http://poriruacity.govt.nz/services/cemeteries

Friends of Porirua Cemetery, 32 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua (2026)

27/05/2026

He is the third Porirua Asylum patient interred in Porirua Cemetery in 1895.

Charles Tait 1869 – 1895

Charles Tait was born on 10th September 1869, in Blenheim the son of Theresa (nee Hannon) and George Tait.

George Tait was born in Middlesex, London, one of seven children. An older brother Charles Parrot Tait was convicted, as a twelve year old, of Larceny in 1845 and sentenced to seven years. He was transported to Van Demien’s Land (Tasmania) to serve his term. Released in 1852-53 he potentially worked the Victoria gold fields before coming to New Zealand in 1858 settling first in Blenheim,

George Tait may have joined his brother in Australia before coming to Blenheim. He married Theresa Hannon in 1862 with their daughter Elizabeth born in 1863 followed by, Edward, George, Charles born in Blenheim before the family moved to Hawera, about 1874, to join George’s older brother, Charles, and his family.

Charles was a prosperous businessman and he owned a number of companies in the Hawera including a bakery and a butchers. George snr was employed as a baker and later his son Charles was also employed as a baker.

Charles Tait was committed in Hawera and admitted to Porirua Asylum on 26th January 1892 in “poor physical health suffering from advanced phthisis (tuberculosis). Mentally he was in a particularly demented condition with delusions.”

Charles by 1st September 1895 had deteriorated to a point where he had taken to his bed. Through his time in Porirua he had been visited by his parents who were there on the afternoon of 26th September 1895. Charles Tait died on phthisis in the evening ‘after his parents had left.’

That his parents were at the Asylum and with the imminent death of their son arrangements for his burial would have been confirmed. Charles’ father is recorded as being baptised in Acamadey Chapel Independent, Hoxton so rather than being interred in the Church of England – Public Lawn he maybe the first burial in the Non-conformist section of Porirua Cemetery. Charles’ death certificate does list the Rev H L Monckton (Church of England) as the officiating minister .

Charles like all patients would have had a simple wooden marker on the grave, his parents died in the early 1900’s so when this marker deteriorated over time it was not replaced. Charles' actual burial plot details have been lost over the last 100 years so he is likely in an unmarked grave in the first rows of the Non-conformist section. There are a number of unnamed plots in Row H.

Notes
Charles Crabbe and Elizabeth Jones, the first cemetery burials, died earlier on 13th September 1895 and 24th September 1895 and are buried in sequence the next plot is Joseph Scott, 12th April 1896.

References
Porirua cemeteries Online
Ancestry.com
NZ BDM
Archives NZ Coroner’s Report s
NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters 1806 – 1849

Photo
Unknown Porirua : Porirua Cemeteries Online

19/05/2026

His original headstone was erected by members of the Loyal Kainapoura Lodge but in the past had fallen over and is now cemented on top of the grave.

Private William Pentney, 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot 1826 – 1903

William Pentney was born about 1826 in England as a young man he enlisted in the 65th Regiment of Foot, likely as a 15 year old in 1841.

The 65th Regiment had earned their nickname The Royal Tigers for earlier service in India but then from 1830 had seen service in Canada returning to England in 1841.

In the 1840’s the Colonial Government of New Zealand requested assistance from the Imperial Government following rising tensions with New Zealand Māori in the North and in the Wellington Region.

On 26th August 1845 it is probable that Private Pentney along with two officers and 50 other rank and files embarked on the barque Samuel Boddington. Known to be sailing on the Samuel Boddington was 1714 Private William Boatfield, who later would also be interred in Porirua Cemetery.

The Samuel Boddington was directed to Dublin, Ireland where she loaded 143 Irish convicts and then sailed for Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) where the convicts were landed in Hobart on 23rd January 1846.

Once the convicts were settled in Tasmania the 65th Regiment detachment were shipped to join other detachments of the 65th in Sydney, NSW. One detachment, under Major Wyatt, with 550 all ranks landed on 19th November 1846 at Russell, North Auckland. Another detachment, under Captain O’Connell, on the Levant, landed in Wellington on 1st August 1846.

