Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Laurie Bateman was born Nancy Laurie Truscott Thomas on 22 March 1841 in Tavistock, Devon, England to Samuel Thomas and Mary Truscott.
In 1864 Nancy married Charles William Bateman, son of James and Elizabeth Bateman in Portland, Dorset, England.
Charles, Nancy and four children arrived in New Zealand on the Cardigan Castle on 6 January 1877.
Charles and Nancy had nine children; six children born in England, James Samuel Thomas born 1865 died 1871; William John Thomas born 1867 died 1871; Mary Elizabeth born 1869; James William Charles born 1872; Harriet Amanda Truscott born 1874 and John Henry Thomas born 1876. Three further children were born in New Zealand, George Edward Ernest born 1878; Carolyn Elizabeth born 1881 and Charles Henry born 1883.
Nancy died on 9 January 1898 in Waimate and is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 0015ME000451.
Charles died in Point Chevelier, Auckland on 27 December 1914 and is buried in the Waikumete cemetery, Nonconformist section Division D, Row 3, Plot 41B.
Nancy’s daughters Mary Elizabeth and Harriet Amanda Truscott also signed the Petition.
Sources
Ancestry – Public Member Trees
Free UK BMD – Nancy Laurie Truscott Thomas – Births March 1841 District Tavistock, Vol 9, Pg 481/485
NZ DIA BMD Death Index 1898/1109 – Nancy Laurie Truscott Bateman
NZ DIA BMD Death Index 1914/9252 – Charles Bateman
Waimate District Council cemetery online records
Auckland City Council cemetery online records