Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Julia Christina Zelius was born about 1869 in Victoria, Australia. She married, in Victoria, Charles James Watson in 1888. Charles was a printer born in Dunedin, the couple came to New Zealand soon after their marriage and that is where their six daughters were born.
In 1893 and 1896 Julia and Charles were living in Josephine St, Caversham. They then went back to Victoria for a time before returning in 1899 to live in Dunedin again. In 1905 Charles was declared insolvent due to some speculation in mining stocks.
A poem called Farewell to Winter was published in the Evening Star in 1909 written by Julia Christina Zelius Watson, the last verse was:
I say the word reluctantly. Old friends are
loved the best,
And it hurts me that you journey all alone
to take your rest;
So I give you, as for comfort, from the one
who loves you well,
A long and tender handclasp, as we sob
“Farewell! Farewell!”
Julia died at 8 Cliffs Rd on 28 May 1912. Charles later moved to Temuka where he managed the Temuka Leader newspaper. He died in 1931 in Timaru. They are buried together in the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Sources
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
BDM online NZ https://www.bdmhisoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
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