Joseph Abbott |  |
My great-great grandfather, Joseph ABBOTT, was an interesting man. His date and place of birth remain a mystery however his life in New Zealand was well documented.
He married my great-great grandmother in 1873 and they had 10 children. The marriage took place in Cust in the South Island of New Zealand - Mary Ann Hutt was the bride. On viewing the marriage certificate print out I noticed that Joseph was recorded as Joseph Alfred Abbott, a bachelor of full age and Mary Ann was 17 years old. By 1884 the family are appearing in records in Otaki on the North Island of New Zealand, where Joseph is registered as a baker on the Otaki Electoral Roll.
He married my great-great grandmother in 1873 and they had 10 children. The marriage took place in Cust in the South Island of New Zealand - Mary Ann Hutt was the bride. On viewing the marriage certificate print out I noticed that Joseph was recorded as Joseph Alfred Abbott, a bachelor of full age and Mary Ann was 17 years old. By 1884 the family are appearing in records in Otaki on the North Island of New Zealand, where Joseph is registered as a baker on the Otaki Electoral Roll.
Joseph died in Wellington Hospital on 12 August 1888. His death certificate does not mention the middle name of Alfred; records Mary Ann (nee Hutt) as his wife, and that he is the father of eight children. All this concurs with proven facts of that marriage - a daughter had died one month before his death and the 10th child was born in April 1889, after his death.
So, why the query about a previous marriage? While researching more information about his birth I found another marriage of a Joseph Abbott in 1863, South Island, New Zealand. Initially, I dismissed this as not being my Joseph but a few other facts started to emerge that showed it may indeed be. I located a Joseph Abbott who sailed back and forth between Lyttleton, New Zealand, and Sydney, NSW, on the “Heather Bell” as a cook and steward, my Joseph became a baker in later life. This employment appeared to end in 1863, the year of the reported previous marriage to Mary Ann Cosgraves. I was able to find documentation for three children of this marriage and then, sadly, Mary Ann’s death from “exhaustion from protracted labour” in 1868. The child also perished. I have found no record of what happened to the two surviving young girls but in 1871 Joseph winds up in jail after stealing a cow!
So, why the query about a previous marriage? While researching more information about his birth I found another marriage of a Joseph Abbott in 1863, South Island, New Zealand. Initially, I dismissed this as not being my Joseph but a few other facts started to emerge that showed it may indeed be. I located a Joseph Abbott who sailed back and forth between Lyttleton, New Zealand, and Sydney, NSW, on the “Heather Bell” as a cook and steward, my Joseph became a baker in later life. This employment appeared to end in 1863, the year of the reported previous marriage to Mary Ann Cosgraves. I was able to find documentation for three children of this marriage and then, sadly, Mary Ann’s death from “exhaustion from protracted labour” in 1868. The child also perished. I have found no record of what happened to the two surviving young girls but in 1871 Joseph winds up in jail after stealing a cow!
Prison documents record Joseph as ‘mulatto’ having ‘dark woolly hair’ and being ‘5ft 3 ¾ inches’ tall but give no indication as to his marital status. The description fits with the known family history of my Joseph and could well be the same man of the first marriage given the imprisonment is in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand and after the death of the first Mary Ann. Joseph is released in September 1872 and marries my great-great grandmother on 20 March 1873.
How do I prove there is only one Joseph Abbott? A careful check of New Zealand BDM records showed only one Joseph Abbott marrying in New Zealand between 1863 and 1873. All Abbott children born in New Zealand, between 1862 and 1889, where the father was recorded as Joseph have Mary Ann (e) as their mother and are my proven ancestors. I was also not able to find a death for Joseph Abbott between the demise of the first wife in 1868 and marriage to my great-great grandmother in 1873. Everything was pointing toward there only being one Joseph but I was still not convinced.
Then, whilst on my Ancestry account I came across a hint for one of my great grandaunts, Harriet Abbott born in 1884, sister to my great grandmother. This document had been attached to Harriet by a DNA match - a 4th proven cousin I had had previous contact with.
How do I prove there is only one Joseph Abbott? A careful check of New Zealand BDM records showed only one Joseph Abbott marrying in New Zealand between 1863 and 1873. All Abbott children born in New Zealand, between 1862 and 1889, where the father was recorded as Joseph have Mary Ann (e) as their mother and are my proven ancestors. I was also not able to find a death for Joseph Abbott between the demise of the first wife in 1868 and marriage to my great-great grandmother in 1873. Everything was pointing toward there only being one Joseph but I was still not convinced.
Then, whilst on my Ancestry account I came across a hint for one of my great grandaunts, Harriet Abbott born in 1884, sister to my great grandmother. This document had been attached to Harriet by a DNA match - a 4th proven cousin I had had previous contact with.
The article from the Salvation Army Archives in New Zealand talks about the ‘Abbott sisters’ in the Salvation Army.
These girls were in Wanganui, some 120 km from Otaki and although born 23 years apart were happily regarding themselves as sisters. It could be surmised that the elder daughter, Mary, perhaps took the younger sister, Harriet, “under her wing” and was guiding her through life.
Joseph Abbott
Further research (currently underway) as to where both Harriet and Mary were educated might shed some light on this.
Mary Elizabeth’s mother was Mary Ann Cosgraves and Harriet’s, Mary Ann Hutt; however, as reported in the Salvation Army document, they did regard themselves as sisters. I am happy I have proven, to my satisfaction, and after many years of research, that Joseph Abbott was, in fact, married twice.
Joseph Abbott
Further research (currently underway) as to where both Harriet and Mary were educated might shed some light on this.
Mary Elizabeth’s mother was Mary Ann Cosgraves and Harriet’s, Mary Ann Hutt; however, as reported in the Salvation Army document, they did regard themselves as sisters. I am happy I have proven, to my satisfaction, and after many years of research, that Joseph Abbott was, in fact, married twice.