Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Mary Elizabeth Elliott (known as Ellie) was born in 1869 in Mahurangi, the eighth of ten children of the Rev Robert McKinney and wife Martha. They were Irish-born and Robert was a Presbyterian minister who was in charge of congregations at Mahurangi and Matakana.
In 1896 she married John Taylor, 40-years-old, a farmer. He was a son of Robert and Elizabeth, a Lancashire born couple, farming at Kaipara Flats, north of Auckland. They began their family and lived and farmed at Kaipara Flats.
- Doreen (1897–1904)
- Robert James Washington (1899–1955)
- Ian Elliott Thompson (1900–1951)
In 1904, they lost their daughter in a terrible accident. 'Whilst her parents were milking, Doreen, the .. daughter of Mr. John Taylor, of Kaipara Flats, was sitting by the fire when her night-dress caught fire. She ran out to her parents, who did what they could. Medical aid was procured as quickly as possible, but the doctor could give very little hope of saving the child's life, and she died about four o'clock in the afternoon.'
In 1907 a son was born and died at nine months, Bruce McKinney (1907–1907) Both children were buried at Warkworth Cemetery with their McKinney grandparents.
And lastly a daughter was born, Aileen Allanah Emily Martha (1908–1980).
Around the time John was 65, they sold the farm and moved to Auckland, living at Mont Le Grand Road, Mt Eden, Auckland for many years. In 1930, John died suddenly at his Mt Eden home, aged 75 years. His obituary reported that, 'A fearless horseman and a lover of stock, Mr Taylor was a familiar figure at all stock sales and shows in the district.' He was buried in the Waikumete Cemetery. Mary lived for another 20 years, dying in 1950, aged 81 and buried with John in Waikumete Cemetery. In her will, she left the house to daughter Aileen, with its furniture, the back section to her son Ian, and the rest of her estate equally between he three remaining childreb.
Mary is the daughter of 378 Martha MCKINNEY
Sources
PAPERS PAST Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 April 1930, Page 4
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12702, 1 November 1904, Page 5
Archway probate Mary Elizabeth