The Levant was carrying, two Captains, two Lieutenants, eight Sergeants, and 162 rank and file of the 58th and 65th Regiments. The conflict in the Hutt Valley between Ngati Toa and the Colonial Government culminated with the Battle Hill engagement, 6th – 13th August 1846 where the Colonial Forces engaged with Te Rangihataeta lead Ngati Toa warriors. While the 65th Regiment was not engaged men from the 58th Regiment were part of the Colonial forces.

Elements of the 65th were deployed in the Wanganui area in 1847 to support the 58th Regiment defending the Wanganui settlement from local Māori after a dispute over land. The 65th Regiment under Captain William Rawson Trafford were part of the European forces engaged in the July 1847 Battle of St John’s Wood, Wanganui. It is not known if Private Pentney was part of this detachment or remained in those from the 65th Regiment who remained in the Wellington / Porirua area.

Private Pentney is recorded as being discharged from the 65th Regiment on 31st August 1850 and chose to remain in Wellington. He is recorded as a sawyer of Porirua Bay in the 1853 – 64 electoral rolls .

On 20th August 1866 William lodged a claim via Mr Charles Smith, Pauatanui for Land or Script as a veteran of the NZ Wars . Williams claims, being a resident of Porirua was supported by Thomas Bould, Porirua Ferry.

The return indicates that William was illiterate in that he makes a mark rather than signing the form.

William remained in the Porirua area he is recorded as a labourer in 1880-1881 electoral rolls living at Porirua Ferry . William also joined during this period the Loyal Kainapoura Lodge which was based in Tawa Flat.

William Pentney died in Porirua on 2nd January 1903 aged 77 and was interred in Porirua Cemetery. The loss of records within Porirua City Council has meant that William Pentney was recorded as Unknown N 000.

This will be corrected to Non-conformist, NC H 054.

There is no indication that William married and that the inscription, tp age and surname, on the headstone differ to that held by NZ Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Notes
There are now four 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot now known to be interred in Porirua Cemeteries.

The Loyal Kainapoura Lodge is part of the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity (I.O.O.F M.U.) formed in Tawa Flat in 1857. In 1897 the Lodge had 22 members but when it was dissolved in 1905 it only had seven members.

The headstone was supplied by Heyler

References
Ancestry.com
Paperspast Online
Archives NZ
NZ BDM
Porirua Cemeteries Online
NZ Electoral Rolls

Photos
Unknown: Porirua Cemeteries Online
Pentney grave, Porirua Cemetery: Allan Dodson, May 2026.

17/05/2026

War Graves Week | 16–24 May 2026
This week marks War Graves Week, led by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Have you ever visited a war grave in Porirua? There are three official Commonwealth War Graves in Porirua Cemetery.

10/2646 Corporal John "Jack" Richard H***e, Wellington Infantry Regiment. NZEF

11981 Private Thomas Bruce Wallace. Wellington Infantry Regiment, NZEF

11981 Private Thomas Gladstone Hook, 24th Battalion, 2NZEF

Ministry for Culture and Heritage is the CWGC agent in Aotearoa New Zealand. It care for and commemorate 3,367 people in New Zealand who died as a result of First and Second World War service, as part of the CWGC's global work honouring 1.7million war dead.

As well as the three official CWGC graves there are another 163 veterans interred or commemorated on graves in Porirua Cemetery. One hundred years of service from NZ Wars to Korea.

Allan Dodson, Porirua War Stories will conduct a walk 10:00 am, Saturday 23rd May 2026 visiting the three CWGC graves and also others, Royal Tigers, Australian Camel Corps, Gallipoli Corporals and medal winners. (Rain or shine!)

17/05/2026

She died of Consumption in Wellington Hospital and is interred in Porirua Cemetery. with her daughter.

Maud Isabel (nee Parker) Craig 1879 – 1912
Helen Craig 1909 - 1912
(Research by Allan Dodson)

Maud Isabelle Parker was born on 28th May 1879 in Stoke, Nelson the youngest of twelve children born to Barbara and Hicks John Parker.

Maud’s mother Barbara Parker of Scottish descent had immigrated with her family to Nelson where they settled in Stoke. Barbara married in 1857 Hicks John Parker.

