Biography contributed by Joyce Hislop
Agnes Winifred, second daughter of Winifred and John Jarvis was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent on 10 October 1871.
In 1874 she sailed with her parents and siblings on the Waitara for New Zealand. Her family first settled in Carnarvon, Manawatu where a further six children were born and Agnes attended the Carnarvon School. In 1886 the Jarvis family moved to their own farm at Campbelltown (now Rongotea) called 'Ethelhurst'. Agnes and her siblings then attended Campbelltown School.
The 1893 Electoral Roll gives Agnes’ occupation as 'Dressmaker'. On 22nd September 1897 Agnes married Charles Henry Whitehead a commission agent. The marriage service was held in the Primitive Methodist Church in Rongotea and following the service Agnes was thanked for her service to the Church 'For 5 years you have rendered valuable service to the church by conscientious, diligent and satisfactory manner in which you have freely performed the duties of Organist'. After their marriage Agnes and Charles lived in Pohangina but by 1907 they were living in Palmerston North.
They had four children Stanley Eric Chilman (1898) Winifred Josephine (1900) Thelma Gwendoline (1902 and Dudley Jarvis (1901). When Agnes’ father John Jarvis sold his farm in Rongotea in 1911 he moved to Palmerston North to live with Agnes and Charles.
John died in 1925. Agnes died in Palmerston North on 6 March 1940 aged 68 years, Charles died on 9 April 1949 aged 75 years. Both Agnes and Charles are buried in the Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North.
Sources
Shipping Records
Family Records
NZ Electoral Rolls
Newspapers
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