William Jonathon Joshua & Alice Maria Benbow

WILLIAM JONATHON JOSHUA BENBOW was b: 27 Apr 1888 in Geraldine to parents William Charles Benbow and mother Edith Stringer. He d: 05 Aug 1936 in Timaru. He was bur: 7th Aug at Temuka Cemetery. On his birth and marriage certificate have his middle name registered as John.

William, known affectionately as Willie when he first attended the Geraldine school and then was admitted to Temuka Primary School 26 Nov 1894. As a boy, William remembered some people coming out from to link up the family with the historical character Admiral Benbow. There was money in Chancery if the family could be retraced but evidently the papers had been lost as ancestors originated from the same place. After passing Std. 6 he left in Oct 1901 and worked with his father for many years.

Rear: William Benbow; ?; Charles Double; Jack Burns

Seated: Bill Cross; ?; J Alfrey; Herbert L Benbow and Reginald Benbow

1911 - Electorate: Temuka No: 424; Surname: Benbow Given Name: William John Joshua Residence: 54 Ormsby St. Temuka Occ: engine driver

1911 - Electorate: Temuka Number: 3304 Surname: Looker Given Name: Alice Maria; Residence: 310 King Street Temuka Occupation: spinster

11 Dec 1911: Marriage: William married ALICE MARIA LOOKER ( b 26 Apr 1889 at Rangitata to parents CHARLES LOOKER (1853-1918) and SARAH HAWKINS (1858-1939); Alice d: 20 Mar 1970 Christchurch.)

William and Alice Benbow lived Pleasant Valley in the previous home of his uncle William and Ann Guilford who had moved 1902 to Tarata, Taranaki. William farmed crops of wheat, oats etc. William had a keen natural interest in religion and birthday gifts given were usually big books eg Daniel and the Revelations, Patriarchs and Prophets - he followed the teachings of the Bible students who are known today as Jehovah's Witnesses.

1912: A run-away horse causes father Wm Benbow snr to fall and his son (Wm JJ) received serious back injuries.

1913 June 6: Monthly Meeting of the Canterbury Land Board: The following transfers were granted: Thos. Mattingley to Wm. J. J. Benbow, 11 acre 1 rood 37 perches, 5537, section 498, block 11., Arowhenua.

1915 - Temuka electorate; living at Cross St, Temuka; engine driver

1919 - To give health support William and Alice moved in with his parents at 54 Hornsby St, Temuka - his occ: engine driver

1925 - Temuka Electorate; lived at Cross St, Temuka, Occ: Engine Driver with wife Alice

29 April 1925; Accident: William Benbow, father and breadwinner has lost his leg in an accident

!932: Ashburton Guardian: STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. TEMUKA DWELLING DAMAGED, Nov 26. A dwelling on the Main South Road was struck by lightning this morning and was considerably damaged by fire. it is understood, however, that no one was injured. The disturbance in the weather which passed up from the south resulted in a heavy thunderstorm at Temuka, accompanied by vivid lightning and hail. Much damage was thereby caused to gardens and standing crops. The house which was struck by lightning was occupied by Mr W. Benbow, and the fire brigade had to be summoned to deal with the subsequent outbreak of fire, which caused much damage.

1935 - Temuka electorate; labourer; lived at Milford with Alice;

1936 Aug 5: DEATH: William J J Benbow aged 48 yrs; he bur. 7 Aug 1936 at Temuka Cem. Sect. D, Block 3 Plot 203

1938: Alice Benbow, Widow resided Gapes Valley

1942 Jun 13: Alice Mary BENBOW married widower William Edward DAVIE at St Davids Sydenham, ChCh: witness George Davie and her daughter Alice Elsie Button

William Edward Davie was b; 8 Aug 1889 in Te Moana, Geraldine, the son of George Davie and Sarah Jane Howden.
He mar: his first wife Helen McKay on 4 Mar 1912 in Registry Office, Geraldine - (b: 23 Mar 1890 in Pleasant Valley, Geraldine to parents Hugh McKay and Mary Pinderjast; she d: 11 Sep 1939.
William Davie (d: 13 Mar 1968 in Ashburton Hospital bur: 15 Mar 1968 at Geraldine Cem. Presbyterian Sect. with wife Helen.

Alice Maria Davie d: 20 Mar 1970 in Christchurch aged 80 yrs. She was bur: 23 Mar 1970 Temuka Cemetery with William Benbow

Children of WILLIAM BENBOW and ALICE LOOKER are:

i. FREDERICK WILLIAM CHARLES BENBOW, b. 3 Apr 1912, Dunedin; d. 08 Dec 1993, Geraldine; mar. 1934 to EUNICE GWENDOLINE ROBERTS at Christchurch; (b. 23 Aug 1915; d. 03 Jul 1986, Ward 4, Timaru Hospital)

ii. ALICE ELSIE* BENBOW (b. 04 Jun 1914, Temuka; d. 25 Feb 1992, Christchurch aged 77 yrs; Bur: Tuesday, 28 Feb 1992 Ruru Lawn Cemetery Block no: 55 Plot number: 107)
Photocopying was the technology of the 70's and lacked today's clarity. Your help is needed to update this documentation. Please, if you hold information or original photos of family members, could these be scanned and sent to add to or replace the unclear images of photos scanned from the 1974 Benbow book by Catherine Lincoln.

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