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1837–1915Runholder, orchardist, entrepreneur
James Nelson Williams was born at Waimate mission station inland from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, probably on 22 August 1837, the third son of Jane Nelson and her husband, William Williams, a missionary and later bishop of Waiapu. He was taken by his parents to the Church Missionary...
Story: Williams, James Nelson
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1801?–1896Missionary
Jane Nelson was baptised at St Mary Gate Independent Chapel, Nottingham, England, on 29 April 1801, daughter of James Nelson and his wife, Anna Maria Dale. Her parents were Dissenters. In 1817 Jane was engaged as a pupil teacher by Mary Williams at her school in Southwell, Nottinghamshire....
Story: Williams, Jane
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1837–1915Lawyer, politician, judge, university chancellor
Joshua Strange Williams was born at Paddington, London, England, on 19 September 1837, the eldest son of Lucy Strange and her husband, Joshua Williams, a conveyancer who became an eminent barrister and wrote authoritative works on property law. The younger Joshua was educated at Harrow School...
Story: Williams, Joshua Strange
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1870–1935Farmer, politician, benefactor
Kenneth Stuart Williams was the youngest of a remarkable quartet of second-generation descendants of the missionary brothers Henry and William Williams. Kenneth, his first cousin Thomas Sydney Williams, and his second cousins, brothers Heathcote Beetham and Arnold Beetham Williams, (known as KS...
Story: Williams, Kenneth Stuart
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1793–1879Missionary, community leader
According to family information, Marianne Coldham was born in Yorkshire, England, on 12 December 1793, the eldest daughter of Ann Temple and her husband, Wright Coldham. In 1796 her family and that of her future husband, Henry Williams, moved to Nottingham to try their fortunes in the lace...
Story: Williams, Marianne
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1875–1973Methodist deaconess
Matilda Alice (known as Alice) Jeffrey was born at Alexandra, Victoria, Australia, on 5 January 1875, the fifth child of Ann Scale and her husband, John Jeffrey, a farmer. Growing up in extreme poverty, she absorbed from her parents a devout Methodism which guided her life and work.
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Story: Williams, Matilda Alice
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1905–1993Singer, horsewoman
Phyllis Constance Morris (later known as Kirimamae) was the first of five children of John Bentham Morris and his wife, Annie Isabella Gallagher. She was born at Gisborne on 31 March 1905. Her father was a sheepfarmer at Kaiaua Bay, seven miles north of Tolaga Bay, where the pioneering life...
Story: Williams, Phyllis Constance
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1919–2013Mathematician, public servant, university administrator
Robin Williams was an influential administrator who helped shape New Zealand’s late twentieth century public service. His ability as a mathematician earned him a place in the Manhattan Project in California, part of the team tasked with separating uranium-235 and uranium-238, a necessary...
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1822–1907Missionary, farmer, educationalist, pastoralist
Samuel Williams was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, on 17 January 1822, the third child of the Anglican clergyman Henry Williams and his wife, Marianne Coldham. Nearly eight months later the family left for New Zealand. Samuel Williams grew up at Paihia and Waimate North mission...
Story: Williams, Samuel
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1890–1971Doctor, naturopath
Ulric Gaster Williams was born at Putiki, Wanganui, on 22 May 1890, the son of Alfred Owen Williams, an Anglican clergyman, and his wife, Alice Gaster. He was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School from 1900 to 1909, then at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh, graduating MB, ChB...
Story: Williams, Ulric Gaster
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1800–1878Missionary, linguist
According to family information William Williams was born at Plumtre House, Nottingham, England, on 18 July 1800, the ninth and youngest child of Mary Marsh and her husband, Thomas Williams. He was baptised on 30 October 1800. Thomas Williams was of Welsh descent, a hosier by trade and a man of...
Story: Williams, William
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1829–1916Missionary, linguist
William Leonard Williams, known as Leonard Williams to Pākehā and as Mita Rēnata to Māori, was born at Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, on 22 July 1829. He was the third child and eldest son of Jane Nelson and her husband, William Williams, of the Church Missionary Society. In his early...
Story: Williams, William Leonard
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1814–1888Merchant, landowner, financier, speculator
James Williamson is said to have been born in 1814, in Belfast, Ireland, the son of Ann Gardiner and her husband, Thomas Williamson, a linen merchant and ship owner of that city.
While still a boy, James went to sea on one of his father's vessels. Later, as a ship's officer, he...
Story: Williamson, James
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1855–1857?–1937Feminist, welfare worker
Jessie Marguerite McAllan was born in Dublin, Ireland, probably sometime between 1855 and 1857. She was the daughter of John McAllan, a merchant; her mother's identity is unknown. No information survives about Jessie's early life. On 11 December 1875 she married Hugh Bellis Williamson, a...
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1815–1875Printer, newspaper proprietor, politician
John Williamson was born probably on 25 August 1815 at Newry, County Down, Ireland. His parentage is unknown. Probably educated at one of Newry's three National schools, he served a printer's apprenticeship. Probably in 1833 or 1834 he married Sarah Barre. They had five children, two of whom...
Story: Williamson, John
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1870/1871?–1935Singer, conductor, singing teacher
Sidney Williamson was born in London, England, probably in 1870 or 1871, the son of Sarah Roberts and her husband, Philip Andrew Williamson, a bootmaker. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1874 or 1875, and settled in Sydenham, Christchurch. Sidney attended Sydenham School but little else...
Story: Williamson, Sidney
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1842–1908Printer, bookseller, publisher, politician
Archibald Dudingston Willis was born on 20 June 1842 at London, England, the son of Matilda Wills and her husband, John Willis, who died soon after Archibald's birth. At the age of 12 he was employed by a prominent firm of printers, Eyre and Spottiswoode, with whom he remained for three years...
Story: Willis, Archibald Dudingston
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1881–1968Civilian and military nurse, hospital inspector, matron, army nursing administrator
Lizzie Ida Grace Willis was born in Wellington on 29 December 1881, one of 13 children of Alexander James Willis, secretary to cabinet and clerk of the Executive Council, and his wife, Amelia Annie Nicholson. The family lived in Thorndon and then moved to a spacious house at Johnsonville with...
Story: Willis, Lizzie Ida Grace
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1848–1930Writer, embroiderer, gardener
Anne Adams was born at Greenvale, near Wickliffe, Victoria, Australia, on 11 June 1848. She was the daughter of Jane Anderson, a Scot, and her husband, Robert Adams, an Irishman. Her father was a successful pastoralist and when he died in 1862 he left Annie, as she was known, a legacy of £16,...
Story: Wilson, Anne
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1922–1993Musician, singer, songwriter, railway worker
Colin James Wilson was born in St Kilda, Dunedin, on 11 October 1922, the third of five children of Robert Moffat Wilson, a motorman, and his wife, Louisa Elizabeth Lemon. Known as Cole, he attended Mornington School and when he was 12 bought a guitar, which he was to play for the rest of his...
Story: Wilson, Colin James