MARRIAGE: Jefferis - Muir: On April 20. 1880 at St. Andrew's Manse, by the Rev. Mr. Carrick, John Jefferis, second son of the late John Jefferis, of Waikouaiti, Otago, to Elizabeth Muir, second daughter of Robert Muir. Both of Waikato

John Jefferis farmed the North Taieri family farm until 1873. After the death of his father and receipt of their legacies, John went with his brother Walter to California, about 1875 but returned after 2 years to Te Houka, Clutha (Walter stayed and became an American citizen).

Otago Witness,  6 May 1882; SATURDAY 13th MAY: At 2 'o'block; Valuable Freehold Farm NEAR BALCLUTHA. CLIFFORD CHRISTIE, In conjunction with Messrs Gillies, Street and Hislop has received instructions: Mr John Jefferis is to sell by public auction at his rooms Balclutha, this Valuable, Freehold, Farm In the Te Houka' District, containing 225 acres. This farm, which is situated within about five miles of Balclutha, is well fenced and subdivided into seven paddocks, and has erected thereon a good- four roomed. house, four-stall stable, cow-shed, &c. It is in good heart; is a compact and easily worked property,  and as Mr Jefferis has now settled permanently in' the North lsland, it is for positive sale. Immediate possessson will be given. £600 can remain on mortgage at 7 per cent, for three or four years. For further particulars apply in Dunedin to GILLIES, STREET & HISLOP, Auctioneer.;

Clutha Leader, 12 May 1882: Commercial. C. Christie reports selling at his Yards last Friday a large number of sheep and cattle. He would draw particular attention to his sale to-morrow of Mr John Jefferis' farm, Te Houka.

Otago Witness,  3 June 1882 - PROPERTY SALES: Mr John Jefferis' farm at Te Houka, Clutha sold at £4 17s 6d per acre. (He moved to Waerenga, Waikato)

Auckland Star, 16 Sept 1925: JEFFERIS: On Sept 16, at his residence, Buckland, John, dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Jefferis. In his seventy-ninth year, late of Waerenga. The funeral will leave his late residence for Pukekohe Cemetery, at 1.30 p.m., Friday. Friends please accept this intimation.
 
New Zealand Herald,  17 Sept 1925 MR. JOHN JEFFERIS. PUKEKOHE. A pioneer of the Lower Waikato, Mr. John Jefferis, passed away at his residence, Buckland, yesterday. He was born at Whitechurch, near Bristol, in 1847, and with his parents arrived at Dunedin by the ship Normanhall in June, 1858. Later he spent two years in California with a brother, but returned to New Zealand and 50 years ago took up land at Waerenga, being one of the first four settlers there and the second in the district to erect a house of sawn timber. He was married in Auckland in 1879 to Miss Elizabeth Muir. In those days the railway was constructed only as far as Mercer and transport of goods was by means of canoe up the Whangamarino River. The late Mr. Jefferis brought the first waggon into the district and also started a private butter factory. He was further known as a breeder of Hereford cattle and Clydesdale horses. In later years he acquired a property at Buckland to afford his growing family educational facilities and resided there from 1901 to 1912. He then returned to Waerenga, but four years ago removed permanently to Buckland. He had suffered a stroke and never fully recovered.  He was a keen member of the Masonic Order, having been 50 years in the craft. He served as chairman of the Buckland School Committee and the Maramarua School Committee for many years. He is survived by a widow, three sons, five daughters & 15 grandchildren. The sons are Messrs. R. J. Jefferis. of Queensland, and Walter J. and William A. Jefferis, of Waerenga, and the daughters are Mesdames R. King, of Buckland, J. W. Keith, of Te Kauwhata, Bodley, of Buckland, and Eyre, of Kihikihi, and Miss R. Jefferis, of Buckland.

New Zealand Herald, 17 Sep 1928 JEFFERIS.—In loving memory of our dear husband and father, John Jefferis. who died September I6, 1925. Thoughts return to scenes gone past, Years roll on, but. memory lasts. —lnserted by his loving wife and family.

