ROWBERRY, Joseph Friday
Born 1888; died 14 November 1918; buried 16 November 1918; age 29
Wellington’s tramway service was shut down by the flu epidemic because so many traffic men were off sick in November 1918. About 135 traffic men were ill, two of them dying on 14 November, one of them being motorman Joseph Rowberry, the Evening Post reported on November 16.
Joseph, aged 29, died of pneumonia and influenza after six days at Britomart Street, Berhampore, Wellington. He was buried the following day. There was no death notice.
Joseph was born at Bulls in 1888, his parents were William Rowberry, a baker, and Sarah White. Joseph had seven siblings: Pleione Gertrude, Frederick James, Alberta Harriet, Daisy Elizabeth, May Alice, Felix Barton, and Charles William.
In 1880-81 Joseph’s father was listed as a gardener in Brook Street, Thorndon, Wellington. He went bankrupt in 1886 and by 1890 was listed as a gardener in Bulls. In 1896 William, now a labourer, and Sarah were living in Mitchelltown, Wellington.
In 1911 Joseph, a tramway conductor, was listed as living at Old Karori Road. By 1914 he was described as a tramway motorman living in Wellington North at Raroa Road, Kelburn with two of his brothers, Charles and Felix. Their father William had died in 1899 aged 48 and his mother, Sarah, was living at Old Karori Road in 1914. Sarah died aged 93 in 1941.
In February 1914 newspapers reported that Joseph was involved in a fatal accident involving a pedestrian in Newtown as his tram was travelling towards Thorndon Quay. The Evening Post, Dominion and New Zealand Times all reported on the inquiry. Joseph, the driver, testified that although he had rung the gong, the pedestrian did not notice the tramcar. The inquiry concluded that no blame could be attached to Joseph.
On 23 December 1914 he married Bertha Wiseman when he was 24. She was 26 when he died four years later in Berhampore of the flu. They had three children: Dorothy May born in 1915, Jean born in 1916 and Norman William, born on 20 April 1918.
Joseph was listed in the World War One Reserve Rolls in the Second Division at 29 Fernhill Terrace, Wadestown.
In 1919, Bertha, left with three young children, was listed as a widow living at Tennyson Street, Dannevirke. By 1928 she had moved to 41 William Street, Petone and in 1935 she was at 51 Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt. Bertha Rowberry died in Auckland, according to a death notice in the Evening Post on 9 September, 1936.
Joseph was buried in Karori Cemetery in Section CH ENG2, Plot 42E.
Researched and written by Margaret Hurst
Born 1888; died 14 November 1918; buried 16 November 1918; age 29
Wellington’s tramway service was shut down by the flu epidemic because so many traffic men were off sick in November 1918. About 135 traffic men were ill, two of them dying on 14 November, one of them being motorman Joseph Rowberry, the Evening Post reported on November 16.
Joseph, aged 29, died of pneumonia and influenza after six days at Britomart Street, Berhampore, Wellington. He was buried the following day. There was no death notice.
Joseph was born at Bulls in 1888, his parents were William Rowberry, a baker, and Sarah White. Joseph had seven siblings: Pleione Gertrude, Frederick James, Alberta Harriet, Daisy Elizabeth, May Alice, Felix Barton, and Charles William.
In 1880-81 Joseph’s father was listed as a gardener in Brook Street, Thorndon, Wellington. He went bankrupt in 1886 and by 1890 was listed as a gardener in Bulls. In 1896 William, now a labourer, and Sarah were living in Mitchelltown, Wellington.
In 1911 Joseph, a tramway conductor, was listed as living at Old Karori Road. By 1914 he was described as a tramway motorman living in Wellington North at Raroa Road, Kelburn with two of his brothers, Charles and Felix. Their father William had died in 1899 aged 48 and his mother, Sarah, was living at Old Karori Road in 1914. Sarah died aged 93 in 1941.
In February 1914 newspapers reported that Joseph was involved in a fatal accident involving a pedestrian in Newtown as his tram was travelling towards Thorndon Quay. The Evening Post, Dominion and New Zealand Times all reported on the inquiry. Joseph, the driver, testified that although he had rung the gong, the pedestrian did not notice the tramcar. The inquiry concluded that no blame could be attached to Joseph.
On 23 December 1914 he married Bertha Wiseman when he was 24. She was 26 when he died four years later in Berhampore of the flu. They had three children: Dorothy May born in 1915, Jean born in 1916 and Norman William, born on 20 April 1918.
Joseph was listed in the World War One Reserve Rolls in the Second Division at 29 Fernhill Terrace, Wadestown.
In 1919, Bertha, left with three young children, was listed as a widow living at Tennyson Street, Dannevirke. By 1928 she had moved to 41 William Street, Petone and in 1935 she was at 51 Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt. Bertha Rowberry died in Auckland, according to a death notice in the Evening Post on 9 September, 1936.
Joseph was buried in Karori Cemetery in Section CH ENG2, Plot 42E.
Researched and written by Margaret Hurst