Comfort Townley was bapt 13th Nov 1844 in Churchdown, Gloucestershire, England to parents William Townley and Mary Ann Hughes.
Census 1851: Tewkesbury Rd, Gloucester; Wm Townley labourer 43, wife Mary Townley 43 mar., dau Emma 15, Henry son 12, Alfred 8, Comfort 6, Bertha Maria 2y: their residence Hamlet of Kingsholm St Catherine, England

Census 1861: Comfort Townley aged 17Y is employed as a house servant for John Lewis  and his three children. 
   

Comfort mar: Jan 1864 to  husband Henry Patrick Bryan (b: 1839 Ireland) They had 4 children however he died 21 Aug 1869 in Gloucester Sth Hamlet, Gloucestershire 6 days after the birth of his youngest son, namesake Henry Patrick Bryan. Their children:

Their 4 children:

1. Margaret Bryan-Davis (b: 1864 in England - she hyphenated her name with that of her stepfather); d: 7 Nov 1955 aged 91Y) She mar: 29 May 1883 at the Wesleyan Church, Temuka to James Ogilvie (b: : 26 Aug 1862 in London; d: 29 Mar 1948 in Mangere, Auckland 86Y Bur: Hillsborough Cem., Ak) NOTES: 1883: Occ: Cycle engineer from Oamaru; 1890s Plumber, Tinsmith, Locksmith at Temuka; Residence: 1903 Wgtn; 1905 Hawera; 1933 Golden Wedding 37 Royal Tce Ak; 1943 Diamond Wedding Massey Rd Manurewa, Ak; 1948 Miller Rd Mangere, Ak; They had 4 children;

i. MARGARET COMFORT OGILVIE (b. 19 Nov 1884, Temuka, Sth Cant; d. 31 Oct 1966, Wanganui, Bur: 31 Oct 1966, Arowhenua, Wanganui) mar. 18 Nov 1909, Otakeho, Waimate to GEORGE DARRELL HAZLEWOOD (b. 14 Oct 1881, Newtown, Wellington; d. 18 Apr 1939, Wanganui 57Y)

ii. BEATRICE LOUISA OGILVIE (b. Jul 1887, Temuka, Sth Canterbury; d. 25 Dec 1973; mar: 1913 to FRANCIS DANIEL FOX (b. 1883, Dunedin, Otago; Occ: NZ post and Telegraph employeed. 1966, Auckland; Cremated Purewa Cem, Ak) Their 2 sons:

a Edward Morland Fox (b: 16 Aug 1917 in Palmerston Nth; d: 01 Apr 1998 in Tauranga 81Y) Mar: 1947 to Mary Maoira Bragg (b: 09 Oct 1916 in Te Puke; d: 2004 )

b Brett Lethbridge Fox (b: 09 Jan 1925; d: 2006) Mar: 1948 to Christine Mavis Ranum Their dau: Christine Frances Fox (b: 1947 d: 9hrs

iii. ALBERT CHARLES OGILVIE (b. 13 Nov 1888, Temuka, Sth Canterbury; Occ: Drain Layer; d. 09 Nov 1964, Mangere, Auckland 75Y) mar. 1922 to EILEEN COLEMAN FREW (b. 24 Feb 1902; d. 05 Aug 1991, Auckland 89Y; Bur: Mangere Cem) Their family:

a James Ogilvie b: 11 Mar 1923 Died: 09 Aug 1995 in Mangere, Auckland 72Y

b Jean Ellen Ogilvie b: 28 Nov 1924 Died: 27 Oct 1995 in 29 Miller Rd, Mangere, Auckland 70Y Married: 1954 to Douglas Mortimer Lyon b: 1902 Died: 11 Jul 1967 in Panmure, Auckland 65Y Burial: Mangere Cem) Son is Douglas Lyon

c Sybil Margaret Ogilvie b: 08 Oct 1926 in Taihape, Rangatikei Died: 17 May 2012 in Nth Harbour, Auckland

d Patricia Eileen Ogilvie b: 17 Sep 1929 Died: 05 Feb 1984 Married: 1947 to Stuart Ashby b: 10 Mar 1924 Died: 1993 Sons are

a Grant Stephen Ashby  and  b Peter Stuart Ashby

iv. JAMES EDWIN BRYAN OGILVIE (b. 19 Jan 1904, Temuka, Sth Cant; Occ: Farmer; d. 06 May 1977, 72Y)  mar. 1954 to LILY HANNA (b. 09 Jun 1918, Ireland; d. 02 Jan 2011, Pukekohe Auckland 92Y)

2. JOHN PATRICK BRYAN (b: 20 Feb 1866 in Wotton, Gloucestershire, England; d: 12 Mar 1952 in Temuka, Sth Canterbury 86Y) He mar: 22 Oct 1902 at residence of Mr John Barrett, Arowhenua, Temuka to LUCINDA BARRETT (b: abt. 1868; d: 4 Apr 1962 in Temuka 93Y; Bur: Temuka Cem) Children of JOHN BRYAN and LUCINDA BARRETT are:

i. WANAKA TOWNLEY BRYAN (b. 07 Apr 1905, Otago; d. 18 Oct 1982, Timaru; Bur: Temuka Cem) mar. 19 May 1927 to CHARLES WALTER ARNST (b. 1903, Tai Tapu, Canterbury; d. 1987) Their children:

a John Charles Herman Arnst; b Rhona Lucinda May Arnst; c Madeleine June Arnst

ii. ALBERT JOHN GLANVILLE BRYAN (b. 1903, Otago; d. 1946, Bur: With parents Temuka Cem ) mar. 11 Jun 1938, Rangiora to MYRA ELLEN DOROTHY BISHELL, .

3. MARY KATHERINE BRYAN (b: 18 Jun 1867 in Wotton, Gloucestershire, England; d: 19 Sep 1939 )  She mar: 19 Jan 1886 in Temuka ALMA EDGELER , son of GEORGE EDGELER and ANNE MAYER. He was b; 1865 in Guildford, Surrey, England, and d; 11 May 1943 in Temuka aged 78Y. Children are:

i. WILLIAM HENRY EDGELER (b. 18 Feb 1887; d. 14 Oct 1888) .

ii. EMILY ADA EDGELER (b. 22 Apr 1888; d. 1957, 70Y) ; mar.  1907 to ROBERT JAMIESON.

iii. CHARLES FREDERICK* EDGELER (19 Jun 1889; d. 30 Nov 1938) .

iv. FLORENCE ETHEL EDGELER (b. 09 May 1891; d. 23 Sep 1976, Temuka 85Y; mar. 1913 to EDWARD CHARLES ALLFREY (b. 1889; d. 11 May 1968, Temuka 78Y)

v. WALTER ALMA EDGELER (b. Oct 1892; d. 03 Oct 1953, 60Y) WW1: Wounded messines Battle, arm amputated at hospital Oatlands Park Surrey

vi. BEATRICE ALICE EDGELER (b. 22 Jan 1895; d. 1965, 70Y) mar. 1916 to WILLIAM EGERTON KNIGHT (b. 01 Mar 1898; d. 1982)

vii. GEORGINA MARGARET EDGELER (b. 09 Jan 1897; d. 1978, Wincester); mar. 1915 to THOMAS ALBERT DE RENZY (b. 1889; Occ: Winchester Farmer; d. 1962, Temuka 73Y.)

viii. JOHN GILBERT EDGELER (b. 19 Feb 1898; d. 05 Jul 1947, Palmerston Nth, Manawatu) ; mar. 1924 to EZRA MARGARET HATTON (b. 14 Feb 1903, Timaru; d. 26 Oct 1975, Palmerston Nth, Manawatu.)

ix. ALBERT JAMES EDGELER (b. 01 Feb 1901; d. 09 Sep 1947, 47Y)  mar. 1922 to ELLEN MARGARET O'KEEFE (b. 1902; d. 06 Jun 1958, 56Y).

x. GRACE COMFORT ANNIE EDGELER (b. 01 Jan 1903; d. 12 Sep 1903 bur: Temuka Cem).

