Martha Bagnall

Surname:

Bagnall

Given names:

Martha

Given address:

Turua

Sheet No: 390

Town/Suburb:

Turua

City/Region:

Hauraki-Coromandel

Notes:

Biography contributed by Sharlene Rumney

Martha Bagnall nee Stevenson and her husband George emigrated from Canada with their nine children and arrived in Auckland in May 1864 on the brig Pakeha. Daughter, Mary Agnes was born in 1865 and a son, Robert Hammond in 1869, Robert passed away aged two months in January 1870. The family lived and worked in Matakana and Thames before relocating to Turua in the 1870s.

Martha’s daughter Margaret Bagnall and daughter-in-law Jessy Bagnall also signed sheet 390.

The 1896 and 1900 Ohinemuri electoral roll records Martha Bagnall as living in Turua and her occupation was listed as domestic duties, the 1905-6 Auckland West electoral roll records Martha as living at Shelly Beach Road and her occupation as widow.

Martha Bagnall died on 23 June 1907, aged 83. Her obituary states that her parents had been Scottish emigrants to Canada and that Mrs Bagnall took a prominent part in social and religious work. Martha is buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames with her husband George who died in October 1889.

Located on Hauraki Road adjacent to the Turua Memorial Hall is the Bagnall Memorial donated by their descendants in 1985, which states:

Dedicated to the memory of George and Martha Bagnall and family who arrived in New Zealand from Prince Edward Island Canada in 1864. After several years in Thames, they leased the Hauraki Sawmills in Turua. In 1875, as Bagnall Bros & Co they bought the sawmill. They founded the township of Turua and were pioneers of the dairy industry in the area.