FYFE | Jewelian Family

THE FYFE FAMILY

The first record we have of the Fyfe family in New Zealand is in 1862. In the record of departures from the Port of Melbourne, there is an entry for Thomas Fyfe, aged 27, single male, born Scotland, boarding the “Greyhound” on 30th September, bound for Otago. It is likely that the gold discoveries in Otago may have prompted this move.

On the clipper ship “Lightning” sailing out of Liverpool in 1861 there is listed as a passenger one Thos. Fyfe, aged 24. This could well be our Thomas. There was no other Fyfe on board, and it is likely that his half-brother George travelled out to Melbourne earlier on the “Marco Polo” in 1856, as he married in Melbourne in 1859. The passenger list for this ship includes Geo. Fife. The “Marco Polo” was owned by the same company that owned the “Lightning”, the Black Ball Line (James Baines and Co.) of Liverpool.

In August of the year following Thomas’s arrival in New Zealand the Register of Intents to Marry includes this entry:

30/7/1863. Thomas Fyfe, bachelor, carpenter, aged 25.

Place of residence Christchurch. There 8 months.

Jane Armstrong, spinster, servant, 19.

Place of residence Christchurch. There 4 years.

Place where marriage to take place - Wesleyan Chapel, Christchurch.

Obviously the marriage did not take place as planned, as the following Intent to Marry appears in the register as well;

28/8/1863. Thomas Fyfe, bachelor, carpenter.

Place of residence Norwich Quay, Lyttelton. There 3 weeks.

Jane Armstrong, spinster, domestic servant, 22.

Place of residence 22, Norwich Quay, Lyttelton. There about 2 weeks.

Wesleyan Chapel, Lyttelton.

The marriage did take place on the following day, with Rev. Shaw officiating. I have a copy of their Bible, presented by Mr Shaw.

At that time Jane, being under 21, would require authority from a parent if one was living in the colony. I guess she must have let slip that her father was living in Central Otago, and that the marriage was not permitted to go ahead at the time of the first application. In actual fact Jane was 20, having been born on 18 January, 1843.

Tom and Jane had ten children;

Agnes Margaret Fyfe, born 8 July 1864, Head of harbour, Akaroa.

Alfred Graham Fyfe, born 27 November, 1866, Akaroa.

Catherine Armstrong Fyfe, born 24 February, 1868, Timaru.

Margaret Eva Fyfe, born 31 March, 1870, Timaru.

Frederick William Fyfe, born 23 November, 1871, Timaru.

Angus MacLauchlan Fyfe, born 1 October, 1873, Georgetown, Temuka.

Gertrude Alice Fyfe, born 14 April, 1875, Georgetown, Temuka.

William Graham Fyfe, born18 December, 1877, Georgetown, Temuka.

Jane Fyfe, born 31 July, 1879, Georgetown, Temuka.

Henry Armstrong Fyfe, born 14 April, 1881, Geraldine.

We can trace the movements of the family from the birth records of their children. Alfred’s birth was registered at Akaroa in 1866, but he died in Timaru in April of the following year, so the family must have moved south over that period of time after Alfred was born. A family tradition has it that Thomas moved to Timaru as he was offered a job there by his brother-in-law Robert Kennedy. When he arrived in Timaru he found that the job being offered was that of bailiff. He didn’t like that idea, and appears to have set up as a cabinet-maker, but struggled to make ends meet. . About the time of the bankruptcy he must have moved to Temuka, where he had a cabinet-maker’s shop. In 1874 he became warden for the newly-established Loyal Alexandrovna Lodge, and in 1875 he gave evidence in court relating to the death of Rosa Brogden, servant to Dr Cummings. It appears that the horse she was driving back to the stables bolted, the gig clipped the corner of Tom Fyfe’s shop, and turned over, throwing her on her head. She died 2 days later. Thomas was discharged from Bankruptcy in July 1879.

IThe family moved to Geraldine shortly afterwards, and it was here that Jane Fyfe died of TB in 1881, and her three month old son Henry died about the same time. The eldest daughter, Agnes, was forced to break off her engagement to care for the family. She was 16. She appears to have done a good job, as school records show that the Fyfe children had a good record for school attendance.

Thomas Fyfe was born in Glasgow on 30 September, 1837. According to the records of the Unitarian Church in Glasgow, he was baptised on December 15 of the same year as Thomas Sweet Fyfe, son of George Fyfe, tinsmith, Bridgegate, and Margaret Graham, his wife. An elder sister, Agnes Walkinshaw Fyfe, was born 6 November, 1834. George Fiffe or Fyfe married Margaret Graham in Glasgow on 10 September, 1833. Marriage ceremony was performed by Unitarian clergyman, Mr George Harris, at Mr Harris’s home. George was a widower, having married Catharine Ann Sweet on 28 December, 1816.

Children of this first marriage found so far were;

John (21/9/1818)

Thomas (21/1/1821)

George (14/6/1822)

Catherine Robertson (8/6/1825)

Thomas (23/1/1828)

Ann Sweet (4/4/1829)

George (14/6/1832)

In the 1841 census of Glasgow, the following were living at 116 Bridgegate, Glasgow:

George Fyfe M 45 H Tinsmith Born in county

Margaret Fyfe M 30 W Not born in county Scotland

Catharine 12 Born in county

Ann 10 "

Agnes 5 "

Thomas 2 "

John 8 "

George 5 "

1841 Census 116 Bridgegate, Lanark. (from Ancestry website)

In the 1851 census (taken on 30 March) the following information is available;

16 Crown Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.

George Fyfe, male Head of House, widower, aged 59 tin plate worker born Baillieston, Lanark.

John " Son unmarried 30 " " " Glasgow, Lanark.

George " Son " 18 " " " "

Thomas " " " 13 Scholar "

Catherine Female D " 23 Dressmaker "

Ann " " " 20 Milner "

Agnes " " " 16 Dressmaker "

George Fyfe Snr gives his birthplace as Baillieston, a village in the parish of old Monkland, just east of Glasgow. However, there is a baptism recorded in the parish of Carnwath in Lanark of a George Fyvey, son of George Fyvey and Agnes Walkinshaw on 22 July 1789. This is probably the right family, given that George named his youngest daughter Agnes Walkinshaw Fyfe. The only problem is that we don’t know whether the name is Fyvey (Fyvie) or Fyfe, although the latter could be the right one, with Fyvey being a nickname.

There is a still strong possibility that the name was originally Fyvie. There is a birth recorded in Glasgow on 24 June 1772 of a George Fivie, son of John Fivie and Mary Baxter. There were two other children of the marriage recorded, John in Glasgow on 7 October 1770, and Agnes baptised in Penpont parish, Dumfries on 24 November 1767.

The name Fivie is not uncommon, particularly in Aberdeenshire, deriving from the parish of Fyvie. One possibility is the John Fivie, baptised in Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, on 26 June 1741, son of George Fivie.

George appears in the Glasgow Trade Directories from 1818, firstly at 2 Adelphi St, as George Fyfe, tinsmith, at 75 King Street in 1820, and later in the Bridgegate, as a tinsmith and gas-fitter. He joined the “Burgesses and Guild Brethren” on 30 July, 1828. The entry reads “Fyffe, George, hammerman, brazier, Bridgegate as married Catherine, 1 daughter to Thomas Sweet, weaver.” By 1854 he no longer appears in this publication, but his business has been taken over by John, who in turn disappears by 1858. George had actually died on 2 November 1853 at 26 Thistle Street in the Gorbals, Glasgow. His will was proved on 11 April 1854, and leaves his estate to his five surviving children, John George, Catherine, Agnes and Thomas. Ann, who was living at home at the time of the 1851 census, is not mentioned. John took over the running of the business at 114 Bridgegate, but as George was left half of his workshop tools, presumably he was involved in running the business as well. The executors of the will were his son John, James Sweet, letter carrier of Cathcart, and Peter Graham, gardener to Thomas Hill of the Sasines Office in Glasgow. James Sweet is almost certainly his brother-in-law, the brother of his first wife, and Peter Graham is almost certainly to be the brother of his second wife. (See Graham family information)

