I'm always looking for more family connections and photos of older ancestors

Email me at chrispawluk at gmail.com

Visit the ancestry.ca Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.ca/tree/18968976/family/pedigree?cfpid=738402275&selnode=1 

See most of the old family photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/larachris/sets/72157619412764736

Thanks,

Chris Pawluk

Alice (Bee) Warren

Chapter Eighteen

Alice (Bee) Warren

Alice Bee was the youngest daughter of Mary and George Bee. She was born in Havelock North on the 13th December 1870.

She married Robert Warren and on the 15th September 1892 they purchased town section No. 49 in Havelock North for the sum of £65.00. Here they built a house and bakery business.

In the following years they also opened a tea-room and catering business in the main street of Hastings. They purchased the section at 303E Queen Street where the family home was built.

Alice was widowed in 1916. She carried on the tea-rooms for several years and lived in the Queen Street home until her death in 1955 at the age of 85 years. They had four children.

Robert Nigel Warren who was known to family and friends as Nigel. He was the eldest son and was born in Havelock North on 23rd April 1896. After attending Central School, Hastings, he served his apprenticeship at his father's bakery until the death of his father in 1916 forced him to leave. He then worked at several other bakeries, eventually ending up back in Havelock North at his brother Gordon's bakery.

A succession of fires bought about the selling of Gordon's business which saw Nigel being employed at his sister's cake shop in Russell Street, Hastings. He worked here for 26 years until his retirement.

He was married to Elsie Moss and they had four children — Robert, Velma, Ronald and Noeline.

Charles Dudley Warren was the second son of Alice and Robert Warren. In the 1920's he drove the New Zealand Railway buses between Napier and Hastings and in the 1930's worked for the family owned bakery, delivering bread all over Havelock North.

During the Second World War he worked as a cake finisher at his sister's cake shop. After that he worked at Dunlop NZ Ltd, Queen Street (Hastings) until his retirement in the late 1950's.

He married Ellen Susanna Bevan and they had three children —Joy, Ola and Bevan. He died in 1961 at the age of 64.

Clarence Gordon Warren was the third son of Alice and Robert Warren. He worked in the clerical field in Hastings. He re-established the Havelock Bakery where his brothers Nigel and Dudley worked for him until it was destroyed by fire in the 1930's.

He managed the Stortford Lodge Hotel and later purchased 'Ayres' Hotel in Westport, where he stayed until his retirement. He was a GP of the Buffalo Lodge in Hastings.

He married Doreen O'Reilly and they had one daughter — Lynn Ellen Warren.

Pearl Mavis Warren was born on 15th September 1908. She was the fourth child and only daughter. She attended Havelock North Primary School and Hastings High School. On leaving school she worked for some years as a shop assistant in several local businesses and then purchased the 'Cake Kitchen' in Russell Street Hastings. She operated this business in conjunction with her brothers Nigel and Warren.

On May 24th 1941 she married Thomas Taylor, an orchard worker from South Africa who also joined them in the business.

After 26 years in the cake shop they retired to live on a small orchard in the Longlands area.

They had one daughter — Janice Ann Taylor who married Maxwell John Paynter. They have four children — Jonathan, Paul, Melody and Olivia.

Velma Brannigan

George "Buzz" Bee

Chapter Seventeen

George "Buzz" Bee

It's not until you sit down to write about the preceding two generations of your family, that you realise how little you know. And unfortunately those who could have filled in the gaps, George and Ada's children, are no longer with us. So from childhood memories, and little tit bits here and there, here is our story.

It seems George was one of the 'red-headed Bees' early on in his childhood, and that probably helped identify him, given the number of George Bees around.

His rovings as a young man took him to Foxton, where he invested in a flax mill with his cousin George 'Shardy' Bee. That wasn't successful. He was also known for his keen interest in horses, and apparently ran a few racing nags at one time, while living in Shannon. George met and married Ada Kennedy, one of a large family, who I believe came from Napier.

George and Ada were to have five children — Marjorie, Frank, Jack, Fred and Alice. Freddie was to die very young, the result of a diphtheria epidemic.

During this time the family moved to Takapau, in Factory Road, Otawhao. George had drawn the 145 acre property in a civilian farm ballot. Some years later George died in his fifties, leaving Ada or Mater as she was known to her children, to bring up the family.

The reasons for George's death are obscure the most ambitious tales say he was drowned in a creek on his way home in the horse and buggy from the Takapau Hotel, one stormy night. However, other family sources say he died of a heart attack while out fencing the farm following a grass fire. My father, Frank, would never talk about his father's death, only that it was a shock to the family, with the children still young.

Ada was no more forthcoming about the early years of the marriage and this seems to have been a trait —not passing on the family history.

Their eldest daughter Marjorie married Jim Seed and they had a son, Leslie, living most of their lives in Hastings. Marj worked for many years in a dress shop in Heretaunga Street.

Frank married Betty Logan, whom he met while on active service in the Guadalcanal during World War Two. Frank was known as 'The Bishop' to his sisters and brothers — we have no idea why. He trained as a teacher at Christchurch Teachers College and spent time teaching in Tutira, Masterton, Nireha, Mangamarie and finally Havelock North. Frank and Betty had four children — Ailsa, Roger, Vicki and Sharon.

Frank's younger brother Jack married Jeanette Boyd and they had two sons Russell and Nelson. Jack was a plasterer by trade and did his apprenticeship in Havelock North. He worked in the Rehab Office following the war, helping in farm settlements and the Maori Affairs Office. Jack worked for many years in Wellington and Takapau, before taking over the family farm at Otawho, which had been leased out for 30 years.

Alice, known to us all as 'Bink', was to remain single, although it's said she got her nickname from a boyfriend 'Binkie' who was a jockey. Bink was born with a deformed hip and had trouble walking in later life.

Bink was Ada's companion and the two lived for more than twenty years at 76 Te Mata Road in Havelock North — a wonderful old villa bought for them by Frank. Bink worked at Minor Parcels in Hastings for many years before retiring and taking over full time care of her mother. Frank always referred to them as ‘the girls’, but our generation of seven cousins always knew them as Gran and Bink.

Ada lived well into her nineties and remained a strong and independent woman till the Iast, still mowing the lawns with a hand mower at 91. I remember one tale she used to tell of life on the farm at Takapau with George. It involved a serious grass fire which swept across hundreds of acres of farmland. Ada wrapped up the family dinner set and china in an old sheet and lowered it down the well on the property, before leaving the farm for safety. I remember drinking out of one of the dinner set cups and being told the story of their history. It's a pity we didn't ask more about the exploits of the family itself.

Nelson Bee remembers the story of Ada feeding an escaped prisoner, when living at the farm. A swaggie turned up at the door asking for food late one afternoon. Ada said he could have a meal, as long as he chopped the pile of wood outside the backdoor first. She gave him the axe and sent him to the woodpile. He did the job, had a meal and left. The village constable arrived on horseback a short time later asking if Ada had seen a stranger, fitting the description of the `swaggie'. It turned out that he was an escaped prisoner locked up on a murder charge.

Our side of the Bees have some identifiable characteristics though. George and Ada's children all had a strong interest in the racetrack and putting some money on the horses. They had a keen sense of humour, a wonderful wit and a deep feeling for the land.

As the grandchildren of George and Ada, we have fond memories of the family get-togethers at 76 Te Mata Road — the toys behind the screen in the fireplace in the spare room, the not allowed to go into the lounge 'rule' or the rocking chair that Gran would sometimes let you rock in, if your behaviour was up to scratch.

On the wall of the lounge hung two very old pictures, one of them said to be our grandfather George 'Buzz' Bee, the other thought to be Nellie or Mary, at the time our only link with a family we have since re-discovered through the re-union.

Ailsa Litchfield Blenheim

Eliza (Bee) Hallett "Eliza Bee Born at Sea"

Chapter Sixteen

Eliza (Bee) Hallett

"Eliza Bee Born at Sea"

Eliza Permain Bee was born at sea on board the sailing ship, Rangoon, while the family was journeying to New Zealand. Her second christian name, Permain was in honour of Captain Permain of the Rangoon. She was the sixth child of George and Mary Bee from Nottingham. They arrived at Napier in 1864 on the Rangoon, which was the first ship to sail direct from London to Napier.

Eliza, her parents and the rest of her family were met at Napier by Francis and Anne and their family who had settled in New Zealand in 1842. The family settled in Te Aute, Road, Havelock North, where Eliza lived most of her life. Her father, George, was a carpenter and builder by trade built the St. Luke's Anglican Church. The superb craftsmanship to be seen in this building today is a fitting memorial to George Bee. He also built many other buildings in Havelock, including public buildings such as schools and halls. Among many other activities, Eliza sang in the choir of St. Luke's.


After Eliza grew up she met Enoch Hallett, who had come from Devon and arrived with his parents, James and Elizabeth, on the ship "Gertrude", in 1841. The Halletts settled in Havelock in the 1860's. Enoch and his brother became surveyors and travelled on horseback from Havelock North to Taupo on numerous surveying trips.

Eliza and Enoch were married in Havelock North and had a family of five daughters and a son who were named Beatrice, Jane, Olive, Doris, Eric and Nancy. The family lived in Wairoa for a period, where the eldest three children use to ride to a Country School at Frasertown. They later moved back to Te Aute Road, Havelock North, where Enoch died in 1911. Eliza was faced with the task of bringing up the youngest three children, having had a struggle, but with sheer grit, determination and her pioneering spirit she managed, and proved to be a splendid mother. She died in 1941, leaving behind six children, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Phyll Scott
Havelock North

Annie Bee

Chapter Fifteen

Annie Bee

No chronicle of the Bee family would be complete without a biography of one of the most colourful members of the family — namely Annie Bee. (Known within the family as 'Big Aunt Annie' her cousin Anne being known as 'Little Aunt Annie').

