Generation H

Richard Brandon
b. 1842
c.24 Aug 1843, Rotherhithe
m. 1865 Lucy Ballard (1841-1926) at Broadstairs, Kent
d.5th February 1898, Wanganui

Richard was born in Rotherhithe, England, in 1842, the third child of Samuel and Jane Brandon. He was brought up on his father's market garden at Rotherhithe.

At the time of the 1851 census, they were living at 2 Paradise Row, Rotherhithe, which was where the market garden was. He married Lucy Ballard, daughter of James, a hotel keeper, and Alice, and grand- daughter of Isaac Ballard, on the 5th of September 1865, in the Parish church at Broadstairs, Kent, by the Rev Fred Newell (1). At the time Richard's address was Saint John Machline, Middlesex, and his occupation was stated as a market gardener.

Richard and Lucy must have moved a lot. Up until about 1870 they lived at Lower Clapton, then at Plaistow, London until about 1876. In 1877 they were living at 11 Cemetery Road, Peckham, Surrey, and Richard was then a clerk at a basket factory (2). Clearly, Richard, for some reason, decided to leave the market gardening business. He may have been moving to where he could find work.

Richard, at some stage travelled quite widely, and must have had some means to do this, although using it up in the process. He could speak French quite well, and it is said that he had a mistress in France. Richard came out by himself to New Zealand in 1878, on the `Otaki', leaving Gravesend on the 11th 0f September, and arriving in Wellington on the 10th of December, a passage of 90 days. The ship was considered one of the fastest to make the trip, making 17 altogether to NZ. There were 53 passengers on board (3).

He must have thought NZ a suitable place to live, because he returned home to bring out his wife Lucy and his family who arrived at Wellington on the 29th October, 1881 on the sailing ship `Pleione'. The voyage lasted 103 days. There were 37 passengers(3). The Pleione was later (in 1887) stranded at Waikanae Beach because of a navigational error at night (4).

Richard and Lucy had ten children born to them in England: Edward, Grace, Herbert, Frederick, James, Edith, Adolphus, Alice, James and Richard. The first James, and Alice died in infancy. Edith did not come to NZ, so she must have been left with another member of the family in England. They settled in Wanganui, living first in Sydney Place and then in Riverbank Road in a house built by Herbert Brandon. They had a further two children born to them in Wanganui, Kitty and Lionel. Richard died of a heart attack in Wanganui on the 5th of February, 1898, aged 56, and was buried in Wanganui Old Cemetery. He had suffered from heart trouble for many years (5).

Lucy had many talents, one which was producing lovely needlework, and this was one of her pleasures right to the end of her life. She was a delightful, witty and cheerful person. After her family left her, Lucy moved to live in Wellington with her daughter, Grace Ewart, and then when her daughter died, she went to Tinakori Road and lived with an old friend, Mrs Rickson. Her faculties were with her till the last. She spent her last afternoon with a friend and seemed her best. She died from angina in 1926, aged 85(6). Her funeral service was held in St. Paul's church with only relatives and very close friends present, and she was buried in the Karori Cemetery.

Generation I

Herbert Brandon (7)
b. 27th October, 1869 at Lower Clapton
m. 1912 Gertrude Twyman
d. 29th November, 1938

Herbert, my grandfather, was born on the 27th October, 1868, the third child of Richard and Lucy Brandon. He came with his family to NZ at age 13, where they settled in Wanganui. He had completed his schooling by this time. In his earlier years, he had experience as a builder, and built over 100 houses in Wanganui. His brother Fred helped him.

At some point he travelled, including a time when he was working in the goldfields in Perth. He also made one trip to England before the trip on which he married.

He bought a 1,000 acre farm at Hauturu, an isolated area towards the coast from Waitomo, in 1909. James and Adolphus had already purchased farms in the Hauturu area. He explains his reasons for switching from being a builder to a farmer as the better business opportunities. The land at this time was just being divided up for settling by a balloting system. The Oates brothers, who won the ballot for one of the farms, were not able to continue with it and so gave an opportunity for Herbert.

He paid 1,200 pounds to the owners for their goodwill in developing the land, and by 1914 he had to pay the original purchase price of 8/6 per acre. Only 200 acres of the farm was already felled. The farm was quite isolated, and because the roads were not completed, most of the goods required had to be packed on horseback 8 1/2 miles from Awaroa. From there it was a launch trip down the river and across the harbour to the west coast port of Kawhia, the closest town.

Shortly after arriving at the farm, Herbert observed Halley's comet, and had to explain to some frightened Maoris about it.

Herbert, and his brother Fred worked together to develop the farm, living in a hut at first. The brothers had to operate their own sawmill to hand cut logs into timber required for all building. They also had to fell much bush in order to make more land available for stock.

From early 1909, Herbert began corresponding with Gertrude Twyman (8), in England. He must have met her on his previous trip to England through his sister Edith, who was a good friend. Herbert urged Gertrude to come out to see NZ, extolling its virtues. But Gertrude did not want to come out because she was looking after her father who did not want her to leave home. But as the letter writing progressed, Herbert proposed to her. Because of the length of time it took the mails to travel and for an answer to come back, it must have taken considerable courage to wait for his reply. When the reply came back `No', Herbert patiently kept trying until eventually the decision was made and he travelled to England to marry Gertrude.

Herbert was 44, when in 1912 he married Gertrude Mary Anne Twyman, six years younger than himself, the daughter of Frederick and Anne Twyman, at Ramsgate, on his visit to England. They had two children, Ray and Aleck.

It must have been hard for Gertrude to come out to an isolated lifestyle of rural New Zealand, after the town life she was used to. Gertrude had a strong Anglican church upbringing. Her faith was very real to her, she had a sense of closeness to the Lord, and she prayed a lot at home on her own and with the family. She had a spiritual ability to sense when she was going to get a letter or when someone had died in England. She used to have regular contact with all the Anglican ministers who came to the Hauturu area who came in to take services. Gertrude also brought with her a gift of singing and a love for music. On one occasion she sang in a service before Queen Victoria. In the valley she was invited to sing at many church and social functions. She could sing classical and opera pieces. She was a soprano, and could reach some very high notes. She sang at Ray and Ruth's wedding. Herbert was also musical and used to play a violin at social occasions.

The family was brought up on music. They had a gramophone very early on with classical singing records. Both Herbert and Gertrude took part in plays that were home grown entertainment for the area.

Because of his previous work in building, Herbert was able to build his own house, though it took him 12 years to complete it. Building had to be fitted in between farm work and helping others with their building. As much of the house as possible was made with Totara, because it was the best timber to work with, resistant to splitting, and durable, and there was plenty of it growing in the bush. He also made his own furniture including an elaborate writing desk, beds, dressing table, and a mantel piece in the lounge, which had glass cases on each side for Gertrude's ornaments. He had an excellent set of tools and was good at drawing up plans.

From when he went to the farm, Herbert planned to use the scenic waterfall on the property to generate power for the farm. He installed it in 1927/28 and it continued to operate until about 1940, just a few years before they were hooked up to the national power grid. It was a 230 volts, 6 amp. power supply which was only just enough to operate either the shearing shed or the house lights on their own, but not both together. There was a big loss of power in the line which was over a mile long.

He worked hard, getting up early in the morning and working until late at night. He was a wiry man, full of energy. In the evenings he would often write letters. He involved himself in the issues of the day, and the needs of the community. He was keen on the Douglas economic theory (Social Credit), and would write to all the Prime Ministers, local MP's, and Sam Craig, the first editor of the `King Country Chronicle'', expressing his views. For a long time he had a battle with the authorities to get the roads extended and improved, especially with a Mr Alf Babbage, a neighbouring farmer and County Councillor for many years. Mr Babbage didn't want the road to go through to Waitomo because of the cost of repairs it would be to the Council. But it was a necessary improvement to Herbert, who wrote direct to the local MP, Mr Walter Broadford, until he got the road widened from the track it was, and then later to get it metaled.

During the depression, all the wool was saved for 4 years, a total of 130 bales. There was very little money from the sale of sheep. Ray and Aleck who had complete studies at that time, both worked on the farm without any pay. In 1934, he bought his first car, a 1933 V8 Ford. It was suitable for the roads, because of its high clearance to get through the mud. The car was delivered to their home, then Ray and Aleck had to drive it to Otorohanga via Te Raumoa to get a license. They didn't do to well in their test, especially with reversing the car, but the official granted them a license in order that they could drive the car home. Herbert never drove the car.

Both Herbert and Gertrude played an important part in the social life of the community of Hauturu Valley. Gertrude was an excellent entertainer, always busy with people who came in. A lot of relations came to stay because they knew she was such a good hostess. She liked pleasing people. She fed the shearers well because she knew they really appreciated it. There was a Maori family, the Tupu Mihi's who did some work on the farm - she would send food to them and bake a Christmas cake for them. She also fed the road gangs who had to live on the job in their tents or huts built of Punga sides and Nikau palm roof.

