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Abraham Frederick (Fred) &
Matilda Billman
ABRAHAM (FRED)
BILLMAN son of
George and Harriet Billman was born
Abt. 1848 in Manchester, England Known as Fred, he came to New Zealand in 1857 with his family. His
father George Valentine Billman was a Wellington Cab driver.
His occ: builder of Island
Bay; he died 12 Mar 1918 in Wellington Hospital aged 69 yrs. and was bur: 14 Mar 1918 Karori
Cem. Ages and sex of living issue - male -
46, 44; Female 45, 40, 38, 29 His usual residence at
the time - 38 Tiber St, Island
Bay
He mar: 10 Dec 1870 in Wellington (1)
MATILDA PRINCE
(b; 1848 in Larkhall Lane to parents William
Prince (1817-1888) and mother Matilda Worsley (1823-1867)in Lambeth, LND,
ENG, and d: 25 Aug 1908 in Cuba St. Wellington.)
1891 Evening Post, 14 Oct: The scholars
and teaching staff of Wesley Church Sunday-school are exceedingly proud of
their music master (Mr. F. Billman), and last night, on the occasion of
the school's Jubilee celebration, he was made the recipient of a
beautifully illuminated and framed address, and a purse containing twenty
guineas. The presentation was made during an interval of the concert by
Mr. Geo. Tiller. ex-Superintendent of the school, who observed that it was
given not as mere compensation, but was a slight token of gratitude and
approbation of Mr. Billman's excellent services, and a memento of the
Jubilee. The address was worded as follows "We, the officers, teachers,
and scholars of the Wesley Church Sunday School, desire on this the
occasion of our Jubilee to express our deep gratitude for and appreciation
of your self-sacrificing labours as conductor of the services of song in
our Sunday School, and in connection with the many public gatherings held
in the interests of the institution. Tho enthusiasm and patience which you
have invariably manifested in your work have at all times excited our
admiration, and we earnestly pray that you may be long spared to carry on
your labour of love amongst us. As a small token of esteem we ask you to
accept this address, together with the accompanying gift, and we wish you
and yours much of God's blessing in tho future, Signed, G. B. Clark,
Superintendent, and W. E. Chisholm, Secretary."
Mr. Billman, in a few appropriate
words, expressed his deep sense of the compliment, and returned to his
post amidst loud applause. The illuminating work upon the address was the
handiwork of Mr. W. E. Chisholm, Secretary of the Sunday School. The
concert given in St. Mark's Parochial Room last evening was fairly well
attended, and an excellent programme was presented.
1900 Evening Post, 16 Oct: TO
LET, at Seatoun, five-roomed Cottage, furnished and well found; also,
Whare, with four bunks, well suited for camping parties; terms reasonable
to good tenants. Apply F. Billman, 156, Cuba-street.
1908 DEATH: Evening Post, 26 August:
BILLMAN - On the 25th August, 1908, at her
residence, 267, Upper Cuba-street, after a lingering and painful illness,
Matilda Billman, dearly beloved wife of Abram (Fred) Billman, in her 60th
year; deeply mourned
After Matilda's death in 1908, Abram now 66 went back to
England. Mr. F. Billman, who leaves this week for the
Old Country, was last evening presented with a handsome travelling Rug
from the officers and teachers of Wesley Sunday School, Taranaki Street.
Mr, L. Brabin, the secretary, made the presentation, and spoke
appreciatively of the long services rendered by Mr. Billman. Mr. G. Tiller
and Mr. Hatch also made a speech, and wished Mr. Billman, God-speed. Mr,
Billman responded
1911 Evening Post, 22 Feb: News has
been received in Wellington that Mr. Fred. Billman, senior, of this city,
who for the past twenty-five years has conducted the singing of the
Taranaki-street Wesley Sunday School Anniversary services, met with a
motor accident in the Old Country. Latest advice is that he was
laid up at Cambridge.1914
At Leek, 1914
he married his cousin, Ada Nicholls, (2nd wife) who
was 14 years his junior - they had no
children.
