Family History 1.9

Again, the Youngest Son

Charles was the youngest son of his family, as his father, John, had been.

Again, our history follows the youngest son, because in the next generation we follow Fred, born in Whangarei in 1867.

Being the baby of the family, Fred was largely brought up by his older sisters. The story is told that a couple of them were looking after him on the front steps of the house, right by the footpath, when a Maori passer-by snatched the baby and ran off up the road. The girls went screaming in to their mother, and when Alice came to the door, the Maori was standing grinning at her holding out the baby. He had been teasing the little girls. Everyone was thankful it was nothing worse, and settled down again, but it clearly made an impression on the children.

Fred went to Ponsonby School, and then in 1883 to Auckland Grammar School.

 

After two years at the secondary school, he left to work as office boy for the Herald. He ended up working for John Court Ltd as a department manager until 1910.

 

That year he left to start his own business.  He built a building on the left of Karangahape Road, the first after the Hebrew cemetery on the corner of Symonds Street. He established a wool business there, with machines and staff to make knitted garments, underwear, jerseys, swimsuits, and so on. He used to advertise himself as "the first live man in Karangahape Road". Julia, who was the same age, used to work with him, as did Doris when she was old enough.

 

They used to walk from their home in Bellevue Road Mt Eden, then home for dinner, back again for the afternoon and then home for tea after work. On Sundays they walked the same route to the Tabernacle for Church, Sunday School, and evening service.

 

Fred (about 70) and me

Fred was Secretary of the Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. He took a great interest in the affairs of the church, and was one of the movers in setting up the Baptist Theological College. In 1931 he was elected president of the Baptist Union.

 

He was also a conscientious citizen, voting in all the elections.  in those days he had property in three local authority areas: the shop in town, home in Mt Eden, and the bach in Milford. On local election day he and Julia had votes in those three areas, which included separate votes in each area for Hospital Board, Harbour Board, Transport Board, and Electric Power Board.

 

In 1927, when he turned 60, he sold his business and retired to devote himself to voluntary work in the church and for the family.

 

He lived until 1948, but his last years were much less happy, because his beloved church was split by a division between the pastor, Dr A Hodge, and some of the members. Fred stood with the members who were expelled from the church, saying he believed they were all good Christians and good people, and walked out in disgust.  He never went back to any church again, and was buried from his home, rather than have a church funeral.

 

I remember him as a kind gentle man, with a wonderful sense of humour and a ready line of conversation and fun. He was good company for a boy growing up during the war and spending holidays together!

(This is Post No 200)