J. T. Gow

Originally transcribed as J.F. Gow

Biography contributed by Colyn Storer (nee Morely), Sydney, Australia

J T Gow, was born Jane Taylor about 1857. She was the second daughter of Robert and Agnes Taylor who lived near Invercargill NZ where he died in 1876. He had been a farmer.

She married William James Gow on 13 September 1886 at Hokitika. William was born in 1851 at Forfarshire Scotland, was the Presbyterian Minister at Reefton. His father John was also a Presbyterian minister. The family had emigrated to New Zealand in 1865.

She signed as J T Gow in the petition and was recorded as Jane Taylor Gow in the Electoral Rolls.

Their first two children, Agnes Isabel in 1888 and Jane 1889, who died as an infant, were born at Reefton before the family moved to Kaiapoi where William became the minister of the Presbyterian church. Their other children, Jessie Murray, Ian Burman and William Douglas were born at Kaiapoi.

The family left Kaiapoi when William became the minister of St Peter’s Presbyterian church in Dunedin in December 1900.

Jane had suffered from ill health for many years before she died suddenly on 11 July 190. She was known for her devout and amiable character, and her gracious and comforting ministrations especially to those who were suffering or sorrowing. 'She had a strong as well as sympathetic character,’ so that ‘when sure of her position on any question of principle, her attitude was strongly uncompromising.’

Her funeral was held on Saturday afternoon 13th at St Peter’s before the burial at Linwood Cemetery. 

The many reports of her death and funeral in the local newspapers spoke of how highly esteemed she was in the community. There was a detailed Obituary in The Outlook on 27th July 1901. Her husband later ministered at other Presbyterian churches before he died in Auckland in 1937.

Sources

Parents and family: 

Papers Past
When her father’s will passed probate at Dunedin in 1876, her mother’s statements as to when and where he died and his occupation, a farmer. 

Marriage:

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

Papers Past – date and place recorded

MARRIAGE. West Coast Times, Issue 6322, 16 September 1886 page 2

MARRIAGE. West Coast Times, Issue 6320, 14 September 1886 page 2

Her Husband’s Ministry: Papers Past and Ancestry.com.au

New Zealand, Officiating Ministers, 1882-1920

Presbyterian Church of New Zealand

Death and Funeral:

Various newspapers in Christchurch area, Papers Past

Burial Records   https://www.findagrave.com/mem... 

Obituary:                             

The Outlook Saturday 27 July 1901, page 12, No. 26 Vol. VIII
https://kinderlibrary.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/3835