The second child of Francis and Anne Bee, she endured all the privations of the early pioneers and devoted her life to the care and attention of her immediate family.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. She was a tremendous strength to her mother in caring for younger sisters and brothers under primitive conditions of pioneering days in early New Zealand.

As the rest of the family grew up and married, Ann devoted her attention to the care of her parents in their retirement at Patutahi, near Gisborne in 1893 until the death of her mother in 1910.

She then spent her time with either of her two Gisborne sisters, Phoebe (Newman) or Maria (McKenzie), occasionally with Fanny Ross at Willow Flat, George Bee at Mohaka, Kate Bourke at Eskdale, Lizzie Brandon at Nuhaka and Ellen Peacock at Poraiti. Although having no children she had a host of children in all her nieces and nephews.

The year 1916 saw Annie devote her care to the next generation of great nephews, when she came to Waipukurau to take charge of her nephew's household (Hutt Peacock) alter the death of his wife.

It was at this stage that my acquaintance with my Great Aunt Annie commenced, and my impressions of her character formed. A person of infinite love and understanding, and very capable of running a household, milking the cows, harnessing the horses into the buggy, driving to town to shop for provisions. Visiting neighbours and attending church.

A tremendous sense of humour always came to her aid in a predicament she directed the lives of my two brothers and myself during the formative times of our growing up. She retained this responsibility until 1927 when my father re-married. From thence she went to live with her elder sister, Ellen Peacock, who was then living in Napier, and when Ellen died in 1929, Annie went back to Gisborne to her sister Maria McKenzie, who died three years later in 1932. She lies buried next to her parents, Francis and Annie Bee, in the Patutahi cemetery.

H. B. "Barney" Peacock
Taupo

Mary (Bee) Liley

Chapter Fourteen

Mary (Bee) Liley

The Liley family were very much a Havelock North family and along with many of their Bee relations were involved with all the sporting activities of the village. It could be said that for many years Te Aute Road (Havelock North) was really Liley Road. The old Liley home still stands in Te Aute Road, built by Harry (Henry Eli) in 1899 after their earlier home was burnt to the ground. After their marriages Ethel, Bert, Fred, Syd and Alice all had their homes and brought up their families in Te Aute Road. These houses also stand with two still being the homes of the descendants of Bert and Alice. Ralph and his family lived only a mile away in Te Mata Road while Les and Ruby and their families settled in Hastings.

Mary, the seventh child of George and Mary Bee was born in Nottingham on 28th November 1858. She was five when she came to Havelock North and lived there until her death. On January 1st 1878 she was married to Henry Eli Liley, a carpenter, who was born in London and had emigrated in 1874. At the time of their marriage Henry (Harry) was working for Mary's father, George Bee. He was later a builder on his own account in Havelock North.

Henry died on January 3rd 1911 and Mary on 19th May 1931. They had ten children.

Ethel Jane (Butler) was born August 27th 1878 and died March 6th 1957. She married Thomas Butler 5th August 1908. Tom was a racehorse trainer and they lived at Makaraka, Gisborne, for a short time before settling in Havelock North.

Albert Henry was born 1st June 1880 and died 22th February 1945. He married Annie Quick Duncan on 3rd October 1923. Bert was a carpenter and he served in the army during the First World War.

Frederick George born 6th February, died 16th June 1928. He was married to Winifred Anderson. Fred, a plumber, was in business in Havelock as a partner in Liley and Ferguson. He died in an accident on Frederick Street level crossing in Hastings.

Sydney born 6th May, 1885 and died in 1958. He was married to Maria McDonald on 19th January 1910. Maria's brother Duncan married Gin Hallett (a cousin). Syd worked as a carpenter and was a very keen sportsman.

Alice born 8th May 1887 and died 9th August 1969. She was married to Frank Redpath on 27th August 1913. Frank was in business as a tailor in Havelock, on the corner of Te Mata Road and JolI Road. During World War One he was the Grocery Manager at Trentham. He was District Secretary of the Foresters Lodge in Napier for many years.

Cyril Charles born 22nd October 1890 and died 22nd March 1897.

Jessie Isobel born 14th October, died 24th November 1893.

Leslie born 29th July 1894, died 30th June 1952. He married Alma Masters 3rd September 1924. Les was also a plumber and was in business in Hastings as a partner in Liley and Horton.

