Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Mildred Shepherd was born in 1863, supposedly the first European girl-child born in Port Albert, shortly after the arrival of her parents John Shepherd and Sarah nee Longbottom, who came from Lincolnshire, England. In his home country, John was a Free Methodist and on arrival, took an interest in the church in Port Albert and the temperance movement.
Mildred married George Bennett in 1889 in the Wesleyan Chapel in Auckland. Both were single, 22 years old and living in Newmarket. George was born in 1866 in Onehunga, Auckland, son of George and Lydia nee Starte. His parents had settled in Waiuku soon after their arrival in 1865.
George and Mildred had their first child born in Newmarket before they moved north to Port Albert:
- Clara (1889–1973)
- Leonard (1892–1948)
- Elsie (1894–1989)
- Annie (1897–1984)
- Constance Alice (1899–1984)
- Harry (1902–1982)
- Joy (1903–1992)
Mildred’s father John Shepherd bought the Co-operative store at Port Albert, having managed it for many years. It was passed on to his son-in-law George Bennett, and it became a 'local institution' as Bennett’s Store.
In August 1910 'a boating fatality occurred at Batley (Kaipara) at the junction of the Otamatea and Arapoa rivers, on Saturday, the victim, being Mr Geo Bennett, storekeeper at Port Albert. Deceased, who was 45 years of age, and leaves a wife and a large family.' He was buried in the Port Albert Cemetery. He left estate worth 10,000 pounds, all and absolutely to his dear wife Mildred.
Mildred remained the rest of her life at Port Albert, where her son Leonard had the local store. In 1936 Port Albert celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Methodist Church there. As one of the few remaining foundation members of the Port Albert Methodist Church, Mildred was asked to cut the cake.
In 1951 Mildred died aged 87, at Port Albert and was buried there with her husband. Her probate left estate worth 5,600 pounds to be divided between all her children, or their heirs.
Mildred is the daughter-in-law of 24 L BENNETT
Sources
Archway probate Mildred George
PAPERS PAST West Coast Times, 8 August 1910, Page 4
PAPERS PAST Northern Advocate, 3 January 1936, Page 2
‘Centennial of Albertland 1862-1962’ H M Neal
‘Albertland’ J L Borrows
Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com)
Historical BDMs