Harris, Mary Ann

Some details from Bill and Shona Harris''s Family Tree

Bolton sailed from London 19 November 1839 and arrived 30 April 1840
Names as shown on passenger list
Harris Abraham, Aged: 29, Labourer & Brickmaker
Harris Sophia, Aged: 29
Harris Sophia, Aged: 8 (sic)
Harris James, Aged: 6
Harris Edward, Aged: 4
Harris Walter, Aged: 2
Harris Thomas, Aged: 10 weeks

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator 23 July 1842
FOUND, in Mr. Houghton''s yard, Willis Street, a small new anchor, how it came there not known. Any person describing it, may have the same on paying the expence of advertisement.
July 22, 1842.

Marriage Details
1854/1292, Bride: Mary Anne (sic) Harris, Groom: John Houghton

Wellington Independent 15 January 1863
GEORGE HOUGHTON,
LIGHTERMAN, &c.,
Manners Street, Wellington,
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Shipping Supplied,
With Stone and Shingle Ballast; Pure Fresh Water pumped into the ship tanks on the shortest notice.
No. 2 flag is the call for anything required by G. H.''s boats.
N.B,- All orders left at Mr. John Houghton''s, Willis-street, next door to the Indepent Office, will be punctionally attended to.


Death Details
1879/5384, John Houghton, Aged: 60Y - Date of Death 29/9/1879 (sic) from Death Registration

Bolton Street Cemetery Records John Houghton, Date: 8/9/1879 (sic), Cemetery: Church of England, Plot: 614, Registrar Generals: 1500, Type: Burial, Status: Plot Disinterred, Comment: Moved to Karori Crematorium (sic)

Karori Cemetery
Last Name: HOUGHTON
First Name: John
Deceased Date: 00-00-0000
Occupation:
Service Date: 08-09-1879 (sic)
Service Provided: Burial
Cemetery: Bolton St
Section: C of E
Plot Number: 614
Record Number: 97352

Evening Post 29 September 1879
DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF MR. J. HOUGHTON.
At 3 o''clock on the morning of the 7th inst. a well-known resident of this city named John Houghton disappeared from his home in a mysterious manner, and nothing more was heard of him until this morning, when his body was found in the harbor, near the Te Aro baths. He was in independent circumstances, and there was no necessity whatever for his absenting himself, and consequently his disappearance could not be accounted for. For some years past he had been of very temperate habits, and his friends had no reason to believe'' that he contemplated putting an end to his life. Whether he drowned himself, or fell into the water accidentally, remains to be seen. At a quarter to 9 o''clock this morning two men named Parrant and Pascoe were walking along Clyde Quay, and when opposite Mr Berg''s hotel, they saw a body floating in the harbor within a few feet of the shore. They immediately communicated with the police, and Sergeant McMahon went to the spot indicated and removed the body from the water. The face had been eaten away by fish and. the body, was greatly decomposed, but it was identified as that of Mr. Houghton by the clothes and some papers found in the pockets. Sergeant McMahon procured an express and conveyed the body to the Morgue. The pockets of the deceased contained several papers and some overdue promissory notes, together with 3s 7d in money. There were no marks of violence on the body, nor was there anything to show that he meditated suicide. An inquest will be held to-morrow.

Evening Post 30 September 1879
HOUGHTON.- Found drowned, on the 29th September, in Wellington Harbor, Mr. John Houghton, aged 60 years and 11 months: deeply regretted by a large circle of friends.
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INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR. HOUGHTON.
An inquest was held at the Morgue this morning by Dr. Johnston and a jury of twelve on the body of John Houghton, which was found in the harbor yesterday morning. The following persons were sworn as the jury:- Messrs. Arthur Brown (foreman), M. Bowen. H. Gills, E. F. Eager, C. Bath, W. Black, T. McClelland, E. Rothenberg, J. McColl, F. Fisher, James Dyer, E. Muncaster, and H. Eteveneaux (sic).
Leonard Parrant deposed that he was a carpenter, residing in Tasman-street. Yesterday morning about a quarter to 9 o''clock he was on Clyde Quay with two other men, when he saw an object in the water, which be found to be a dead body, which was dressed in the usual way. He went to the Clyde Hotel and told the landlord that there was a body floating in front of the hotel, and then he gave information to Sergeant McMahon. They went together to the place where the body was lying, and having removed it from the water, they conveyed it in an express to the Morgue He did not know whose body it was until afterwards.
Henry James Underwood, a lodger in the house of the deceased, stated that he knew the late Mr. Houghton, and recognised the body as his. Deceased left his house either on the evening of the 7th or the morning of the 8th instant. The body was much decomposed, but witness identified it by the clothes, and the contents of the pockets. On Sunday evening, the 7th instant, witness saw deceased alive. That was about 10 o''clock at night, and deceased appeared to be in his usual spirits. He was subject to fits of despondency, but on this occasion he did not hint that he was going out — in fact, witness thought he was going to bed. Deceased was in the habit of rising early, and witness frequently called him About half-past six o''clock on the morning of the 8th instant witness called out to deceased for the purpose of ascertaining whether deceased was up. Miss Houghton then informed witness that deceased was not in the house, and witness, thinking that deceased had gone outside, looked for him but could not find him. Witness had not seen him alive since then the family had telegraphed to various places to which they thought he might have gone, and had made every enquiry they could, but they heard nothing of the deceased until the body was found yesterday morning. Deceased had never threatened to make away with himself. About a couple of months ago deceased had a sort of fit in the street, and had to be taken into an hotel, where restoratives were administered, but he recovered in about ten minutes. Deceased was subject to attacks of cramp, which were only relieved by rubbing or walking. Deceased slept with his wife on the night of the 7th instant, but she did not know of his disappearance until the next morning She was very deaf, and could not hear without an ear trumpet, and therefore she could not appear to give evidence. Deceased arrived in Wellington by the ship Aurora in 1840.
Sergeant McMahon gave evidence relative to the finding of the body of the deceased, and described the various articles which were found upon it
Ellen Houghton deposed that she was the daughter of the deceased. She last saw her father alive at about 11 o''clock on the night of the 7th instant. Deceased was then in the dining room. Witness occupied the same room as her father and mother, and heard her father go into the room soon after she went to bed. She did not hear him go out again, but about 7 o''clock next morning she heard Mr. Underwood call deceased, and on looking about she found that deceased was not in the room. Deceased was in good health and spirits up to the time when witness went to bed. Deceased was somewhat reserved, but he was not in any monetary difficulties. He was in the habit of taking early morning walks, and consequently no notice was taken of his absence at first. Subsequently, as he did not return, witness and her mother made every enquiry for him, but without success. Deceased was in independent circumstances, and had no cause to be despondent.
The jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

Karori Cemetery
Scared to the memory of John Houghton born 23 Oct 1818 drowned 8 September 1879 aged 61
also Sophia (sic) Ann Houghton born 7 February 1835 (sic) died 1 April 1861 aged 6 years
also John David Houghton born 24 May 1860 died 2 June 1860
Dear Father.
The rising morning can''t assure,
that we shall end the day,
For death stands ready everywhere,
to take our lives away.

Probate John Houghton, Place: Wellington, Occ: Grocer, Date of Death: 7/9/1879 (sic), AAOM 6029 1378, Filed: 10/10/1879, Will, Archives NZ, Wellington

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Death Details
1893/2687, Mary Ann Houghton, Aged: 62Y - Date of Death 6/6/1893 from Death Registration

Bolton Street Cemetery Records Mary Ann Houghton, Date: 6/6/1893, Cemetery: Church of England, Plot: 614, Registrar Generals: 804, Type: Burial, Status: Plot Disinterred, Comment: Moved to Karori Crematorium (sic)

Karori Cemetery
Last Name: HOUGHTON
First Name: Mary Ann
Deceased Date: 00-00-0000
Occupation:
Service Date: 06-06-1893
Service Provided: Burial
Cemetery: Bolton St
Section: C of E
Plot Number: 614
Record Number: 97353


Evening Post 7 June 1893
HOUGHTON.- On the 6th June, at Flagstaff Hill, Willis-street, Mary Ann, relict of the late John Houghton, aged 62 years.
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FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late Mrs. Mary Ann Houghton are respectfully invited to attend her Funeral, which will leave her late residence, Flagstaff Hill, Willis-street, for the Bolton-street Cemetery, To-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, at half-past 2 o''clock.
GEORGE TILLER,
Undertaker, Manners-street.
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The ranks of the old idenitities have just been further thinned by the death of Mrs. John Houghton, who has been a resident of this district for more than half a century. The deceased lady was born in Essex in 1831, and arrived in the colony by the ship Bolton in 1840. A few years later she was married at the Taita to Mr. John Houghton. Shortly after thay were married, Mr. Houghton began business as a grocer in Willis-stiect on the site now occupied by Mr. W. F. Shortt''s auction mart, and carried on the establishment until he was accidentally drowned in the harbour in 1879. Mrs. Houghton, although 62 years of age, had always enjoyed excellent health, and was in very high spirits for some time after she arose yesterday morning. As she wns going about her household duties, however, after breakfast, she was seized with a fainting fit, and Dr. Chapple, who was called in to attend her at her house on Flagstaft Hill, Willis-street, fouud that a blood-vessel in the brain had been ructurce, producing cerebral hemorrhage, with paralysis of the left side. Dr. Anson was also summoned in the afternoon, but medical skill was of no avail, and she passed peaceful away at 7 p m. She leaves a daughter (Mrs. Underwood), who was at the bedside when death took place, to mourn the loss of an affectionate parent.


Karori Cemetery Mausoleum Headstone reads
In loving memory of Henry John Underwood who was lost in the wreck of the S.S. Penguin in

Cook Strait 12 Feb 1909 aged 59 years and 6 months.
There shall be no night there,
for the Lord God giveth them light
Rev. XXII:5
Also H. E. Underwood (Mum) wife of the above died 19 May 1916 aged 57 years.
Peace, Perfect Peace.
Ethel Sophia Quinlan loved daughter H. J. and H. E Underwood departed this life on 5 May 1968
Lewis Henry (Pat) Quinlan son of the above, departed this life on 28 March 1971.
Re-united.
In loving memory Nathalia Janet Underwood beloved wife of H. M. Underwood and 2nd daughter J. and C. Capstick, Ohakea died 1 February 1941 aged 23 years.
Farewell dear Mother.
In loving Mary Ann Houghton who died suddenly at her residence, Flagstaff Hill, Willis Street, 6 June 1893 aged 62.
In loving memory of Sydney James Underwood grandson of H. J. Underwood born 21 May 1906 died 22 May 22 May 1906.
Sydney Houghton Underwood beloved husband of L. M. Underwood died 21 June 1922 aged 41 years
At Rest.
Sydney Harvie Underwood grandson of the above died 3 September 1934 aged 3 years and 6 months.
Gone to the Good Man in the skies,
who loves all little boys.
Louise Maud Underwood wife of Sydney Houghton Underwood died 22 December 1956 aged 76 years.
At Rest.
Henry May Underwood beloved husband of Eala born 18 April 1910 died 14 December 1972

Probate Mary Ann Houghton, Place: Wellington, Occ: Widow, Date of Death 6/6/1893, AAOM 6029 4153, Filed: 27/6/1893, Intestate, Archives NZ, Wellington