Mrs L. P. Becroft

Signed family name

Becroft

Signed given name

Mrs L. P.

Given address

Port Albert

Sheet number

Town/Suburb

Port Albert

City/Region

Auckland region

Notes

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Eliza Morgan was born in 1862 in Auckland, daughter of William and Elizabeth Jane nee Robinson. Eliza’s parents were both English and met and married in NZ. They took up land in the East Pukekohe district. In consequence of the NZ wars William left his farm and obtained employment as a printer in the New Zealander and Daily Southern Cross offices. After the war Mr Morgan and his family returned to their home in Pukekohe.

At the Registrar’s Office in Auckland, in 1882, Eliza married Lewis Philip Becroft. Both were single, aged 23 and had been in Auckland three days. LP was a road inspector in the Northern Wairoa district. Lewis Philip was born in Essex, England, in 1858, one of the eleven children of John Becroft and Mary Anne nee Jeffreys. In 1862 widowed John with nine of his children emigrated aboard the Matilda Wattenbach to Port Albert.

LP’s father John Becroft Snr was the first man in Albertland to own more than an acre of orchard. His sons, Peter, Lewis Philip and David Becroft, were also involved. Their orchards were larger and more commercial. Eventually, the Becrofts became some of the principal apple growers in New Zealand.

LP and Eliza had seven children born in Port Albert:

Linda Mary (1883–1961)
Edward Roy (1887–1946)
Emily Maud (1889–1971)
William Clifford (1890–1917)
Edna Tui (1892–1894)
Philip Verne (1894–1915)
Gweneth May (1896–1917)

Their second daughter, known as Tui, was taken ill with croup and died in a few hours, in 1894 aged 2.

Then came some sad times for the family. Their youngest son, Philip who had been stationed with the Territorials at the Awanui wireless station, because of WWI, died in 1915 of typhoid, aged 21. In January 1917, their youngest daughter, Gwenneth, known as Bea, aged 20, died after a short illness. And then in November 1917, son Clifford was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium. 'Among the first volunteers from this district, the deceased saw a considerable amount of service; being a member of the Rifle Brigade. Prior to enlisting, Pte Becroft was a member of the firm R. & C. Becroft Pinegrove Orchards, and was recognised as one of the most enterprising of the growers of the district. To the general public of the County he was better known as a tennis; hockey, and football player, at all of which games he excelled.'

LP served as a member and chairman of Rodney County Council. He was a JP and coroner in the district. Both were involved with the Temperance Society and Port Albert Agricultural Show for many years. Around 1920, LP sold his farm and orchard, and he and Eliza retired to Belmont Ave, Mt Albert, Auckland. 'When Mr. Becroft-decided to come to town to live, he was bidden farewell at a public function and presented with an illuminated address, in appreciation of the good work he had done for the district.' He died there in 1926, aged 68 years. He was buried in Port Albert Cemetery. His probate, estate worth 3000 pounds, he left to dear wife, a life interest in the house Belmont Street, Mt Albert and possessions therein, to son Edward real estate at Port Albert known as Pinegrove Estate, to daughter Emily, three war debentures of 100 pounds each, and daughter Linda to have other real estate after death of Eliza.

Eliza lived with daughter Linda until she died in 1929 aged 71. She was buried with her husband at Port Albert Cemetery. In her will, worth 1300 pounds daughter Linda got household and personal effects, son Edward her interest in Pinegrove Estate at Port Albert, bonds and money between daughters Linda and Maud. Later that year, son Edward made an affidavit after death stating that Linda was in Auckland Mental Hospital and unable to act as co-executor. Linda moved in and out of residential homes. When she died in 1961 at Raventhorpe Hospital, south Auckland, she had been committed in 1948 and not discharged before her death.

Mrs L P is the sister-in-law of 24 Emily BECROFT, 24 Florence M BECROFT, 24 E S BECROFT