Laura Corlett

Biography contributed by Wendy Cockburn (Great granddaughter) and Robyn Cockburn (Great-great-granddaughter)

Laura Corlett was a signatory to the Women’s suffrage petition and would have been aged approximately 23 when she signed the petition and possibly had 4 children.

Born on 29 January 1869, Woodend, Christchurch, Laura was the sixth of twelve children of John and Mary RANBY nee HESSEY. Her birth record registered her as Florence.

Laura’s parents, John and Mary Ranby travelled to New Zealand on the Zealandia, arriving on 21 September 1858. They were married at St Paul’s Church, Shepley, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, England a fortnight before they sailed for New Zealand. John Ranby was born and grew up in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and Mary was born in Anston, Yorkshire.

Laura was 16 when Benjamin CORLETT, a Run Holder, began courting and with the consent of her father, they were married two months after her 17th birthday, on 24 March 1886, at the house of Charles Withell, Riccarton. The marriage certificate said Benjamin was 35. (From his Birth record he would have been 42. Benjamin Corlett was born 25 December 1844, Henbury, Cheshire, England.)

Benjamin’s parents, Stephen and Jane (nee LAWSON) were from Jurby and Andreas on the Isle of Man. The Corlett family had arrived in New Zealand on 17 December 1850 on the Sir George Seymour, one of the first four Canterbury Pilgrims ships to arrive in Lyttelton. Curletts Road, Christchurch is named after the Corlett family.

Laura and Benjamin Corlett had 10 children.

• John Lawson b 5 Dec 1886 Christchurch d. 26 Dec 1959
• Laura Rose b. 30 Sept 1888 Inglewood
• Benjamin George b 25 Aug 1890 Tarata
• Mary Eliza Lilian b 1891 New Plymouth
• Olive Pearl b 1893 Opunake d 29 November 1979 Hamilton
• Joseph Reginald b Riccarton 1895 2 June 1936
• Lancelot Harpham b 10 March 1897 Riccarton
• Marguerita Myrtle 6 Aug Riccarton b 1900
• Hugh Onslow b 7 Sept 1906 Tauranga
• Marjory Loveday b 12 Nov 1909 Otorohonga

Seven of Benjamin and Laura’s children attended Riccarton school between January 1895 until September 1902 when the family returned to the North Island. Other schools they attended were Rewa, Sandham Block, Dannevirke, Tauranga, Katikati and Kiokio.

About 1903 Benjamin and Laura settled at Te Mawhai, situated at the foot of Mount Kakepuku, a few miles south of Te Awamutu where they bought a farm of 200 acres, and milked 25 cows. When the homestead was built Laura wanted taller ceilings, so they were 11 feet high.

As their sons and daughters married there became quite a settlement of Corletts in the Te Mawhai district. Son Lancelot lived next door on 90 acres. Daughter Lilian married Frank Henderson who had 180 acres; and Hugh Onslow Corlett also had a farm down the road.

After Benjamin’s death in 1928, Laura and her daughter continued farming. Hard working Laura had never entered a hospital in her life until just before her death. She would have her babies then go straight out to the cowshed to milk. 

Olive MEYER described her mother as strict, never gave them any hidings and was a wonderful manager – able to make a meal out of nothing. When the children were young and poor, she would serve them first and eat the leftovers herself.

In her later years she lived on her own on the corner of Te Aroha Street and St Olpherts Ave in Hamilton. Olive her daughter and family lived at 3 Bell Street, and her grandson Doug Meyer and his family lived at 8 St Olpherts Ave. Daughter Laura and granddaughter Mildred (Bid) lived nearby as well.

In her later years Laura became blind when she fell and hit the corner of a telephone table.

Laura died at Hamilton on 23 March 1955 and is buried with her husband at the Hamilton Cemetery.

Sources

Family records on file in Reunion 11

Certified Copy of Entry in the Register Book of Births No 67698 of Christchurch

 John and Mary Ranby: From Worksop to Woodend and Beyond compiled by Phyllis (Murray) Brown, March 2007

1886 Marriages in the District of Christchurch entry in the book of marriages.

Certified copy of an entry birth, Registration District Macclesfield 1844 in the sub district of Gawsworth in the County of Chester #266

Information known by writer Wendy Cockburn (Meyer)

Images

Laura Corlett (1869–1955)

Laura Corlett with family, 1949

Back row L-R: Frank Henderson, Olive Meyer, Freda Corlett, Lance Corlett, Laurie Catchpole, Marjorie Catchpole, Gordon Henderson (?), Rita Hanna, Bill Hanna

Middle row L-R: Lily Henderson, Laura Corlett, Gaye Catchpole (?), Laura Thompson

Front row L-R: Edna Meyer, Beverley Catchpole, Don Catchpole, Elva Henderson (?), Vivienne Thompson.