Biography contributed by Clare Cramond
Maria Harriet Stacey, nee Gossnell (Gosnell) and her twin Florence Emily were born in 1870 to Joseph and Louisa Gosnell. (Louisa and Florence also signed the Petition on Sheet 305). They had four brothers and sisters. The children attended Wairoa public school and in 1884 Maria achieved first place in Standard Five.
In 1890, Maria married Stephen George Stacey, second son of Elizabeth and Stephen Stacey, a military settler. Stephen and his brother Arthur Pakowai Stacey were Stacey Brothers Butchery in Frasertown from the 1880s. Arthur’s first wife, Amelia Stacey was another signatory on Sheet 305. Maria Stacey was listed on the 1893 Electoral Roll.
The 1908 Cyclopedia of New Zealand describes Stephen’s contribution to the area: 'Mr. Stacey has done much in public matters; and while a member of the Wairoa County Council and Harbour Board strongly supported the scheme for improving the river. He is a member of the Frasertown School Committee, and has been connected with the Church of England for many years'. Stephen died in 1938.
Maria and Stephen did not have children and when Maria died in 1943, her will showed she had left her property in Frasertown to the Anglican Church and other assets to her brother and nephew.
Sources
Births Deaths and Marriages Online https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5VZ-XM4?cc=1865481&wc=4BZB-7SM%3A1045247901%2C1045669301 : 21 February 2019), Napier Court > Probate records 1878-1879 P168, P188, P161-P187 > image 170 of 419; Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH18830813.2.18 Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6625, 13 August 1883, Page 4
Oral Family history https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gossnell-1
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]1908
The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1908, Christchurch http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc06Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d25-d9.html#name-417702-mention
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C916-M9WZ-Z?cc=1865481&wc=4BD7-HSS%3A1045248401%2C1588877033 : 21 February 2019), Wellington Court > Probate records 1943 P11253/43-P11351/43 > image 789 of 1040; Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office.