HUESTON, William James
Born 23 April 1873; died 4 December 1918; buried 6 December 1918; age 45
William James Hueston was born in Auckland 1873 and his parents were John Hueston and Sarah Jane DOUGLAS (Sarah was born in Northern Ireland and came to New Zealand in 1861). They married in New Zealand in 1870. William was the eldest of 4 children and his siblings were Mary Elizabeth b1875; Sarah Jane b1877 and John Robert b1879. John died in 1917 while serving in Egypt during World War 1.
On 14 May 1906 at the age of 33, William married 22-year-old Florence Edith BUTCHER in Christchurch. Florrie (as she was known) was the daughter of Edward Butcher and Annie Sarah BURROWS, who were both born in England and came to New Zealand in 1879. Florrie was born in Kaiapoi, North Canterbury on 5 February 1884 and was the 7th out of 11 children.
On 23 June 1906 the Lyttelton Times reported that William, a motorman for the Christchurch Tramways, was appointed to the position of motor inspector.
William and Florrie had 3 children while they were living in Christchurch:
In 1911 the family were living at Mathesons Road in Linwood.
The Southland Times published the following on 20 March 1912:
Mr W J Hueston, of the Christchurch Tramways, who left to take up a position in connection with the Invercargill Tramways (say yesterday’s Press), received a presentation on Friday evening at a large gathering of employees of the Christchurch Tramway Board.
While living in Invercargill, William and Florrie had another daughter:
Born 23 April 1873; died 4 December 1918; buried 6 December 1918; age 45
William James Hueston was born in Auckland 1873 and his parents were John Hueston and Sarah Jane DOUGLAS (Sarah was born in Northern Ireland and came to New Zealand in 1861). They married in New Zealand in 1870. William was the eldest of 4 children and his siblings were Mary Elizabeth b1875; Sarah Jane b1877 and John Robert b1879. John died in 1917 while serving in Egypt during World War 1.
On 14 May 1906 at the age of 33, William married 22-year-old Florence Edith BUTCHER in Christchurch. Florrie (as she was known) was the daughter of Edward Butcher and Annie Sarah BURROWS, who were both born in England and came to New Zealand in 1879. Florrie was born in Kaiapoi, North Canterbury on 5 February 1884 and was the 7th out of 11 children.
On 23 June 1906 the Lyttelton Times reported that William, a motorman for the Christchurch Tramways, was appointed to the position of motor inspector.
William and Florrie had 3 children while they were living in Christchurch:
- Elma Jane born 1908 Christchurch (d1988 in Christchurch, aged 80. She married Harold Stanley MARTIN in 1947).
- Robert Douglas born 1909 Christchurch (d1960 in Brighton, Sussex, England aged 51. He never married and was motor mechanic/engineer by trade).
- Alexandra May born 1910 Christchurch (d2002 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, aged 91. She married Donald Walter WOODWARD in 1936).
In 1911 the family were living at Mathesons Road in Linwood.
The Southland Times published the following on 20 March 1912:
Mr W J Hueston, of the Christchurch Tramways, who left to take up a position in connection with the Invercargill Tramways (say yesterday’s Press), received a presentation on Friday evening at a large gathering of employees of the Christchurch Tramway Board.
While living in Invercargill, William and Florrie had another daughter:
- Beatrice Ruby Hueston b1912 Invercargill (d1992 in Christchurch, aged 80. She married Geoffrey Courthope Salt in 1940).
William Hueston (right) with possibly two of his children Elma & Robert (1912-1913)
(permission for use – Jo Ager took a copy of photo belonging to Elizabeth Horgan – a granddaughter of William’s)
(permission for use – Jo Ager took a copy of photo belonging to Elizabeth Horgan – a granddaughter of William’s)
William left the Invercargill Tramways in October 1913 and had returned to Christchurch by the time their fifth child was born.
Elma started at Papanui School, Christchurch on 21 June 1915 with the family living on the North Road, Papanui. All the children left this school to move to Wellington and started at Lyall Bay School on 4 July 1918. However, following the death of their father the family moved back to Christchurch.
William died at his home in Wellington on 4 December 1918 at the age of 45 during the epidemic and is buried at Karori Cemetery, Wellington. His occupation is listed as railway clerk on his death record, but he had also been a tram driver while in Wellington.
A death notice was published in the New Zealand Herald on 5 December 1918:
Hueston – On December 4 at Wellington, of pneumonia, William James, the beloved husband of Florence Hueston and brother of Mrs Leighton, Henderson and Mrs McCarroll, Whangarei
Florrie was only 34 when William died and the 5 children were aged between 10 and 4. Florrie brought up the 5 young children in Christchurch and did not remarry. She died in 1973 in Christchurch, aged 88.
Researched and written by Jo Ager and Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 3 W
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and Hueston family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. School Records – Kiwi Index, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
- Gordon Edward Hueston, born 1914 Christchurch (d1977 in Christchurch, aged 63. He married Lilian May MAIN in 1947).
Elma started at Papanui School, Christchurch on 21 June 1915 with the family living on the North Road, Papanui. All the children left this school to move to Wellington and started at Lyall Bay School on 4 July 1918. However, following the death of their father the family moved back to Christchurch.
William died at his home in Wellington on 4 December 1918 at the age of 45 during the epidemic and is buried at Karori Cemetery, Wellington. His occupation is listed as railway clerk on his death record, but he had also been a tram driver while in Wellington.
A death notice was published in the New Zealand Herald on 5 December 1918:
Hueston – On December 4 at Wellington, of pneumonia, William James, the beloved husband of Florence Hueston and brother of Mrs Leighton, Henderson and Mrs McCarroll, Whangarei
Florrie was only 34 when William died and the 5 children were aged between 10 and 4. Florrie brought up the 5 young children in Christchurch and did not remarry. She died in 1973 in Christchurch, aged 88.
Researched and written by Jo Ager and Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 3 W
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and Hueston family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. School Records – Kiwi Index, New Zealand Society of Genealogists