There is a very definite tie-up among several families in the Cathcart area which I cannot put my finger on. Those families include Graham, Robertson, Sweet, Hill, Wardrope and others. In the 1787 Glasgow Directory, Graham and Wardrope appear in King Street as copper and white-iron-smiths, and in 1811 the same partnership appears at 44 Argyll Street as tin plate workers. Also, Thomas’s sister’s full name was Agnes Walkinshaw Fyfe, and on 20 November 1791 William Walkinshaw married Agnes Robertson in Glasgow. I have found no children of this marriage. There is a possibility that the Unitarian church was part of this connection, and also there could be a link with the Covenanters.

In the Index of Wills on the Scotland’s People website, there is the following entry. “Fyfe, Agnes Walkinshaw 12/04/1855,residing at 218 Thistle Street, Glasgow, sister of Catherine Fyfe residing at same address. Inventory; Glasgow Sheriff Court Inventories SC36/48/41” From this entry it appears that Thomas’s sister Agnes died in 1855.

Ina Duerden, daughter of Margaret Fyfe and Jack Hamilton once told me that a brother of Tom Fyfe went to Australia, and we know that George went there (see below) and a sister went to America. Possibly this was Catherine.

In the US immigration records there appears a Catherine Fyfe aged 30 from Glasgow arriving in New York on the ship “Harmonia” on 29 May 1855. She was apparently heading for Canada. On the same record are George Fyfe aged 23 and Thomas Fyfe aged 18. These ages tie in exactly with what we know of the children of George Fyfe, and if this the case the two sons must have returned to Scotland shortly afterwards, as George left for Australia and Thomas married in 1856. On a website on “Ancestry” there is a record of the death of an Ann Fyfe, housekeeper, dying on 27 August 1892 at the age of at the age of 59. The death occurred in York, Ontario. This likely to be her.

On 8 January 1856 Tom Fyfe married Helen McKenna in Glasgow. They had two sons, Francis, born 13 November, 1856 and George born 25 September, 1858. Helen died on 2 November, 1858, at 80 High Street, Glasgow, at the age of 19. Cause of death is given as chronic bronchitis, possibly due to poor housing. Helen’s father Francis McKenna was a cabinet-maker, and it is likely that Tom Fyfe was apprenticed to him. Family tradition has it that the two boys were adopted, one by a wealthy family and the other by a poor family. The first had an unhappy marriage and no family, the other had a happy and fruitful marriage! This tradition is borne out by the following entries in the 1881 census of Renfrew. In the 1861 census we see Francis living with his grandparents-

Frances McKenna Head Married Male 53 1808 Cabinet maker born Ireland
Helen McKenna Wife Married Female 50 1811 - born Ireland
Francis Fyfe Grandson - Male 4 1857 - born Glasgow,Lanarkshire,Scotland

Also in 1861 we find George aged 2 is listed as a vistor staying with James Sweet and his family in Langside Cathcart.Renfrew.

John Fyfe m 57 m born Glasgow, Lanark

Catherine Fyfe m 47 f born Cathcart, Renfrew

George Fyfe u 22 m born Glasgow, Lanark (nephew)

Catherine Crawford u 6 f born Cathcart, Renfrew

In the 1891 Census we find:

Rhannon Road, Cathcart, Renfrew

John Fyfe 68 Living on private means.

Catherine Fyfe 60

Catherine Crawford 16

William D. Gowan 25

George Fyfe lists his occupation as bank clerk. Catherine Robertson Fyfe Crawford is his second cousin, daughter of Annie Sweet and John Crawford, born in 1874 in Cathcart. As her parents were married exactly a year before that, she is obviously the eldest (and only) child of this marriage, and had been adopted by her aunt Catherine. John Fyfe died on 28 March 1894 at Catherine Villa, Cathcart. He is described as a “Portioner” and as being testate. John had married Catherine Robertson on 26 February 1854 in the Gorbals.