1918 Evening Post, 13 Mar:
The musical community in Wellington
has sustained a loss through the death of Mr Abraham (Fred) Billman which
occurred at the Wellington Hospital yesterday. My Billman came out to new
Zealand with his parents on the barque "Alma", landing at Wellington, and
he remained a resident of this place up to the time of his death. He
learned the trade of a carpenter, and erected a large number of buildings
in various parts of the district. Music was his hobby. For many years he
was musical director of the Taranaki Street Methodist Sunday School, and
in that position he did very fine work. His success in training the
children's voices was very marked, and it was largely due to his efforts
that the singing of the boys and girls was such a feature of the school
anniversaries. Mr Billman possessed an excellent voice and he was for
years a member of the choral society.
For the past six months he had been in
failing health, and he was obliged to undergo two operations for an
internal trouble, the last one taking place three weeks since. He was
twice married, and has left a widow and six grown up children, and twenty
grandchildren. There are two sons Mr Frederick Billman, a coach builder of
Fielding and Mr Walter Billman.
The respect in which the late Mr Fred
Billman, a resident of Wellington for about 60 years, was held was shown
by the large number of people who attended his funeral yesterday. For the
greater part of his life, the deceased had been associated with the
Taranaki Street Methodist Church, and amongst those present yesterday,
were the officials of the church and many people who, while attending the
Sunday School in their younger days, had taken part in the very fine
musical services which he organised. The choral Union, of which Mr Billman
was a member, was also represented. An impressive service was conducted in
the Church by the Rev J G Chapman, who also officiated at the graveside at
Karori. The pall bearers were Messrs Fred and Walter Billman (sons) Mr
James Wilson (son in law) and Mr Ernest Knight. Numerous wreaths were
sent. Mrs W L Coe of Wanganui is the late Mr Billman's only sister. The
deceased was a native of Manchester.
Children of A BRAHAM BILLMAN and
MATILDA PRINCE
are:
i. F REDERICK GEORGE
BILLMAN was born
1872 in Wellington, and died 1951. He married 28 Jun 1899 to
MAUD MARY WILLIAMS, daughter of
SAMUEL S
WILLIAM and
SARAH. She was
b: 1873 and died 18 Dec 1951 in Wellington aged 78; crem: 20 Dec 1951
1909 FEILDING NEWS.Evening Post, 29
Nov: Fred Billman, of Feilding, emulated his father, leader
of the Wellington Wesley school children, by conducting a successful
children's choir here yesterday at the Methodist School anniversary. The
Rev. S. J. Serpsll, of Wellington, was the preacher.
Obituary: Mr.
Frederick George Billman, who died suddenly yesterday while on a holiday
visit to Tauranga, was born in Wellington in 1871 and lived here until
about thirty years ago, when he took up his residence in Feilding. His
father, the late Mr. F. Billman, was conductor for thirty years of the
choir of Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, and he himself became closely
identified with musical matters in Feilding, and conducted the Wesley
Church choir there for a number of years. He was a member of the Masonic
fraternity and also took a keen interest in hockey and yachting. Mr.
Billman leaves a widow and an adult family. His brother, Mr. W.J.
Billman of Ngaio and two of his sisters, Mrs. R. Janson and Mrs. J.
Wilson of Wellington have been long associated with Wesley Church choir.
There are two other sisters, Mrs. L.B. James and Mrs. G. Waddell, both
of Timaru. Bur: Karori
Cemetery
Their children:
i Lawrence Frederick Billman (b: 20 Jun 1900 in
Wellington d: 1980) mar: Agnes Kathleen Alson (b: 1910; d: 1992)
Children are GERALD
LAWRENCE
BILLMANand
ANN
MARILYN
BILLMAN.
ii Joan Billman (b: 15 Jul 1913; d:
2004) mar: Claude Maurice Hoare Bennett (b: 31 July 1901; d:
1982)
ii. ANNE (ANNIE) MATILDA
BILLMAN (b: 1873
in Wellington, and d; 1964) She mar (1) 11 Dec 1899 to
BUCKLEY JOYCE.
1899 Evening Post, 23 Dec: Joyce - Billman: On 11 th December, at the residence
of the bride's parents, 156, Cuba street, by the Rev. W. C. Oliver,
Buckley, son of the late Mr. Joyce, of Port Chalmers, to Annie, oldest
daughter of Mr. F. Billman.
