Florence Wilson

Signed family name

Wilson

Signed given name

Florence

Given address

Mahurangi

Sheet number

378

Town/Suburb

Mahurangi

City/Region

Auckland region

Notes

Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Florence Wilson was born Florence Snell in 1839 in Cornwall, daughter of miner James and his wife Mary. They were Cornish folk who came to New Zealand from the mines of South Australia to work at Great Barrier and Kawau Island before settling on the mainland. They bought 104 acres across from Kawau Bay for £45 at Crown auction in 1854. The land is now known as Snell’s Beach. The couple turned farmers and raised thirteen children.

In one of the first marriages in Mahurangi, Florence married shoemaker, Nathaniel Wilson in 1863, and set up house in Warkworth in a two-roomed cottage, with cobbler’s workshop attached. Nathaniel’s family immigrated to NZ on the Duchess of Argyle in 1842. Nathaniel and two brothers began trading as J. Wilson and Company. Theirs was the first enterprise to commercially manufacture Portland cement in the Southern Hemisphere. They developed durable structures and port facilities, particularly in Auckland. Notable projects using Wilson’s cement included the Rangitoto Beacon, Grafton Bridge and Queen’s Wharf, as well as the Rotorua’s Bath House and Napier’s breakwater.

They had nine children born in Warkworth.

William James (1864–1929)
Mary Isabella (1865–1950)
Elizabeth Ann (1867–1956)
Florence Snell (1869–1951)
Nathaniel (1870–1919)
Thomas Henry (1872–1968)
Isabella (1875–1952)
James Snell (1876–1961)
Ebenezer (1880–1937)
Susannah Decem (1882–1976)

In 1887 Nathaniel was manager. There were 15–18 men and two boys. The output was about 40 tons per week. When Nathaniel retired in 1908, The works had now reached its peak production of 120 tons of cement a week, and 100 tons of lime. It employed 180 men, and had become a major force in the life and economy of the town of Warkworth.

Nathaniel and Florence lived the rest of their lives in Warkworth, died and buried there. When Florence died in 1913, there was an effusive obituary in the local paper. “Mrs Wilson not only knew the drawbacks of the pioneering days of settlement, but there were the added burdens of the pioneering, of what has developed into a lucrative industry…” And an ending that showed what high regard she held in the community, 'The funeral is to take place on Friday next at 3pm. The stores will close from 2 till 4 to enable all to pay their last token of respect to the departed.'

Florence made a complicated will a month before she died in 1913. She left land, house and furniture and effects at Warkworth, to her husband until his death then to son William James and his children. Her five daughters, after Nathaniel died, were to share furniture and effects. To sons Nathaniel, James Snell, and Thomas Henry 50 pounds. Nathaniel’s life insurance to daughters equally, and shares in companies to Mary, Elizabeth, Isabella and Susannah. Another house in Warkworth was left to Isabella to live in, and after her death for her children alone. In a codicil, the money in bank account was to pay for her funeral, headstone and fence. She was worth about 4000 pounds.

When Nathaniel died in 1919, his probate gave specific bequests such as his library to son Thomas and gold engraved watch to son Ebenezer, but everything else was to be shared equally amongst all their children. It was worth 30 000 pounds.

Florence is the mother-in-law of 379 Frances WILSON