Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
A Embury was born Ann Crook around 1847 in Bushton, Wiltshire, England to John Crook and his wife Harriet.
Ann married in July 1871 to James Embury in Crickland, Wiltshire, England.
James was employed as Foreman of the timber department of the Great Western Railway workshops in Swindon, England.
At the time of the 1881 census the Embury family was living at 20 Princes Street, Swindon.
James, Ann and four children came to New Zealand on the SS British Queen [it was one of the first steamships on the New Zealand run] arriving in Wellington on 15 May 1883. James’ occupation is given as Sawyer.
A fifth child was born in 1886.
For some years James Embury was in business in Manners street as a member of the firm of Edwards and Embury, bootmakers and importers.
Wellington City Council Rate books record that James Embury paid rates for a ‘dwelling’ on Moir Street, Town Acre 296, 1890 – 1901. This dwelling was at 22 Moir Street. The family lived there until 1895; at which time they moved to Lawrence Street. James later established a business in Newtown where he became well known for his ‘sterling integrity’. It was during this period that he was made a Justice of the Peace.
Ann Embury died at 31 Lawrence Street on 9 August 1920 age 74 and is buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington, Public 2/L/235. James Embury died on 25 February 1937, age 89 and is buried with his wife.
On 8 April 1940, two stained glass windows in the Trinity Methodist church, Newtown were dedicated; one to Mr and Mrs James Embury and the second to the memory of William Binet Brown, MA late Headmaster at Johnsonville school.
Sources
Evening Post 10 August 1920, pg 1 – Deaths
Evening Post 26 February 1937, pg 11 – Mr James Embury JP
Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune 9 April 1940, pg 3
Wellington City Council Historic Heritage Area Evaluation Moir Street Heritage Area, November 2021
NZ DIA Death Index 1920/3364 – Ann Embury
NZ DIA Death Index 1937/3364 – James Embury
Ancestry – New Zealand Electoral Rolls and Public Family Trees