They were both keen gardeners. Herbert was keen on his fruit trees, strawberries, and rhubarb. Gertrude loved the flowers.

Over the last few years Herbert was ill, but he worked to the last. He died from cancer on November 29th, 1938 (9). Gertrude survived him for some years, continuing to live on the farm. She died of coronary thrombosis in 1955. I remember attending her funeral service in the Anglican church at Otorohanga.

Settlement at Awaroa.(10)

The area where Herbert Brandon settled at Hauturu was part of the Awaroa Block which was divided up by ballot in 1901, to make ten farms. The settlers in order from the top of the Awaroa river were: Oates Bros, W. Turner & J Brandon, A.W. Babbage, J.B. Scott. On the other side: W.E. Anderson, A. Brandon, H.H. Babbage, W.D. Humphreys, Kendricks Bros, and G.McD Robertson.

In the Awaroa Valley, the valley of the Awaroa River (name means long river or valley), the people lived a very isolated life for many years, having no access to the world outside by road. They were in much the same position to the rest of New Zealand as New Zealand was in the early days to England. The steamer from Waitara and Onehunga was their link with New Zealand. To get to town meant a ride on horse- back on a track leading a pack horse to carry luggage for up to ten miles, some of it through the bush, to Awaroa. At Awaroa, up river from the mouth of the Awaroa river and the Kawhia Harbour, there was a landing, general store, post office, simple accommodation and a goods shed. Then there was a launch trip of about ten miles down the river and across Kawhia Harbour to Kawhia. The launch was available once a week on a Saturday until 1907 or 1908 and then for about eight years after that it was twice a week, on Saturday and Wednesday.

If you arrived in Kawhia on a Saturday, you had to wait a few days for the arrival of the steamer which went to Waitara or Onehunga once a week. A journey to town took some days for the Awaroa people and as nearly all came from Wanganui, it was to Waitara they went, which meant a week for a hurried trip to town and back. Usually it was several weeks. These trips were seldom made, perhaps once in two or three years, or even longer for some. Their wants were not so many - they simply had to do without many wants.

Nearly all shopping was by post from Auckland. Roading problems Dick Seddon, who attended the ballot for the Awaroa block told the successful winners that the block would be roaded in two years. All the sections were at a higher figure that that at which the Government had bought them from the Maoris plus surveys. The extra was what the Government considered it would cost them to make the roads. Did that mean a six foot track? Anyway it was getting on for two years before a six foot track was started and at the end of six years, in 1906, that the track had only reached a bit over eight miles, leaving some distance to the Brandon farms. It was completed in a further two years, leaving a three mile walk through the bush to connect up with another track to Waitomo.

Seddon was reminded of his promise at the ballot that the district would be roaded in two years. His reply - he was no coward - was that he was afraid minister's promises were a bit like pie crust, made to be broken.

Education of the children was a problem in 1910. There were six children of school age and over. On approaching the Government they were told that if they would provide the land and build a school free of cost, find a teacher and board her, they would subsidise her pay. A very small subsidy it was. They went to work on this. W.D. Humphrey visited everyone to collect money to buy timber, iron, windows etc. and he collected 41pounds and 2s.

All the materials came by steamer from Auckland. The two Babbages, Robertson and Humphreys built the school. W. Turner, A. Brandon, J. Brandon and H. Brandon put up a post and wire fence around the school and a sufficient area for the children's horses. The first teacher was Miss E. Goldsbury, Mrs Turner's sister. Entertainment For entertainment at night they had to thank the Turners who had the first musical instrument - an organ. Mrs Turner played and many were the evenings when they sang around the organ.

Other entertainment, mostly at the Turners, were lectures on various subjects such a some prominent person, Japanese history, Inca history, Maori migration and many other subjects. Mr Turner took to writing plays to suit the performers - some were quite good. Since there were not many to choose from, most had to take part. Turner was himself the main performer. There were about four plays, and rehearsing for these took a lot of evenings. The final production of each was either in Turner's home or Herbert Brandon's wool-shed and then they travelled and gave performances.

Funderal Address for Gertrude Brandon

The funeral was held on the 7th of May, 1955, at St. Bride's Anglican Church, Otorohanga. The minister, Rev John Templar spoke in glowing terms of Gertrude using the text, "A great woman lived here." - 2 Kings 4:8 "In my parish visitations it was always a joy to visit Mrs Brandon's home. To me, it was in the tradition of the great homes of England. The great homes of England owe more than half of their greatness to the women who grace them. I am not myself an Englishman, but I can well imagine how some of my colleagues recently from the Old Country must have loved the Brandon home as a reminder of their beloved Homeland.

Mrs Brandon and her husband were pioneers. In their lives they built well, and sacrificed much. Today, we in New Zealand are proud that in our country we have equality of opportunity. Equality of opportunity is the second volume of a book - the first volume should be called prodigality of sacrifice. England's greatness and England's democracy is built on the prodigality of sacrifice on the part of her leaders - from the Royal House downwards. Mrs Brandon's motive, I am sure, was her faith. This was England's greatness.

Mrs Brandon's greatest personal loss was her inability to go to a building worthy of Holy Worship, and week by week she made her adoration in the custom of her tradition. The services I was able to conduct at her home were always greatly to be appreciated by her. The service and pattern of her faith could be found in the words of St. Paul to the Philippians, Chapter 2 - "He stripped Himself of the powers of God, lived a humble life of obedience even to the extent of allowing men to inflict Him with a criminals death - the death of the Cross.

Wherefore God has given him a name beyond all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow." We do well, brethren today, to give thanks to God, for the life of Mrs Brandon, and pray that our own lives may profit by her noble example. Let us commit her soul, and ourselves to God.

Edward (Ted) Brandon (11)
b.28th June 1866 at Lower Clapton
m1. 1902, Mutu Ngamoenga
m2. 1918, Hera Te Mana (Sarah)
d. 2nd September 1956, in Palmerston North

Ted was the oldest of the Brandon children, born on the 28th of June 1866, at Lower Clapton. He was one member of the family who seemed to be cut off, or who cut himself off from the rest of the family, and who the family knew the least about.

Apparently, he trained as a boy in England in a stained glass factory and was good at the work. Ted said that other members of the family wanted him to stay in England and to adopt him, but his mother wouldn't allow it. He would have been 15 years old when the family came out to NZ. He worked for many years in Murray's Foundry, Wanganui, engineers and boat builders .

He had a strong association with the Maori people on the Wanganui river. In 1902 he married Mutu Ngamoenga. There were no children of the marriage, and she died at some stage. Then in 1918 he remarried to Sarah Te Mana. They had one child, Daniel. After they were married, Rua, the father of Sarah made Ted leave. He spoke fluent Maori, and could interpret from Maori to English or vice versa without hesitation.

Ted had a very kind nature, but he didn't look after himself or his home very well. In the early 1950's when money from the English estate of Aunts Alice, Minnie and sister, Edith was left to various members of the family, Ted bought a house at Putiki. There Lila Brandon looked after him for a short while, but she found it a hopeless situation. In his old age, a Maori family promised him a home where they would look after him, but it was not long before he was placed in a home in Palmerston North. He died there on the 2nd of September, 1956, aged 90 from pneumonia.

Grace Ewart
b. 12th August 1868 at Lower Clapton
m.1889 to Dr. John Ewart
d. 7th September 1923 in Wellington

Grace was born on the 12th of August. 1867 at Lower Clapton, the second child of Richard and Lucy Brandon. She was fourteen years old when she came to New Zealand. Although her brothers used to speak very highly of her, she did not travel as much as the other members of the family, and she died before any of her grandchildren were old enough to remember her, and so not as much is known of her.

When she was a teenager in Wanganui she became sick with Tetanus. With no antibiotic in those days, she was so ill, the doctor said there was only one thing left and that was to pray over her. He knelt beside the bed and prayed for her and she recovered. She was never very strong after this illness. She was small and slight in stature.

She trained as a nurse in Wellington Hospital, and was among the first group of nurses to graduate from a new 4 months course in 1988/89 that had been introduced by the Superintendent, Dr Truby King. It was not until 1901 that 3yr training for nurses began.

She was married in 1889 to Doctor John , an outstanding surgeon and superintendent of the Wellington Public Hospital. from 1889 to 1909. They had four children, Lucy, Edith (Daisy), Ian and David, who died as an infant. Ian followed in the footsteps of his parents and became a doctor. She had a number of miscarriages. The family lived in the Superintendent's house in the grounds of the hospital before moving to Willis Street.

Grace died from chronic gastritis and colitis on the 7th of September 1923, aged 56. Her husband, John, lived until 1939.

