Fred Major was run over by a railway engine at the age of 71. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and immigrated to New Zealand with his father, who was born in Ireland.
Annie (Annette Ghezzi), his wife, was born at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa and immigrated to New Zealand with her parents who met and married at Cape Town. Her father, Luigi Ghezzi, left Italy during the revolution of 1848. Because of his involvment in the revolution he became a wanted man with a price on his head. Later he was granted a full pardon and he and some of the men he fought with were hailed as hero's. Her mother, Mary Ann Laurie Curtain, was from Limerick, Ireland.
Ethel, the daughter of Fred and Annie, never married. She died of colon cancer and exhaustion at age 37. Another daughter died in the 1918 flu pandemic.
I think the history behind this SINGLE tombstone shows the interesting facts that New Zealand related genealogy research can uncover.
(Heartfelt thanks to the 'Random Acts of Genalogical Kindness' volunteer (Annemarie) who went to Karori Cemetery, Wellington and took this picture for me.)
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What an interesting blog, introduced by a thought-provoking photo. The unusual wall painting of the dwellings is also a strangely modern interpretation. Something like this hieroglyphic view of a park by Swiss painter Paul Klee, http://EN.WahooArt.com/A55A04/w.nsf/OPRA/BRUE-8LT475.
ReplyDeleteThe image can be seen at wahooart.com who can supply you with a canvas print of it.