Below, Smith Page Index  Nora Mary
Stephenson Smith
COLONEL EDWARD GORTON was b: 04 Mar 1838 in Badingham Rectory, Suffolk, England, the son of Reverand Robert Gorton (1794 - 1883) clergyman of Badingham, Suffolk and mother Eliza nee George (1800 - 1872) He d: 30 Dec 1909 in Bulls Wanganui. He was well known, and respected Army Officer and lived at Bulls, on the coast. He was accorded a military funeral. Edward was born on March 4, 1838, at Badingham Rectory, Suffolk, his father being the Rev. R. Gorton. Educated at the. famous Marlborough College, he joined the 29th Regiment in 1855 as ensign, and was soon to see active service, serving in India and Burmah from 1857 to 1859. In 1861 Ensign Gorton transferred, at New Plymouth, to f the 57th Regiment (the famous "Die-Hards"), with the rank of captain. In May, 1863, Captain Gorton was appointed an extra A.D.C. to Lieutenant-Generftl Sir Duncan A. Cameron, and in that capacity he was engaged, in the action, at Katikara on June 4, 1869, his services in that engagement leading to his being mentioned in dispatches and receiving a medal v . In July 1863, Captain Gorton was appointed major in the New Zealand Militia, being given command of the Wellington, Hutt, Wairarapa, and Castle Point military districts, which then had 1560 men under military training. He held this command until September, 1865, when he was promoted to a lieutenant-colonelcy, with the command of the Wanganui district. For four years Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton held this appointment, and during the same time had control of the Colonial Commissariat and Transport on the West Coast. From January to March of 1869 he was again in the field as acting-Quartermaster-General of Colonel Whitmore's field force. He was then appointed Inspector of Defence Stores for the colony, 1869-71, and later was Inspector os Stores for the NZ Defence Forces of all Government stores, military and civil, 1871-78. In 1878 Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton resigned this appointment, and settled in Rangitikei, joining Mr. John Stevens in establishing the business of Stevens and Gorton, live stock auctioneers. In 1892 he established the present business of Gorton and Son, Feilding and Bulls and for two yeart was chairman of the Bulls Town Board, and for one or two years a member of the Rangitikei Road Board.
MARRIAGE: Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton 57th Regt., son of Rev. R. Gorton, Rector of Bardingham, Sufffolk, mar: on 2nd Apr 1863 at St Mary's Church, New Plymouth by the Venerable Archdeacon Govett, to NORA MARY STEPHENSON SMITH eldest dau. of JOHN STEPHENSON SMITH Esq., J. P. of Taranaki; Crown Lands Commissioner at New Plymouth; and mother HANNAH HURSTHOUSE. Nora was b: 19 Jun 1842 in Beccles, Suffolk - she d: 07 Mar 1917 in Bulls Wanganui aged 75Y and was bur 8 mar 1917 at Saint Martin Church Cem., Wanganui. Edward GORTON used ST GEORGE derived from his mother's name for the middle names of his 8 children. 1 Ada St George Gorton (b: 1864 in Wellington; d: 14 Dec 1938 in Hampshire, England) mar: 11 Aug 1892 in St Johns, Belstead, Suffolk to Falconer Balston Larkworthy (b: 1860 in Beechworth, Indigo Shire, Victoria, Australia,his Father: Falconer Larkworthy and Mother: Mary Agnes Balston; Residence 1901 Hampstead, London, England; Death 1934 Hampshire, England where he d: 02 Aug 1934)
2 Nina St George Gorton (b: 16 Mar 1865 in Wellington; d: 22 Jun 1932 in Bulls, Rangitikei Bur: 23 Jun 1932 Clifton Cem., Bulls) mar: 23 Jul 1888 in St Martins Church, Greatford to Edward Harry Levett (b: 1861 in Staffordshire, England - his Father: Capt. Charles Richard Levett and Mother: Catherine Arthurina Williams; d: 01 Nov 1930 in Bulls Wanganui; Bur: 03 Nov 1930 Clifton Cem., Bulls)
3 Norman Bannatyne St George Gorton (b: 29 Sep 1866 in Wanganui; d: 02 Oct 1926 in Fielding, Manawatu; Bur: Fielding Cem.) mar: 1894 to Catherine Strother Willis (b: 21 Nov 1868 - her Father: William Jarvis Willis and Mother: Amelia Riddford; d: 07 Feb 1949)
4 Russell St George Gorton (b: 31 Mar 1869 in Wanganui; d: 13 Aug 1873 in Wellington; Bur: Bolton St Cem. Wgtn) 5 Hilda St George Gorton (b: 1872 in Wellington d: 04 Mar 1879 in Bulls, Rangitikei Bur: Bulls Cem.) 6 Leslie St George Gorton (b: 24 Jun 1876 in Wellington; d: 28 Nov 1954 in Palmerston North, Manawatu; Bur: Kelvin Grove, Palmerston Nth) mar: 20 Feb 1907 in St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Wellington to Millicent Edwin (b: 1876 - her Father: Capt R E Edwin; d: 20 Oct 1966 in Wellington; Bur: 25 Oct 1966 Karori Cem, Wgtn) 7 Denis St George Gorton (b: 1879 in Bulls Wanganui; d: 04 May 1915 in San George, San Marlin, Sante Fe, Argentina mar: Abt. 1913 in Argentina to Luisa Juana (Louisa Jane) Davidson 8 Edward St George Gorton(b: 1881 in Bulls Wanganui; d: 11 Jan 1918 in WW1 Belgium; Bur: Ypres Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium) THE LATE COLONEL GORTON. (NZ Truth, 15 Jan 1910) THE LATE COLONEL GORTON had an exciting and picturesque career. His death occurred at his residence, Rangihaeta, Bulls, on the night of December 30th. He was one of those men to whom New Zealanders should ever be ready to render a tribute of honor and respect, whose name is inseparably bound up with the development of the Rangitikei district, and who is also well-known all over the Dominion as a sincere friend of all engaged in the generally thankless task of tlie defence of the country. For a long time it had been known, that the Colonel was suffering from an incurable disease, and for months, prior to his decease his death was expected from hour to hour ; but Colonel Gorton fought against his disease with a tenacity and vitality which surprised even those who knew him best. His eatate was valued at £23,694.Death: Nora Smith (Gorton) 7/3/1917 aged 74 years Mrs Gorton wife of the late Colonel Edward Gorton, died at Bulls on Wednesday at the age of 75 years. News of Mrs Gorton's death will be received with great regret by her many friends in this district. She was deeply interested in the war, incessantly working for the comfort of the soldiers, and giving generously to all patriotic funds. Her youngest son (Jack) has been all through the Gallipoli campaign, and is now in France. Her other surviving sons are Messrs Norman and Leslie Gorton (Feilding), and her daughters Mrs E. H. Levett (Bulls), and Mrs Larkworthy (England).
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