13 children PPA
OBITUARY. Manawatu Times 9 april 1904
G. L. D. Goldfinch.
The death of Mr G. L. D. Goldfinch removes from the community another of the early band of pioneers who did sterling work in the colonisation of the "Wellington province. Born in the year 1821 in the County of Pover, England, deceased at the age of 27 years emigrated to Australia, sailing in the ship Steadfast. After a few months' sojourn in Sydney, he was induced to take passage for New Zealand in the" ship Sir Charles Forbes, chartered by the late Sir William Fitzherbert, who was also a passenger. The new arrival started business in Dixon-street, "Wellington, as a wheelwright. On Christmas Day, 1850, he married the second daughter of the late James Futter (who arrived in the colony in 1842), and after a few years he sold out and went to the gold diggings in Bendigo, Victoria. Here he spent a brief period and then returned again to the colony in 1856, taking up a farm at Pahautanui, where he remained for more than 20 years. In 1884 the family came to Palrnerston. Deceased took great interest in Oddf ellowship, into which ho was initiated in 1850 joining the Loyal Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Wellington. He piloted the lodge through many of the early day struggles. He also held various positions on many local bodies, and his services were greatly in demand. He was of a very jovial disposition, and leaves behind a host of friends both in the Wellington and Palmerston districts. Deceased was a man of strong intellect, and his qualities as a pioneer have always been recognised, Mr Goldfinch leaves a grown-up family of thirteen. His eldest son, John Matthew, who was chief accountant in the Defence Department, died at the age ot 43. Other members of the family are scattered over various parts of the colony. There are about 70 grand-children and 20 great grand-children left.
A memorial service will be held by the Salvation Army on Sunday.
Golden Wedding. 25 dec 1900 PPA
The celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of tho wedding of a couple of old settlers is so exceptional an occurrence in a new country like New Zealand, that it is not surprising that unusual interest is taken in such an event, and the gathering which assembled in the Foresters' Hall on Christmas Day to do honor to such a worthy eoupLo a.s Mr and Mrs G. L. D. Goldfinch, of Andrew Young street, Palmerston North, fully realised the importance of the occasion.
Mr Goldfinch, sen., was a passenger to Sydney in the ship Steadfast in 1848, leaving thoro after a few months' stay, in the ship Sir Ch.ar.les Forbes, chartered by the late Sir William Fitzherbert, who was a fellow-passonger. Mr Goldfinch started business in Dixon-street, Wellington, as a wheelwright. On Christinas Day, 1850, Mr Goldfinch married the second daughter o£ the late James Futter (whose family had arrived in Wellington in the Lady Nugent in 1842). After a few years' there Mr Goldfinch sold out, going to the diggings in Bendigo, Victoria, where lie spent some six months, and subsequently threeyears in Melbourne in business as a wheelwright. Mr and Mrs Goldfinch returned to Wellington in 185G and took up a small farm at Judgeford, Pahautanui, where they remained for some twenty years. In 1884, Mr and Mrs Goldfinch, came to Palmerston and have been here ever since. Their family of thirteen are still alive (with the exception of- the eldest son, John Matthew, who was chief accountant in the Defence Department, and who died lat the ago of -13)., They were almost all present yesterday, viz., Mr and Mrs Geo. iJ. Goldfinch, J.P., of Maharahara, Mr and Mrs H. Galloway, of Pahautanui, i Mr and Mrs John Galloway, of Maharaj hara, Mr and Mrs Arthur Goldfinch, of i Fcilding, Mr and Mrs D. Bell, of Colyton, Mr and Mi's Jackson, of WaldeI grave street, Mr and Mrs A. J. Cobb, of I (Juurch street, Mr and Mrs A. Thorburn, lof Burke-street, Mr and Mrs Melles, |of Dannevirke, Mr and Mrs Alfred Œ Goldfinch, of North street, Mr and Mrs Adolph Goldfinch, of Church street, and :Mr and Mrs H. Goldfinch, of Wellington. There were also sixty grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren present, although twelve more grandchildren were unable to be there.
Shortly after 2 o'clock on Christmas ! Day, about a hundred and twenty persons ! (including 81 relatives) assembled at the Foresters Hall to partake of a real Christmas dinner, and notwithstanding the large number in attendance, everyone was served with the utmost expedition and a very enjoyable time was spent. Mr J. E. Kussell, who is connected by marriage with the inmily, occupied the chair, and after the usual loyal toasts^ had been duly honored, he proposed the' toast of "Mr and Mrs Goldfinch." Ife referred in eulogistic terms to the hosts :of the da} 7, and spoke of his personal experience of their good qualities, which wcro acknowledged wherever they were known. | Mr Goldfinch, sen., responded in a capital .speech full of interesting reminiscences, and referred with pride to the large gathering wheh had assembled to honor the occasion. j Mr G. J. Goldfinch, J.P., of Mahara- | hara, presented Mr and Mrs Goldfinch, Πsen., on behalf of their relations, with a purse of sovereigns, and mentioned the i high respect and esteem in which they | were held by all. i Mr Cobb, of Napier, proposed the toast of "Prosperity to the family," in eulogistic terms, and Messrs A. Goldfinch and A. J. Cobb responded. The affair concluded with the health of "The Ladies." In the evening about 150 guests were entertained at the Foresters' Hall, when a merry evening was spent, songK, dances, recitations, &c, being the orcfer of the day, and ever rone who was present will long remember the capital i manner in which the whole affair was celebrated. Mrs Cobb, of Napier, photographed the family group during the afternoon. G L D Goldfinch immigrated to arrived Wellington from Sydney in the Sir Charles Forbes in 1848.
1 He was a wheelwright, Dixon St, Wellington in 1850.
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