Hicks was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA in 1820 . A married man with three children and one expected he left New Bedford in 1855. Hicks was part of the crew of the American Whaler ‘Desdemona’ which travelled to the South Pacific hunting S***m whales. In January 1857 the Desdemona was in Nelson where Hicks may have deserted the ship, the ship’s carpenter Joseph Williams, the ships carpenter, is known to have deserted the ship in Nelson.

Hicks married Barbara in Stoke on 13th November 1857 settling as a farm labourer. In 1873 Hicks enlisted in the Stoke Rifles and when he was obtained his long service medal he was No 13 Sergeant Hicks Parker, Stoke Rifles Volunteers.
The Parker’s remained in Stoke through to the late 1890’s before moving to Mangatainoka, Pahiatua where Hicks is recorded as a farmer in 1899. Hicks while in Mangatainoka applied for, and was granted, naturalisation.

A number of Barbara and Hicks daughters are recorded as living in Mangatainoka as well as an older son Robert who was a shop keeper in Pahiatua.

Maud moved to Wellington and married in 1905 Archibald Wallace Craig. Maud is listed as owning land in Johnsonville but the couple made their home in Seatoun, Wellington.

A son, Lawrence Wallace Craig, was born in 1906 and daughter Helen in 1909. It was not long after the birth of her daughter that Maud was admitted to the Seddon Ward of Wellington Hospital. The Seddon Ward on the eastern hills of the Newtown site. It was designed to treat patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in open air treatment, common in the 1900’s.

It is possible that her daughter Helen was also in the Seddon Ward with her mother as Helen died on 12th January 1912 of TB and is interred in Porirua Cemetery. It is likely that Porirua Cemetery was selected for Helen by the family because of Maud’s ownership of land in Johnsonville and as a site for Maud’s eventual internment.

Maud signed her will on 23rd April 1912, it was witnessed by two nurses at Wellington Hospital. In her will Maud left her Johnsonville land to her husband Archibald with the rest of her estate, including any Life Insurance policies, left to her son Lawrence.

Maud died on 25th April 1912 and is interred with her daughter Helen in the non-conformist section of Porirua Cemetery NC G 032.

Notes
Phthisis Pulmonalis, the old term for Pulmonary Tuberculosis, is a contagious, chronic and progressive bacterial infection of the lungs. It was known as consumption or white death .

There are a number of spellings on Maud and Isabelle so the spelling on the headstone, approved by her husband, has been used in this article.
Symbolism

The headstone was installed Hickmott & Son, Wellington and features a Crown and Ivy vines. The combination, representing victory over death and eternal life or memory .

Maud’s photo displays a brooch or clasp of a sun and dove representing a combination of divine light, peace and hope. The sun represents vitality, glory and enlightment while the dove is a universal symbol of peace, purity and the Holy Spirit .

Maud’s husband did not remarry, remaining until retirement in Wellington when he them moved to Auckland to be with his son.

References
Ancestry.com
Paperspast Online
Archives NZ Naturalisation
Archives NZ H Parker (long Service Volunteer)
Archives NZ Probates
NZ BDM
Google AI Overview
Porirua Cemetery Online

Photos
Maud date unknown : Ancestry.com
Maud’s will 23rd April 1912: Archives NZ
Craig grave, Porirua Cemetery: Allan Dodson, April 2026.

12/05/2026

Her grave location is now known.

Annie Hume 1826 – 1903
(Research by Allan Dodson)

Annie Hume was born in Fordell, Fifeshire, Scotland in 1826 the eldest of three children .

As a young woman she arrived in New Zealand in 1851 with her father, brother Robert, sister Margaret Sturrock (nee Hume) Reid and her husband Andrew Reid.

The family settled briefly in Wellington before moving to Wanganui and took up land that became known as the Hume and Reid property, Fordell, Wanganui.

Annie’s brother-in-law, Andrew Reid died in 1863 and her father Peter Hume in 1870.

Annie’s brother became the guardian for her sister Margaret’s three children but in his final years was reported unwell, and this may have been the trigger for Annie to be committed to the Mount View Asylum, Wellington on 7th August 1878. Annie is recorded as suffering from ‘mentally chronic delusion.’

Annie’s brother, Robert, died on 29th September 1879 and is buried in Matarawa Cemetery, Fordell, Wanganui. Following Robert’s death the Reid & Hume farm was sold in 1880, with Margaret and her family then moving to Auckland.

Annie remained in Mount View for sixteen years before being transferred to new buildings at Porirua Asylum on 24th May 1894.

Annie Hume died in Porirua Asylum on 22nd December 1903 of senile pneumonia and was interred in Porirua Cemetery on 27th December 1903. Her sister Mrs Reid, Auckland was informed of her death and likely posted the death notices in Wanganui Chronicle.

Annie’s sister Margaret died in Auckland in 1908.

Annie Hume, because of the historical lose of records, until recently has been recorded as Unknown N 000 however with PCC and Friends of Porirua Cemetery research we can now confirm her grave in the Public Lawn PL C 024. Annie’s unmarked grave is in the same row, to the left when facing, the headstone on the Knight brother’s grave.

References
Porirua Cemeteries Online
Porirua City Council Sheet 5 Public Lawn – grave layouts
Paperspast Online
Ancestry.com
Archives NZ Coroner’s Report

Photos
Fordell Homestead: Tripadvisor
Porirua Cemetery Unknowns: Porirua Cemeteries Online
Hume grave, Porirua Cemetery: Allan Dodson, May 2026.

10/05/2026

She was the daughter of the Head Attendant of Porirua Asylum

Edith Levyne Barnes 1904 - 1904
(Research by Allan Dodson)

Edith Levyne Barnes was born and died on 11th May 1904 the eldest daughter of Amy Gertrude (nee Osborne) and Ernest Barnes.

Ernest was employed in the Seacliff Mental Asylum, Dunedin in 1903 when he married trainee teacher Amy Gertrude Osborne. The couple moved north to the Porirua Asylum where Ernest was appointed as Head Attendant, they were living in Asylum Staff Housing when Edith was born.

Edith lived for 4 hours and was buried the same day in Porirua Cemetery, located adjacent to the Porirua Asylum.

Amy and Ernest continued to live in the Porirua Asylum, the couple had three children, sons, Ernest Henry Gray Barnes (1906) and Woodville John Gray Barnes (1907) and daughter Alma Ora Ernestine Barnes (1909) . The boys carry the given name Gray which would honour Dr Gray Hassell the Porirua Asylum Superintendent and potentially the doctor who delivered them.

All three Barnes children attended the Porirua School but left in 1919 when their father accepted a position as Head Attendant at the Sunnyside Asylum, Christchurch.

Edith’s grave would have had a simple wooden cross which has overtime deteriorated and been removed.

Originally the records of where she was interred were lost but in research by PCC and Friends of Porirua Cemetery has established she is interred in the Public Lawn area PL D 23 .

References
Porirua Cemeteries Online
Paperspast Online
NZ Electoral Rolls
Porirua School Jubilee
NZ BDM

Photos
Unknown Porirua Cemetery: Porirua Cemeteries Online
Barnes grave, Porirua Cemetery: Allan Dodson, May 2026
The grave is to the right of the Knight grave and a row higher.

09/05/2026

She was committed to an Asylum at aged nine.

Alice Cook 1886 – 1903
(Research by Allan Dodson)

Alice Cook was born on 10th May 1886 at Pakohai , North Wairarapa, the daughter of Mary (nee Liverton) and William Weaver Cook.

Alice’ father, of English descent, arrived in New Zealand about 1873 moving to the Pakowai area of North Wairarapa where he is listed in 1885 as a sheep farmer in the Oahanga Block. The Liverton family were also sheep farmers in North Wairarapa, Akitio Block with William marrying Mary at ‘Pakowai,’ Mataikona, Wairarapa .

William and Mary’s first child, Mary Elizabeth Cook was born in 1884, Alice Cook in 1886 and Jane Cook in 1888.

The Cook family moved to Palmerston North, about 1894, with William listed as a Fellmonger, Longburn and also as a farmer in Pakohai. This may have been a trigger for Alice to be assessed in Masterton, on 28th August 1894, and committed to Mount View Asylum, Wellington. The assessment was blunt “an idiot of very low type” and also suffering heart issues.

Alice remained in Mount View through to 26th April 1898 when she was transferred to Porirua Asylum.

Alice suffered slight fainting fits but her physical conditions did not change for the next five years. On the night of 7th June 1903 she was put to bed and checked during the night. In the morning at 6:30 she was woken by the nurse but found to being having difficulties. The nurse called the Matron who, under oath, stated she arrived but Alice died two minutes after her arrival.

The Coroner reported that she ‘Alice Cook, being an idiot patient at Porirua Asylum did die there on 8th June 1903 of valvular disease of the heart. ‘

She has relatives in Palmerston North who have been communicated with.

Alice was buried the next day, 9th June 1903, in Porirua Cemetery the original plot information has been lost so she is present recorded as Unknown N 000.

Alice’s father died in 1925 and was buried in the Anglican (Church of England) section of Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North.

It is likely that Alice is in fact interred in the Church of England, Public Lawn, COE C 011 at the lower left of the cemetery.

PCC has now, with the assistance of Friends of Porirua Cemetery updated dates of death (DOD) for all in Porirua Cemetery. Inmates were usually buried in date order of death and there is a Cook between Burns 20/05/1903 (COE C 10) and Larson 09/09/1903 (COE C 012).

References
Porirua Cemeteries Online
Ancestry.com
NZ Electoral Rolls
Paperspast Online
NZ BDM
Archives NZ : Coroners Reports

Photos
Unknown : Porirua Cemeteries Online
Public Lawn to the left of Knighs Grave: Allan Dodson May 2026

05/05/2026

This is the story of my husband's 2nd great grandfather.
( Research by Debbie Sheppard )

Hans Christian Holm Hansen 1851 - 1919

Hans Christian Holm Hansen was born on the 15th October 1851 to Peder Bonnersen Hansen and Ane Johanne (nee Hansdatter). in the Frederiksberg Parish, Sokkelund, Copenhagen, Denmark.

He was baptized on the 6th December 1851 with his godmother Ane Kruger as witness, it is noted that she is from Old Kings Road which is a very notable, historic, famous street which once was only for royalty and still to this day for the wealthy.

Hans Christian, known as Christian or Holm, was the youngest of 3 children, having an older brother, Johan, and an older sister Sophie.

Between the 1870's and 1880's a lot of Danish families moved to Australia and New Zealand for a better economic life and skilled labourers were encouraged to move over. Christian took this opportunity during 1878 to move to South Australia being a Draper and one who knew leather work.

During his time in Adelaide, he met his bride-to-be Harriet Mabel Bryant, she was born in Wales to Moses and Hannah Bryant (nee Russell).

They were married at the Bryant residence in Bowden, Adelaide on the 30th August 1884. Christian and Harriet had a daughter, Olive who was born in Adelaide on the 7th June 1885 but sadly died 7 months later 8 January 1886.

They had 3 more boys, Harold, Sydney, and Victor, in Adelaide between 1887 and 1891.

The family decided to travel over to New Zealand in 1893 to Wellington, Christian and Harriet had one more son, Alfred, born in Wellington.

Five years later on the 19th February 1893, Hans Christian Holm Hansen signed Naturalisation Papers for New Zealand which gave him the right to vote and own land in New Zealand.

Christian worked around Wellington as a Draper and the family lived in Adelaide Rd, Wellington between 1900 and 1914. After this they moved to Island Bay.

Between 1917 and 1919 Christian Holm Hansen was a boarder at the Salvation Army Eventide Rest Home in Featherston, residing there because of the beginnings of his Senile Dementia.

On the 12th May 1919, Messrs CW Ritchie and AC Holms J.P and Dr JA Doctor and Dr BCA Leeper of Featherston signed an order for Christian to be admitted to the Porirua Mental Hospital. He was admitted on the 13th May 1919 suffering from Senile Dementia. It was noted in his paperwork that his name was Holm Hansen.

On admission he was said to be 66 years old but his appearance made him look a lot older.

His bodily health was deteriorating very quickly and in the last two months he was confined to his bed.

On the 24th August 1919 he showed signs of Hypostatic Pneumonia, which develops easily in the elderly that are on bed rest and have prolonged immobility or are on their backs for long extended periods.

At 12.45pm on the 28th August Hans Christian Holm Hansen died from Hypostatic Pneumonia in the presence of attendant P.Stewart. He was noted as 66 in his coroners report but his death certificate states 67.

His wife Harriet visited him while he was in the Hospital and she still li

Hans Christian Holm Hansen was buried in the Porirua Cemetery, Church of England Area, Row D, Plot 35

References:
Ancestery.com
Family Search
Archives NZ
NZBDM
Porirua Cemetery
Papers past
Hansen/Sheppard family history

Photos
Han’s naturalisation papers: Archives NZ
Hans and Harriett: Hansen/Sheppard family
Hansen Grave, Porirua Cemetery: Debbie Sheppard April 2026.

02/05/2026

The grave is located in unstable ground in Porirua Cemetery. Over time it has crumbled and the headstone fallen facedown.

Porirua City Council cemetery staff has recently repositioned the headstone so the inscription is readable which has made me revisit the original article, published in 2022, prepared while researching for WW1 veterans interred in Porirua Cemetery.

83932 Private John James McGregor – C Company C1

John James McGregor was born in Queensland, Australia on 4th March 1880 the only son of Hannah (nee James) and Alexander Maurice McGregor.

John’s family moved to New Zealand in the late 1890’s to Palmerston North, New Zealand. John’s father is recorded as an Engine Driver and was recruited by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company as staff for the new Wellington to Palmerston North Railway.

John is first recorded in 1905 when his mother Hannah advertised in the Wanganui Chronicle requesting that he contact her as she was leaving to the United States of America. John, a carpenter by trade, had been living in Wanganui but had moved to Auckland where he was remanded on 21st November 1905, for return to Wanganui on not paying maintenance. There is no record of a sentence so it appears John paid outstanding maintenance rather than going to jail.

John married, in Wanganui, Minnie Annie Butler in 1908 with a daughter Doris being born that year.

In October 1916 John James McGregor volunteered for the NZEF but was rejected on medical grounds .

In December 1917 John James McGregor was selected in the compulsory military services ballot. While he is listed as being employed as a carpenter working for A Pepper, Wanganui he gives his mother as his next of kin and her 2 Lloyd Street, Wellington address. John is noted as a married man, with no children it is possible that Doris had been adopted.

John underwent a medical examination on 27th December 1917 where he was classified as C1 and entered Trentham Military Camp on 3rd July 1918 as Private McGregor, C Company C1. There are numerous documents on Private McGregor’s file re his Gastric Neurosis which he suffered prior to his enlisting in 1916.

On 24th July 1918 Private McGregor went before a medical board at Trentham Military Camp and he was granted leave without pay and was issued with a ‘Certificate of Leave in Lieu of Discharge.’

John returned to live with his mother at 2 Lloyd Street, Wellington and was employed as a Parliamentary messenger. He was committed to an Asylum on 17th June 1921 and admitted to Porirua Asylum the same day. A later Coroner’s report note that he had previously been in the Asylum in 1919 no cause given but when admitted in 1921 it was with General Paralysis (Syphilis), fairly advanced.

John is recorded as steadily going downhill and in late 1922 was confined to his bed. John James McGregor died in Porirua Asylum on 21st January 1923 the cause noted General Paralysis. The Coroner’s reported noted that John was 42, a single man (it appears Minnie Annie McGregor died in 1920) a carpenter, living in Wellington and that his mother (Hannah McGregor) visited him regularly. The last visit recorded on 21st November 1922.

Hannah McGregor was advised of her son’s death and arranged for a suitable headstone to be placed on the grave.

John James McGregor is interred in the Church of England section, CE R 013 .

Hannah McGregor 1841 - 1930

John’s mother Hannah born Hannah James in 1840, possibly of Scottish descent, married in Queensland Alexander Maurice McGregor in 1879. The couple’s only child John James McGregor was born in Queensland in 1880.

The family came to New Zealand in the 1890’s with Alexander, a Engine Driver recruited for the newly established Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company which from 1886 connected Palmerston North to Wellington.

It appears Alexander and Hannah may have separated in the late 1890’s. Hannah, alone, is listed as married and living in Lloyd Street, Wellington in 1903. Her son John remained in the Wanganui region.