New Zealand Herald,  5 July 1933:  MRS. E. JEFFERIS PUKEKOHE, Tuesday  The death occurred at her home, Buckland, this morning of Mrs. Elisabeth Jefferis, at the age of 75 years. Mrs. Jefferis was born at Papatoetoe and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs Robert Muir. Mr. Muir was a Maori War veteran and took active part in the battles at Rangiriri. Mrs. Jefferis spent the early part of her life at Papatoetoe and Ohinewai. She married the late Mr. John Jefferis 54 years ago, and lived at Waerenga, Te Kauwhata and later at Buckland. Before her health failed, Mrs. Jefferis took an active interest in the affairs of the Buckland Croquet Club. Mrs. Jefferis was predeceased by her husband eight  years ago and is survived by an adult family of five daughters, Mrs. J. W Keith, of Te Kauwahta; Mrs. L. Eyre, of Kihiikihi; Mrs. J. Bodley, of Auckland; Mrs. E. A. King and Miss R. Jefferis, of Buckland; and three sons, Messrs. W. J. and W. A. Jefferis, of Waerenga, & Mr. R. L. Jefferis of Buckland.

New Zealand Herald,  6 July 1933:  JEFFERIS; On July 4 at her residence. Buckland, Elizabeth, dearly-beloved wife of the late John Jefferis, late of Waerenga. after a long illness, patiently borne. Funeral to-day (Thursday). 1 p.m., from residence for Pukekohe Cem.

Auckland Star, 14 Aug 1925: LAND TRANSFER ACT NOTICES. Notice is hereby given that the several parcels of land herein after described will 'be brought under the provisions of the Land Transfer Act, 1915, unless caveat be lodged forbidding the same on or before 14th September, 1925.  6066. ELIZABETH JEFFERIS.— Allotment 140, Parish of Whangamarlno, containing 48a. 3r. 8p. occupied by Walter James Jefferis. Plan 10805. Diagrams may be inspected at this Office. Dated this 10th day of August. 1925, at the Land Registry Office, Auckland. A. V. STURTBVANT, 1 J 27 District Land Registrar.

John and Elizabeth's family:

1 Walter James Jefferis (b: 5 Feb 1881 Auckland; d: 13 Jun 1956 in Waerenga) Mar: 29 Jan 1921 to Lillian (Lillie) Bullock (b: 19 Feb 1903; d: 27 Oct 1973 at Taumarunui, aged 70Y; bur: Waerenga Cem., Waikato )

New Zealand Herald, 28 June 1910: Whargarmarina ROAD BOARD. EXTRAORDINARY VACANCY. I hereby give notice that MR. WALTER JAMES JEFFERIS  has been nominated to fill a vacancy in the Waerenga Subdivision - the only Candidate I declare him to be duly elected a Member of above Board.

WW1 Service number 35377 - Force Army, War World War I, 1914-1918
Occupation before enlistment - Farmer; Next of kin on embarkation J. Jefferis (father), Waerenga, Waikato Embarkation 31 May 1917 Moeraki  Wellington, New Zealand  then transhipped to "Port Lincoln" at Sydney for Suez Arrival - 19 Oct 1917, Suez, Egypt
New Zealand Expeditionary Force 25th Reinforcements, Mounted Rifles - Trooper

Auckland Star,  28 Jan 1919; RETURNING SOLDIERS. The transport Nestor, is due at Auckland early next month, brings a draft of I5O wounded and invalided men.

Auckland Star, 14 Aug 1925: LAND TRANSFER ACT NOTICES. Notice is hereby given that the several parcels of land hereinafter described will 'be brought under the provisions of the Land Transfer Act, 1915, unless caveat be lodged forbidding the same on or before 14th September, 1925. Plan 18328. 6066. ELIZABETH JEFFERIS.— Allotment 140, Parish of Whangamarlno, containing 48a. 3r. 8p.: occupied by Walter James Jefferis. Plan 10805. Diagrams may be inspected at this Office. Dated this 10th day of August. 1925, at the Land Registry Office, Auckland.

New Zealand Herald,  22 June 1926: SHARE-Milkers, for about 70 cows, machines, coming season; milkers to grow green feed for cows; bachelors preferred,, unless prepared to take rough dwelling for first season.—Reply with copy of references and terms to W. J. Jefferis. Waerenga.

Their son

i John (Jack) Herbert Jefferis (b: 25 Jun 1922 in Pukekohe; Pte. J. H. Jefferis, of Waerenga, Te Kauwhata, awarded the M.M.; d: 12 Mar 2008 in Te Kauwhata, Waikato; Bur: Waerenga Cem)

Private Jefferis was born in Pukekohe. Before joining the Second N.Z.E.F. in January, 1941, Private Jefferis had two years service in the Waikato Mounted Rifles. April, 1943, he left New Zealand for service in the Pacific. MM. 1944. "beside two barges, Japanese concealed and watching in the undergrowth only a few feet away poured machine-gun fire into it. In as many seconds 50 per cent of the occupants of the craft were either killed or wounded. Because of the absence of opposition, the customary vigilance had obviously been relaxed. Caught in overhanging branches, the machine guns of the landing craft pointed skywards and were out of action for those few seconds which really mattered. The American coxswain and gunner were killed by the first bursts, as was another gunner who leaped forward to take the place of his dead companion. Three of the reconnaissance party were wounded, including O'Dowd, who died later in the day. Two native guides were also wounded but not seriously. One Japanese was shot out of a tree. Branches snipped off by bullets fell into the landing craft and fed the confusion. Private J. H. Jefferis, a member of O'Dowd's party, courageously shot back into the wall of leaves with his rifle, a meritorious act which earned him the Military Medal. Under covering fire of the other two craft, which swung their machine guns into action as soon as they realised what had happened, Smith, although wounded, took the coxswain's place and retracted the boat from the beach after two agonising attempts had failed.

Military Medal (MM) 1944. For his gallantry in the face of the enemy in exposing himself at close quarters in order to get away 15 rifle shots  (Distinguished services in the South Pacific)In civil life he was a farmer at Huntly. He mar: 1947 to Gretta Mabel Rodda (b: 10 Jul 1922; d: 1999) Their two sons are Neil Rodda and Sam Jefferis

2 Roland Lewin* Jefferis (b: 05 Jul 1882 in Auckland; Purchased Elrose Station, Cloncurry in May 1909; d: 06 Oct 1963 aged 83Y in Elrose, Townsville, Queensland, Australia) mar: Sylvia Banning (b: 06 Apr 1899; d: 15 Mar 1977)

The Brisbane Courier (Qld.  Friday 27 Sep1929 Wool Sales: The Elrose wool, on account of Mr. R. L. Jefferis, of Orindi, 28-1d. was paid. A very fine wool of medium length and good colour,  A very fine wool of medium length and quality and good body, which had been scoured at the Alba Scour.

Feb 1939  Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Jefferis, Elrose were in town on Thursday last. His property in common with other selections along the Fullerton still need much more rain, although Mr. , K. L. Miles, Levuka, has fared rather well and the feed and water are sufficient to carry on for many months even if he gets no further rain. Their family: 

i John Owen* Jefferis (b: 15 Feb 1925 in Winton; d: 02 Jul 2008) mar: Helen McGregor (b: 1928;  d: 1968)

a Rodger Jefferis mar: Lorena ? Children are Brooke and Grant Jefferis

b John Jefferis

c Virginia Jefferis mar: ? Evans

d Robyn Jefferis mar ? Kosik

e Julie Jefferis mar ? Pattison

ii Mary Elrose Jefferis; on the nursing staff of Townaville Hospital; mar: ? Brown

3 Alice Mary Jefferis (b: 08 Jul 1884 Auckland; d: 17 May 1976 at Waerenga aged 91Y bur: Waerenga Cem)  Mar: 11 Dec 1910 to John (Jack) Waters Keith (b: 17 Nov 1880; son of William and Mary Ann Keith; d: 30 Jul 1948 at Hamilton, Waikato aged 67Y; bur: Waerenga Cem)

New Zealand Herald, 28 Apr 1924 Returning Officer. WHANGAMARINO ROAD BOARD. ELECTION NOTICE WAERENGA SUBDIVISION. JOHN WATERS KEITH and CHARLES TEDDY, having been duly nominated, pursuant to Section 10 of the Local Elections and Polls Act, 1908. I hereby declare the said JOHN WATERS KEITH and CHARLES TEDDY duly elected as members of the above Board, representing Waerenga Subdivision.

a John William Kenneth Keith (b: 29 Dec 1911; d: 2010)

b Gladys Mary Keith (b: 17 Aug 1913; d: 06 Jan 1979)

c Ellen Ferguson Keith (b: 22 Feb 1915; d: 2001) Mar: 1945 to John Raymond Marra (b: 13 Nov 1912 son of John and Grace Marra; 2nd Lieut. J R Marra No 26485; WW2 18 Bttn & Arm Reg: P489 d: 2004 age 91Y)

d Richard Jefferis Keith (b: 03 Sep 1916; d: 16 Feb 1962 age 45Y; bur: Waerenga Cem ) Mar: 1954 Aroha Amy Morrow (d; age 58Y; bur: Waerenga Cem)

e Walter (Snow) James Keith (b: 31 Jan 1918 in Waerenga, Waikato;(No. 65029 WWII) d: 03 Nov 1993 aged 75Y in Tuakau)

f Ralph (Peter) Lewin Keith (b: 29 Jan 1924 in Te Kauwhata, Waikato; Reg. No. 620198; d: 14 May 1944 in Italy WWII; Trooper 18 Arm: Regt Caserta Cem:

