Family of Samuel Richard


Samuel Richard Calkin (1841-1909)	Louisa Ruiha Calkin (1847-1920)

Calkin, Samuel Richard
Only child born to Samuel and Mary Ann
The 1841 census includes Samuel aged just 1 month living with his parents at 6, Wyndham Street, in the parish of St. Marylebone.
The 1851 census has Samuel R. (aged 9) living with his grandparents Samuel and Eliza at 50, William Street.
Young Samuel was a chorister in Salisbury cathedral ....
This can probably be explained as by then he was more than likely living with his Uncle John (John (Tilley) Calkin) at the time.
There is much evidence that they were close and many letters were exchanged between 1872 and 1895.
Also Uncle John often made mention of Samuel playing the violin and even sent him a violin which became a family heirloom.
Samuel was a Greek scholar, which explains the preponderance of Greek names amongst the children.
He finished his education in London living with his grandparents while his father migrated to America.
His father remarried in America and this Samuel joined his father in New Jersey.
24th April 1864 he joined the American navy at Brooklyn Navy Yard where he joined the "North Carolina" as a Substitute Landsman.
A slight mystery here as he joined under an assumed name of "Anthony Atkins" ... family records do not say why,
although when he eventually claimed for a naval pension in 1903 he claimed it was to hide from his parents (?)
Samuel was later drafted as a Master Mates Steward on board a Double Ender (USS Shamrock) stationed up the Roanoke river during the War of the Rebellion.
On the Roanoke River there was a large Confederate ironclad, the CSS ALBEMARLE, which did cause some havoc,
before it was destroyed in a raid by a heroic Union officer and his men (lieutenant William B. Cushing).
Samuel also wrote that at various times escaped slaves would appear on the banks of the river and would be taken aboard his vessel and
then be interrogated to obtain information on the Confederates, before these slaves were sent over to the Union Army, where many of the men would enlist in military service.
He was honourably discharged 17th May 1865 and received a bounty of $800.
After that War Samuel went to sea again on a whaling voyage where he ended up in Russell, New Zealand.
From Russell he went to Kawakawa. After marrying Louisa, Samuel became a teacher.
He first taught is a private school in Onewhero Bay, and then in September 1875 at Mangakahia native school where he taught for 6 and a half years.
Next was Te Moari school Kaeo where they stayed until 1887.
His family moved to Whangarei in 1889 and managed the "Colonial Boarding House and Hotel" in Walton Street.
After 8 more years the family took on the Coffee Palace in Cameron Street, Whangerei.
Samuel died in Whangerei in 1909 and was buried in Kioreroa cemetery.
I have a copy of a book by Alistair Cumming (of Motueka, NZ) that has a very extensive study of Samuel Calkin and his family.
The link below will take you to the unveiling of Samuel Richard Calkin's memorial at Whangerei on 4th July 2010.
See newspaper article all about it here: Whangarei Report (670k)
The weather was really foul as you will see by the video. In spite of that over 100 people (including the press) assembled at the cemetery.
The ceremony was cut to just the unveiling at the cemetery and the rest of the service was transferred to the hall where the afternoon tea was held.
There were over 80 relatives and friends there, including Maru Good (103), the only surviving Grandchild of Samuel and Louisa.
Click here for YouTube video of Samuel's Ceremony

         Born: 06.05.1841 at 6, Wyndham Street, Marylebone

         Married: 10.06.1869 to Louisa Ruiha Edmonds in Paihia, New Zealand

         Died: 03.07.1909 Aged 68, at Whangarei, New Zealand and buried in Kioreroa Cemetery.
Cause of death: Erysipelas, Gangrene and Asthenia.

Calkin (nee Edmonds), Louisa Ruiha
Daughter of Arthur Edmonds (a builder) and Erana Kareariki Pehi.
Being half-caste Louisa spoke fluent Maori and assisted Samuel at his native teaching assignments.
Louisa's father, Arthur Edmonds, was born in Dorset 21st September 1825 and emigrated to NZ as a child.
He died 20th June 1914 aged 88.
Click on this link to read the homepage of a descendant of Louisa's Edmonds family: Arohanui Bev Edmonds

         Born: 1847 at KeriKeri, Auckland, New Zealand

         Died: 09.10.1920 Aged 73, in Whangerei and buried 11th October at Kioreroa cemetery.
Cause of death: Diabetes

Samuel, Louisa and Family.
Back (from left) - Antaeus Busirus, Alcyone Cassandra, Percival Charles, Constance Cordelia, Pierre Hayward, Adelaide Latona
Front (from left) - Clemintina Louisa, Samuel, Louisa, Mary Ellen.