In 1905 Hannah published newspaper adverts seeking contact with her son John. Hannah was sailing for the USA visiting Zion City, Illinois. Zion City had been set up in 1900 as a ‘City of Prayer’ by Faith Healer, John Alexander Dowie. By the time Hannah arrived in Zion City the city was under financial issues and Hannah wrote to New Zealand papers expressing her disappointment with what she found and arranging her return to New Zealand .

Hannah returned to Lloyd Street, Wellington and her status became that as Widow.

Her son John came to live with her in 1918/1919 following his discharge from the NZEF, on medical grounds. John was committed to Porirua Asylum in 1921.

John’s mother Hannah continued to live in 2 Lloyd Street, Wellington Central in her will dated 3rd August 1922 she “direct and empower my Trustee to appropriate what moneys he may think fit for the maintenance of my son in the mental hospital at Porirua.’ Hannah also allocated £200 to her granddaughter Doris to be paid at age 25.

Hannah continued to live at 2 Lloyd Street through to her death on 12th June 1930 aged 89, she is interred with her son John in CE R 013.

At present there is no indication, on the grave, that Hannah is interred with her son John, so looking at the possibility of installing a small plaque at the foot of the grave.

Notes
Gastric Neurosis is applied to those conditions of dyspepsia or indigestion the symptoms of which were found to have predominantly psychological basis.
References
Gastric Neurosis in a Military Service: Faber & Micon
Archway Archives New Zealand Military Files
NZ BDM
Papers Past
Archives NZ Probates 1930 Hannah McGregor
Archives NZ Coroner’s Report 1923/120
Ancestry.com
Porirua Cemeteries Online
Zion City – Wikipedia AI

Photo
McGregor grave, Porirua: Porirua Cemetery Records Online
This photo c2010.
McGregor grave, April 2026: Allan Dodson

28/04/2026

William Norman 1886 – 1917

(Researched by Allan Dodson)

William Norman was born on 27th December 1886 in Canning Town, London nothing is known about his early life but his NZ Military File, in 1916, indicates a sister, Mrs Barlett.

It appears that William went to sea, possibly joining the Royal Navy, in the late 1890’s early 1900’s and spent 12 years at sea. His medical examination for the NZEF notes both arms were “well tattooed.’

Prior to World War One William was employed as an Ironworker at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, Australia. Up to 1913 the dockyards had been operated by the Royal Navy, they were then passed to the Royal Australian Navy.

William Norman was sentenced, on 25th January 1916, in Wellington on 5 charges of theft. His sentence was 1 month for each charge. William was described as born in England and employed as a fireman. In the 1900’s a fireman would be a stoker in a ship. William was 5’ 3” of shallow complexion with brown hair and blue eyes he is listed as having a small scar on nose, pot of flowers and three clasped hands on right forearm, left thumb nail has been damaged, scar tight thumb, tip of right little finger had been injured, weak intellect.
William was release from Goal on 25th February 1916, likely on the condition that he enlist, as on the same day William Norman was medically examined in Wellington. William was found to be medically fit and reported to Trentham
Military Camp on 7th March 1916 as Private William Norman, F Company,
14th Reinforcements.

Private Norman on 11th April 1916 Private Norman was transferred to HQ Staff.

Private Norman was admitted to the Trentham Military Camp Hospital of 21st July 1916 and on 25th July 1916, by order of the Camp Commandant went before a Medical Board who’s blunt assessment ‘he is insane,’

Private Norman was discharged from the NZEF, dated 21st July 1916, as medically unfit, permanent delusional insanity.

On 28th July 1916 William Norman was committed to Porirua Asylum suffering from General Paralysis of the Insane. As he was in, fairly satisfactory health was initially employed in the Hospital gardens. He was considered orderly and tractable (easy to control.)

On 22nd April 1917 William Norman was found to have a high temperature and the right side of his neck and cheek swollen. Despite treatment the infection spread with William Norman dying on 24th April 1917. The Coroner’s Report notes Acute Pharyngeal Cellulitis and General Paralysis.

William Norman is interred in the Non-Conformist Section of Porirua Cemetery,
NC F 027

References
Archives NZ WW1 Military Files
Ancestry.com
Archives NZ Coroner’s Report
NZ Police Gazette 1875 – 1945
Porirua Cemeteries Online

Photos
Norman Grave, Porirua Cemeteries Online: Allan Dodson, April 2026

Friends of Porirua Cemetery

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