Papito Paro 'Peter' ARO (1849-1922) was born in Calcutta, India
Hannah PARTINGTON (1859-1913) was born in England
they married 16 April 1872 in New Zealand

the 13 children of Peter & Hannah
born in Thames, Coromandel
... 1
1872 - 1880 Ruby Ellen Aro
* born 24 July 1872
* died 6 Nov 1880 aged 8
* buried Shortland St, Thames
Thames Star, 5 Nov 1880
ARO - On Nov 5th, at her father's residence, Bird-in-Hand Hill, Ruby Ellen, eldest daughter of mr Peter and Hannah Aor, aged 8 years and 4 months

... 2
1874 - 1910 Elizabeth Hannah Aro
* born 13 Aug 1874
* married Charles Edwin Wilton (1875-1918) in 1898
- a son of John Moore Wilton & Elizabeth Jones
their known children
1899 - 1941 Gilbert Charles Wilton
1901 - 1986 Vera Elsie Jones Wilton
1904 - 1981 Eric John Moore Wilton
1908 - 1974 Leonard Edwin Francis Peter Wilton
* died 15 Nov 1918 aged 34 in Thames
* buried Shortland Street
* died 2 days apart during the Flu Pandemic
Thames Star, 16 Nov 1918
Mrs Elizabeth H Wilton, wife of Mr C. E. Wilton, who pre-deceased her two days ago, died at the hospital last night. Mrs Wilton was a daughter of Mr Peter Aro. She leaves a large family

... 3
1877 - 1933 Mary Ada Aro
* born 21 May 1877
* Mary had a daughter
9 Jan 1898 - Phoebe Myrtle Aro. Phoebe married William John Hargan in 1922. Phoebe married William Chaplin in 1935. Phoebe married Mr Watts. She died 3 Feb 1952 & is buried with Mary & her husband Andrew at O'Neill's Point
* Mary married Andrew Hunter (1878-1899) in 1899
* died 24 April 1933 in Auckland
* buried O'Neill's Point

... 4
1879 - 1936 Peter Nathan Aro
* born 28 Sep 1879
* married Hera Taihinu (1893-1981) in 1911
* died 6 Oct 1936 aged 57 in Thames
* buried Shortland Street
their known children
1912 - 1961 Peter James Francis Aro
1913 - 1941 Jason Victor Aro
1915 - 1917 Edgar Laurence Partington Aro (aged 2)
1916 - 1916 Eva Ada Elsie Aro (aged 4 months)
* their second son, Jason Victor Aro, Private 22065, of the 21 Infantry Battalion, Second NZEF, Second Echelon, was killed in action in Crete,28 May 1941 aged 28. His memorials are at Athens Memorial, Phaleron War Cemetery & Auckland War Memorial Museum

... 5
1882 - 1918 Charlotte Rachel Aro
* born 21 June 1882
* married Alfred James Buckland (1879-1918) in 1908
their known children
1910 - 1910 Harry James Buckland (aged 7 months)
1912 - 1941 Ruby May Buckland
* died 21 Nov 1918 aged 36 in Thames
* buried Shortland Street
* died 11 days apart during the Flu Pandemic

... 6
1885 - 1905 James Nathaniel Aro
* born 22 June 1885
* died 25 March 1905 aged 19 in Thames
* buried Shortland Street
Thames Star, 25 March 1905
ARO On March 24th, at his parents' residence, Upper Franklyn Street, Block 27, James Nathaniel, beloved son of Peter and Hannah Aro, aged 19 years. The funeral will leave the above residence, to-morrow, at 3pm. R. Twentyman

... 7
1888 - 1968 William John Aro
* born 15 March 1888
* married Elsie Alice 'Lizzie' Tookey (1897-1913 see ... 9)
* married Helen May Poulgrain (1899-1968) in 1920
* died 9 Jan 1968 aged 79 in Auckland
* buried Waikumete

... 8
1890 - 1952 Francis Emmanuel Aro
* born 28 Dec 1890
* married Merena Grace (1895-1918) in 1912
* married Evelyn Ruby Prattley (1900-1987) in 1924
NZ Herald, 22 Dec 1924
ARO-PRATTLY - On September 17, at St Matthew's Church, by the Rev C. H. Grant-Cowan, Francis Emmanuel Aro, third son of the late Mr and Mrs Peter Aro, of Block 27, Thanes, to Evelyn Ruby Prattly, youngest daughter of Mr Thomas Prattly, of Levin
* died 16 Dec 1952 aged 61 in Auckland
* buried Waikumete

... 9
1893 - 1913 Robert Jason Aro
* born 27 April 1893
* died 22 March 1913 aged 19.11 drowned at Kopu
* buried Shortland Street
* NZ Herald, 24 March 1913
SISTER FATALITIES ... A party of eight persons left the Shortland Wharf in an oil launch for Turua at about 9.30pm yesterday. Four of them were brothers, sons of Mr Peter Aro, of Thames. Two were accompanied by their wives, who were sisters, and formerly the Misses Tookey, while Mr Alfred Tookey and a boy, also named Tookey, completed the party ...
* NZ Herald, 25 March 1913
A LAUNCH ON FIRE TWO LIVES LOST
A drowning fatality occurred near Kopu late on Saturday night by which Alfred(sic) Aro and Lizzie Aro, both about twenty, lost their lives. The party were in a launch, when the benzine tank became empty. While refilling it, a lamp was brought too close and an explosion occurred. Someone cried "Jump overboard!". The woman did so. Aro followed to save her and called out that he was all right and swimming for shore. Nothing further was seen of the couple. The river was running and the bodies have not been recovered. Some of the other occupants of the boat were slightly burned and the launch was damaged
* New Zealand Herald, 27 March 1913
ARO On March 22nd, accidentally drowned at Kopu, Robert Jason, dearly beloved fourth son of Peter and the late Hannah Aro, aged 19 years 11 months
ARO On March 22nd, accidentally drowned at Kopu, Elsie Alice, dearly beloved wife of William John Aro, aged 16 years 6 weeks
* New Zealand Herald, 27 March 1913
THE DROWNING AT THAMES The body of the young man, R. J. Aro, who was drowned in the Thames River on Saturday night last (when attempting to rescue his sister-in-law, Mrs W. J. Aro) was recovered this morning. It was conveyed to the morgue at Thames, awaiting the inquest, which will be held to-morrow. The body of Mrs W. J. Aro has not yet been found
* Thames News, 29 March 1913
RIVER FATALITY The body of Mrs William Aro, one of the victims of the drowning fatality that occurred near Kopu last Saturday night was recovered from the river yesterday, near Kopu. The body was conveyed to Thames and lodged in the morgue.
The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the unfortunate woman was held at the courthouse before Mr W. H. Lucas, district coroner. The evidence tendered was similar to that given at the inquest on the body of Robert Jason Aro, the same witnesses giving evidence, while evidence was also tendered as to the finding of the body of the woman.
A verdict that deceased met her death by being accidentally drowned in the Thames river was returned by the coroner. General sympathy is extended to Mr Peter Aro, who has lost wife and son in a brief period
* New Zealand Herald, 29 March 1913
THE BODIES FOUND The bodies of both the man and woman Aro, drowned in the Thames River on Saturday through jumping from a boat after some benzine ignited, have been found. At the coroners inquest verdicts of accidentally drowned were returned
* The INQUEST

... 10
1895 - 1895 Ruby Ellen Aro
* born 13 July 1895
* died 17 Aug 1895 aged 4 weeks in Thames
* buried Shortland Street

... 11
1896 - 1919 Ruby Ann Aro
* born 17 July 1896
* married Frederick James Johnson in 1919
* died 14 Nov 1919 aged 23 in Devonport, Auckland
* buried O'Neill's Point
NZ Herald, 19 Nov 1919
JOHNSON - On Nov 14th at her late residence, 9 St Leonard's Road, Devonport, Ruby Ann, dearly beloved wife of Fredrick James Johnson and youngest daughter of Peter and the late Hannah Aro, of Thames, aged 23 years - Deeply mourned - Interred at O'Neil's Point Cemetery

... 12
1898 - 1899 Thomas Partington Aro
* born 31 Dec 1898
* died 7 Jan 1899 aged 7 days in Thames
* buried Shortland Street

... 13
1899 - 1952 Thomas Partington Aro
* born 4 Dec 1899
* married Ella Tryphena Alice Dunford (1904-1975) 8 Feb 1926
* died 28 Oct 1952 in Auckland
* buried Waikumete

NOTES
Thames Advertiser, 17 Sep 1888
WAIOMO I am sorry to learn that we are about to lost Mr Peter Aro from amongst us. He has been here for some months in the capacity of amalgamator (we can only afford one) at the Paroquet battery, and by his obliging disposition has gained many friends. I am given to understand that owing no doubt to the change in the proprietors of the Paroquet mine, mill, & c., that the Golden Gem will clean up early during the coming week.

Hannah Aro died 21 Jan 1913 aged 54
Peter Aro died 3 May 1922 aged 73
They are buried at Shortland Street Cemetery

HEADSTONE at SHORTLAND STREET
Plot 3301, Peter & Hannah Aro