FISHER, William John
Born 1874; died 14 November 1918; buried 15 November 1918; age 43
On 15 November 1918, the Evening Post reported that the flag at the Wellington Harbour Board’s chief office had flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to 44-year old William FISHER who had died from influenza earlier that day.
William was born in a settlement called Tararu Creek, on the Coromandel Peninsula, just north of Thames, where his father, also named William, was a miner. The Evening Post report mentions that early in his working life, William junior had been in the British Navy, ‘serving on the Australian Station’ [i].
By 1902 aged about 27, he had resigned from the Navy and begun working for the Wellington Harbour Board. At that time he was living in Abel Smith Street, but in 1903 he married Mabel Fairey CHITTENDEN and the couple moved first to 29 Boulcott Street and subsequently to 20 Naughton Terrace in Kilbirnie. William continued working for the Harbour Board, for eleven years in the Tolls Office on Queens Wharf.
Some time after 1916, and most probably early in 1918, William and Mabel adopted a young daughter, Ruby Ethelda. William made a will in November 1917 making some provision for his wife Mabel but also establishing a trust fund to support his daughter’s education and upbringing.
William was buried in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery the day after he died. There was no death notice inserted in the local papers, nor any In Memoriam notices in the next few years [ii].
Ruby died aged 19, in 1935; and Mabel aged 78 in 1960: both share William’s grave.
Their details were added to the plaques on the headstone which read:
(Right hand side)
William John FISHER
Dearly beloved husband of
Mabel Fisher
Died 14 Nov 1918 Aged 43
“Accept our gift o Lord”
Mabel Fairey FISHER
Dearly beloved wife of above
Died 25 February 1960 Aged 78
(Left hand side)
Ruby Ethelda FISHER
(Con)
Dearly loved daughter of
William John and Mabel FISHER
Died 15 Dec 1935 in her 20th year
“Called to holiness and grace”
The rounded plaque above the inscriptions says “In Loving Memory Of”.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 35 E
[i] The Australia Station was the British, and later Australian, naval command responsible for the waters around the Australian continent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Station
[ii] Richard Frederickson, also working in the Tolls Office, died two days later.
Born 1874; died 14 November 1918; buried 15 November 1918; age 43
On 15 November 1918, the Evening Post reported that the flag at the Wellington Harbour Board’s chief office had flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to 44-year old William FISHER who had died from influenza earlier that day.
William was born in a settlement called Tararu Creek, on the Coromandel Peninsula, just north of Thames, where his father, also named William, was a miner. The Evening Post report mentions that early in his working life, William junior had been in the British Navy, ‘serving on the Australian Station’ [i].
By 1902 aged about 27, he had resigned from the Navy and begun working for the Wellington Harbour Board. At that time he was living in Abel Smith Street, but in 1903 he married Mabel Fairey CHITTENDEN and the couple moved first to 29 Boulcott Street and subsequently to 20 Naughton Terrace in Kilbirnie. William continued working for the Harbour Board, for eleven years in the Tolls Office on Queens Wharf.
Some time after 1916, and most probably early in 1918, William and Mabel adopted a young daughter, Ruby Ethelda. William made a will in November 1917 making some provision for his wife Mabel but also establishing a trust fund to support his daughter’s education and upbringing.
William was buried in the Anglican section of Karori Cemetery the day after he died. There was no death notice inserted in the local papers, nor any In Memoriam notices in the next few years [ii].
Ruby died aged 19, in 1935; and Mabel aged 78 in 1960: both share William’s grave.
Their details were added to the plaques on the headstone which read:
(Right hand side)
William John FISHER
Dearly beloved husband of
Mabel Fisher
Died 14 Nov 1918 Aged 43
“Accept our gift o Lord”
Mabel Fairey FISHER
Dearly beloved wife of above
Died 25 February 1960 Aged 78
(Left hand side)
Ruby Ethelda FISHER
(Con)
Dearly loved daughter of
William John and Mabel FISHER
Died 15 Dec 1935 in her 20th year
“Called to holiness and grace”
The rounded plaque above the inscriptions says “In Loving Memory Of”.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 35 E
[i] The Australia Station was the British, and later Australian, naval command responsible for the waters around the Australian continent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Station
[ii] Richard Frederickson, also working in the Tolls Office, died two days later.