.
This scanner and computer enhanced picture was copied from a photograph among my mothers possessions. On the back of the picture is written "Dads mother". I believe this is the handwriting of my grandmother, Mary Louisa Mayo. It is very similar to writing in her diary that I also have. A second inscription on the back reads "great grandmother Gardiner". I am in no doubt that this is my mother's writing, Alice Melba Lawton.
This lady would be the mother of Ralph Gardiner (see below), and assuming the handwritten inscriptions are valid, would my great-great-grandmother.
The line of descent to me is:
Ralph Gardiner 1829/1927 - Margaret Robson 1831/1889.
Mary Louisa Gardiner 1872/1947 - John Mayo 1871/1928.
Alice Melba Mayo 1903/1986 - Alfred James Lawton 1902/1972.
Patrick James Lawton 1928/ - Mearle Gladys M Wright 1932/ .
Addendum:
Information received on 20 March 2001 from a relative who shares the same Gardiner great-great-grandmother as me has enabled me to add some details to the first line of descent above.
"Have you identified the lady in the picture yet? If she is indeed your (and my) great-great-grandmother then she is Elizabeth Gardiner (born Fathers, but family name changed to Fa(i)rbrother). She died in 1871 in Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire aged 72 years. Photography was a reasonably new pastime even then, and as there is no grey hair in evidence this must have been taken some time before 1871. I have copies of Ralph's (b1780) two marriages, the first to Judith Poole and the second to Elizabeth Fairbrother, and also copies from the registers of the baptism of Elizabeth (1799) and her father John (1762)".
The original photo.
MY GARDINER GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
Ralph Gardiner was born Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucester, England, 21/4/1829. He died 9 August 1927 at Napier and is buried at Wairoa, NZ. His headstone records he was a member of the Royal Engineers. My mother told me that Ralph served with the British Army in India before coming to New Zealand and that he "built" the Napier Army Barracks in early colonial days and served with the "Herrick Expedition". She told me that he was employed as engineer to the Wairoa Borough Council for a time and was responsible for some of Wairoa's streets being given Indian names, i.e., Lucknow, Delhi, Kabul, and Lahore. She also told me he built the Presbyterian and Catholic churches, (both still standing and in use in March 2001), in Wairoa H.B.
Margaret Robson was born in Dumfries, Scotland, birth date recorded in Mary Louisa's diary as 13/11/1831. Her occupation was recorded as "maid". She died 17 August 1889 and is buried at Wairoa alongside her husband.
Children of the union were sons Charles, Ralph, Arthur Robson and James Robson. Daughters were Jane, Emma, Louisa (believed died at early age), Alice, Janet and Mary Louisa (Polly).
Extracts from Mary Louisa'a diary:
MORE EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY
(no year date given)
Mary Louisa Gardiner and husband John Mayo.
Mary Louisa b, Wairoa 19/3/1872, married John Mayo at Hastings 5 July 1892 aged 20. d. Wairoa 5/7/1944 aged 72, buried Wairoa.
Extract from Mary Louisa's diary:
This page copied from Mary Louisa Mayo's diary refers to the death of her mother and father, the above-mentioned Ralph and Margaret Gardiner.
This paper was originated by Mary Louisa Mayo, (nee Gardiner), in March 1944. She died four months later in July 1944. The paper passed on to Alice Melba Lawton, (nee Mayo), who maintained the record as became necessary.
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