GUTHRIE, Thomas
Born 2 December 1889: died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 29
Thomas Guthrie was born in Shag Valley in North Otago. He was the oldest son and first child of James and Mary GUTHRIE.
His maternal grandfather, Matthew TODD, had come from Ayrshire in Scotland, via the Victorian goldfields in Australia to the Otago goldfields. He later became a carrier, subsequently bought a farm at Shag Valley and was later elected to the local county council. When he died in 1888 he left 10 children. Matthew married Mary COCHRANE on 17 April 1868 at Shag Point, Waitaki, Otago. Mary was born in 1840 in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland and died 1898 in Palmerston, Otago; Matthew died 1888.
The year after Matthew’s death his 19-year-old daughter Mary Grace Todd married James Guthrie. He was 16 years older than she. James, a labourer, was born in Perthshire, Scotland. When he came to New Zealand is not clear.
James and Mary settled in Shag Point, near the famous Moeraki boulders and Palmerston, on the coast. James worked as a blacksmith. They had eight children, with Thomas their first-born.
Shag Point is now known for coastal scenery including seals and has a group of holiday homes. When the Guthries lived there it was the centre of a coal mining district. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand noted in 1905 that the town had two coal mines as well as a school, post and telegraph office, a hotel and a general store. It also noted there was rabbit shooting and trout fishing nearby.
Thomas went to the local school and in 1902 got a good conduct award. Later he joined the New Zealand Railways and in 1909 he was listed as a cleaner in the locomotive branch in Nelson. Working in the cab of a locomotive was a prestigious working-class role, the cabin crew even had their own union; the Engine Drivers’, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association. Staff started as cleaners and worked their way up to be firemen who stoked the fire and kept the steam boiler at the right pressure.
Thomas spent several years in Nelson and then moved to Wellington. In Wellington he was promoted from fireman to driver, according to various reports of him giving evidence at inquests on rail accidents (no blame was attached to him) and information in the electoral rolls.
Before moving to Wellington, Thomas had met Florence (Flo) Kathleen STRINGER in Nelson. She had been born there, where her father was a builder and contractor. She was working as a housekeeper. With Thomas’s transfer to Wellington, they married on 26 November 1913 at the residence of J A Stringer, Haven Road, Nelson. Later they set up house in Northland, living in Orangi Kaupapa Rd and The Rigi. Their first son Alexander Thomas (Alec) was born in 1914.
World War 1 was a busy time for Railways. It was a major employer, with around 20,000 permanent and temporary staff. The North Island Main Trunk line had been finished six years earlier. Railways’ management was initially keen for men to enlist, but as the war went on manpower shortages became a problem. Thomas was on the reserve roll for military service, but was not called up.
His second son, Jack Mason Todd, was born on 18 November 1918. However, Thomas died at the Sydney St Temporary Hospital 10 days later. The cause of death was given as broncho pneumonia and Influenza.
The inscription on his headstone in the Karori Cemetery reads:
“In loving memory of Thomas, beloved husband of Florence K Guthrie died 28th Nov 1918, aged 29 years, thy will be done”.
The Nelson Evening Mail recorded his death on 7 December 1918.
A notice appeared in the Evening Post a year later, on 28 November 1919.
GUTHRIE —In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas Guthrie, who died on the 28th November, 1918. Inserted by his loving wife, Flo, and little children, Alec and Jack.
By this time Flo had returned to live in Nelson. On 21 December 1921 she married William Walter (Bill) LOCK, a widower with three children. Flo and Bill married in Nelson, and did not have any children together. William died in 1950 and Flo in 1951 and both are buried in Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.
Researched and written by Sue Guest
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 357 I
Sources:
1. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
2. www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
3. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981
4. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Otago and Southland Provincial Districts – http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz
5. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
Born 2 December 1889: died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 29
Thomas Guthrie was born in Shag Valley in North Otago. He was the oldest son and first child of James and Mary GUTHRIE.
His maternal grandfather, Matthew TODD, had come from Ayrshire in Scotland, via the Victorian goldfields in Australia to the Otago goldfields. He later became a carrier, subsequently bought a farm at Shag Valley and was later elected to the local county council. When he died in 1888 he left 10 children. Matthew married Mary COCHRANE on 17 April 1868 at Shag Point, Waitaki, Otago. Mary was born in 1840 in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland and died 1898 in Palmerston, Otago; Matthew died 1888.
The year after Matthew’s death his 19-year-old daughter Mary Grace Todd married James Guthrie. He was 16 years older than she. James, a labourer, was born in Perthshire, Scotland. When he came to New Zealand is not clear.
James and Mary settled in Shag Point, near the famous Moeraki boulders and Palmerston, on the coast. James worked as a blacksmith. They had eight children, with Thomas their first-born.
Shag Point is now known for coastal scenery including seals and has a group of holiday homes. When the Guthries lived there it was the centre of a coal mining district. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand noted in 1905 that the town had two coal mines as well as a school, post and telegraph office, a hotel and a general store. It also noted there was rabbit shooting and trout fishing nearby.
Thomas went to the local school and in 1902 got a good conduct award. Later he joined the New Zealand Railways and in 1909 he was listed as a cleaner in the locomotive branch in Nelson. Working in the cab of a locomotive was a prestigious working-class role, the cabin crew even had their own union; the Engine Drivers’, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association. Staff started as cleaners and worked their way up to be firemen who stoked the fire and kept the steam boiler at the right pressure.
Thomas spent several years in Nelson and then moved to Wellington. In Wellington he was promoted from fireman to driver, according to various reports of him giving evidence at inquests on rail accidents (no blame was attached to him) and information in the electoral rolls.
Before moving to Wellington, Thomas had met Florence (Flo) Kathleen STRINGER in Nelson. She had been born there, where her father was a builder and contractor. She was working as a housekeeper. With Thomas’s transfer to Wellington, they married on 26 November 1913 at the residence of J A Stringer, Haven Road, Nelson. Later they set up house in Northland, living in Orangi Kaupapa Rd and The Rigi. Their first son Alexander Thomas (Alec) was born in 1914.
World War 1 was a busy time for Railways. It was a major employer, with around 20,000 permanent and temporary staff. The North Island Main Trunk line had been finished six years earlier. Railways’ management was initially keen for men to enlist, but as the war went on manpower shortages became a problem. Thomas was on the reserve roll for military service, but was not called up.
His second son, Jack Mason Todd, was born on 18 November 1918. However, Thomas died at the Sydney St Temporary Hospital 10 days later. The cause of death was given as broncho pneumonia and Influenza.
The inscription on his headstone in the Karori Cemetery reads:
“In loving memory of Thomas, beloved husband of Florence K Guthrie died 28th Nov 1918, aged 29 years, thy will be done”.
The Nelson Evening Mail recorded his death on 7 December 1918.
A notice appeared in the Evening Post a year later, on 28 November 1919.
GUTHRIE —In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas Guthrie, who died on the 28th November, 1918. Inserted by his loving wife, Flo, and little children, Alec and Jack.
By this time Flo had returned to live in Nelson. On 21 December 1921 she married William Walter (Bill) LOCK, a widower with three children. Flo and Bill married in Nelson, and did not have any children together. William died in 1950 and Flo in 1951 and both are buried in Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.
Researched and written by Sue Guest
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 357 I
Sources:
1. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
2. www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
3. New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981
4. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Otago and Southland Provincial Districts – http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz
5. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries