: Rose Booth (      -      )

     Marriage:

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Leslie Charles McCrystall

Husband Leslie Charles McCrystall

          AKA: Les
         Born: 25 Jul 1916 - Milton, Otago
   Christened: 
         Died: May 1941 - killed in Crete, World War Two
       Buried:  - Common grave, Crete, identity disc found

       Father: Arthur McCrystall (1872-1954)
       Mother: Annie Stuart (1882-1944)

     Marriage: Never Married

Wife

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

General Notes (Husband)

Private 15816, 20 battalion, 2NZEF, presumed killed 29 May 1941

Medical Notes (Husband)

Husband Norman Morton

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Ngaire McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Lance Maurice McCrystall (1923-1994)
       Mother: Rose Booth (      -      )

Children

1 M Lyall Morton

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

2 M Jared Morton

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

3 M Michelle Morton

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Onslow Harold McCrystall and Agnes Ramsay

Husband Onslow Harold McCrystall

          AKA: Harold
         Born: 2 Jul 1927 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Onslow Harold McCrystall (1904-1991)
       Mother: Grace Lilian Phillips (      -      )

     Marriage: 1945

Wife Agnes Ramsay

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Children

1 M Jason McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
       Status: Adopted

2 F Sharyn McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
       Status: Adopted

Onslow Harold McCrystall and Grace Lilian Phillips

Husband Onslow Harold McCrystall

         Born: 18 Jun 1904 - Waikaia
   Christened: 
         Died: 4 Feb 1991 - Wairua Hospital
       Buried:

       Father: Arthur McCrystall (1872-1954)
       Mother: Annie Stuart (1882-1944)

     Marriage: 19 Jul 1926 - Registrar, Invercargill

Wife Grace Lilian Phillips

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

Children

1 M Onslow Harold McCrystall

          AKA: Harold
         Born: 2 Jul 1927 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Agnes Ramsay (      -      )
         Marr: 1945

2 M Arthur James McCrystall

          AKA: Bunty
         Born: 12 Aug 1929 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Ivy McLean (      -      )
         Marr: Mar 1950

3 M Terence Raymond McCrystall

          AKA: Terry
         Born: 23 Oct 1936 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Lyn McNabb (      -      )
         Marr: 1962. (Separated)

4 F Joan Elizabeth McCrystall

         Born: 23 Sep 1944 - Bluff
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Spouse: Neil Rich (      -      )

General Notes (Husband)

Old Coach Rd, Havelock, 1991
Sally McCrystall

Husband

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

     Marriage:

Wife Sally McCrystall

         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried:

       Father: Graeme McCrystall (      -      )
       Mother: Pauline Hunt (      -      )

Sources

1 Eileen MacKay.

2 (Has a scrapbook of births, deaths, etc).

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