Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Mrs Sanderson jnr was born Amy Margaret Paddison in 1873. Her father, Edward Paddison arrived in Auckland on the ‘Mataoka’ in 1859. He travelled with fellow passengers Alfred and William Edlington and George Stark. All four men located to Great Barrier Island to work in the copper mine at Miners Head. When the mining company went into liquidation in 1867 Edward then took up land offered in Karaka Bay to farm. Here he built a house and in December 1867, he married Anne Marie Cooper. “They sold firewood to pay for their life on the Barrier while they tried to get the farm up and running. Their ten children were schooled on the farm. They built a room on the end of the farm’s woolshed for schooling. The room was also used for Church services and celebrations.”
On Tuesday 19 June 1894 at Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island Amy Margaret Paddison was married to William Sanderson, son of William Sanderson. The marriage was newsworthy because it was only the second marriage performed on the Island. It took place at Edward Paddison’s residence with only 40 relatives and friends being able to get there because of bad weather. “The bride wore a dress of deep cream Liberty silk, with the usual bridal veil and wreath of orange blossoms, the bridesmaids were costumed in cream nun’s veiling.”
William and Amy Margaret had three children George Edward (1895 -1906) Edith Irene (1897-1984 and William Roland (1901-1982). They farmed and mined, like William Sanderson snr. It was reported that he applied for a lease of certain lands between the Onera and Kaitohe Rivers, Great Barrier. “It was intimated that there were a couple of thousand acres in the locality indicated. It was agreed to offer the run for lease at an annual rental of £15 for seven years.”
William died 1918 aged 52 years. He died intestate and Amy stated his estate was valued at 3 600 pounds. He was buried in Coopers Cemetery. Amy died 23 June 1962, aged 89 years, over 40 years after her husband, having spent her whole life on Great Barrier. She was also buried in Coopers Cemetery. Her will left everything to her grandchildren.
Mrs Sanderson jnr is the daughter-in-law of 380 Ann Sanderson.
Sources:
Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com)
NZ Cemetery Records (NZSG)
Archives New Zealand
Historical BDM
Historic Context Aotea Great Barrier Island Prepared by Megan Walker & Robert Brassey May 2019
Papers Past:
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 9391, 14 JUNE 1889, PAGE 6
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE 9550, 29 JUNE 1894, PAGE 6