Christiana (Bennetts) Pimm (1845 - 1910)

Born 31 Mar 1845 in Pendeen, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Wife of James Pimm — married 10 Jul 1873 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Died 20 Aug 1910 at age 65 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

Christiana was born in 1845 in Cornwall. She was the daughter of John Bennetts, a miner and his wife Peggy Bolitho. She is recorded in the 1851 census as a 6 year old scholar residing with her parents and siblings in the village of Trewellard, St Justs parish. In 1861 she is recorded as a 16 year old house servant living with the family of Frederick Smith, a railway proprietor, in York House, Penzance.

In 1868 Christiana gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Margaret Davey Bennetts. It seems the child was adopted and raised by Christiana's parents as their own. Consequently I have listed her as their child rather than Christiana's.

In 1871 Christiana is back living with the Smith family as a domestic servant, this is the same family that employed her in 1861. This time residing at their home in Great Malvern, Worcestershire. As a point of interest, her sister Elizabeth is also employed by the Smiths.

In 1873 Christiana married the widower James Pimm in Christ's Church, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. A few days after her marriage she and her new family emigrated to NZ with her parents aboard the "Adamant". James and Christiana produced a set of twins in 1877 in NZ. Two other children, single births, were born later, in 1881 and 1887 also in NZ. She died in Christchurch NZ in 1910. Her burial records held by Christchurch City Council state she had been resident in NZ for 34 years, it was actually 37 years.

Sources

• Birth citation: ECRBI Q2 1845 Penzance, vol. 9, page 183.
• England Census citation, Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851-1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO),
  • 1851: RD: penzance; St Justs; Class: HO107; Piece: 1919; Folio: 135; Page: 23; GSU roll: 221074
  • 1861: RD: Penzance; Penzance; Class: Rg 9; Piece: 1594; Folio: 86; Page: 37; GSU roll: 542837
  • 1871: RD: Upton on Severn; Hanley; Great Malvern; Class: RG10; Piece: 3053; Folio: 111; Page: 55; GSU roll: 838879
• Marriage citation: Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914; Reference Number: D\P\wsm.cc/2/1/1
• Death citation: NZ Register of deaths reg. no: 1910/8047; Pimm, Christiana; aged: 65 years. and NZ Death Index 1848-1966; 1910; Christchurch; Q3; folio: 2125.
• Newspaper death notice: Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13818, 22 August 1910, Page 1. Website, as at 13 Oct 2023: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19100822.2.2.2
• Burial citation: Christchurch City Council, Linwood cemetery, Block 33, plot: 387. and Find a Grave memorial ID: 118679310. Website, as at 13 Oct 2023: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118679310/christiana-pimm
• NZ Archives, Will and probate, reference ID: R22396972; Years: 1910 - 1910; Box no: 180; Record no: CH7112/1910; Location: Christchurch repository. website, as at 13 Oct 2023: https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE66782851