Hi All,
Thanks for your interest and endeavours
Our forebears didn't all live in a bed of roses
Here are two items of interest of the HILL Family from Papers Past which explain some of their circumstances.
Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3804, 24 March 1898, Page 4
Magistrate's Court. Wednesday, March 23 1898.
Before Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M.) CIVIL. MAINTENANCE.
Mary Hill (Mr Caplen) v. John Hill, Matthew Hill and George Hill (Mr Matthews). This was a claim under the Destitute Persons Act to compel defendant's to contribute towards the support of their widowed mother. The youngest son had kept her during tho last two years, but it was alleged that the three other sons had not contributed anything. Plaintiff was cross-examined at length by Mr Matthews. During the examination a number of family differences were ventilated, recapitulation of which is unnecessary. Edward Hill gave evidence for plaintiff. For the defence it was alleged that plaintiff had been offered a home by two of the defendants, and that she had refused to accept of it. Matthew Hill (a married man with 4 children) said he had offered to provide a home at Stony river for his mother, and had given her money at times. Geo. Hill also said he had offered his mother a home. She had lived with him 11 months. Had given her sums of money from time to time. His wife and his mother disagreeing was the cause of tho latter leaving. His Worship said, in reply to Mr Matthews, who submitted that it was a hardship to compel the defendants to pay for plaintiffs keep outside when they had offered her a home to go to, that it was only a gracious thing for them to do to let her stay where she liked when it was proved that she could not agree with her daughters-in-law. He ordered defendants to pay 5s a week each, to be paid monthly with Costs
[Mary was the Widow of Mathew HILL a onetime soldier]
Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11782, 27 March 1900, Page 2
Divorce Court. THIS DAY. Tuesday, March 27.— Before His Honor Mr Justice Conolly.
Hill v. Hill. This was the wife's petition on the grounds of desertion and adultery. Mr Weston (instructed by Mr Welsh) appeared for the petitioner. Respondent did not appear. The petitioner stated that she was married at 18 years of age to John Hill, on 25th July 1887, at Manaia. Her husband was a labourer. They lived together for some 18 months, at the end of which time she had to leave him. He afterwards made overtures for her to return, and she said she would do so after six months if he behaved himself. Before that time expired he was living with another woman, and these proceedings were started. In the meantime she had maintained herself by dressmaking. By His Honor She had not seen or heard from her husband for the last ten years. Constable Simpson gave evidence that a John Hill was living with a young woman near Normanby. There were four children. R. D. Welsh, solicitor, also gave evidence. His Honor said there were no grounds for the plea of desertion but on the ground of adultery he would grant a decree nisi, with costs against respondent on the lowest scale.
Here is the Family
1889/18970 Anderson Sydney Egmont Elizabeth NR
1890/9898 Anderson Annie Elizabeth NR
1967/46035 Hill John Mathew Royce 76Y (sometimes Roy)
1900/2320 Hill Ronald Elizabeth John
1903/10773 Hill Isabell May Elizabeth John (sometimes Isabelle)
1906/24695 Hill Arthur Leslie Elizabeth John
1910/26463 Hill Laurence George Elizabeth John
I have not been able to locate a NZBDM birth for John Mathew.
KHP - I do not have access to the school records can you PM me the full details you have
Thanks Signal
