MARTIN, Charles William
Born 16 November 1882; died 17 November 1918; buried 18 November 1918; age 36
Charles William MARTIN was born on 16 November 1882 at Greymouth. He was the eldest of four sons born to Caroline (nee RONSON) and William Martin. His mother Caroline had been born on 11 April 1860 at Paarl, South Africa after the ship her family was travelling to New Zealand on had been wrecked. That family finally arrived in Auckland New Zealand on the ship ‘Maori’ on 24 December 1864. His father William Mills Martin, was born in Guernsey in either 1851 or 1852.
Caroline Pritchard Ronson and William Mills Martin married on 4 March 1882 at the Ronson home in Hospital Street, Greymouth. William’s occupation was listed as mariner and Caroline’s as a household servant. Later, William deserted his wife and four sons - Charles (1882), Albert (1885), Raymond (1888) and Allen Westlake (1890). Caroline went into business as a bookseller.
Charles went to primary and secondary school in Greymouth. After leaving school he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker but later made the printing trade his profession. During his time in Greymouth he was a member of a band and played some sport, cricket in particular.
Born 16 November 1882; died 17 November 1918; buried 18 November 1918; age 36
Charles William MARTIN was born on 16 November 1882 at Greymouth. He was the eldest of four sons born to Caroline (nee RONSON) and William Martin. His mother Caroline had been born on 11 April 1860 at Paarl, South Africa after the ship her family was travelling to New Zealand on had been wrecked. That family finally arrived in Auckland New Zealand on the ship ‘Maori’ on 24 December 1864. His father William Mills Martin, was born in Guernsey in either 1851 or 1852.
Caroline Pritchard Ronson and William Mills Martin married on 4 March 1882 at the Ronson home in Hospital Street, Greymouth. William’s occupation was listed as mariner and Caroline’s as a household servant. Later, William deserted his wife and four sons - Charles (1882), Albert (1885), Raymond (1888) and Allen Westlake (1890). Caroline went into business as a bookseller.
Charles went to primary and secondary school in Greymouth. After leaving school he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker but later made the printing trade his profession. During his time in Greymouth he was a member of a band and played some sport, cricket in particular.
On 4 September 1909 in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Auckland, Charles married Mary Elizabeth Ada JAMES (known as Ada). They lived in Mount Albert, Remuera and their only child Raymond Charles James was born there on 23 September 1910. Charles and Ada next moved to Oliver Street, Remuera and still later bought a farm at Henderson. Charles was a printer and worked for the Herald newspaper even while owning the farm. In 1917 owing to war conditions and shortage of labour they sold the farm, and made a move to Wellington, where they set up home in Mana Street, Vogeltown. Charles then worked as printing manager for a publication called “New Zealand Free Lance”. He was called up in May 1918 – but contracted influenza and died on 17 November that year.
Charles was buried the next day in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. His plot was purchased by Ada in May 1919, by which time she was living at 196 Sutherland Road, Lyall Bay. A headstone with a plaque was installed, which reads:
In Sad & Loving Memory Of
Our beloved husband and father
CHARLES WILLIAM MARTIN
Who departed this life Nov 17th 1918
Aged 36 years
“To have, to love and then to part
Is the saddest story of the human heart”
Deeply mourned and sadly missed
By his loving wife and his little son
R & A Martin
Mary Elizabeth Ada
Beloved wife of the above
Died 5 Dec 1951
The following is also inscribed on a separate plaque in front of the headstone:
“Father in thy gracious keeping
Leave we now thy servants sleeping”
The Masonic symbol of a crossed set square and compass also adorns the headstone.
After Charles’s death Ada returned to Auckland. In order to support herself and her son she studied at a private commercial school and then joined NZ Post and Telegraph. Working first at Symonds Street Post Office in Auckland, she was then appointed Post Mistress at Pungarehu (Taranaki), then Apiti and later Rangiotu (both in the Manawatu). She retired to Palmerston North, and as the above details on the headstone confirm, she died on 5 December 1951. She was aged 66. Ada was brought to Wellington where she was buried with Charles on 6 December.
At the time of his death Charles’s mother Caroline was living at 2 Ring Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland. Of his brothers Albert was on active service, Raymond had been killed in a train accident earlier in 1918 and Allen Westlake was in New Zealand
Submitted by Mary Simpson, granddaughter of above.
[email protected]
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 64 E
Charles was buried the next day in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. His plot was purchased by Ada in May 1919, by which time she was living at 196 Sutherland Road, Lyall Bay. A headstone with a plaque was installed, which reads:
In Sad & Loving Memory Of
Our beloved husband and father
CHARLES WILLIAM MARTIN
Who departed this life Nov 17th 1918
Aged 36 years
“To have, to love and then to part
Is the saddest story of the human heart”
Deeply mourned and sadly missed
By his loving wife and his little son
R & A Martin
Mary Elizabeth Ada
Beloved wife of the above
Died 5 Dec 1951
The following is also inscribed on a separate plaque in front of the headstone:
“Father in thy gracious keeping
Leave we now thy servants sleeping”
The Masonic symbol of a crossed set square and compass also adorns the headstone.
After Charles’s death Ada returned to Auckland. In order to support herself and her son she studied at a private commercial school and then joined NZ Post and Telegraph. Working first at Symonds Street Post Office in Auckland, she was then appointed Post Mistress at Pungarehu (Taranaki), then Apiti and later Rangiotu (both in the Manawatu). She retired to Palmerston North, and as the above details on the headstone confirm, she died on 5 December 1951. She was aged 66. Ada was brought to Wellington where she was buried with Charles on 6 December.
At the time of his death Charles’s mother Caroline was living at 2 Ring Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland. Of his brothers Albert was on active service, Raymond had been killed in a train accident earlier in 1918 and Allen Westlake was in New Zealand
Submitted by Mary Simpson, granddaughter of above.
[email protected]
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 64 E