Sara Ann Shepherd was born in 1865, in Port Albert. Her parents, John Shepherd and Sarah nee Longbottom, who came from Lincolnshire, England, arrived on board the Hanover from London to Auckland in September 1862, with the Albertlander settlers. Her parents had a further 12 children after they arrived in the country. Her father John was a Free Methodist and on arrival, took an interest in the church in Port Albert and the temperance movement.
On 18 March 1903, ‘…at the residence of the bride's parents, Northcote, by the Rev W Gittos, Frederic Clement Utting. son of the late F. J. Utting, C.E., of Port Albert, to Sarah Ann, second daughter of J Shepherd, J.P.’ Frederic was a 46y old carpenter, who was previously married to Anna Maria Turner, who died in 1900, leaving three sons.
- Charles William (1883– 1968)
- Herbert Martin (1885- 1903)
- Frederic James (1887– 1984)
Frederic and Sarah Ann had four children born in Mt Eden, Auckland where Frederic worked as a carpenter and joiner:
- Harry Victor (1904 – 1965)
- Emily Gertrude (1905– 1984)
- Clifford John (1907– 1980)
- Frank Percy (1909 -1977)
By 1915 they had moved to Auckland’s North Shore, living at Birkdale, where Frederic advertised for work as a builder and tried his hand as a fruiterer. And by 1930 Sarah Ann and her daughter Gertrude had a business as a ladies’ outfitter and draperer.
Sarah Ann died in 1943, aged 78y and was buried in the Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery. In her probate, worth 1200 pounds, she left all her real and personal estate to be divided evenly between her four children. Frederick lived on in Birkenhead until he died in 1950 aged 93y. His will, worth 2 500 pounds, provided for all his living children, with Clifford being given a greater share. He was buried with his second wife. ‘Forever with the Lord’.
Sarah Ann is the sister of #24 Mildred BENNETT Port Albert and sister-in-law of #24 Ann UTTING Port Albert
Sources
PAPERS PAST Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVIII, Issue 1611, 19 September 1862, Page 3
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12229, 26 March 1903, Page 1
Findagrave
Archway probate Sarah Ann Frederic
Wises NZ Post Office Directory