4 Elizabeth Ada Jefferis (b: 29 Jul 1886 in Auckland; d: 14 Jan 1982 aged 95Y in Auckland; bur: Pukekohe Cem) Mar: 1908 to Robert King (b: 1877; d: 12 Nov 1928 age 51Y bur: Pukekohe Cem)  Their son:

a Robert Basil Jefferis King (b: 10 Jun 1907; d: 25 Aug 1987 bur: Pukekohe Cem) Mar: 1934  to  Kate Guinevere Butcher (b: 27 Sep 1908 to Charles Edward and Ivy Guinevere Butcher; d: 2000) They had  4 children

 New Zealand Herald,  12 May 1934: KING—BUTCHER.—On Jan 24, 1934. at St Paul's Church, Buckland, by the Rev. J P Cowie, Kate Guinevere, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Butcher, of Buckland, to Robert Basil Jefferis, only son of the late Robert and Mrs. King, of Buckland.  

5 Ella Vivian Jefferis b: 05 Apr 1890; d: 08 Jun 1962 Auckland) Mar: 31 Mar 1915 in St. Paul's Church. Buckland to Lewis Claude Eyre (b: 1888;  d: 02 May 1961 Auckland)

New Zealand Herald,  8 May 1915: EYRE-JEFFERIS: On March 31, 1916 at St. Paul's Church. Buckland, by the Rev. F. B. Dobson, Lewis Claude, 6th son of G. Eyre, Esq., Paterangi, to Ella Vivien fourth (twin) daughter of John Jefferis, Esq., Waerenga. Their children are:

a George Lewis Eyre (b: 1916; d: 1921)

b Cyril Walter Eyre (b: 06 Apr 1918; d: 1978) Mar: 1945 to Frances Ellen Curtain (b: 15 Feb 1918; d: 1998)

c Mary Ella Eyre (b: 11 May 1923; d: 2008)  Mar: 1945 to Robert Lindsay Gordon* Nimmo (b: 05 Jul 1917; d: 2007)

d ? Eyre

6 Jessie May Jefferis (b: 05 Apr 1890; d: 22 Dec 1968 in Pukekohe) Mar: 1912 to Henry Bodley (b: 1887 in Wellington; d: 1943) Family are" 

i William Lloyd Bodley (b: 20 Jan 1914; d: 2004)  Mar: 1945  to Coral Joy Dingle (b: 20 Feb 1921; d: 2000)

ii SBC Bodley (b: 1919; d: 1919)

iii Joyce Elizabeth Bodley (b: 28 Nov 1916 in Hamilton, Waikato; d: 2010) mar: Henry (Tuppy) Kaipiha Payne (b: 02 Dec 1909; d: 1986 )

7 William Alexander Jefferis (b: 02 May 1893; d: 1974 aged 80Y)  Mar: 1930 to Annie Backhurst (b: 19 Jul 1900 in Auckland to parents Geo. Alfred Backhurst and Elizabeth Esther nee McCaffery; d: 1980 in Auckland)

JEFFERIS—BACKHURST. Miss Annie Backhurst, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Backhurst, of Onehunga, was mar: last evening to Sir. William Alexander Jefferis, son of Mrs. J. Jefferis, of Waerenga, at St. Matthew's Church. Canon Grant Cowen officiated. The bride, who entered the church with her father, wore a frock of delphinium blue georgette and a ballibuntal straw hat in the same shade. Her bouquet was of pink and white flowers. The only attendant was Miss Dora Backhurst, wno wore sunset shaded georgette with small frills of the same material on the skirt. Her Bangkok hat and bouquet were in autumn tints Two children

i Janet Elizabth Jeffeis (b: 6 Jul 1935 in Tirohia, Hamilton; d; 31 Dec 1989 Auckland) mar; ? Ashmore

ii Son Jefferis mar: Noreen Green

8 Rose Jefferis (b: 22 Feb 1895; d: 13 Apr 1976 Hamilton aged 81Y) Mar: 1935 to Daniel Joseph McCarthy (b: 1891 to Annie and Joseph McCarthy; Occ: Carpenter; WWI, 1914-1918; POW; d: 5 Feb 1966 Hamilton; bur: Waerenga, Waikato) Their dau: