Biography contributed by Mrs Colyn Storer (nee Morley), Sydney, Australia
Mari Vogeler, was born Maria Meyer about 1825 in Germany, daughter of Hinrich or Heinrich Meyer. She was living in Whitechapel London when she married a widower Johann George Vogeler on 29 Nov 1857 at St. George’s German Lutheran Church, Battersea, Surrey. He had married previously in 1853 and his first wife Gesina died in 1856.
Their first child, Bertha Meta only lived seven months 1858-1859. When their son Carl Georg was baptised on 2 Sep 1860, they were living at Battersea.
The family left London as Assisted Emigrants on the Mystery which departed from Gravesend on 19 October 1861 and arrived at Lyttleton on 7 January 1862. Most of their fare was paid ‘by Bills from friends in the Colony”.
They settled in Kaiapoi where they lived the rest of their lives, at Keel Cottage Sneyd St Kaiapoi
Johann was naturalised on 12 September 1870.
They had two daughters in New Zealand, Emma who married Thomas George Blackwell on 22 December 1881, and lived in Kaiapoi. Emma and Thomas had two sons, Charles George and Arthur Thomas. She also signed the Petition – E Blackwell Kaiapoi Sheet 263.
Their younger daughter Bertha Dina/Dena was born in 1866 and died at home on 15 March 1892.
Although Maria was a member of the Lutheran Church in Germany, “soon after their settlement in Kaiapoi, she and her husband joined the Methodist Church and proved themselves faithful and loyal members.”
There is an extensive Obituary in The Outlook on 2 September 1905 describing her as “charming specimen of German religious character, and laid under her spell, all unconsciously, all who came into contact with her.” “She was a thoroughly devout Christian, who loved her Bible, her church and its ministry”. She rarely missed church services even in later life although it was a more than a mile’s walk from her home.
Their son Carl was also involved in the work of the Methodist church at Timaru for many years, including Sunday School Superintendent and regular preaching.
Her husband died on 24 August 1897 at their home Sneyds Street Kaiapoi and was buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery. She later lived with her daughter Mrs George Blackwell at Sewell Street, and had good health till the last few weeks of her life. She died on 22 July 1905 and after a service at the Methodist church was buried beside her husband and daughter. Her will passed probate at Christchurch. Her life was commemorated in the church magazine The Outlook.
References
Birth:
No proven birth records although emigration said they were from Hanover.
Marriage:
England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973, both of Johann Georg Vogeler’s marriages,
Children’s births, death in London:
England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975, findmypast, Family Search
UK GRO Indexes:
https://www.gro.gov.uk/ (NOT the indexes on free.bmd or Ancestry or findmypast). These GRO indexes give mother’s maiden names and age at death.
MARRIED NAME:
Many variants, Vogeler, Vogeller, Voegler, Voeglor, Vogler
Emigration:
Family Search New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973
Arrival date 7 Jan 1862 on Mystery
Johann G Vogeler age 35, Maria Vogeler 34, and Carl Geo Vogeler infant
Their original place of residence was stated to be Hanover.
Citing this Record
"New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973,"
database with images, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSY5-DQ7 : 8 August 2017), Carl Geo Vogeler, 07 Jan 1862; citing ship Mystery, Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 956, 8 January 1862 page 4
Detailed description of the voyage and passengers.
NZ BDMs:
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
Residence:
from 1868 Keel Cottage near Kaiapoi, Johann freehold, house and land Sneyd St
Part Section 366, Mandeville district
Naturalisation:
Ancestry.com.au
New Zealand, The New Zealand Gazette, 1860-1894 for Johann George Vogeler, New Zealand Gazette, 1870 page 435, Publication Date: 6 Sep 1870
PapersPast:
Many records of the extended families, from the 1860s onwards, occupations, community involvement, Church associations, Deaths, Obituaries.
Death, Burial:
Cemetery: Kaiapoi Public Cemetery
Kaiapoi, Waimakariri District, Canterbury, New Zealand
Obituary:
The Outlook 2 September 1905, page 41, No. 35 Vol. XII
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions