Charles Henry Vigers (1845 - 1905)

Born 7 Dec 1845 in Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane Newton — married 23 May 1878 in Phillipstown, Christchurch, New Zealand

Died 3 Dec 1905 at age 59 in Waimakariri River, Belfast, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Biography

Charles Henry Vigers, son of Charles Kenneth and his wife Anne nee Thompson, was born on 7 Dec 1845 in Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall, England.^[1][2] He was baptised under the name Charles Henry Vigors on 11 Mar 1846 at St Mary's, Truro, Cornwall, England.^[3]

1851 England census:^[4]
Somerset, Parish of Trull, District of Comeytrowe, house name not specified.
Charles K Vigers, Head, married, M, 35, Land-holder, born Middlesex, London.
Anne Vigers, Wife, married, F, 32, born Somerset, Bath.
William Vigers, Son, M, 7, born Cornwall, Truro.
Anne Vigers, Daughter, F, 6, born Cornwall, Truro.
Charles Vigers, Son, M, 5, born Cornwall, Truro.
James Vigers, Son, M, 3, born Cornwall, Truro.
Mary Vigers, Daughter, F, 1, born Monmouth, Monmouth.
Elizabeth Stark, Servant, unmarried, F, 22, House Servant, born Devon, Colyton.
Emma Riden, Servant, unmarried, F, 18, House Servant, born Somerset, Taunton.
Maria Clements, Servant, unmarried, F, 22, House Servant, born Somerset, B Lydeard.
Sarah Wright, Servant, unmarried, F, 31, House Servant, born Worcester, Kidderminster.
Thomas ?Craze, Servant, unmarried, M, 17, House Servant, born Somerset, Rumwell.

Charles was a Canterbury Association emigrant to New Zealand with his parents and siblings in 1851, travelling as chief cabin passengers on the 'Canterbury' which sailed from East India Docks, London, 18 June 1851, arrived Lyttelton 18 October 1851.^[5]
C. K. Vigers, 35, gentleman; Anne Vigers, 34; William Vigers, 8; Ann Vigers, 6; Charles Vigers, 5; James Vigers, 4; Mary Vigers, 2.

Charles was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, from 1856 to 1857 (pupil #45), having been enrolled in the Elementary Class (prep school) on arrival in Lyttelton.^[6] In 1854, the elder boys were living at Ilam so that they could attend school in Christchurch.

Charles Henry Vigers married Mary Jane Newton on 23 May 1878 at Phillipstown, Christchurch, New Zealand.^[7]

He was a farmer at Governor's Bay at time of marriage, aged 32. He was farming at Makikihi, Otago, from 1879 to 1881 (probably on a property owned by his brother-in-law Henry Lee). He was listed in the Post Office directory as living at Styx from 1887 to 1897, and was living at Belfast in 1892.

Charles died on 3 Dec 1905 at the Waimakariri River, near Belfast, Christchurch, New Zealand.^[8]

As reported at his inquest, Charles Vigers of Belfast, a 60 year old wool classer, committed suicide by cutting his throat in the Waimakariri river bed. His wife Mary Jane said he was frequently ill, of 'a very despondent disposition', and had suffered from severe insomnia for two months. He left a suicide note.^[9]

Death Duty Index:
VIGERS, Charles Henry, fellmonger; Belfast; d 3 Dec 1905; probate 20 Dec 1905; executors Mary Jane Vigers, Belfast, widow; Legatee/next of kin wife. The value of his estate, which was left entirely to his widow Mary Jane Vigers, was sworn at over £100.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ GRO Birth registration Index 1845 Dec qu Truro 9 314
2. ↑ The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser', 12 December 1845
3. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTYK-SXK : 20 March 2020), Charles Henry Vigors, 1846.
4. ↑ PRO Ref HO 107/1922 fol 89 pp 24-25; "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGG5-LR3 : 9 November 2019), William Vigers in household of Charles K Vigers, Trull, Somerset, England; citing Trull, Somerset, England, p. 24, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzbound/cby.htm
6. ↑ In Black & White ISSUE 16 – 28 JUNE 2011, https://christscollege.com/assets/16_BW.pdf
7. ↑ New Zealand marriage registration index 1878/3270
8. ↑ Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13924, 5 December 1905, Page 1; PapersPast
9. ↑ Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13924, 5 December 1905, Page 7; PapersPast
10. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-GN9D : 9 March 2021), Charles Henry Vigers, 1905; citing , Christchurch Probate Files, 1855-2003, record number CH5480/1905, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 100801494.