Child of ANNE
BILLMAN and
BUCKLEY
JOYCE
is:
i. MAVIS
BROOKLYN
BILLMAN, (b. 1902; d.
1955); married 1923 to Rouse Gustaff JANSON who had
taken over his father's grocery business in Cuba Street, Wellington -
"the horse and cart delivery van would leave from the front door on
Wednesdays and Fridays". Rouse Janson was the original Rotary Grocery
member (b: 1870; d: 1937) Div.
MAVIS
BROOKLYN
JOYCE mar. 1927
GEORGE
EDWARD
PICKETT; (b.
17 Apr 1899; d. 1972)
iii WALTER JAMES BILLMAN (b: 1874 in Wellington d: 06
Dec 1948 in Wellington) Mar: 1910 to . Margaret Adelaide Patterson
(b: 1880 d: 18 Nov 1957)
iv EMILY CLARA
BILLMAN (b: 1875,
and d: 1912; bur: at Purewa 1960 aged 87 years) She mar: 1897
to WALTER GEORGE HART.
(b: 1869 to parents Emma and John Hart; d:
1960; Occ: Civil Servant; Bur; 12 Dec 1960 at Karori aged
92 yrs)
Their children: Doris b: 1898; Hazel
Emily b: 1900; George Charles b: 1901; Beryl b:
1903; Olive Joyce b: 1904-1987; Phyllis Joan b: 1908; Rowena
Winifred Matilda b: 1909; Jack b: 1912
v. ALICE HARRIETT
BILLMAN (b: 1877
in Wellington, and died 1965 Timaru) She mar: 1902 to
LEONARD (LEN)
BENONI JAMES.(b;
1875 son of Elizabeth and Charles James; d: 1963.
Len James was a Chemist in
Timaru and a very keen sportsman in his day. Living at 8 Te Weka Street, Timaru at time of death
Children of ALICE
BILLMAN and
LEONARD
JAMES
are:
i. E RIC LEONARD
JAMES (b: 1905; d. 1960)
mar: 1947 to LYNDA RUTH
(NAN) LYNN (d.
1960.)
ii. T UI NEVILLE JAMES. (b; 7
Jun 1912; d: 2011) mar William Stanley* Dale Wreford Their family Jill and
Dal Wreford
iii. E NA MABEL JAMES, b.
1904; d. 1918.
iv. I VAN DIGBY JAMES, (b. 1908; d. 1986);
m. THELMA IDA WESTNEY; (b.
1906; d. 2004)
v. J ACK DESMOND JAMES (b. 18
April 1915; d. 2000) mar; Ina Mary McFarlane (b: 1906; d: 2004) Children
are Verna, Gavin and Helen James
vi. ADA AMELIA
BILLMAN
was born 1880 in Wellington, and died 1958. She mar; 30 Nov 1904 in
Wesleyan Taranaki-Street Church, Wellington to
JAMES JOHN WILSON (b:
1871, and d: 18 Dec 1944 in Wellington; crem: 20 Dec 1944 Karori
Cem)
Evening Post, 1 Dec 1904: Miss Ada, Billman, fourth daughter of Mr. Abram Billman, of
Wellington, was married at the Wesleyan Taranaki-Street Church yesterday
to Mr. James Wilson, of Glasgow, the Rev. Mr. Fairclough officiating.
Miss Furness, Miss Mabel Billman, and Miss J. W-ilson (niece of the
bridegroom) were the bridesmaids. The best man was Mr. A. P. Smith, and
Mr. W. Billman (brother of the bride) and Mr. H. Wilson (nephew of the
bridegroom) acted as groomsmen In the unavoidable absence of ' Mr.
Harland, Mr. Maughan Barnett presided at the organ.
James WILSON, a very successful Scottish
builder who lived at 88 Wallace Street, Wellington, later retired to
Paraparaumu. One of James Wilson's big projects was the Art Gallery and
Museum buildings in Wellington. They had four boys, Jack, Alan, Ian and
Maxwell.
vii. MABEL WINNIFRED
BILLMAN
was born 28 July 1888 in Wellington,
and died 1964. She married an Engineer; HAROLD GEORGE WADDELL- he died
1955.
Their children HAROLD
JOHN (JACK) and RAYMOND
FRANCIS
WADDELL
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