Euphemia Guest

Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Euphemia was born in Dumfries, Scotland. Her parents were Adam and Ann Davie-Martin. They had 13 children and Euphemia and her twin Helen were born in 1860. The Davie-Martins settled in Warkworth, north of Auckland, where Adam was a settler and farmer. The Davie-Martins were well known in the district and have a road named after them.

In 1886 Euphemia married George Guest, who was described as a storeman in subsequent electoral rolls. He was born in 1860 in Beer Ferris, Devon, England. He arrived in 1878 from Plymouth on ‘May Queen’ with parents and siblings.

Together they had four children: George Oswald Keith 1887, Donald Raymund 1888, Euphemia Vera Ann 1893 and Owen Trevellyne 1898. Up to 1911 George and Euphemia Guest appeared on the electoral rolls in Mahurangi and Warkworth.  But by 1914, George was still living in Warkworth and Euphemia was living in Auckland with her unmarried daughter Euphemia Vera Ann. 

The couple lived apart until Euphemia’s death in 1932.

'MRS GEO GUEST  Another former resident of Warkworth, Mrs Guest, has also joined the great majority. Mrs Guest was a sister of Messrs Davie-Martin, of Mullet Point, Warkworth and Woodcocks. Her husband, Mr Geo. Guest kept the store now Hamilton’s for a number of years. We offer our sympathy to both families.' (21 Dec 1932 Rodney & Otamatea Times). 

She was buried in Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.

'WHILE SWEEPING OUT HALL While sweeping out the Portland Hall at 11 o’clock this morning, Mr George Guest, the caretaker employed by the Welfare League, dropped dead. Deceased had been in excellent health, but was 74 years of age. .. Mr Guest, who was born in England, was a married man, but had no relatives in Portland. He had been a storekeeper at Warkworth for some time years before coming to Portland where he had been caretaker of the hall for five years. He had relatives in Auckland, but he lived alone. Deceased was very well known and bore a fine character...' (3 Dec 1936 Northern Advocate) 

He was buried in Kioreroa Cemetery in Whangarei.

Sources

Papers Past: 21 Dec 1932 Rodney & Otamatea Times and 3 Dec 1936 Northern Advocate

Electoral Rolls:  1890 1896 1911 1914 1919 1928 1935 ancestry.com

NZ BDM