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Robert and Margaret
Oakley
Robert Oakley b: 1854 was born in Strumpshore, Norfolk, England to parents Alfred (labourer) and Charlotte Oakley nee Hardisty and was Bapt: 4 Mar 1855 Church St Peter, Lingard. The family immigrated to New Zealand when he was 4 and Robert d: 01 Nov 1927 in Rakaia, Canterbury. His will Robert joined his father Alfred working for Mr Charles Withel and remained for 8 years before contracting at Burnham for eighteen months. Robert occ; farmer; mar: 4th Nov. 1880 at the Presbyterian Church, Leeston to Margaret Mary Jane McVinnie Doyle of Doyleston. Margaret was b: 4 Nov 1862 in Leeston, Selwyn, Canterbury to parents John & Margaret Doyle nee
McVinnie. The day following their
marriage, Robert
and Margaret trekked to Rakaia in a dray pulled by a draught horse
with
the family cow tied on behind. The farm was 176 acres in extent
and had
been part of the Acton Estate.( 1882: Freeholders valued it at
L1320. It was unfenced and the country was tussock covered
with no
water for the stock but what could be carted from the Rakaia three
miles
away. The dwelling was a sod whare. It was not long before
the
property was in going order and increased the size to 1280 acres
by
1902. In his spare time Robert Oakley did a good deal of
contracting.
His industry and thrift enabled him to increase his holding
gradually up to his death when there were about 2800
acres.
Ashburton
Guardian, 16
May 1896: Education Board - The Chairman at Overdale reported that
Mr
Robert Oakley had agreed to convey two acres of land to the
Board for
a school site, which he had accepted. The Chairman's action was
approved.
The Clerk of works was instructed to arrange with the contractors
to
partition off part of the building now being removed from
Chertsey, so
that it might be used as a dwelling-house for the teacher in
charge
of the School.
The Oakley
children
attended the school and Robert served on the school committee as
chairman,
on the Overdale Householder Committee and supported the Saint
Andrews
Church at Rakaia.
His four sons and four daughters helped materially in the aggregation of this farm and on his death, three sons, Edward, Lisle and Allaster took over the land. The fourth son
Norman
had gone into the Presbyterian ministry some years before this and
had
completed his education in Scotland. For twelve years he had
ministered to
a large parish there before returning to New Zealand and was
appointed in
charge of the North East Valley Presbyterian Church in
Dunedin.
Robert was a breeder of Shropshires and his teams were considered the best in the district. He had 250 acres in oats and 450 in wheat. The farm fattened large numbers of sheep and lambs for freezing and for many years Robert was a member of the Rakaia and Chertsey school committees. He was an elder of the Rakaia Presbyterian Church of which he was treasurer for at least 8 years, was an Oddfellow and a trustee of the Rakaia Lodge. 17 Jan 1899: A
feature
of the season is the abundance of grass seed saved. The reaper and
the
stripper have already in many cases finished a good
harvest of
grass seed alone, and the columns of smoke in the distance
tell that
the thresher is already busy and the farmer knows he has thirty or
forty
bushels of grass seed to the acre. Mr Robert Oakley, of Overdale,
has a
paddock which I am told will thresh seventy bushels to the acre.
Mr Peter
Chalmers has been threshing at Overdale for Messrs Sam. Ross and
W.
Oakley, and their grass seed has, I learn, gone about forty
bushels. For
one day at the latter's the tally was 1300 bushels for a day of
131/2
hours.
 Press, 10 Sep 1912: RAKAIA. A
parents'
social was held at Rakaia on Thursday in the Presbyterian
schoolroom, the"
object of which was to bring the parents and Sunday school
teachers into
closer touch. During the evening speeches on "How Parents can Help
the
Teachers" were made by Mrs R. Oakley, Messrs Boag and C. H.
Oakley,
superintendents of the Overdale, Rakaia, and Chertsey Sunday
schools
respectively. After a musical programme supper was handed round.
It is
intended to make the social an annual affair.
Press, 22
Jan
1924: Mrs Oakley, of Overdale, was asked what is the origin
of the
name "Overdale". She said: "Close on fifty years ago Mr
Oakley
as a boy, living at Brookside, borrowed a book from the library.
The book
waa called 'Overdale, and the first characters in the.story were
called
Oakley. In 1878 Mr Oakley bought a farm midway between Rakaia
and
Chertsey, and as it was incumbent on him to give it a name, he
remembered
reading about the Oakleys of Overdale and named the farm
'Overdale'.
Then, nearly
thirty
years' ago, when a school was placed on land he gave for the
purpose, the
settlers named the school district by the same name out of
compliment to him.
Press, April
1927: On
Sunday afternoon the members of the session and managers of the
Rakaia
Presbyterian Church visited Mr Robert Oakley at his residence,
"Overdale,"
Rakaia. On behalf of the congregations of Rakaia, Dorie, Rokeby,
Pendarves, Chertsey, and Lauriston, the Rev. A. S. Morrison
presented Mr.