4 Henry (Harry) Patrick Bryan (b: 15 Aug 1869 in Wotton, Gloucestershire, England; d: 30 Dec 1953 in Otira Burial: Linwood Cemetery) Mar: 26 May 1904 in Salvation Army Barracks, Temuka to Edah Teresa Mattingley (b: 14 Feb 1880 in Temuka; d: 26 Apr 1922 in Otira, Westland 42Y

Comforts daughter Emily (Emma) Jane Davis was b: in Dec 1870 and the following year Comfort  mar:  James Davis on Oct 1871.  Comfort and James (described as a farm labourer) decided to immigrate to New Zealand along , his son George Davis from an earlier marriage, and her children, Henry, Margaret, John , Mary Bryan and Emma Jane Davis and late Feb 1874 boarded the SS Altrato and left from Plymouth . James and paid the sum of 82 Pounds 10s for the voyage. Mechanical failure after nearly 2000 miles meant the ship was forced to return to Plymouth. The repair meant an extended time on board for passengers in their cramped over-crowded onboard conditions and on April 5th they again set out. Of the total 762 immigrants, the 150 passengers  were for Port Chalmers where on arrival on 8th Jun , 180 of the 280 children on board had measeles and quarrantine was required  (32 children had died during the voyage and one adult)

 

9 Jun 1874:  From landfall 20th June 1874 at Dunedin, they sailed up the coast  the following day were landed at Timaru and  then went by Cobb and Co coach to Temuka.  They were billeted at the Volunteer Hall until suitable accommodation could be provided. 

9 Jun 1874:  From landfall 20th June 1874 at Dunedin, they next sailed up the coast and the following day were landed at Timaru. They were taken by Cobb and Co coach to the Temuka Volunteer Hall where they were billeted until suitable accommodation could be provided.  The family settled at  Temuka and here the children received their education. 

       

 

Their 7 Davis children:

1 Emily (Emma) Jane Davis (b: Dec 1870 in Gloucestershire, England Died: 17 Mar 1950 in Arundel, Timaru)  Married: 24 Mar 1891 in Temuka to James Edward Cain (b: 09 Apr 1850 County Down, Northern Ireland; Occ: iron ore miner; immigrated 15 Sep 1858 with parents John and Sarah Greenlea Cain on the Clontarf arr. Lyttelton 5th Jan 1859; d: 29 Aug 1911 in Timaru; Bur: 02 Sep 1911 Timaru Cem) Their children:

i Lillian Sarah Cain (b: 08 Apr 1888 in Hook Bush Waimate; d: 30 Jul 1968 in Prebbleton Christchurch, Canterbury) mar: George Logan Millar

ii Henry George Cain (b: 23 May 1891 in Temuka; d: 23 Jun 1973 in Dunsandel, Canterbury) mar: 20 Jul 1916 to Alice Marrianne Bottle

iii Allan Cain (b: 13 Feb 1894 in Arowhenua, Temuka; ;d: 21 Jul 1972 Burial: Bromley, Christchurch) mar: Constance Parfit

iv Beryl Comfort Greenlea Cain (b: 16 Aug 1902 in Temuka Died: 03 Mar 1966 in Timaru Burial: Albury Cemetery) mar: 29 May 1925 in Annat, Selwyn, Canterbury to Annat Gordon Guy (b: 29 Mar 1898 in Malvern, Canterbury; d: 21 Jul 1964 in Timaru) Their dau: 

i Beryl Annie Guy (b: 1926 in Fairlie; d: 21 Feb 1956 in Fairlie Burial: Fairlie Cemetery) mar: 1947 to Thomas Hubert Burnett Welsh (b: 1917 Mt Cook; d: 14 May 1997 in Timaru)

2 Ada Davis (b: 1874 in Temuka Died: 1960 in Auckland 86Y) mar: 14 Jul 1900 in Brooklyn, Wellington to Albert Thomas Lake (b: 1868; - Enrolled Jun 1890 Wellington Garrison Artillery; hotel keeper; d: 1956 in 88Y)

3 Albert James Davis (b: 1877 in Temuka; labourer 1898; farmer Clandeboye 1930; d: 14 May 1949 in Timaru; Burl: 1949 Temuka Cem. 72Y) m: 30 Sep 1903 in Temuka  to Frieda Barrett (b: 1880; d: 12 Jan 1947 in Milford, Sth Canterbury 67Y) Family are; 

i Albert Charles Glanville Davis (b: 1904; d: 1995)

ii Frieda Ann Townley Davis (b: 1906;  d: 1998) mar: Sydney Harold Chapman

iii Sarah Comfort Davis (b: Jan 1907;Clandeboye 1935; d: 1986 )

iv Roland James Davis (b: 1912; d: 1943)

v Edward Albert John Davis (b: 1917; d: 1999)  mar: 1947 to Elizabeth Ellen Green

4 Frederick Davis (b: Oct 1878 in Temuka; d: 16 Mar 1957 in Timaru) mar: 05 Nov 1903 in Timaru to Margaret Catherine Owens (b: 20 Feb 1886 in Timaru; d: 07 Jun 1967 in Timaru) Their children: 

i Frederick Thomas James Davis (b: 1904; d: 1918)

ii Roland Owen Davis (b: 1906; d: 1985)

iii Ashton Cecil George Davis (b: 1909; d: 1961)

iv Eric Robert Herbert Davis (b: 1911;WW2 serviceman; d: 1986)

v Jessie Ruby Annie Davis (b: 1922; d: 2013)

4 Bertha Davis (b: 1880 in Temuka; d: in Queensland, Australia) mar: 15 Aug 1900 in Residence of Brides parents, Temuka  to Walter Lee; d: in Brookstead, Pittsworth, Queensland)

i Walter Ashton* Lee (b: 03 Jun 1898; d: 24 Apr 1918 in WW1 France )

6 Walter Edward Davis (b: 1882 in Temuka; d: 1959 in 77Y) mar: 1916 to Susannah Owens (b: 1893; d: 1967 in 74Y ) dau. is

i Dau Davis (b: 1925 in Grey Rd, Timaru

7 Comfort Sarah Davis (b: 1884 in Temuka; d: 07 Dec 1973 in Christchurch, Canterbury 89Y; Bur: Woodlawn Memorial Gardens) mar: 1915 to Francis John Mallett (b: 25 Jun 1890 in Timaru;  d: 04 Oct 1987 in Christchurch, Canterbury 97Y) Their children: 

i Madge Davis (b: 1906); ii Roy Verdun Mallett (b: 18 Aug 1918; d: 12 Jun 1982 in Oamaru; Bur: Oamaru Cem) iii ? Davis; iv ? Davis

Stepfather James obtained a position with the Road Board constructing roading projects and assisted in planting the first trees in the domain - a contractor, he contested tenders for metalling roads in following years. In 1880 he was elected as an officer of the Temuka Lodge of Internatonal Oddfellows (IOOF) and 1885 was elected Noble Grand, the highest position of the Order. Jan 1882 he was elected to the Temuka School Committee.

Davis had a tempestous and abrasive nature led to various assaults  with locals and years of dispute saw him apearing in court and being cautioned on various times with breach of peace and by fines. 1885, lack of money saw James assault his wife. Her son attempted to intervene and James took him to court  with the result John aged 19 was forced to leave home. Comfort obtained financial support from by son-in-law James Ogilvie. 1886 saw James again elected on School Committee and 1888 he ran for Town Board but missed out on the position by 33 votes. By 1894 he employed his sons and had a team of bullock drivers and 1897 when land at Arowhenua was opened up for lease he was successful to obtain a ballot of 20 acres and tendered for purchase another 2 acres

 
James Davis became Comfort's 2nd husband  Oct 1871 at Gloucestershire. He was b: 09 Apr 1850 in County Down, Northern Ireland and d: Sep 4 1916 in Thomas St. Temuka aged 84Y; bur: 9 Sep 1916.  Comfort Townley b: 17 Nov 1844 in Churchdown, Gloucestershire, England; d: 21 Jun 1903 in Waitohi, Temuka bur: 22 Jun 1903.
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