Biography submitted by Bernadette Siebert.
Sarah Jane McCracken was born about 1859 in Belfast, Ireland to architect Joseph McCracken and Jane nee Steele.
In May 1879 the ship Isle of Bute arrived in Auckland from London, and the passengers in steerage included Geo B Reid and Sarah J McCracken. The next year in July they were married at the Presbyterian Manse in Auckland. George Bellis Reid was born 1849 in Glasgow, Scotland, one of the 11 children of Irish-born Rev Dr James Seaton Reid and his wife Elizabeth Arnott. His father James had been a Professor of Ecclesiastical and Civil History in the University of Glasgow.
When they were married George was a clerk, then he took up teaching. From 1885-1890 in Hunua, moving to Port Albert. They had seven children:
- Edward Arrott (1881 -1948)
- Mabel Bartlett (1886 -1981)
- Mary Elizabeth (1883 -1904)
- James Seaton (1885 -1966)
- Forrest (1888 -1971)
- Arrott Bellis (1889 -1962)
- Kathleen Sara (1902 -1946)
George became the headmaster of Port Albert School where he remained for 25 years. He took a prominent part in all the activities of the district and was a local cricket umpire. In 1904, George and Sarah’s eldest daughter Mary died at Port Albert aged 20. During the First World War, George did a good deal of work in organising concerts for the patriotic funds. Three of George and Sarah’s sons served in the war; Forrest enlisted in 1915, James in 1916, and Edward (from his home in Rarotonga) in 1918 and all served for the duration of the war.
About 1923 George retired from education and he and Sarah moved from Port Albert to live in Mt Albert, Auckland where George dabbled as an orchardist. In April 1934 Sarah died at her home. She was buried in the Port Albert Cemetery. In her probate, worth 1150 pounds, Sarah left the land at Oruawharo (near Port Albert) leased by son Forrest, to him absolutely, and the rest to be sold and divided between her two daughters.
After her death, George went to live with Forrest in Port Albert, where he died four months later, in September 1934, aged 85. ‘The funeral took place at the Port Albert Cemetery on Monday afternoon, there being a large attendance, including a great many of Mr Reid's old pupils.’
Sources
- PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5450, 6 May 1879, Page 4
- PAPERS PAST Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 26 September 1934, Page 2
- PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5836, 31 July 1880, Page 4
- PAPERS PAST Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 86, 11 April 1904, Page 2
- PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21783, 24 April 1934, Page 14
- Historical BDMs
- Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com)
- Intentions to Marry 1880
- Archway probate Sarah