Nine Children

Pierre Hayward

         Born: 11.04.1871 at Kaikohe, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: 12.07.1904 to Ethel Maude Hill in New Zealand

         Died: 20.07.1936 Aged 65, at Whangarei, New Zealand

Clemintina Louisa Lucilla
Aged 15 Clemintina was struck by Typhoid fever and was in a very dangerous position.
By the age of 22 Clem was teaching piano and holding dancing lessons.
She played the organ at Christ Church, Whangarei.
Once her first husband died from diabetes at the age of 45, she took in boarders and also did some sewing to support her young family.

         Born: 06.05.1872 at Bay of Islands, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: 20.08.1894 to Joseph Tuffley Cowdell (a photographer from England) in Auckland, New Zealand
Joseph died 20th July 1907.

Six Children :
     Mario Ruth Cowdell - Died at birth.
     Samuel Willard Cowdell
     Mabel Rima Cowdell
     Joseph Huia Cowdell
     Charles Reo Cowdell (b. 1904, died June 1909 aged 5)
     Alcyone Hine Cowdell

         Married: c. 1918 to George Benjamin Levy (Postmaster d.8.03.1949 aged 84) in Whangarei, New Zealand

         Died: 12.10.1940 Aged 68, in Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand and was buried in Otahuhu Cemetery.

Clemintina.

Mary Ellen ("Mel")
Mary was a dress maker, a painter and a pianist.
At one time Mary had a dressmaking business with her niece Rima Cowdell at Onehunga.
Her and her husband lived at Quadrant Road, Onehunga with a good view over Manukau Harbour

         Born: 20.05.1874 at Tahere, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: c. 1893 to Capt. Robert Huia Gibbons in Auckland, New Zealand

One Son
John Gibbons (known as "Jack") (1894-1957).

         Died: c. 1955 Aged 81, in New Zealand

Percival Charles
(See Percival's own webpage for a synopsis of his life)

         Born: 18.07.1876 at Maungakahia, New Zealand

         Married: 24.09.1900 to Ada E. Greenwood at Pah Road, Auckland, New Zealand

         Died: 22.09.1964 Aged 88, in Auckland, New Zealand

Constance Cordelia Henrietta
Music was one of Constance's greatest interests.
She played organ at the Anglican Suburban Church and the Ladies Rebeka Lodge and taught music.

         Born: 03.06.1878 at Maungakaramea, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: ? to Gustave John Lamare (a photographer from England) in Auckland, New Zealand

Two Children :
     Rangi Octave Lamare (b.1910)
     Zoe Constance Cecile Lamare (b.1911 - 2005)

         Died: 26.07.1952 Aged 74, in New Zealand

Antaeus Busirus
Started career as Compositor for the Northern Advocate, Whangarei.
Later managed the Billiards Saloon next door to the Coffee Palace from here he became a billiards champion.
After leaving the Billiard Saloon, he built a home in Morningside Road, Whangarei
For 13 years he was then a member of the staff of New Zealand Railways.

         Born: 12.05.1880 at Maungakaramea, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: c. 1906 to Queenie Henry in Ponsonby at the home of his sister "Mel".

         Died: 19.05.1940 Aged 60, in New Zealand

Alcyone Cassandra
On leaving school became a nurse in the Northland Mounted Rifles
Became very interested in photography having many shots published locally.
Met her husband when he was playing football for Auckland City and broke a collar bone, Alcyone was the nurse.
Husband Sid, owned a furnishing business in Newton Auckland and was a founder of "Smith & Brown's"
Lived in a large home in Onehunga overlooking the Manukau harbour.

         Born: 18.05.1882 at Kaeo, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: ? to Sidney Wilson Brown in New Zealand

Three Children :
     Hineamaru "Maru" Constance Brown (Married Len Good - d.18.12.2012 aged 105 !)
     Reo Brown
     Karo Brown

         Died: 17.05.1960 Aged 77, in New Zealand

Adelaide Latona Ephigenia ("Victoria")
Adelaide was called Victoria (and Aunty Vic) as she was born on Queen Victoria's birthday.

         Born: 24.05.1886 at Kaeo, Auckland, New Zealand

         Married: ? to Lance Hore in New Zealand

Three Children, but the first two unnamed sons died during infancy :
     Marcel Hore.
           Marcel was very successful at school winning lots of cups and then worked in a bank.
           When war broke out he enlisted with the Air Force.
           He was awarded the D.F.C. and also won the Sword of Honour at Wigram air base.
           Marcel was tragically killed in an air accident in England in the last months of the war.

         Died: 21.03.1970 Aged 83, in New Zealand

Madeline Beatrice Sylvesta

         Born: c, 01.1888 at Whangarei, Auckland, New Zealand

         Died: 03.09.1891 Aged 3, in New Zealand from enteric fever and congestion of the lungs, and buried in Mission Ground Cemetery.

