Mrs. P. Lamb

Biography contributed by Sandy Lautenbach (great-granddaughter) and Meghan Hawkes

Mary-Annie Lamb (nee Cox) was born in Eire, Scotland on 22 July 1838. Her mother was Ann McDonnell (1800 – 1868) and her father James Cox (1800 - 1871).

Mary-Annie’s maternal grandmother was Jean Landells (1774 -1838).  Jean ended her life in St Cuthbert’s Workhouse in Edinburgh.  Mary-Annie’s maternal grandfather was Alexander Macdonald (1765).  His date of death is unknown but it was probably before Jean resulting in her entering the workhouse, a dreaded institution but often the only option to survive.

Mary- Annie’s parents were working class; James Cox was a labourer and Ann a cook.  Working class life was grim.  In Scotland at the time a washerwoman could be employed for a shilling or 1/6 a day as well as a glass of whiskey and her food.  A sewing girl was a shilling or less, without the whiskey.  A bottle of inferior whiskey could be purchased for a shilling.  Alcohol soothed the relentless grind of life.

A harsh economic depression in Scotland saw a rise in emigration in the late 1840s with poverty as the main driver.  For the struggling Scot, New Zealand was a land of promise.

Mary-Annie came to New Zealand with her parents aboard the Argyll as a four year old in 1842.

The family first settled on the shores of the Manukau and passed through the vicissitudes of the Land Wars.  On more than one occasion the family was attacked by Māori and compelled to hide in the bush.  At one point the family lived at Fields Lane, Auckland.

Mary Annie married Peter Lamb on 10 March 1864.  Peter was 36, Mary Annie was 25.  They married at the Queen Street, Auckland, residence of Mary-Annie’s father.

Peter Lamb’s family were from East Linton, Scotland.  The Lamb’s were one of the more wealthy and substantial families of the district having made their money as timber merchants for several generations. Peter’s father, William Lamb, was a builder by trade employing 10 men.

Peter left Scotland at the age of 26 arriving in Auckland via Melbourne in 1854.  He  joined his older brother Alexander, a carpenter,  who had arrived in Auckland in 1852.

Mary-Annie and Peter stayed a further two years in Auckland where they had their first child William Aitken (Little Willie) on 28 December 1864.  Their second child, Annie McDonald, was born on 7 June 1866.

Sadly Little Willie died on 12 October 1866 aged nearly 20 months.

The family moved to Thames in 1868 where Peter and Alexander Lamb quickly established Lamb Brothers Timber Merchants in Grahamstown. Thames was a thriving gold mining town enjoying vigorous growth and consequently there was a huge demand for timber.

Life for Mary Annie was now a stark contrast to her poverty stricken childhood in Scotland and her family’s unnerving days in early Auckland.

The Lambs were regarded as upper class with silver, cutlery and expensive English crockery.  Mary-Annie was recognised for her hospitality and kindness. There was socialising and afternoon teas with cream cakes for the ladies, all in keeping with having a husband who was a respected businessman in the growing goldfields town.

Six more children were born to Mary Annie and Peter:  James Alexander in 1868, John Knox in 1871, Ellen Aitken in 1873, Edith Isabella in 1876, Jessie Winifred in 1879 and Gordon Peter in 1881.

There were servants to prepare the meals on a coal range and wrestle with large loads of washing over the copper.  An orchard with Golden Delicious Apples and other fruit to preserve was at the back of the house.

Peter was a trustee for the Land, Building and Investment society which provided financial support to promote business. He had the welfare of the town at heart. His influence on the family was enormous and his teaching of business lasted for generations.

In 1870 Mary-Annie became a member of the Baptist church. Peter joined 10 years later in 1880 and that year Mary Annie and Peter presented a full sized colour lead light window to the church.

In 1893, aged 55, Mary-Annie signed the Suffrage Petition.   Her daughter Ellen signed as well.  Another daughter, Edith, was to become known as an advocate for women around Hikutaia.

Although enjoying improved circumstances Mary-Annie would not have forgotten her bleak working class Scottish background and the trials of her labouring parents. This perhaps explains a telling paragraph in the Wills of both Mary-Annie and Peter ensuring the independence of three of their spinster daughters.

I direct that all benefits taken by any female under this my Will shall be for her sole and separate use and estate free from the debts control disposition and engagements of any husband.

Peter Lamb died on October 22 1903 aged 75 at Thames.  He was taken to Auckland  by the steamer Wakatere.

Mary-Annie died on 28 March 1915 after a long illness, aged 76. Both she and Peter are buried at the Symonds Street cemetery, Auckland, beside their first born Little Willie  - William Aitken.

Images

Mary Annie Lamb

Peter and Mary Annie Lamb and daughters

Peter Lamb

Sources

Please Take Good Care of Me – Sandy Lautenbach

Catherine Helen Spence: An autobiography - edited and introduced by Jeanne F Young

http://www.johngraycentre.org/about/archives/brief-history-emigration-immigration-scotland-research-guide-2/