Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Annie Tofield was born Annie Hambry in 1847 in Polesworth, Warwickshire, England to Thomas Hambry and his wife Abigail Arthrell.
In the 1861 census for Atherstone, Warwickshire she is aged 14 and leaving at home with her parents Thomas and Abigail and siblings; Sarah A (16-years-old), Harriet (15-years-old), Louisa (10-years-old), Josiah W (8-years-old), Agnes (6-years-old), Mary Ann (5-years-old), George W. A. (4-years-old), Mary J (1-year-old) and Alice (1 month).
At the time of the 1871 census for Greenwich, Annie is a Servant aged 24 working as a Cook in the household of John T Edwards, Manager of a Bank.
In 1872 she married William Tofield at Lewisham. England.
By 1878 William and Annie had arrived in New Zealand and were living in Waimate. The 1878−79 electoral roll for Gladstone records William Toffield in a leasehold property, ½ acre, house.
In December 1886 Annie entered the Waimate Horticulture Show, Class B – Amateurs and received a first place for her strawberries and kidney potatoes, along with a highly commended for her rhubarb.
On 14 October 1889 William was appointed a Bailiff for Waimate.
In 1892 and 1893 Annie signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition in Waimate.
The 1893 and 1896 electoral roll for Waitaki, records William and Annie, Section 32 and 33, Rhodes street, Waimate. William is an Expressman.
William Tofield died on 3 April 1898 in Waimate. He is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000211. His death is registered in the surname of Sofield, age 55 years.
After William’s death, Messrs Guinness & LeCren Auctioneers, sold on behalf of Mrs Tofield on 26 May 1898, her property consisting of 2 ¼ acre section close to town with a 6-roomed house and stables for pounds 405.
Annie returned to England on the Delphic arriving in London on 2 August 1898.
The 1901 census records Annie Tofield, Widow, living at Friern Barnett, Middlesex. In 1911 she is living at 55 Beaconsfield Road, Friern Barnett and was living here at the time of her death.
Annie Tofield died on 24 March 1931 at Friern Barnett, Middlesex, England. Probate was granted on 14 April 1931 to William George Holliday.
Sources
Ancestry – 1861 census Atherstone, Warwickshire, England District 19
Ancestry – 1871 census Greenwich, St Alphage, Kent
Free UK BMD Marriages 1872 March Quarter, Lewisham, 1 d, 951
1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition Database, Sheet 219
Ancestry – 1893 & 1896 electoral rolls for Waitaki electorate
NZ DIA Death Index 1898/6789 William Sofield
The Collections Archives NZ – Probate Record of William Tofield R21843496
Timaru Herald 27 May 1898, pg 2
Ancestry – UK & Ireland Incoming Passenger Lits 1878-1960
Ancestry – 1901 census Friern Barnett, Middlesex, District 17 ED 17 Piece 1236, Folio 20, Pg 31
Ancestry – 1911 census Friern Barnett, Middlesex, Registration District 131, Sub-District Finchley, ED 30 Piece 7188
UK Probate Index Record 1931