Letitia Angove

Biography contributed by Gabrielle Wilson

Letitia Palmer was born in Ireland in 1862 to Henry and Eliza. She had two siblings, Sarah and Jackson. The family came to New Zealand in August 1864 on the Flying Foamand settled in Northcote, Auckland. 

Letitia married William Angove on 18 November 1882 at her parent’s home in Ponsonby, accompanied by her sister Sarah. Letitia and William lived in Warkworth until 1896, before relocating to East Tamaki and then Remuera. Letitia often competed in horse riding, craft, and cooking events at regional agricultural shows and was a gifted soloist singer for a choir. The couple had one daughter, Annie Cornelia Baverstock. Letitia and William moved to Hinds, Canterbury, in their later years.

Letitia died in 1954, aged 92.

Additional biographical details contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Letitia PALMER was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland about 1862 to Henry Palmer and Eliza nee Mawhinney. Henry, Eliza and children Sarah Jane, Jackson and Letitia arrived in NZ July 1864 from Liverpool on board the Flying Foam. They settled in Mahurangi, near Warkworth where Henry was involved in the first flour mill in Mahurangi and also became Rodney County Council chair, JP and district coroner.

In November 1882, at his residence in Ponsonby, Henry’s two eldest daughters married 'two well-known and respected settlers' Sarah Jane married Mr RW Moody, JP and Letitia married William John Angrove at the same time. (William’s surname is spelt variously on records as Angrove and Angove.)  William and Leticia spent the first 14 years of their married life farming in Mahurangi where their only child was born in 1884 Annie Corneilia.

They then moved to East Tamaki, Auckland where William continued to farm. Then there was a final move to Remuera around 1914. The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 1942 – 60 years together. William John died in 1946 and his will described him as a gentleman and retired farmer. He left all his property and personal effects, valued at under 3 000 pounds, to his wife. Letitia lived on until she was 92 years and died in 1954 in Auckland. They were both cremated at Waikumete Crematorium, Auckland. Letitica’s will left all she possessed to be divided equally between her two Baverstock grandsons.

Letitia  is sister to Sarah Jane MOODY #366 Surrey Street.

Sources

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

New Zealander 30 Jul 1864

NZ Herald 24 Nov 1882

Rodney & Otamatea Times 18 Nov 1942

NZ Historical BDM

Archway NZ Archives

NZ electoral rolls (ancestry.com)