Mary
Caroline Cross nee Benbow
Mary Caroline
Benbow was
born at Ladymoor, Waitohi 15th July 1866 to parents Mary and William Benbow, (the same year that
her
oldest sister Ann was married.) She wore a built-up shoe -
it is
uncertain if she was born with a short leg, had an accident or if
she
maybe contracted a Polio-type illness when very young. She would
walk the
six long miles over bullock tracks, even wading a couple of
creeksand
keeping up with the other school children as they made their way
to the
private school at Epworth on the banks of the west side of the
Temuka
River. (In 1874 L2000 was allocated and the bridge
was
built at Epworth, a private township built on the
freehold land which had been subdivided by the Rhodes brothers in
1861.
Mary was a gentle
girl and
a loyal Salvation Army lass, she married 08 Aug 1889 a man of
the
soil, William (Bill) Cross of Temuka. Marriage
witnesses
were William's brother James Cross and his fiance Elizabeth Preddy
who
married in 1891.
1893: Mary voted
in the NZ
Womans first electoral roll; Parerora electorate; residing
Winchester,
occ. household duties
Mary supported her community and her name featured competing in various Geraldine and Temuka flower shows exhibiting fruit, vegetables,flowers, embroidery and Salvation Army sale of work; 1911 - Electorate:
Temuka
Number: 1457 Surname: Cross Given Name: Mary Caroline, Residence:
Princes
Street Temuka; Occ: married
Mary had a busy life with six children to care for but after her last baby was born, Mary's health deteriorated and she died on 16 Aug 1912 aged 46 years. Temuka Leader; 20 Aug 1912: PERSONAL. The mortal remains of the late Mrs W. Cross were laid at rest in the Temuka cemetery on Sunday afternoon. The funeral was a very large one, many friends of the deceased lady attending to pay their last respects. The Salvation Army and the Municipal Bands marched in front of the hearse, and played hymns appropriate to the occasion. The Rev. J. Harris and Captain Glanville both delivered short addresses at the graveside. Messrs James and Robert Cross (brothers in law), and B. Trumper and R. Guildford (nephews) acted as cask-bearers. A large number of floral wreaths were placed on the grave. In the evening, the Rev. J. Harris made reference to the deceased lady at the Primitive Methodist Church. An In-Memoriam service was conducted in the Salvation Army barracks in the evening.
|