Oakley with an illuminated address in recognition of his work for
the
Rakaia Presbyterian Church during the past 40 years. Mr Morrison
expressed
the hearty good wishes of the session managers, and congregations
to Mr
and Mrs Oakley. Mr Oakley had acted as treasurer to the church for
40
years, and Mrs Oakley had also taken a keen interest in the work
of the
church. Mr W. Boag spoke of the efficiency and modesty of Mr
Oakley in the
discharge of his duties as elder and treasurer and of the high
esteem in
which he is held by the people, who regretted his illness and
hoped that
his health might improve. Mr Lisle' Oakley thanked the deputation
on
behalf of his father. Among the signatures to the address were
those of
two former ministers of the charge, the Revs. W. T. Todd,
Christchurch,
and A. Begg, Timaru. Mr Robert Oakley is a charter member of the
Rakaia
Presbyterian Churchj
Press, 4 Nov 1927 RAKAIA. The funeral of the late Mr Robert Oakley, Overdale, Rakaia, took place at Rakaia on Wednesday. There was a very large. attendance of the public, by whom Mr Oakley was held in high esteem. Representatives of the South Rakaia Domains Board, Rakaia Ploughing Match Association, Ashburton A. and P. Association, Rakaia Saleyarcfe Company, Rakaia Road Board, and Rakaia Horticultural Society were present. A short service held in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was conducted by the Rev. A. S. Morrison, assisted by the Rev. W. T. Todd (St. Albans) and the Rev. J. Boothroyd. The hymns "The Sands of Time are Sinking" and "For Ever with the Lord" were sung, Miss Bruce presiding at the organ. The funeral cortege from the church to the Rakaia Cemetery was a very long one, over fifty cars taking part. The pall- bearers were: Messrs Raymond Oakley, W. J. Lee, Arthur Oakley (Fairlie), and G. Ross (Rapuna). Wreaths were sent by: Mrs Oakley and family, the grandchildren, Mr and Mrs W. Brooks and family, the Rev. W. T. and Mrs Todd, Mr and Mrs C. Oakley, Mr and Mrs H. E. Cook, Mr and Mrs W. Boag, Mr and Mrs P. Hood, Mr and Mrs W. Oakley and family, Mr and Mrs G. S. Hardy, A. E. Clark, Miss Todd, Mr and Mrs J. Anderson, the Rev. A. S. and Mrs Morrison, Mr and Mrs W. Swaine, Mr and Mrs A. Webb, Mr and Mrs J- Muirhead and family, Mr and Mrs L. Cordner. Mr and Mrs J. Doig, Mrs 'Walker, Mr G. McLachlan, Mr and Mrs W J. Lee, Mrs Osborn and children, Mr and Mrs C. Liddington, Mrs T. Richards and family, Mr and Mrs Palmer and son, Mr and Mrs G. Clark and familv, Overdale School, Mr W. J Robertson (Anama), Rakaia Saleyards Co., South Rakaia Domain Board, New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Assn., Ashburton, staff of New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Assn. Ashburton, Rakaia Ploughing Match Association, managers Rakaia Presbyterian Church. Rakaia P.W.M.U. Mr and Mrs Salt (Pigeon Bay) Press, 20
Sept
1934: OAKLEY In respectful memory of Mrs Robert Oakley, who
departed this
life at Overdale, September 19th, 1931. Come unto Me. and I will
give you
rest.
Robert and Margaret Oakley's children: i Edward Ernest Oakley (b: 7 Nov 1883 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 27 Feb 1969 in Rakaia; Bur: 1 Mar 1969 Rakaia Cem. Mar: 19 Dec 1907 to Annie Boyd (b: 02 Sep 1881; d: 22 Jun 1981 in Rakaia; Bur: 24 Jun 1981 Rakaia Cem) Their family:
ii Olive Beatrice Oakley (b: 07 Jun 1884 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 20 Aug 1961 in Christchurch) Mar: 1908 to Robert William Croy (b: 1876 to James Croy and Charlotte Moor; d: 29 Sep 1957; Bur: Ruru Lawn Cem., Christchurch) Their family:
iii Eveline (Lyn) Bertha Oakley (b: 20 Jan 1888 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 09 Apr 1968 80Y) Mar: 1914 to Martin Macale (b: 04 Oct 1886 in Frankton, Queenstown to parents Martin Macale and Janet Cowan; d: 28 Jul 1967 in Christchurch aged 80Y) Their family:
iv Ivy Dorothea Oakley (b: 22 Jun 1891 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 17 Jul 1968 in Christchurch) Mar: 1915 to Albert Arthur Croy (b: 1884; d: 13 Dec 1952 in Christchurch) v Norman Eric Oakley (b: 27 Oct 1893 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 15 Sep 1957 in Ashburton; Bur: 17 Sep 1957 Ashburton Cem.) Mar: 1922 to Margaret Doyle Taylor (b: 09 Nov 1890 in Ashburton; d: 07 Apr 1977 in Dunedin; Bur: 12 Apr 1977 Ashburton Cem) Their children:
vi Lisle Oliver Oakley (b: 10 Oct 1895 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 11 Oct 1959 in Rakaia; Bur: 13 Oct 1959 Rakaia Cem) Mar: 1929 to Myra Emily Brooks (b: 04 May 1906 to parents Thomas William and Emily Brooks; d: 10 Jan 1992 in Rakaia; Bur: 12 Oct 1959 Rakaia Cem) Their daughter:
vii Mabel Grace Oakley (b: 17 Jul 1898 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 25 Nov 1983 in Christchurch) Mar: 1928 to Donald Campbell Morrison (b: 1898 to parents Alexander Samuel and Elizabeth Jamieson Campbell; d: 1962) viii Robert Allaster* Oakley (b: 05 Apr 1905 in Rakaia, Ashburton; d: 1989 in Henderson, Auckland) Mar: 1932 to Gladys Mary Brooks (b: 25 Apr 1905 to Thomas William and Emily Brooks; d: 1998 in Blenheim, Marlborough) Their daughters:
Descendant input to up-date family pages is very welcome - more detailed information available on request. |
