Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Julia Dyke was born in 1851 in a child of Robert and Sarah nee Day, an agricultural labourer of Somerset. In 1877 Julia was married in London, England to Harry Long. Harry was born about 1849, and before he married, he was a seaman in the merchant service. He was a son of Sarah Long and John Marsh Feltham, also of Somerset, England.
Two sons were born in England.
- Albert John (1879–1904) in London
- Walter Harry (1881–1971) in Shropshire, baptised at the Madeley Wood Wesleyan Methodist Church.
The family came to NZ around 1882 and a further five sons and their only daughter were born in and around Auckland.
- Arthur Feltham (1883–1958) in Te Aroha
- Edgar Robert (1885–1972) in Auckland
- William Oliver (1888–1974) in Warkworth
- Amy Julia (1890–1970) in Mahurangi
- Franklin Gilbert (1893–1979) in Auckland
- Wilfred Sydney (1896–1969) in Whangarei.
Harry was variously described as a labourer or settler on electoral rolls, but his real calling was as a lay preacher and missionary. In 1893, as an agent of the Auckland Baptist Association, he commenced 'mission work among out-settlers, bushmen and gumdiggers in the districts of Purua, Poroti, Ruatangata and Maneakahia, near Whangarei.' The Annual Meetings of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle regularly commended him for his work in the north, heard talks from him, and raised money for him.
Their eldest son Albert, died in 1904 after having lost consciousness through a fall from his horse while riding in the Northern Wairoa. Son Wilfred served in the Army in France during WW1. Julia died in in 1915, in Kamo, Northland, aged 63. She was buried in Kaurihohore Cemetery, Whangārei. The following year, in 1916 Harry married Sarah Jane Patton. They moved to Belfast, Canterbury, where Harry retired. When he died in 1925, he was described as late of Whangarei. He left a will in which he left a 750 pounds debt owed by son Frederick to his dear wife Sarah Jane, and all his land in Auckland, divided equally between his seven children. His estate was worth 800 pounds. He was buried in the Bromley Cemetery in Christchurch.
Sources
PAPERS PAST Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 155, 3 July 1893, Page 1
PAPERS PAST Northern Advocate, 24 February 1915, Page 4
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18955, 28 February 1925, Page 1
PAPERS PAST Otago Daily Times, Issue 13113, 25 October 1904, Page 2
PAPERS PAST Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 286, 30 November 1904, Page 2
Archway probate Harry