Mrs Strang

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Barbara Lawson Brown was born in about 1841 in Peebleshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of Adam Brown and Barbara Watson.

Barbara married James Strang in Victoria, Australia in 1859. Two daughters were born in 1860 and 1862 before the family moved to New Zealand in about 1863.

Ten more children were born in New Zealand, the last in 1882. James died in 1892 at his residence in Grosvenor St, Kensington.

On 30 January 1917 Barbara Lawson Strang married George Balsille however in July of that year George was charged with bigamy.

In the court news Barbara was described as “of pleasant and open countenance. She sat in the body of the court throughout the proceedings placidly knitting.”

George Balsille claimed that his wife had deserted him in 1907 and he had not heard from her since. When the case came before the Supreme Court George entered a guilty plea. George was imprisoned until “the rising of the court” and ordered to pay the costs of the case. He was advised that “his marriage was a nullity and if he continued to live with Mrs Strang he would be living in adultery”.

George’s first wife died in 1926 and George, again, married Barbara the same year.

George died in March of 1929 and Barbara died on 12 November 1929. They are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.

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