Martha Stapleton

[Elan]

Help Please!
Martha Stapleton born out of wedlock Christchurch 1882. Father Harry, Mother Eliza Watkins.
Evidently had a sibling born in wedlock circa 1884.
Married George Cooke aged 21 years -18 May 1904 in Avonside Christchurch
Had four children and left the marriage circa 1911 and "apparently" went to Australia.
Would like to any information on her from then on.
She is NOT the Martha Cooke died 1945 Wellington.

[craigt]

Hi Elan,
Have PMd you details of the death of George and Martha's son also called George and George jnr's wife Kathleen, both of whom died in Hamilton.
Craig.

[Janette]

Hi Elan

Here is the birth

1882/12090 Stapleton  Martha to Eliza and Harry

I don't see a sibling

Cheers Janette

[Janette]

Their marriage

1884/583 Eliza  Watkins to Harry  Stapleton 

Cheers Janette

[Beg Clonrode...]

Martha Stapleton born out of wedlock Christchurch 1882. Father Harry, Mother Eliza

Hello,

Do you have any idea of the ages of the parents, Harry and Eliza.

There is a 1922 death for a Harry STAPLETON buried in Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch. His age at death gives him a birth year of 1858.

He shares the plot with a Fanny STAPLETON. Her age at death gives her a birth year of 1863. (Is the name Fanny interchangable with Eliza)

The cemetery website gives some additional info about them which might or might not help you identify them.

Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database
http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/

If they are in the general age bracket it may be worth looking into burial records** to see who purchased the plot. Or maybe look for a death notice (which weren't all that informative at the time) or an In Memoriam on the anniversary (which were quite helpful).

Regards
Beg

**I can't find a mention of either death on the NZSG Burial Locator CD so I'm not sure if the NZSG Cemetery Fiche for Sydenham cemetery is likely to have the burial records. Not sure where else to look for them. Sorry

[jorose]

According to NZ papers past, Harry and Eliza seem to have split up soon after their marriage. Eliza had been previously married to an Enos McKenzie and the second marriage was found to not be legal. Harry had absconded and Eliza was trying to get child support money out of Harry's father, Thomas.

One of many articles (this does confirm there were two children, one born after the marriage):
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18850506.2.18

There is also an article in 1889 about a court case in Auckland, Wright v. Lizzie Stapleton (possibly the same woman as she apparently was living in Auckland in 1885).

Thomas Stapleton (36), wife Martha (34), and children Tom (11), Everard (9), Harry (6), Ann (4) and Richard (2) arrived as assisted immigrants in 1865.  This does suggest that the 1922 burial is the right one (possibly Fanny is a second wife, though).  It appears that some of this family went to Sydney (Everard at least), so if Martha was in contact with that side of the family maybe that's where she ended up?

btw, I can only see three children born to Martha and George in NZ - 1906/1908/1910

[Elan]

Thanks Beg and Jorose will look at Sydney AU for Martha and also the 1889 papers past and the Syndenham records. Great suggestions

[Lucy2]

Hi Elan

Martha COOKE (nee STAPLETON) :

You say she had 4 children - (and there are as mentioned, birth registrations for three of them 1906/1908 & 1910).

Do you have the name / or year of birth of child number 4 ?

Did she leave behind all of her children when she exited the marriage ?

You say she left around 1911 .... so was this 4th child, the last born ?

    ~  Lu

[Elan]

Hi
Last child was born 1910 named Stanley. ( i'm at work so haven't got the actual birth date with me) I do know that when her husband George died 1932 on his death cert it clearly states Martha as wife no widow so she was still alive then and there were 4 issues 3 males and 1 female which gels with my findings. Apparently left all children who were eventually fostered out.