John mar: on 15 Jul 1867 in Church of Paternity, Wellington, to FRANCES (FANNY ) MCCAFFERTY daughter of PATRICK MCCAFFERTY and CATHERINE. She was born 1852, Occ: 1867 - needlewoman; she d: 26 Mar 1900)

Src: From Bells to Blazes - The Story of the Wellington Fire Brigade 1865-1965 - R Monigati;      Fire broke out on the "City of Newcastle", a collier, at about 2 o'clock on the morning of August 22, 1872, and in the confusion and darkness fireman John Guilford fell down the main hold of the vessel and broke his back. He was immediately carried ashore but died about half and hour later.

A seaman, John Ranie, was later arrested on suspicion of having set fire to the ship. At the inquest into the fireman's death the jury returned a verdict of "accidental death", and in a rider it stated that the custom of not putting on the hatches, when they were not working and while the vessel was lying alongside a wharf, was a most dangerous one.

Fireman Guilford, who had been elected a working member of the Central Brigade just over a year earlier, was a married man and had three children. There was a big attendance at his funeral and shops, hotels and houses were closed as a mark of respect.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 24 August 1872: The collier City of Newcastle was set on fire at the wharf at three this morning. One of the crew named Rany, has been arrested as the incendiary. The vessel is not much damaged. Guilford, a fireman of the Fire Brigade, fell down the hatchway and broke his back. He died a few minutes afterwards.

Evening Post, 22 Aug 1872:  GOOD SUGGESTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. Sir — The funeral of Fireman John Guilford is fixed for Saturday afternoon. I would suggest that the afternoon, be kept as a public holiday. Anyone who remembers the conduct of the Fire Brigades at the fire in Tory-street, will readily admit how much the community owe to their volunteer services; and such a holiday, allowing many to attend, and all to witness the funeral, would be a public recognition of their value. If he had heen shot in war, there would doubtless have been this mark of respect. It would, I judge, be no less fitting to give it in this case also. I am, &c, A. Stock.

Evening Post, 24 Aug 1872: FUNERAL OF FIREMAN GUILFORD: The funeral of John Guilford, the member of the Central Brigade, who met with bis death a few evenings ago on the occasion of the fire which occurred on board the "City of Newcastle", took place this afternoon, and excited great attention in the city. The procession, headed by the Garrison and Artillery Bands, was composed of the Wellington and Central Brigades, the Te Aro School Cadets, the Veteran Rifle Company, abont thirty of the Armed Constabulary, a number of seamen from HMS. Dido, and a long train of private. citizens, among whom we noticed the members of the House of Representatives for the city, His Worship the Mayor and members of the City Council. The procession passed down Taranaki, Manners, and Wiilis streets, Custom House Quay, Grey-street, and Lambton Quay, up to the English Cemetery, where the Funeral Service was read by Archdeacon Stock. But for the heavy rain falling, the attendance would have been still larger even than it was, crowds of people lining the line of march to witness it. The bands played funeral marches the whole way, and the shops, hotels, and houses, were all closed out of respect for the deceased, who in his life was universally liked by those with whom he had been brought into contact, and who met his death in such a sudden manner while attending to his duty in the service of his fellow-men.

Evening Post,  SAT, 16th AUG 1872: Horse Bazaar, Manners-street, opposite Fire Brigade Station. By order of Trustees in Guilford's Estate. Horse, Spring Tip-dray, and Harness, complete. LAERY & CAMPBELL (late Beauchamp, Campbell & Co.) have received instructions from the Trustees in Guilford's Estate to sell by public auction, at the Bazaar, opposite Fire Brigade Station, Manners-street, on Saturday, 16th August, at 2 o'clock — One bay mare, thoroughly sound and staunch, together with spring tip- dray, fitted with brake, and the harness, in first-rate repair. After which, First-class draught, cab, and express horse, good upstanding hacks, &c &c, Sale at 2 o'clock.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS. Wellington, Sep 27th 1872: £500 has been subscribed for the widow of the fireman Guilford, who was killed by falling down the hold of the barque City of Newcastle, when she was on fire, some weeks ago.  The ball last night was well attended.

Fanny remarried 1878: MARRIAGE: FRENCH - GUILFORD; On the 16th July, at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, by the Rev. Father Kerrigan, William French, eldest son of W. French, Roslyn House, Fulham, London, to Fanny, widow of the late John Guilford.

(Click) Children of JOHN GUILFORD and FRANCES McCAFFERTY are:

1. JOHN SYDNEY GUILFORD2 was b: 26 Sep 1867 in Wellington (father John Sydney Guilford gardener and mother Fanny Guilford formerly McCafferty), and died 14 Apr 1896 at Wellington Hospital, aged 28Y.  Cause of death - Pneumonia. Bur: 16 Jul 1896, Karori Cem. Wellington.

ii. WILLIAM HENRY GUILFORD, b. 1869, Wellington; occ: plumber; d. 13 Aug 1937, Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, Randwick; Sydney.

iii. ROSANNA (Florrie) FRANCES GUILFORD (b. 28 May 1871, Pipitea Point, Moore Street, Wellington; d: 11 Dec 1959, Manly Vale, Sydney)Mar: James Caldwell Bateman Rankin; *2nd Husband of  Rosanna Frances Guilford: John Martin *3rd Husband of Rosanna Frances Guilford:Arthur Adams