Fred Brandon (12)
b.6th of November 1869at Lower Clapton
d. 3rd July 1964, Te Kuiti

Fred was born on the 6th of November, 1869 at Plaistow, Essex, the 4th child of Richard and Lucy Brandon. He never married. Fred was a carpenter with Herbert in Wanganui. He came up with Herbert to Hauturu and assisted him on the farm, staying there for the rest of his life.

Because he never married, he continued to live with Herbert and Gertrude, and helped out with all the building and farm work. He wasn't always easy to look after, coming in for meals just when he was ready, but she just put up with the difficulty, and gave him his meals when he wanted them. Because he had some funny ways, he wouldn't have been able to hold down a job of his own. He read a lot, and was particularly interested in reading about animals. Then he would try to converse with people about this interest, even if it wasn't really relevant to them.

He was very gentle and would never say a thing against anyone. He was a quiet person, physically very strong and well built. He would sometimes carry big logs on his shoulders for firewood - instead of waiting for a horse. On one occasion when they were fencing 2 1/2 miles up the road, he carried 2 coils of wire to the site, each weighing 1cwt. After Herbert's and Gertrude's deaths, he remained on the farm with Aleck.

He died in the Te Kuiti Hospital on the 3rd of July1964 from pneumonia, aged 94.

Adophus Brandon (13)
b. 16th January 1874, at Plaistow. London
m.1909 Millicent Gilbert
d. 17th September 1969, at Wanganui

Adolphus, (Dol), was born on the 16th of January, 1874 at Plaistow, near London, the 7th child of Richard and Lucy Brandon, and was just seven years old when his family came out to New Zealand. At first Dol was a milk vendor, then purchased a farm at Hauturu before he was married.

Millicent Mary Gilbert was born on the 15th of August 1881, in New Plymouth, the daughter of Edward and Lydia Gilbert. Millicent had attended Wanganui Girls College, then worked for her father at Gilbert's music shop until the time of her marriage. She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist.

They were married on the 15th of July, 1909 in St. Lawrence's Church, Wanganui. After their marriage they travelled by train to Otorohanga and then on horse-back into the valley. Millicent came to Wanganui for the birth of each of her four children and they were all christened at Christ Church Anglican church before being taken back to Hauturu.

Dol had to break in the farm on his own. He milked cows at Hauturu by hand, and the cream was taken to Awaroa twice a week. He had some of the best stock around by running hoggets on burnt off land that had been over sown, but not applying fertiliser, the land went back. He was a very conscientious farmer. He was a man who was well liked by everyone. They called him `Dol' as a term of endearment.

Partly because Millicent thought the school so inadequate at Hauturu, she decided to move back to Wanganui in 1924. Gwen had already been brought to live with her grandmother Gilbert, and Marianne had gone to Gisborne to live with her Aunt Kit. She leased a small farm for 2 years at Aromoho, milking six cows and making butter to sell to the locals. During the time at Aramoho, the family attended St. Lawrence's Church, Millicent being a member of the choir.

Dol decided to stay on at the farm at Hauturu. He had borrowed money from a bank or solicitors and Bert was the guarantor. When the money was due to be paid back, Dol did not have it, and Bert had to pay the loan. This was of great concern to Dol, and he vowed not to give up the farm until he paid the money back. It was not until money from the estate of the Aunts in England came that he was able to do so, and he at the same time sold the farm.

During the time while Dol stayed on the farm at Hauturu, he came to Wanganui about every three months to spend 2 or 3 weeks with his family. Because he was living on his own he used to go to Herbert and Gertrude's home each Sunday to spend the day together. He loved a good apple pie which was the usual fare. He also came up some week-nights to play cards, usually `500'.

In 1926 she moved from the farm to buy a home at 110 Somme Parade (prior to WWI known as Riverbank Road). This was probably one of the houses that Herbert built as it was next door to the home of Lucy and Richard. To help with finances, Millicent taught the piano. After 1931, when her mother died, Millicent bought out the other members of her family's share of 16 Hipango Terrace, and lived there until their death.

It wasn't until 1953, when Adolphus was 72 years old that he sold the farm at Hauturu and came back to Wanganui. He was a very placid man who never got angry. He had a hobby of making ornaments in his workshop at home. He enjoyed very much the companionship of the members.

Dol was able to continue playing bowls until 3 months before his death aged 95, on 17 September, 1969. Millicent died 8 months before him on 11th January ,1969.

James Brandon (14)
b. 3rd April 1877 at Peckham, Surrey
m. 1911 Ruth Anne Gilbert
d. 28th September, 1959

James (Jum) was born on the 3rd of April, 1877, at 11 Cemetery Road, Peckham, Surrey, the 9th child of Richard and Lucy.

