Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Jane Kent was born in Brighton, Sussex, England in 1853, the daughter of Henry Kent, a window blind maker, and Ann Pierce.
Jane married William Hook, a dyer, on 18 July 1869 at St Nicholas, Brighton. They had two children in Brighton before they emigrated to Otago about 1873. They had another nine children after their arrival.
In 1885 William was charged with failing to contribute to the support of his wife and five children. The case was adjourned for a fortnight in order to give the defendant a chance to do something for his family. In 1899, and again in 1901, alcohol prohibition orders were granted against William.
Despite their troubles, Jane and William celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1919.
William died in 1929 and Jane died on 1 June 1930. They are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Free BDM https://www.freebmd.org.uk
GRO England https://www.gro.gov.uk
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz