Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Mary Ann Bradley was born in 1866 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England to John Bradley and wife Mary Ann nee Munro. Mary Ann arrived on the British King in May 1884 along with her older brother, Walter.
On 19 December 1884 at the Good Templers Hall, Wangaroa, Northland, Mary Ann Bradley, aged 18 married John Gow, with the consent of her aunt Ann Hewitt. John was a shipwright aged 24. John was born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, the son of Scottish immigrants Donald Gow and Isabella nee Gunn. In October 1861 Donald, Isabella and children, including John, left on the Star of Tasmania for Port Chalmers, Otago, NZ and later moved to Northland. John served his apprenticeship as shipwright with Messrs Lane and Brown and was subsequently in the employment of Messrs Wigmore and Co at the Whangaroa sawmills.
In 1886 went to Melbourne and gained considerable knowledge of the building trade there. Mary Ann and John’s first child was born in Melbourne:
- John William (1888– 1958)
Thirteen months later they came back to New Zealand and in 1889 John returned to his former employers, Messrs. Lane and Brown in Whangaroa where he became well-known as a tradesman in the manufacture of woodware throughout Totara North and Whangaroa. A further eight children were born there:
- Donald George (1890– 1968)
- James Walter (1892– 1970)
- Isabella Emily (1894– 1981)
- Joseph Eadie (1896 -1898)
- Winifred May (1898– 1960)
- Gladys Eileen (1900– 1995)
- Alice Mary (1903– 1993)
- Christina Mona (1906 -1983)
Mary Ann died in February 1907 aged 40 at Whangaroa, of peritonitis when her youngest was five months old. She was buried in the Totara North Cemetery. Two sons served in the First World War. James as a rifleman, enlisted in October 1915, was wounded in his arm and legs in France and hospitalised. He recovered and returned to NZ in 1918. John enlisted in January 1916 and served in Egypt until invalided home before the war ended.
John died in December 1942 aged 81 in Whangārei Hospital, of broncho-pneumonia following a fall. He was buried in the Maunu Cemetery Whangārei. In his probate, he left his whole and real estate, worth 600 pounds, to be converted into money and divided between all his children living.
Mary Ann is the daughter-in-law of #375 Isabella GOW
Sources
PAPERS PAST Northern Advocate, 4 December 1942, Page 1
PAPERS PAST Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 28, 19 February 1907, Page 4
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7008, 3 May 1884, Page 4
Intentions to Marry Wangaroa 1884
Archway probate John
Cyclopaedia of NZ
Historical BDMs