Harriet (Pope) Twidle (1867 - 1949)

Born 5 Dec 1867 in Mahakipawa, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of William Twidle — married 18 Mar 1886 in Marlborough, New Zealand

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Amber Clarke [send private message]

Biography

Harriet was the fourth child and first-born daughter of George Whiting Pope & Elizabeth Climo. She was born on 5th December 1867 in Mahakipawa. It would be more than 10 years before she acquired a sister but being surrounded by brothers was certainly no drawback for her. She was included in all their pursuits of boating and fishing and when the children were growing up at Kaiuma, they thought nothing of rowing up to Havelock to attend a dance or other function and then rowing back again afterwards. They had lots of fun together despite the hard work of those times and doubtless Harriet found certain attractions in Havelock for in the course of time, she married William Twidle and went to live on Twidle's Island in the lower Pelorus River. Here their family of ten (six sons and four daughters) were born.

As farmers they worked together and when the boys needed some responsibility, started a milk run in Have lock in the early 1900's. Bunny, the eldest son established a tobacconist and hairdressing business with a billiard saloon in Havelock. But when WWI began, sons Cecil (Mac) and Victor enlisted. Both sadly lost their lives - Mac at the landing of Gallipoli and Victor in France. Roy (Mason) and Lea also served overseas but happily returned home.

Meanwhile Harriet & William, with the girls and youngest son Eric in tow carried on the farm but after the war was over sold the Island to the Returned Soldiers. It was divided into three farms and taken over by William Jones, Edward (Ted) Pope and Mason Twidle. With the erection of new homes and the replacement of older ones, the Island became a community in itself, accessible only by row-boat.

Harriet & William then bought a smaller property in Havelock, about five miles on the Blenheim side of the town, turning it into a beautiful farm, backed by rolling hills. After a few years, Lea left to work on his own down south and lost contact with the family, leaving Eric and William to run the farm. Eric took a trip to Britain and brought back with him an attractive young Scottish bride by the name of Kitty but neither he or Eric had any children.

After William's death in 1939 Eric took over the farm where he and Kitty remained until about 1966 when they retired to Blenheim. Mason married and had one son (Linton); Bunny and his wife had two sons (Victor & Mac) and two daughters (Patsy & Loma). Mac joined the Air Force and was killed in action during WWII.

Harriet passed away on 03 August 1949, aged 81 years. She was buried on 5 Aug 1949 at Havelock Cemetery

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Sources

The Chronicle of the James Climo Family in New Zealand.

See also:

• Marriage bdm index, 437
• 1893 Electoral Roll. Harriet TWIDLE, Canvas Town, married woman

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Amber Clarke, Monday, February 10, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.

Acknowledgements