John OLD was born 28 June 1821 in Retallick Mills, St Mawgan-in-Pydar, Cornwall, England, 3rd son of Richard Old (1790-1871) & Jane Liddicoat (1794-1854)

Mary Jane KNUCKEY was born 1 Dec 1828 in Camborne, Cornwall, a daughter of Nicholas Knuckey (1807-1850) & Zenobia Odgers (1808-1874) from Cornwall, England
After her father died in 1850 (in New Plymouth) Mary's mother next married Alfred William BAILEY (1820-1886) as his 2nd of 3 wives. Alfred was first married (in NZ in 1843) to Jane OLD (1816-1852), a sister of the above John Old. He next married Zenobia Odgers (1808-1874), daughter of Samuel Odgers & Zenobia Pryor in 1854. He next married Caroline JULIAN (1821-1898) in 1881

John Old (aged 20) & Mary Jane Knuckey (aged 14) met on the ship when they emigrated with their parents on the ESSEX which sailed from Plymouth 3 Sept 1842, arriving in New Plymouth 20 Jan 1843

John and Mary married 15 Feb 1845 in the Te Henui Chapel, New Plymouth, 2 years and 1 month after arriving in New Zealand
* John was 23 and Mary was 16
They had 16 children, 6 boys & 10 girls
* The first 5 in Fitzroy, New Plymouth
* The other 11 in Fordell, Wanganui

.. 1 ..
1846 - 1926 John Old
* born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth 18 March 1846
John married Beatrice ROBERTSON (1845-1875) in Wanganui 1867
* John was 21 & Beatrice was 22
they had 5 children
John next married Margaret MORTON (1857-1908) of Scotland in Napier 1878
* John was 32 & Margaret was 21
they had 12 children
John next married Adelaide 'Ada' ROBERTS (1885-1920) of Stoke, Kent in Wairoa 1914
* John was 68 & Adelaide was 29
they had 2 children
* Adelaide died 2 June 1920 aged 34, 2 months after the birth & death of her baby Herbert John Old (1920-1920 aged 8 days)
John died in Te Kuiti 16 March 1926 just 2 days from his 80th birthday
. . .King Country Chronicle, 18 March 1926
OLD - On March 16th, at the residence of his son-in-law, Lionel Jacob, Awakino Road, John Old, of Mahoenui, aged 79 years. Funeral on Thursday, at 1 p.m. from Anglican Church
note his son in law was Lionel Le Grand Jacob (1876-1963) who married his daughter Margaret (1879-1962) from his 2nd wife Margaret Morton
. . .King Country Chronicle, 18 March 1926
OBITUARY One of the oldest settlers in the King Country in the person of Mr John Old, of Mahoenui, passed away at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr L. Jacob, Awakino Road, Te Kuiti, on Tuesday evening.
The late Mr Old was born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth in the year 1846. He carried on farming pursuits in Wanganui, Waverley and Tikorangi and finally moved to Mahoenui over 30 years ago, being one of the earliest pioneers in that district. He served in the Maori War at Wanganui. When he first made his homestead at Mahoenui, Mr Old had to pack his food and material on his back with the assistance of his children. It was impossible in those early days to even get a horse through to this district. Remarkable changes have been witnessed by Mr Old. Mr Old was one of the first J.P.'s to be appointed in the King Country. He was a good horseman and a keen lover of animals and in the old days bred some splendid horses. He was also fond of angling and took an active part in every movement for the welfare of the district in which he lived.had Mr Old lived another day, he would have reached the ripe age of 80 years.
Mr Old had a family of 17 children of whom he is survived by eight sons and eight daughters, all of whom are married (with the exception of one daughter) and settled in the district. He leaves 47 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Mr Old was highly respected in the King Country and Taranaki districts and leaves a large circle of friends.

.. 2 ..
1847 - 1847 Jane Old
* born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth 23 Nov 1847
Jane died 23 Nov 1847 aged 6 hours and is buried in the Fitzroy Methodist Church Cemetery

.. 3 ..
1848 - 1848 Elizabeth Old
* born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth 19 Oct 1848
Elizabeth died 20 Oct aged 1 day and is buried in Fitzroy Methodist Church cemetery.

.. 4 ..
1850 - 1934 Jane Frances Old
* born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth 3 April 1850
Jane married John DOOLE (1839-1927) of Ipswich, Suffolk England in Wanganui in 1870
* Jane was 20, it was John's 31st birthday
they had 14 children
Jane died 28 May 1934 in Taihape aged 84 and is buried in Taihape Cemetery

.. 5 ..
1852 - 1925 Elizabeth Old
* born in Fitzroy, New Plymouth 27 May 1852
Elizabeth married William Stewart LIND (1845-1911) of Broughby Ferry, Angus, Scotland in Wanganui in 1870
* Elizabeth was a week from 18, William was 24
they had 12 children
Elizabeth died 1 Oct 1925 in Aramoho, Wanganui aged 73 and is buried in Aramoho cemetery

.. 6 ..
1854 - 1866 Mary Ann Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 12 Aug 1854
Mary Ann died 24 June 1866 in Wanganui aged 11 and is buried St James Church Yard, Matarawa Cemetery, Wanganui with her parents and sibling Margaret

.. 7 ..
1856 - 1872 Margaret Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 8 Dec 1856
Margaret died in Wanganui 6 Oct 1872 aged 15 and is buried St James Church Yard, Matarawa Cemetery, Wanganui with her parents and sibling Mary Ann
. .Wanganui Herald, 7 Oct 1872
OLD - On Sunday the 6th instant, at Matarawa Valley, Margaret, the beloved daughter of Mr John Old, aged 15 years and 10 months

