Robert and Elizabeth Emerson

These are my great, great grandparents, the parents of George Emerson.
Elizabeth (nee Gorman) and Robert Emerson were both born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Elizabeth was born approx 1856 to Charles and Mary Gorman. Robert was born approx 1850 to Robert and Mary Emerson. Mary's maiden name was either McKinlay or McKilvey - not quite sure but will investigate further.

                             Robert and Elizabeth's marriage certificate from 1875

                                                      
                                                          Click images to enlarge


                              The church - photo from Craigavon Council website

Robert came to New Zealand ahead of his wife and first child, Robert (Bob) looking for work. He worked for a couple of years on the Kuriheka estate near Oamaru. I think he was contracted or indentured to work there - the landholder would possibly have paid for his workers ship passage.

Once Elizabeth arrived in NZ Robert had some land at Maheno and this is where they raised their family. The second child, George, was born in 1881 (NZ), followed by William born 1884, Mary born 1886, Sarah born 1888, Elizabeth (Lil) born 1890, and Annie born 1893.
Sadly mum Elizabeth died in 1899, aged 41 of a Diabetic coma. That must have been a very sad time for the family to lose a wife and mother at such a young age. Goodness only knows how they coped or who looked after the children?

One funny story I heard was how Aunty Lil as a young girl found some pretty orange ribbon at home and cut it into small pieces. Her dad was an Orange man - it was his Orange Lodge sash she had cut up!

Robert died in 1916 and is buried in the Maheno cemetery with his wife. Here is a family group photo taken the day of the funeral. Click on image to enlarge.

Back row: Lil (holding Mona) husband Alf King, Lucy Emerson (9),George Emerson (11), Annie & brother-in-law Jim Harneiss.

Front row:Sydney Claughton,son Bert, wife Sarah, George Emerson with Ellen (3), Ernie Emerson (6), 
Janet Emerson nee Aitchison, Barty son of Mary (& Jim ) Harneiss,and sitting in front Edna Claughton & Jim Emerson (7) 

Absent: away at war were Bob Emerson, Dave Harneiss (Annie's husband he came home from the war minus an arm) and Bill Emerson from Invercargill.

Notes: Annie and Mary Emerson -sisters married brothers Dave & Jim Harneiss.Thanks H for providing names :)