John was the older half-brother of Tom Fyfe. He and his wife Catherine Robertson appear not to have had any children, and to have adopted George following his mother’s death

In December 2005 the family received a Christmas card which had been written in 1898. It was from Mr and Mrs Fyfe, 11 Lorne Street, Mt. Florida, Glasgow, and was found in the effects of Ina Duerden, nee Hamilton, by her stepson. This was from George and his wife Jeannie. This couple appear in the 1901 census at Wesidover (sic) Crescent, Cathcart as George and Jane L. Fyfe.

As for the younger brother, Francis, he appears in the 1881 census.

6 Mary Street, Abbey, Renfrew (district of Johnstone and Elderslie)

Francis Fyfe m 22 m born Glasgow, Lanark. Occupation - Guider in Cotton Factory

Mary Fyfe m 22 f born Bridge of Weir, Renfrew

Charles Fyfe u 3 m born Bridge of Weir

Hugh Fyfe u 1 m born Bridge of Weir

This address is in the industrial town of Paisley, and it is likely that Francis was working for one of the big companies there – either Coats or Clarkes.

Ten years later in the same registration district we find the following entry:

Steel’s Cottage, Paisley.

Francis Fyfe 32 Cotton Spinner

Mary Fyfe 31 b Bridge of Weir

Charles Fyfe 13 b Bridge of Weir

Hugh Fyfe 11 b Bridge of Weir

Francis Fyfe 9

William Fyfe 6

Andrew Fyfe 3

Sarah Fyfe 5 months

According to a note, probably written by Margaret Hamilton to record what her mother Margaret (nee Fyfe) had told, Francis Fyfe married Mary, and their children were Charles, Hugh, Francis, William, Andrew, Sarah, (James, George and Mary died) and Ellen. This confirms the above entry. The same note has other references which we have not yet confirmed. “Thomas married Mary Emerson, America, (Mum’s cousin)

Will, Jack, Harry and Fred and Emily McKenzie, Australia.” There is the possibility that this Thomas is the youngest son of Francis and Mary, born c 1896.

In 1901 the family appears at 17 Rockbank Street, in the district of St. Clement, Camlachie in Glasgow.

Francis Fyfe 41 Cotton Worker

Mary Fyfe 41

Charles Fyfe 22

William Fyfe 16

Andrew Fyfe 13

Sarah Fyfe 10

Thomas Fyfe 4

Following the death of his wife, Tom migrated to Australia, probably to join his brother George, who had migrated earlier. George settled in Melbourne, and went into business as a tinsmith and general iron-monger. There is a family story that the brothers had a disagreement, but whether this was the cause or the effect of Tom deciding to go to New Zealand I have no way of knowing. I have a photo of George standing outside his shop at 203 Victoria Street, Melbourne with two young ladies, presumably his daughters. The building was still standing in 2010

George married Mary Ann Amelia Wheelhouse in 1859 in Melbourne, and I have found the record of baptisms of Clara in 1861, Blanch in 1863, George William in 1866 and Marion Sweet in 1874. There was also another daughter, Elsie. Apparently the two eldest daughters in New Zealand, Agnes and Kate, corresponded with the Melbourne cousins, but the letters were burnt many years ago. There is a possibility that the New Zealand cousins exaggerated their circumstances to try and keep up with the Melbourne cousins. George died on 23 April 1913. According to his will, he was probably quite a wealthy man, owning property in various locations around Melbourne. Clara was the only one to marry, and there is the mention of grandson George Fyfe Ormond Hanson in the will, so her husband must have been a Hanson.

Jane Fyfe died in Geraldine on 24 July 1881 of TB. Her youngest son Henry died within three days of her. Tom died on 6 March, 1897, also in Geraldine.

Now to the next generation.

Agnes and Kate never married. Agnes was engaged to be married when her mother died, and I have been told her father made her break it off so she could look after the younger children. In 1951 they were described as dress-makers in the electoral roll. They died within two months of each other in 1952. I can remember them living in an old house opposite the primary school in Cox Street, Geraldine. They were both great hoarders, which led to a lot of work in cleaning up their house, but they did keep a lot of old photos which would otherwise have been lost.

Alfred died on 22 April 1867 and was buried in Timaru. Jane died in 1895 at the age of 16, and Fred died in 1901. Gertie married Dan Wilkinson on 31 March 1902. They lived near Speechley’s Bridge, Geraldine for a while, but later moved to somewhere near Ashburton. Six children - Myra Jane 1902, James 1904, Frederick 1906, Adam John 1908, Thomas 1911, and Eileen 1914

WILKINSON—On July 26, 1941, at Ashburton. Gertrude Alice, dearly beloved wife of Daniel Wilkinson, 44 Beach road. Ashburton. (Result of accident.) Private interment. Baker Bros., Shaw, and King

Will married Esther Pizzey on 16 December, 1902. He was a blacksmith at Orari, and when I remember them, they were living in Templer St, Geraldine. Three children – Leslie John Graham 1903, Percival Frederick 1906 and Alice Winifred 1910. Will was the last survivor of Thomas and Jane’s family, dying on 14 July, 1958.

Angus McLauchlan Angus married Thomasena Scroggie in 1907. They lived in a house he had just built in Main North Road, Geraldine, but about 1921 moved to George Street. Two children, Marion Elizabeth (Mrs Worthington) born 1908, and my father Angus Graham Fyfe, born on the last day of 1913.

My main memories of my grand-parents are the large garden and helping my grand-father milk the two house-cows. Grannie used to make her own butter from the cream.

The following obituary was published in “The Timaru Herald” shortly after grand-dad’s death in 1950.

“Long Service To Community Of Mr A.M. Fyfe.

Long service to the Community was given by Mr A.M. Fyfe, who died at Geraldine last week. Mr Fyfe was a member of the Geraldine School Committee for 25 years, for 16 of which he served as chairman and for a year and a half as secretary. He was also chairman of the Technical school Committee, and until the time of his death was chairman of the Dental Clinic Committee.

A keen member of the Geraldine District Boy Scout Committee, of which he was chairman for 16 years, Mr Fyfe was the holder of the Scouts’ “Thanks” Badge for services to the movement.

Mr Fyfe was also a vice-chairman of the South Canterbury School Committee’s Association for two years.

In his younger days Mr Fyfe was a member of the Geraldine Volunteers, and held the rank of lieutenant. He was awarded the Long Service Medal for 13 years’ service.

A keen churchman, Mr Fyfe was secretary of the Geraldine Presbyterian Board of Managers for seven years.

A building contractor by trade, Mr Fyfe built the Bank of New Zealand and the Town Hall at Geraldine a number of years ago. He was also a director and valuer for the Geraldine Terminating Building Society.

Mr Fyfe was well-known on the sports field in his youth. He was a member of the Geraldine Football Club and a president of the Amateur Athletics Association. He was also a former member of the Geraldine District Band.”

On 30 January 1913 Angus M. Fyfe registered his motor-cycle with the Geraldine County Council. It was a three and a half horse-power Triumph and was for private use. The fee was five shillings and the Identification Mark c3822 was to be placed on the rear guard. I still have the original certificate.

Margaret moved to Lower Hutt to marry Jack Hamilton in 1907. He was originally from Upper Waitohi near Pleasant Point, and was a cousin of Dan Wilkinson. They had two daughters, Margaret Jane (1909) and Ina Jean (1913), plus a son John Thomas (1907) who died as a baby. Margaret died in 1953, and Jack remained in the house with his daughter Margaret until his death in 1961. The house in Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt was itself an interesting one, having belonged to Joseph Fry, an early settler in the Hutt Valley. It was little more than a cottage, and the two upstairs bedrooms were reached via a ladder set into the wall of the living room. The house was pulled down after Margaret jnr. died in January 1973. Ina Duerden died in Hamilton on 29 January, 2002.