Biography contributed by Marilyn Armitstead.
When the Fitness family arrived in Opunake in 1885, they were taken to the home of Mr and Mrs Guy where they had their first meal in Taranaki.
The Guys became firm friends with the Fitnesses and the first Fitness Home in Opunake was next door to the Guys. They were also friends with the Pettigrews. See Susan Pettigrew biography.
John and Mary Guy and their two young children, Sarah and John were passengers on the La Hogue which arrived in Wellington on 26 May 1874. The family first settled in Wainouiomata. In 1877 the family moved to Taranaki and eventually settled in Opunake.
Mary Turner Hambleton was born 1 January 1844 in Newport, Monmouth, Wales. She married John Guy 15 Apr 1866 in Cardiff, Wales.
A newspaper report in February 1921 noted that John Guy was a staunch churchman, being one of the founders of the Methodist Church in Opunake and a lay preacher for many years. The church was also very important to Ebenezer Fitness. This could be one of the reasons the families were so closely associated.
John and Mary Guy celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 15 Apr 1916. Mary died on 18 June 1934 and was buried at the Opunake Cemetery.
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
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