A. V. Southgate

Signed family name

Southgate

Signed given name

A. V.

Given address

Warkworth

Sheet number

379

Town/Suburb

Warkworth

City/Region

Auckland region

Notes

Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert

Alma Victoria Whelch was born in 1855 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Edward and wife Ann nee Jamieson. Edward and Ann were married in Auckland in 1848 and went to Australia in the 1850s where Alma was born and a baby Edward was born and died. Edward brought young Alma back to NZ and Ann remained in Melbourne, running a hotel.

In November 1872, 18-year-old Alma married 24-year-old William James Southgate, at William’s father’s house. William was the eldest of 14 children of John and Elizabeth nee Harper. John ran Southgate’s Accommodation Hotel, at Warkworth. Then he had a hydraulic lime business on the river. William was apprenticed as a shipwright to the John Darroch at Mahurangi. Later, with several mates, he tried gold mining at Thames. He was one of the partners in the Golden Anchor mine.

Alma and William had four daughters:

Minnie Elizabeth (1873–1956)
Flora Eveline (1876–1951)
Winnefred Ethel (1879–1950)
Ida Georgina (1886–1953)

William was a Master of a River Steamer and held a Certificate of Service for the Home Trade. He was known as Captain. In those days of sailing craft, and in the Eleanor, the Saucy Kate, Altar and the Janet he took part in the coastal trade between Mongonui and Tauranga. Later, when steam began to replace sail, he, as master of the Keripaha, the Kapanui and the Mahurangi, became well known in shipping circles in Auckland. In 1906, Captain William was involved in a collision between his ship Kapanui and the Claymore. William was fined for negligence but acquitted of the manslaughter of the three men who drowned. After the court case, William and Alma retired to his farm at Grey Lynn, near Auckland.

Alma died at their residence in Grey Lynn, in 1919 in her sixty-fifth year. She was privately interred in Waikaraka Cemetery. At rest. She left a will with effects worth 3000 pounds to her dear husband William. William died in 1928 aged 80 and was buried with his wife in Waikaraka Cemetery, 'Safely anchored'. His will left 100 pounds to his surviving sibling, Fanny Cook of Waiwera; to daughter Flora his piano; and the rest of his estate worth 4500 pounds to be divided into four equal parts for his daughters that survive him. Ida was to receive the income off hers only, and after she died the remainder of her share was to be divided amongst her siblings.

Alma is the sister-in-law of 378 Fannie SOUTHGATE and 379 Ann Jane SOUTHGATE