E Robinson

Jan Posted: 9 Apr 2026

Eliza Maria Sage Robinson (nee) Criddle is my great grandmother. I recognise her signature as I have several books in which she has written her name.
Eliza was born in 1851 in Axbridge, Somerset, England, the eldest of 10 children. Her life in Axbridge was poor and harsh.
Eliza married Thomas William Robinson in 1869 when she was 17. Eliza and Thomas emigrated to New Zealand in 1872 aboard the "City of Auckland". Thomas worked building the railways in NZ as a platelayer. They lived in Auckland for the first few years where their first born child Susannah was born and died, aged 10 months old, in Pukekohe. By 1882 they were living in Wellington, and in 1889 after 20 years of marriage, their second child, Alice, was born. They moved to Paraparaumu and in 1896 they adopted 9 year old Annie May Connell.
About 1900 the family moved to Levin. Eliza was widowed in 1911. In the 1920's she lost her sight. Eliza's daughter Alice died in 1926, leaving behind a husband (WW1 veteran) and 4 young children. Despite being blind Eliza played a large part in the upbringing of her 4 grandchildren. Eliza remained in Levin until her death in 1937.
My father talked often and fondly of his Granny Robinson, and her spirit remains alive in our family to this day.
I'm so proud to see her name on the petition.

Permalink

What do you know?

Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share?

Your name

Email The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Comments will be reviewed prior to posting. Not all comments posted. Tell me more...

What do you know?

Comment HTML

Culture & Society

Politics & Government

War & Society

Te Akomanga

Hands On History

Media Library

General