He married Ruth Gilbert, the sister of Millicent, at St Lawrence's Anglican Church, Wanganui, on the 20th of April, 1911. There were five children from the marriage, Grace, Lila, Nancy, Colin and Eileen, all born in Wanganui.

He had a moustache as a young man, and one day when he decided to cut it off without telling his family, the children didn't recognise him.

He purchased a farm at Hauturu up the road from Herbert, in partnership with the Turners. At one stage he had a bad accident, cutting his foot with an axe - and had quite a lot of time off from that. He left the farm in 1921, and they bought a 15 acre farm at Okoia, 5 miles south of Wanganui. They were not very prosperous times because of the depression. They milked cows on the farm, and to supplement his income, James worked at the Okoia Dairy factory for some years.

He also did some work at the freezing works in town. James was a more public man than the rest of the family. He was Chairman of the Okoia Dairy factory (South Wanganui). Their farm was sold during the war years, and they moved to a home that was built in 15 Boydfield Street, Wanganui. Ruth was musical, and played the piano and sung in the choir at St. Lawrence's for many years before her marriage. She also taught music.

James died in Wanganui on the 28th of September, 1959, and Ruth on the 17th of September, 1968.

Richard Ballard Brandon (Jock) (15)
b. 13th September, 1878 at Nunhead
d. 26th Deceember 1959, Wanganui

Jock was born on the 13th of September, 1878 at Nunhead, the last of the family to be born in England. He was a farm hand, who worked at a number of different places. He was more slightly built than Dol.

During WWI, he served in the army in France. Whilst on leave he visited the Aunts, Alice and Minnie and his sister Edith.

On his return to NZ, he worked on several farms around Wanganui. When Millicent moved to 110 Somme Parade, he came to live with the family. His whistling and working the dogs in his sleep caused the family many sleepless nights, so when the family shifted to 16 Hipango Terrace, Millicent converted the garage into a bed-sitting room. He was very happy with the arrangement as he enjoyed being on his own. Breakfast was taken to him on a tray and he had his mid-day and tea meal with the family. He used to leave the family circle each night at 9pm.

He was rather eccentric and caused the teenagers in the family many embarrassments. Jock used to make trips into the Hauturu valley at times. When Jock's health failed and Millicent could no longer cope, he was placed in a rest home, `Hikurangi' and later was at Jubilee Hospital for some months, until his death on the 26th of December, 1959.

Kate Veitch (Kitty) (16)
b. 11th April 1882, in Wanganui
m. William Veitch
d. 16th October 1982 in Gisborne

Kate was born in Wanganui, the 11th child of Richard and Lucy Brandon, on the 11th of April, 1882. On the return from a trip to England to visit her sister, Edith and their aunts in Bournemouth, she met William Veitch who was coming out from Scotland to take up farming. He bought a place between Gisborne and Morere but this was sold when they married in 1907.

They had three children, Bill, Richard and Helen. He then bought `Powha', the place where their family grew up. Somewhere around 1919-1920 `Powha' was sold, but it was then the slump came and the farm fell back into their hands. When Bill married and continued on the farm, they moved to Whitaker Street in Gisborne. When William died, Kitty built a small house at 16 Clifford Street to be closer to the town.

Kitty was totally blind for the last four years, and for the last 7 - 8 months of her life as she deteriorated in her health she was cared for at the Chelsea Private Hospital. She died in Gisborne on the 16th of October, 1982, just six months after reaching her 100th birthday.

References:

1. From copy of their marriage certificate in my possession.
2. From copy of James' birth certificate in my possession.
3. Wellington Ships Register at Auckland Library
4. White Wings, pg161
5. Information from death certificate.
6. Obituary of Lucy Brandon from Gwen Donaldson.
7. Verbal material from Ray and Aleck Brandon, and written material from Brandon-Twyman letters.
8. Brandon-Twyman letters.
9. Information from Death Certificate.
10. Typed notes in my possession on Kawhia District by W.E. Anderson.
11. Information from Ray Brandon, Gwen Donaldson and Lila Brandon.
12. Information from Ray Brandon
13. Information from Ray Brandon and Gwen Donaldson.
14. Information from Ray Brandon and Lila Brandon
15. Information from Ray Brandon and Gwen Donaldson.
16. Information from Helen Veitch.

Edited by Rev Brian Brandon, March 1994

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