Frederick Morris Spurdle JP (1849 - 1914)

Born 2 Oct 1849 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1914 at age 64 in Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

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Biography

Frederick Spurdle JP lived in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Frederick was born on 2 October 1849^[1] at New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. He was the son of William Spurdle and Sarah Sibley. His parents were among the pioneers who arrived in the early 1840s^[2].

He came to Wanganui in 1867^[3]. He lived there the rest of his life. Most of this time he was Manager of the Wanganui Sash and Door Factory Company.

Frederick married Priscilla Fanny Browne on 18 January 1873^[4] at Wanganui^[5]. Frederick and Priscilla had about 11 children.

A photograph of the family is at the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa^[6].

Public Service

He was elected to the Borough Council in 1879^[3].

Frederick became Mayor of the Borough of Wanganui, serving from December 1884 to December 1886^[7].

He was also a member of the Harbour Board and Education Board^[3]. He was chairman of the College Committee for Wanganui Technical College. He was one of the trustees of the Garrison Band, and a supporter of the Trinity Wesleyan Church. For six years he served the district as chairman of the Licensing Committee, and held a similar position in the Chamber of Commerce^[2]. He was a member of the directorate of the Public Library and Museum. He was an officer in the Wanganui Fire Brigade.

Among his interests, he was a Freemason, being a Master of St. Andrew Kilwinning Lodge^[3] (the same lodge that Thomas Dickson belonged to). He took an interest in aquatic and other sports including being President of the Union Rowing Club^[2].

Later Life

Frederick died on 17 August 1914 at the age of 64^[8]. He was buried in the Heads Road Old Cemetery, Wanganui^[9].

An obituary was published in the Wanganui Chronicle^[3]. He was described by a colleague as "one of Wanganui's oldest and most respected residents, who had served the town faithfully and well in many public capacities".

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Birth Registration. Accessed 9 May 2023
   1849/1012 Spurdle, Frederick Morris Mother=Sarah Father=William DOB=02/10/1849
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Cyclopedia Company Limited. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]: Borough of Wanganui. Available on New Zealand Electronic Text Collection - Te Pūhikotuhi o Aotearoa, part of Victoria University of Wellington Library Wellington: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence. Accessed 9 May 2023
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa Accessed 9 May 2023
   DEATH OF MR. F. M. SPURDLE. Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20148, 18 August 1914, Page 4
4. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Marriage Registration. Accessed 9 May 2023
   1873/5767 Bride=Priscilla Fanny Browne Groom=Frederick Morris Spurdle DOM=18/01/1873
5. ↑ Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa Accessed 9 May 2023
   MARRIAGES. Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3712, 24 January 1873, Page 2
6. ↑ National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa: Family of Frederick Morris Spurdle Accessed 9 May 2023
7. ↑ Whanganui District Council: Our History - Previous Mayors Accessed 5 May 2023
8. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Death Registration. Accessed 9 May 2023
   1914/5255 Spindle [Spurdle], Frederick Morris Age= 64Y DOD=17/08/1914
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178769557/frederick-morris-spurdle: accessed 9 May 2023), memorial page for Frederick Morris Spurdle (2 Oct 1849–17 Aug 1914), Find A Grave: Memorial #178769557, citing Heads Road Cemetery, Whanganui, Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand; Maintained by Debbie McCauley (contributor 47672193).

• See also:
• FamilySearch; Frederick Morris Spurdle 20 October 1849 – 17 August 1914 K8KR-M16
• GENI: Frederick Morris Spurdle