Maru Good - Daughter of Alcyone Cassandra Calkin.

Hineamaru "Maru" Constance Good - on the occasion of her 105th Birthday - 27th May 2012
Maru was the last surviving Granddaughter of Samuel Richard Calkin and
is probably the oldest pictured Calkin descendant.

My thanks to Lani Calkin for the wonderful picture of Clementine above.
Lani is the great-granddaughter of Pierre Hayward Calkin.

Calkin, Samuel Richard Only child born to Samuel and Mary Ann The 1841 census includes Samuel aged just 1 month living with his parents at 6, Wyndham Street, in the parish of St. Marylebone. The 1851 census has Samuel R. (aged 9) living with his grandparents Samuel and Eliza at 50, William Street. Young Samuel was a chorister in Salisbury cathedral .... This can probably be explained as by then he was more than likely living with his Uncle John (John (Tilley) Calkin) at the time. There is much evidence that they were close and many letters were exchanged between 1872 and 1895. Also Uncle John often made mention of Samuel playing the violin and even sent him a violin which became a family heirloom. Samuel was a Greek scholar, which explains the preponderance of Greek names amongst the children. He finished his education in London living with his grandparents while his father migrated to America. His father remarried in America and this Samuel joined his father in New Jersey. 24th April 1864 he joined the American navy at Brooklyn Navy Yard where he joined the "North Carolina" as a Substitute Landsman. A slight mystery here as he joined under an assumed name of "Anthony Atkins" ... family records do not say why, although when he eventually claimed for a naval pension in 1903 he claimed it was to hide from his parents (?) Samuel was later drafted as a Master Mates Steward on board a Double Ender (USS Shamrock) stationed up the Roanoke river during the War of the Rebellion. On the Roanoke River there was a large Confederate ironclad, the CSS ALBEMARLE, which did cause some havoc, before it was destroyed in a raid by a heroic Union officer and his men (lieutenant William B. Cushing). Samuel also wrote that at various times escaped slaves would appear on the banks of the river and would be taken aboard his vessel and then be interrogated to obtain information on the Confederates, before these slaves were sent over to the Union Army, where many of the men would enlist in military service. He was honourably discharged 17th May 1865 and received a bounty of $800. After that War Samuel went to sea again on a whaling voyage where he ended up in Russell, New Zealand. From Russell he went to Kawakawa. After marrying Louisa, Samuel became a teacher. He first taught is a private school in Onewhero Bay, and then in September 1875 at Mangakahia native school where he taught for 6 and a half years. Next was Te Moari school Kaeo where they stayed until 1887. His family moved to Whangarei in 1889 and managed the "Colonial Boarding House and Hotel" in Walton Street. After 8 more years the family took on the Coffee Palace in Cameron Street, Whangerei. Samuel died in Whangerei in 1909 and was buried in Kioreroa cemetery. I have a copy of a book by Alistair Cumming (of Motueka, NZ) that has a very extensive study of Samuel Calkin and his family. The link below will take you to the unveiling of Samuel Richard Calkin's memorial at Whangerei on 4th July 2010. See newspaper article all about it here: Whangarei Report (670k) The weather was really foul as you will see by the video. In spite of that over 100 people (including the press) assembled at the cemetery. The ceremony was cut to just the unveiling at the cemetery and the rest of the service was transferred to the hall where the afternoon tea was held. There were over 80 relatives and friends there, including Maru Good (103), the only surviving Grandchild of Samuel and Louisa. Click here for YouTube video of Samuel's Ceremony
	Born:	06.05.1841	at 6, Wyndham Street, Marylebone
	Married:	10.06.1869	to Louisa Ruiha Edmonds in Paihia, New Zealand
	Died:	03.07.1909	Aged 68, at Whangarei, New Zealand and buried in Kioreroa Cemetery. Cause of death: Erysipelas, Gangrene and Asthenia.
Calkin (nee Edmonds), Louisa Ruiha Daughter of Arthur Edmonds (a builder) and Erana Kareariki Pehi. Being half-caste Louisa spoke fluent Maori and assisted Samuel at his native teaching assignments. Louisa's father, Arthur Edmonds, was born in Dorset 21st September 1825 and emigrated to NZ as a child. He died 20th June 1914 aged 88. Click on this link to read the homepage of a descendant of Louisa's Edmonds family: Arohanui Bev Edmonds
	Born:	1847	at KeriKeri, Auckland, New Zealand
	Died:	09.10.1920	Aged 73, in Whangerei and buried 11th October at Kioreroa cemetery. Cause of death: Diabetes

