Elizabeth REECE was born 5Dec1838 at East Stonehouse, Co Devon, England while her father William was stationed there in the Royal Marines. Elizabeth was nearly ten years old when she arrived in N.Z. Little is documented of Elizabeth until her marriage to John PEARCE on 21Jun1864.

John and Elizabeth had thirteen children between 1857 and 1876 - George - John Jnr - Anne - Mary Anne - Sarah Jane - Benjamin PEARCE - Elizabeth - Samuel - Hepzibah Delina - William - Edmund - Frances Harriett and Louisa.

There is no explanation why John and Elizabeth delayed their wedding for so long - although two entries from "Intentions to Marry held at National Archives, Wellington state - on Page 50 - "At Auckland, on the 17Mar1864 at the dwelling house of Mr John Harris, Boatman, Onehunga, John PEARCE, aged 40, Sawyer and Bachelor and resident at Big Muddy Creek for 11 years, to Elizabeth REECE, aged 29 and Spinster and resident Big Muddy Creek for 9 years " Followed by Registrar's not in pencil "Certificate not issued - not likely to be" but on Page 67 with the same information as above, except date given as 18th June 1864, and minister named as Rev Reichard Laiskley but this time no Registrar's note!

Elizabeth was a big woman as were most men and women in the family. She was highly regarded as a Nurse and Midwife. Dr. Scott paid tribute to her when she died. He had always maintained that if he was not available to go to a patient, they were to go to Mrs. PEARCE, as she could do as much as he could. She brought many babies into the world.

Elizabeth PEARCE died 8May1908 at Onehunga aged 71. Her funeral cortege was well attended. She was carried shoulder high at her funeral. There are two photos of the horse-drawn hearse, one with mourners walking behind, proceding down the main street of Onehunga on the way to the cemetery. The other is of the hearse outside a house, probably the family home.