L. A. Ronalds

Francis Fosbery was a landowner in County Limerick, Ireland and he and his wife Sarah had nine daughters. Sarah died, aged only 39, and Francis married again. 

Perhaps in resentment, even embarrassment, at having a step mother not much older than themselves the nine daughters immigrated; eight to New Zealand and one to USA.

At least three signed the 1893 petition Laura Ronalds, Emma Kettle (sheet 477), and Sarah Mills (sheet 168).

In February 1866 the three older girls Eleanor, aged 20, Laura 19, and Caroline 14 arrived in Auckland.  

In October 1867 Laura married 35 year old Taranaki bank clerk Francis Ronalds in St Mary’s Church New Plymouth. They went on to have two sons and three daughters. One son, Francis Charles, was a seaman and was awarded the Royal Humane Society gold medal for bravery.

In April 1877 Frank was appointed acting manager and eight months later took over as manager and remained in that position until he was transferred to the larger Lyttelton branch in 1880.

Frank, Laura and their five young children moved to Lyttelton on the SS Wellington and Frank took charge of the Lyttelton branch. Frank was later appointed a JP in 1886 and in that capacity acted as a Magistrate. Laura and the family played tennis and she organised tennis parties on their own court in Lyttelton They later moved to 292 Montreal Street in Christchurch.

Laura died in 1910 aged 63. Family records state that Francis was so heartbroken when his wife died that he departed from Wellington in February 1912 on board the Montevideo, arriving in London on 18th April 1912; he died there five months later, aged 80.

Biography contributed by Robert Wynn-Williams

Sources

• Marriage. Taranaki Herald, 19 October 1867 p.2
• A brave man. Taranaki Herald, 14 June 1905 p.7
• Retirement of Mr King. Taranaki Herald, 10 December 1877 p.2
• Port of New Plymouth. Taranaki Herald, 7 July 1880, p. 2
• Gazette Notices. The Press, 19 March 1886, p. 3
• Lawn Tennis. The Press, 4 December 1888 p.6
• Death. Star,  27 September 1910, p. 3
• Carolyn Chalmers. Personal communication, January 2014
• Deaths. The Press, 23 September 1912, p.1

Image

Laura Adele Ronalds (Authors collection)