Nine Children
Pierre Hayward
	Born:	11.04.1871	at Kaikohe, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	12.07.1904	to Ethel Maude Hill in New Zealand
	Died:	20.07.1936	Aged 65, at Whangarei, New Zealand
Clemintina Louisa Lucilla Aged 15 Clemintina was struck by Typhoid fever and was in a very dangerous position. By the age of 22 Clem was teaching piano and holding dancing lessons. She played the organ at Christ Church, Whangarei. Once her first husband died from diabetes at the age of 45, she took in boarders and also did some sewing to support her young family.
	Born:	06.05.1872	at Bay of Islands, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	20.08.1894	to Joseph Tuffley Cowdell (a photographer from England) in Auckland, New Zealand Joseph died 20th July 1907. Six Children : Mario Ruth Cowdell - Died at birth. Samuel Willard Cowdell Mabel Rima Cowdell Joseph Huia Cowdell Charles Reo Cowdell (b. 1904, died June 1909 aged 5) Alcyone Hine Cowdell
	Married:	c. 1918	to George Benjamin Levy (Postmaster d.8.03.1949 aged 84) in Whangarei, New Zealand
	Died:	12.10.1940	Aged 68, in Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand and was buried in Otahuhu Cemetery.
Clemintina.
Mary Ellen ("Mel") Mary was a dress maker, a painter and a pianist. At one time Mary had a dressmaking business with her niece Rima Cowdell at Onehunga. Her and her husband lived at Quadrant Road, Onehunga with a good view over Manukau Harbour
	Born:	20.05.1874	at Tahere, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	c. 1893	to Capt. Robert Huia Gibbons in Auckland, New Zealand One Son John Gibbons (known as "Jack") (1894-1957).
	Died:	c. 1955	Aged 81, in New Zealand
Percival Charles (See Percival's own webpage for a synopsis of his life)
	Born:	18.07.1876	at Maungakahia, New Zealand
	Married:	24.09.1900	to Ada E. Greenwood at Pah Road, Auckland, New Zealand
	Died:	22.09.1964	Aged 88, in Auckland, New Zealand
Constance Cordelia Henrietta Music was one of Constance's greatest interests. She played organ at the Anglican Suburban Church and the Ladies Rebeka Lodge and taught music.
	Born:	03.06.1878	at Maungakaramea, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	?	to Gustave John Lamare (a photographer from England) in Auckland, New Zealand Two Children : Rangi Octave Lamare (b.1910) Zoe Constance Cecile Lamare (b.1911 - 2005)
	Died:	26.07.1952	Aged 74, in New Zealand
Antaeus Busirus Started career as Compositor for the Northern Advocate, Whangarei. Later managed the Billiards Saloon next door to the Coffee Palace from here he became a billiards champion. After leaving the Billiard Saloon, he built a home in Morningside Road, Whangarei For 13 years he was then a member of the staff of New Zealand Railways.
	Born:	12.05.1880	at Maungakaramea, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	c. 1906	to Queenie Henry in Ponsonby at the home of his sister "Mel".
	Died:	19.05.1940	Aged 60, in New Zealand
Alcyone Cassandra On leaving school became a nurse in the Northland Mounted Rifles Became very interested in photography having many shots published locally. Met her husband when he was playing football for Auckland City and broke a collar bone, Alcyone was the nurse. Husband Sid, owned a furnishing business in Newton Auckland and was a founder of "Smith & Brown's" Lived in a large home in Onehunga overlooking the Manukau harbour.
	Born:	18.05.1882	at Kaeo, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	?	to Sidney Wilson Brown in New Zealand Three Children : Hineamaru "Maru" Constance Brown (Married Len Good - d.18.12.2012 aged 105 !) Reo Brown Karo Brown
	Died:	17.05.1960	Aged 77, in New Zealand
Adelaide Latona Ephigenia ("Victoria") Adelaide was called Victoria (and Aunty Vic) as she was born on Queen Victoria's birthday.
	Born:	24.05.1886	at Kaeo, Auckland, New Zealand
	Married:	?	to Lance Hore in New Zealand Three Children, but the first two unnamed sons died during infancy : Marcel Hore. Marcel was very successful at school winning lots of cups and then worked in a bank. When war broke out he enlisted with the Air Force. He was awarded the D.F.C. and also won the Sword of Honour at Wigram air base. Marcel was tragically killed in an air accident in England in the last months of the war.
	Died:	21.03.1970	Aged 83, in New Zealand
Madeline Beatrice Sylvesta
	Born:	c, 01.1888	at Whangarei, Auckland, New Zealand
	Died:	03.09.1891	Aged 3, in New Zealand from enteric fever and congestion of the lungs, and buried in Mission Ground Cemetery.