Ralph Warren born 18th August 1897 and died 10th July 1976. Married Flora MacPhee on 9th November 1926. Ralph originally worked for the Post Office, then after service in the army World War I, work for his brother Fred for a short time. He was then Works Clerk for the Tourist Motor Co in Hastings, for over thirty years.

Ruby Thelma born 21st July 1902, died 25th July 1976, was married to Horace Upchurch on 3rd October 1927. Horace was a car salesman for H.B. Farmers in Hastings. The last few years of their lives were spent in Gisborne.

Julia Liley
Hamilton

Alec Sutherland

Bessie (Bee) Sutherland

Chapter Thirteen

Bessie (Bee) Sutherland

A schoolgirl's memories of her Grandmother — 1922 to 1937.

My granny was 'the sweetest little English lady you could ever wish to know' so said my mother of her mother-in-law many times. My earliest recollection of Granny was the day my brother John and I skipped along the footpath to the Maternity Home to see my mother and the new baby. I was four years old. Granny and Aunt Ann had come to look after us. Granny was dressed in black from head to toe and wore a veil on her face — to hide the wrinkles she told me. Aunt Anne wore brown. I remember them both as if it were yesterday. Sometimes other members of the Havelock relations would come with her to our place. They loved having their tea cups read. My mother used to say it was all nonsense, but they thought she was pretty good. On August 19th it was Granny's birthday. Mum would cook a lovely dinner for her. Afterward the birthday cake with numerous candles would be lit. Granny's white hair would shine in the candle light. When I was nine years old I was given a bicycle. This enabled me to accompany Dad to Havelock North on Sundays after lunch to see Granny and Aunt Ann. They lived in a modern bungalow with a large back section. The largest walnut tree with the biggest nuts grew there. Sometimes I would see Nancy Hallett picking them up. I think she used to keep an eye on the old ladies. Next door was the village fire station with a vehicle containing pump and hoses drawn by horses when in action. After afternoon tea Dad would give Granny some pound notes for her to put in the pocket made especially in her corset. I think this idea must have been the forerunner of the travellers money belt of today.

On two occasions I accompanied Granny and Aunt Ann to Taihape to see my Aunt Isobel, Granny's only daughter. We left Hastings at 7am in an open tourer with side curtains flapping. The car bumped up and down on shingle roads until mid-day when we stopped at a very pleasant farm house where tea and fresh scones were served. It was good to stretch our legs after the long drive but worse was to come. We forded a stony river, crawled around Gentle Annie and in the glaring sun crossed the Blowhards. We were all very pleased to see Gordon Durrant waiting for us at the cross road. The return journey to Hastings did not bear thinking about that evening.

After the 1931 earthquake it was decided that Granny and Aunt Ann should give up their home and part company, Aunt Ann to Alice Warren's and Granny to our place. It was a big break for them but Granny was getting very forgetful. She was then 81 years old. She enjoyed good health and enjoyed her meals but could not be left alone. We had a gas stove to boil the kettle. She liked making a cup of tea between meals and wouldn't turn the tap off properly. If my mother was in the garden she would wonder what the old lass was up to. She wasn't interested in handwork as was Aunt Anne, so I guess the days seemed long for her. Granny was 88 years old when she died — she had lived with us for seven years. She was an unassuming old lady, was very rarely "vexed" an old saying of hers when she mislaid her glasses. Her husband, Johnnie Sutherland, whom I never new, was buried in Palmerston North so that meant a long ride in the hearse, which unfortunately broke down at Waipukurau. Another hearse from Hastings was called for making the burial arrangements an hour late.

We all missed "old Gran", the little white-haired old lady who loved to stand at the front gate and pass the time of day with whoever might have time to stop.

Ray Nicholas
Te Awamutu

Bee Family Photos

Frank Bee

Chapter Twelve

Frank Bee

My grandfather, Frank Bee, was interested in coastal shipping and the fishing industry.

My father, Frank Cecil, was educated at Heretaunga College (now Hereworth). He took a keen interest in sport and was associated with the Pirates Rugby Club during the Brownlie era.

On leaving school I commenced work at Richardson and Co, Port Ahuriri (Napier). At a later date I went into the importing field.

My son, Frank David, is married and works with Direct Transport. Shirley, my daughter, is married and has twin daughters.

Frank Bee
Auckland

The Richardson Shipping Co., was registered as a public company in 1899 with a capital of £30,000. The Directors were F.W. Morris, G.M. Morris and F. Bee. Frank Bee was appointed Managing Director, he had bought the shares of Mr Richardson in 1895.

At this time the company's fleet was comprised of the following ships —Toaro, Kahu, Fanny, Weka, Fairy and the lighters Maid of the Mill, Why Not and Agnes Martin.

Mr Frank Bee retired from service in 1907 He continued to serve as a director until his death in 1912.

George Bee
Greenmeadows (HB)