Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert.
M Warin was born Margaret Carson in 1828 in Ireland. She came to NZ on board the Oriental Queen, which arrived in Auckland on 18 September 1849. She travelled as sister in law to Benjamin and Martha Palmer, who were part of the Fencibles.
She married George Sheppard Warin in 1854, in Auckland. George was a Yorkshire born military man who served for 14 years and took his discharge in New Zealand. He farmed in Matakana for some years and then began a saddlery business in Warkworth.
They had 10 children: George Shepherd in 1856, John in 1857, Thomas in 1859, Elizabeth Ellen in 1861, Alexander James Stuart in 1863, Richard Nelson in 1864, Mary Ann in 1866, Herbert Dawson in 1869, Alfred Carson in 1871, and William Henry in 1874.
George was busy in the community, being Clerk of the Magistrate’s Court, involved in Town Board and school affairs. He was a founding member of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge in Warkworth in 1881.
George Sheppard died 15 September 1903, aged 83 years. He was well thought of in Warkworth: “On Wednesday general signs of the esteem the deceased gentleman was held in were exhibited in Warkworth and the flags were half-masted on the shipping.” His will left everything to Margaret “absolutely and for ever, all my estate and effects both real and personal”.
Margaret lived on in Warkworth. She is recorded several times in the social pages of the newspapers travelling to visit her married daughters in Auckland.
She died on 29 November 1914, aged 85 years. She is buried with her husband in Warkworth Cemetery.
Sources
Papers Past
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions