Matthew Baxter (abt.1850-1946) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Matthew Baxter

Born about 1850 in Tiragus, Churchill, Milford, County Donegal, Ireland

Ancestors

Son of Matthew Baxter and Margaret (Cheatley) Baxter

Brother of Thomas Baxter, William Baxter, Caldwell Baxter, Margaret (Baxter) Kyle, Robert Baxter, Paterson Baxter, Elizabeth Baxter and Ann Baxter

Husband of Catherine (Elliott) Baxter — married 24 Jul 1883 (to 21 Jan 1894) in Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand

Husband of Anne Maria Lovelock (Joyce) Baxter — married 1 Mar 1897 in Brighton, Dunedin, New Zealand

Descendants

Father of Unnamed Baxter, Matthew Baxter, William John Baxter, Mary Jane (Baxter) Anderson, Margaret (Baxter) Jones, Catherine Elliott (Baxter) MacLean and Ellen Louise Baxter M.A.

Died 14 Apr 1946 at about age 96 in Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand

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Profile last modified 19 Apr 2024 | Created 3 Nov 2011

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Biography

Matthew, son of Matthew Baxter and Margaret Cheatley was born about 1850.

He was 22 when he sailed to New Zealand from Ireland as an Assisted Immigrant in May 1875 on the ship Dover Castle. His occupation was given as 'Ploughman'. 2

Matthew settled in Kuri Bush, East Taieri, Otago working as a Farmer. His brothers Paterson, William and sister Margaret also emigrated to New Zealand settling in Dunedin and later at Taieri.

In 1885, Matthew and his neighbour, William Birtles made application to occupy a portion of the Sandhills in the East Taieri district. Matthew farmed at Wingatui and later at Weston and Ardgowan, Oamaru. He made application for sections 133 (in 1904), 104 and 105 (in 1918) of the Ardgowan Estate. In December 1904, Matthew took possession of 30 acres government lease land at Ardgowan and purchased a 4 roomed house at Weston.

Matthew predominately farmed sheep on his land. Sheep Returns 1891 Matthew Baxter, 1891, Kuri Bush, Dunedin, Otago, County Taieri. Sheep owned in 1891 - 148, Country New Zealand, Category Education & Work, Subcategory Farming & Agriculture, Collections from Australasia. 1

Matthew married in 1883 to Catherine Elliott, who was also from Donegal. Catherine had arrived in New Zealand just a few months earlier. Their marriage took place at the home of Thomas Elliott Elliott-1471, Matthew's brother. William Baxter of Wingatui and Catherine's sister Mary Ann Elliott Elliot-1470 were witnesses. They had six children during their marriage. He was widowed when Catherine died suddenly in 1894 aged just 32 after complications in childbirth.

Catherine Baxter was buried at Otokia Cemetery, Henley.

With Catherine gone and the death of the owner of the property Matthew was leasing it was likely the catalyst for his move to the Waitaki district.

Three years after Catherine's death, Matthew remarried to widow Anne Birtles, his next door neighbour. Anne Birtles was widowed in 1890 and helped Matthew with his children. Their friendship grew and they married having one child in their marriage, Ellen Louise.

Matthew lost his youngest son, William John, in WWI when he was Killed in Action in Belgium. His nephew, also named William John died in 1943 WWII at Gabes, Tunisia. No one in the Baxter family was to be given the name William or John from that point.

In 1946, Matthew, New Zealand resident of 70 years died age 96, and is buried at Oamaru Old Anglican cemetery. PLOT 57, 58.

Probate of Matthews Will was granted in November 1946 in Wellington. ^[1]

No more info is currently available for Matthew Baxter. Can you add to his biography?

Sources

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG6K-D9Y9 DEATH
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2SB-HYTF PROBATE
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24V-T7FC MARRIAGE 1ST

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz Otago Daily Times 31/1/1885,Oamaru Mail 22/12/1904, 30/12/1904, 19/01/1905, 27/11/1918 Out of copyright

"New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973", database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS1M-C23 : 10 March 2017), Matthew Baxter, 24 August 1875; citing ship Dover Castle, Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm . 2