Person Page - 230

Ronald James Matthews was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 23 September 1924. He was the second son of James Alexander MATTHEWS (1898-1963) and Stella Evelyn ABELL (1900-1991).¹

He was a apprentice fitter and turner at the glassworks before enlisting in the Australian Army, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant at retirement. He later became the Safety Officer at Comalco before a series of strokes forced his retirement.¹

He married Doreen Claire Cumming, daughter of George Cumming and Ethel Maud Robinson, in Brisbane, Queensland, on 24 January 1948.¹

Ronald died on 6 July 2000 at home in Moorebank, Sydney, New South Wales, at age 75.^2,1 He was buried on 11 July 2000 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Leppington.^1,3

Samuel Hayward Ford Matthews was born in New Zealand in 1854.²

He married Elizabeth Eleanor Subritzky, daughter of Johannes Anton Subritzky and Elizabeth Hoare, in New Zealand in 1875.^3,4

Samuel died on 14 April 1888 in Kaitaia, Northland, as the result of a farming accident.⁵ He was buried at the St Saviours Church Cemetery in Kaitaia.⁵

Serena Hannah Matthews was born at Waimate North Mission Station in Waimate North, Northland, on 16 April 1840.^2,1

She married Ralph Pickmere, son of John Richard Pickmere and Eliza Thornhill, in Awanui, north of Kaitaia, in 1861.^3,1,4,5

She was widowed at age 60 on the death of her husband Ralph on 13 April 1901.^6,1,7

Serena died on 9 February 1910 in Auckland at age 69.^1,8 She was buried on 10 February 1910 at the St Marks Cemetery in Remuera.^9,1

He married Rizpah Baker.¹

Agnes Maud was born in Kent Town, Adelaide, South Australia, on 4 December 1870. She was one of 5 children of Edward MAUD and Jane COWAN.¹

She married Arthur Ebenezer Forsaith, son of Thomas Forsaith and Ada Mary Hall, at the residence of Mr Cooper in Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia, on 21 September 1897.^2,3

Agnes was divorced from Arthur Ebenezer Forsaith at Perth, Western Australia, on 19 August 1912.
The proceedings, as reported in the West Australian newspaper, make interesting reading:
"THE STRONGEST PROOF. A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. INTERESTING PETITION IN DIVORCE. "AN UNUSUAL TRADE INQUIRY."
In the light of events which were exposed in the Divorce Court yesterday, Mrs. Agnes Forsaith apparently did well to preserve her marriage certificate, for that document has proved to be a substantial factor in clearing up what had appeared to Mr. Justice MacMillan to be a difficult point, and in releasing her from her marriage with Arthur Ebenezer Forsaith, formerly of Perth, on the ground of the latter's desertion. The case was one of many which have been before the Divorce Court recently under the new Divorce Act. When the case was before Mr. Justice MacMillan last week it was stated that respondent, with petitioner's consent, left Perth in 1905 for Adelaide for three months, on account of illness. At the end of that period he was to have returned, but since then she had not heard from him, nor had he supported her. It was stated also that respondent, since his marriage with petitioner, was about to enter into another marriage outside Western Australia, but was prevented from doing so. On the evidence then before him, however, his Honour was diffident about dealing finally with the case, and it was adjourned until yesterday morning, in order to permit of further inquiries being made. Mr. A. D. Stone appeared for petitioner. Two witnesses - Albert Kruger and O. L. Haines - yesterday supplied what might be termed the missing links in the chain of evidence. The former was able to inform the Court of the man's movements, while the latter witness related how respondent's alleged attempt to enter into a second marriage was frustrated. Albert Kruger told the Court that he knew respondent when the latter was in Perth. He (respondent) was then a printer and publisher. Witness was in Sydney at the end of April and at the beginning of May, and he then saw respondent in that city and spoke to him.
His Honour: Did he tell you anythng about himself? - No. I asked him where he was going; and he stated that he was leaving that day for Brisbane.
Did you know what his business was at that time? - No.
He did not mention his wife? - No.
Did he seem in good health? - Yes; excelllent.
O. L. Haines, the other witness, described himself as the managing director of the Trade Protection Association. He said that in 1906 he had inquiries from New Zealand, by his agent in that country, in regard to Arthur Ebenezer Forsaith. In Perth a meeting of respondent's creditors had been called under the Assignment Act, witness being trustee. He remembered perfectly the nature of the inquiry in question.
Mr. Stone: Did you reply to it? - Yes. "It was rather an unusual trade inquiry," added witness, when asked what it was that had impressed firmly on his mind the nature of the investigation. "It was stated that Forsaith was proposing marriage to the daughter of one of my agent's clients."
You forwarded to New Zealand a history of respondent while he was here? - Yes. Witness had some foolscap notes in his hand, but they were not read out.
With that letter in reply, what did you send? - A copy of his marriage certificate.
Did you hear any more about it? - No.
Mr. Stone submitted that on the evidence now before the Court, respondent, as far back as Sentember, 1906, had shown no intention whatever of returning to this State. His Honour said that on the evidence as it now stood desertion since 1906 had been proved, and a decree nisi, returnable in six months, would be granted. Petitioner was also granted the custody of her two children and costs against respondent."^4,5

Agnes died on 4 July 1948 in Graceville, Brisbane, Queensland, at age 77.^6,7 She was buried on 6 July 1948 at the Toowong Cemetery, Cnr Frederick St & Mt Cootha Rd in Toowong.⁸

She married Michael Russell in Ireland.¹

Lavinia Mayall was born in Manchester, Lancashire, on 6 January 1882.^1,2

She married Frederick James Clarke, son of William Clarke and Marianne Kemp, in Manchester, Lancashire, in 1906.¹

Lavinia died on 28 October 1944 in Onehunga at age 62.^1,3

Howard Mays was born in New Zealand in 1893. He was the son of Oliver and Mary Jane MAYS.²

He married Louise Margaret Hansen, daughter of Lars Hansen and Mary Ann Hastie, in New Zealand in 1909.¹

Howard died in 1954 in New Zealand.³

William McBeath was born in Dunnet, Caithness-shire, from 1842 to 1843. Based on his age at death ther are two possible baptisms, so his parents were either George McBEATH and Jacobina SINCLAIR or William McBEATH and Jean ANGUS.² He was baptised in Dunnet, Caithness-shire, from November 1842 to November 1843.^3,2

He married Catherine Mason Robertson, daughter of Peter Robertson and Janet Gillespie, at Mr Glendinning's house, London St in Dunedin, Otago, on 6 May 1869.¹

William died on 9 May 1916 at 120 Eglinton St in Dunedin, Otago.^3,4 He was buried on 12 May 1916 at the Southern Cemetery.⁵

Dorothy May (Doe) McCaffery was born circa 1916.

Dorothy's second marriage was to Stanley Robert Cuthbertson, son of George Lyon Cuthbertson and Sheila Mabel Macdonald, on 26 April 1983 in Nelson.

Dorothy died on 15 August 1998 at Timaru Hospital in Timaru, Canterbury.¹ She was cremated at the Whitestone Chapel in Oamaru on 19 August 1998.¹