Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert.
Mary Eleanor Ragg was born in 1879 in New Zealand, daughter of Joseph Higginson Ragg and Elizabeth Jane Wright. Joseph and Elizabeth had had two children in Birmingham, who died before the couple migrated to New Zealand on the Golden City in 1864.
Mary was one of six children born in New Zealand, and with the other unmarried daughters worked in the family's hotel and bakery in Warkworth.
In 1907 Mary married Charles Ford Eaddy, a widower from England who settled in Mangonui before working as a fitter for New Zealand railways. Charles migrated to New Zealand in 1883 with his first wife Harriet Scott, who died in 1893 at age 41.
Mary and Charles had two children: Elizabeth Jean in 1909 and Gilbert Ford in 1912.
By 1920 Charles and Mary were living in Takanini, Auckland where Charles died on 14th August 1937, aged 87. His will, estimated at £600, looked after his wife and remaining children.
After Charles died Mary moved to live with her married daughter Elizabeth at Grey Lynn, Auckland. She died there on 30th May 1947, aged 75.
Charles is buried in Purewa Cemetery, Auckland with his first wife Harriet. Mary is buried next to them.
Sources
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions