| Name |
William Brown |
| Birth |
Abt 1853 |
Rothes, Moray, Scotland  |
- Parents: William Brown and Margaret Thom
(so William and John Leslie Brown are brothers)
|
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
2 Mar 1911 |
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [1, 2] |
| Cause: Verdict of Coroner: Found Drowned |
- William Brown,
Builder, aged 58 years.
Parents: William Brown, Stone Mason & Margaret Thom
Born Glasgow, Scotland and 30 years in NZ
Married in Ashburton, aged 33 to Margaret McDonald
Living Issue:
2 Males: 23 & 11yrs
2 Females: 24 & 14yrs
Informant was Wm Fouley, Sergt Police, Ashburton
|
| Death Notice |
3 Mar 1911 |
"Ashburton Guardian", New Zealand [3] |
- BROWN
On March 2nd, at Ashburton, William, the beloved husband of Margaret Brown; aged 58
FOUND DROWNED
The Inquest.
An inquest concerning the death of William Brown, builder and contractor, whose body was found in the Domain swimming bath early on Thursday morning was held before the Coroner, Mr V G Day, SM today.
William Brown, son of the deceased, said that his father went to bed at 10 o'clock on Wednesday, suffering from back trouble. He had been drinking of late, but not for the two days previous to his death. He heard his father get up about 4 o'clock on the morning of the fatality, and get a drink of water. About twenty minutes to five Mrs Brown woke him, and told witness that his father was missing. He waited for a time, expecting his father to return, but as he did not do so, witness went in search of him. As he passed through the Domain at the swimming bath, he saw his father's cap, which he found, was on deceased's head, the body being upright in the deep water. Witness tried to raise the body, but failed. He went for assistance, and brought back Mr J Readhead, the curator of the Domain, and together they got the body out. His father had not been in good health for some two years, and about the beginning of last month seemed to be worried by financial troubles. Deceased had also had a great deal of domestic trouble, but he knew of no reason why his father should commit suicide. He had never threatened to do anything of the kind.
David John, assistant curator of the Public Gardens, Christchurch, gave evidence as to assisting in getting the body out of the water.
Alexander McDonald, partner in the firm of Brown and McDonald, builders, said that deceased, who was his brother-in-law, was not of a despondent turn of mind. The firm was in a good financial position. He had seen deceased in bed on Wednesday, and decease told him that he might be well in a very short time. He had been drinking at the time, witness thought. He could see no reason why he should commit suicide. He certainly had domestic trouble, but that would not warrant any action of that kind.
Dr Hunter said that shortly after 6.30am on Thursday he was called to see the body, and when he arrived, Mr Readhead, was trying artificial means of respiration. There were no signs of life, and its appearance pointed to the cause of death being drowning, although, if deceased had been in a weak state of health, it was quite possible that death might have followed on the shock caused by jumping into the cold water.
The Coroner returned an open verdict of "Found Drowned".
|
| Burial |
4 Mar 1911 |
Ashburton Cemetery, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [4] |
- In
Loving Memory
of
William
Beloved Husband of
Margaret Brown
died March 2nd 1911
aged 58
So Loved So Mourned
also
Margaret
Wife of Above
Died Nov 14th 1941
aged 85
|
| Probate |
9 Mar 1911 |
Timaru High Court, Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand [5] |
- Letter of Administration were requested to be granted to William Ernest Brown of Ashburton, Carpenter in the estate of William Brown late of Ashburton, Carpenter. 9th March 1911
The deceased was his natural and lawful father and that he left his surviving Widow Margaret Brown and the following children: myself his son and one other son namely Alexander McDonald Brown aged 11 years and two daughters namely Margaret Catherine Brown aged 24 years and Bessie Gregor Brown aged 14 years.
William stated he could find no Will or testamentary writing or papers signed by his father, and that the estate value was under £500.
|
| AAA Last Date |
20 Jan 2023 |
| Person ID |
I7430 |
Ailsa and Bill Family Histories |
| Family |
Margaret McDonald, b. 24 Aug 1856, Bogs of Linkwood, St Andrews-Lhanbryde, Moray, Scotland d. 14 Nov 1941, 94 Chalmers Avenue, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand (Age 85 years) |
| Marriage |
14 Aug 1886 |
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [6] |
| Number of Children |
4 Children |
| Children |
| | 1. Margaret Catherine Brown, b. 1 Nov 1886, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [Father: natural] |
| | 2. William Ernest Brown, b. 30 Jan 1889, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [Father: natural] |
| | 3. Betsy Gregor Brown, b. 24 Sep 1896, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [Father: natural] |
| | 4. Alexander McDonald Brown, b. 3 Jan 1899, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand [Father: natural] |
|
| Family ID |
F446 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Ailsa and Bill Family Histories
Abt 1853 - 1911 (58 years)
