Louisa Jane Williams

Lea Bellini Posted: 25 Sep 2018

Louisa Jane Williams (nee Mann) was one of twins born at Owlington House, Burton Dassett Field, Warwickshire in England on 15 October 1861. Both Louisa and her twin Ada Mary Mann were baptised on the same day. Their parents were Eliza Anne (nee Bawcutt) and Thomas Mann, farmer and grazier at Owlington Farm. This was an isolated farm that was recolonised as an army camp in WWII. In the 1871 census Thomas is described as a farmer of 292 acres employing 4 men and 2 boys. His wife and 7 children, including Louisa are also shown. Also there was a governess, a general domestic servant and a nurse.

From Burton Dassett, Thomas and Eliza, together with their 7 surviving children came to New Zealand. Two children had died prior to their departure from UK. The family travelled from UK on board the “Queen Bee” sailing from London on 5 August 1875 and arriving in Lyttleton on 6 Dec 1875. The family lived in Christchurch for a time and then moved to Opunake, where it is reported in the Hawera and Normanby Star of 24 December 1880, Thomas bought a section in Opunake for ₤6. By this time Louisa was 19.

It is not known what Louisa was doing from the time she came to New Zealand until she married Lewis James Williams at Opunake on 4th January 1885. Lewis was born in Monmouthshire in Wales in 1859.

The historical NZ BDM index shows that Louisa and Lewis may have had the following children:
Robert David Williams born 1885
Edith Annie Williams born 1888
Thomas Louis Williams born 1891
Frank John Williams born 1897
Maud Mary Williams born 1899
Arthur Claude Williams born 1903

Louisa signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition in Opunake as did her sister Lizzie (Charlotte Eliza) Mann.

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