Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs G Manchester was born Matilda Frances Chapple in 1844 in Holborn, London, England to William Chapple and Matilda Frances Allen.
Matilda Chapple came to New Zealand with her Mother Matilda Pain, her step-father James T Pain and their five children and sister Martha [Caroline] Chapple, arriving in Lyttelton on 20 October 1862 on the ship Queen of the Mersey.
Matilda married George Manchester on 27 December 1866 at the residence of J T Pain (father-in-law of the bride) by Rev J B Richardson, eldest daughter of the late William Chapple of Red Lion Street, Holborn, London.
Matilda and George had five children; George Alfred Manchester born 1867, Thomas William Manchester born 1869, Ellen Manchester born 1872, James Manchester born 1874 and Charles Edward Manchester born 1878.
Matilda also signed the 1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition.
In the 1896 and 1911 electoral rolls Matilda was recorded as living in Waimate.
After the First World War, the Waimate Rugby Football Sub-Union Incorporated was formed and one of its first objects was to acquire land for the playing of competitions.
'At that time, Mrs Matilda Frances Manchester, widow of the late George Manchester, owned Part R.S.5611 containing approximately 17 ½ acres (7.1 ha) which ran from Queen Street in a south-easterly direction. Portion of this land had access from High Street, via Wall Street, and on this frontage in May 1925 the sub-union purchased for pounds 728 an area of 12 acres 28.5 perches (4.93 ha).'
In the 1925 electoral roll her address was given as C/- Mrs W. J. Dailey, Point Bush Road, Waimate, Widow.
In 1929 memorial windows in memory of the pioneers were unveiled in St Pauls church, Waimate. One of these reads:
George Manchester
Founder of this church
and Matilda F., his wife.
1859.
George died on 18 July 1907 age 69 years and is buried in the Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000033 RO. Matilda died on 7 December 1932 age 88 years and is buried with him.
Sources
Free UK BMD Births 1844 June Quarter, Holborn Vol 2, Page 133 – Matilda Frances Chapple
Lyttelton Times newspaper 22 October 1862, Page 4 – arrival of the “Queen of the Mersey” Timaru Herald newspaper 29 December 1866 Marriage Manchester – Chapple
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1866/8092 George Manchester/Matilda Frances Chapple
NZ DIA Birth Index
Ancestry – NZ Electoral Rolls
Ancestry – Public Member Family Trees George Manchester/Matilda Frances Chapple
1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition, MICRO 6341, Roll 1, Sheet 262, Page 459
Greenwood, William, Te Waimatemate – History of Waimate County and Borough, Timaru Herald Company Limited, Page 262 – Manchester Park and Page 139
Waimate District Council cemetery records online
Archives NZ – Probate Record Matilda Manchester, Timaru Court 1843-1998