.. 8 ..
1858 - 1948 Richard Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 24 Oct 1858
Richard married Sarah Ann WATKINS (1864-1943) of Rangiora in Wanganui in 1882
* Richard was 24, Sarah was 18
they had 11 children
Richard died in Wanganui 14 July 1946 aged 87 and is buried Matarawa Cemetery, Wanganui

.. 9 ..
1860 - 1939 Hannah Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 24 Nov 1860
Hannah married John William BARNES (1859-1925) of Karori, Wellington in Wanganui in 1881
* it was Hannah's 21st birthday, John was 22
they had 9 children
Hannah died 3 Sep 1939 in Wanganui aged 78 and is buried at Matarawa cemetery

.. 10 ..
1862 - 1900 Christiana 'Christina' Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 12 Aug 1863
Christina married John GOULD (1846-1907) of Combe Martin, Plymouth, Devonshire in Matarawa, in Wanganui in 1881
* Christiana was 18, John was 35
they had 7 children
Christina died 21 June 1900 in Kimbolton aged 37 and is buried in Kimbolton cemetery
. .Feilding Star, 22 June 1900
GOULD - On June 21, at Kimbolton; Christina, the beloved wife of John Gould; aged 38 years.
Mr F. Fanthorpe, undertaker, gives notice that the funeral of the late wife of Mr John Gould, of Kimbolton, will take place to-morrow. The cortege will leave Mr Gould's residence at 1 o'clock for St Saviour's Church, Kimbolton and will afterwards proceed to the Kimbolton cemetery

.. 11 ..
1864 - 1947 William Percy Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 10 July 1864
William married Emily Jane TOZER (1871-1932) of Banks Peninsula in St Mary's Wanganui in 1889. Emily was a sister of Susan who married his brother Robert
* William was 24, Emily was 17
they had 10 children
William died in Wanganui 27 March 1947 aged 82 and is buried in Heads Road Old Catholic Cemetery

.. 12 ..
1866 - 1934 Robert Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 31 Oct 1866
Robert married Susan TOZER (1870-1957) of Banks Peninsula in St Mary's Wanganui in 1891. Susan was a sister of Emily who married his brother William
* Robert was 24, Susan was 21
they had 11 children
Robert died in Taihape 31 Aug 1934 aged 67 and is buried Plot 25, Row 32, Block 1, West Area in Taihape cemetery

.. 13 ..
1868 - 1958 Martha Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 24 Jan 1869
Martha married Franz Wilhelm Albert (Frank Albert August) KURTH (1865-1923) of Brollin, near Pasewalk, North Germany in Wanganui in 1890
* Martha was 2 weeks from 21, Franz was 24
they had 10 children
Martha died in Te Awamutu 13 April 1955 aged 86 and is buried Plot 3, Row G, Block A at Pukeatua cemetery

.. 14 ..
1871 - 1931 James Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 20 Aug 1871
James married Nellie Abrica FOSS (1882-1976) of Waitara, Taranaki in 1899
* James was 27, Nellie was 3 months from 17
they had 7 children
James died in Te Awamutu 4 Jan 1931 aged 59 and is buried at Te Awamutu cemetery
. .King Country Chronicle, 6 Jan 1931
OBITUARY The death occurred last Saturday afternoon of Mr James Old, a well-known resident of the Northern King Country. Mr Old was born in Wanganui 59 years ago and was farming in the Taihape district for about 20 years, after which he came to the Te Kuiti district, taking up a section at Oparure, clearing and grassing about 2000 acres. When the slump of 1921-22 came, like a good many others throughout the Dominion, Mr Old had to give up his farm and took up his residence at Pio Pio and was afterwards living at Te Awamutu. The death of Mr Old was the result of an accident when a horse he was riding slipped on the tar-sealed road and deceased sustained a fracture of the skull. He was taken to the Hamilton Hospital nut he gradually sank and passed away early on Saturday afternoon. Though Mr Old never took part in public life he was highly respected by all those with whom he came in contact and had a wide circle of friends in the King Country and around Wanganui.
Deceased leaves a widow, two daughters and three sons to mourn his loss.

.. 15 ..
1873 - 1960 Oliver Old
* born in Fordell, Wanganui 13 June 1873
Oliver married Elizabeth COLE (1876-1964) of Wellington in Wanganui in 1900
* Oliver was 27, Elizabeth was 24
they had 8 children
Oliver died in Taumarunui 21 May 1960 aged 86 and is buried Plot 43, Row K, C of E at Taumarunui cemetery

.. 16 ..
1875 - 1913 Jessie Crawford Old
* born in Wanganui 25 Feb 1875
Jessie married James William George GOSNELL (1872-1955) of Lambeth, Surrey, England in 1897
* Jessie was 22, James was 24
they had 3 children
Jessie died in Raetihi 4 Oct 1913 aged 38 and is buried in Raetihi cemetery


MARY JANE Old died in Wanganui 4 March 1887 aged 58
. . .King Country Chronicle, 5 March 1887
OLD - At Fordell, on Friday, March 4th, Mary Jane, the beloved wife of John Old, aged 58 years. Friends are informed that the funeral will leave her late residence at 1 p.m. on Monday, the 7th March - John James, Undertaker, Taupo Quay.

JOHN Old died 1 May 1896 aged 74
. . .Wanganui Herald, 2 May 1896
OLD - On the 1st May, at his son-in-law's (Frank Kurth) residence, Fordell, John Old, aged 74 years
They are buried at Matarawa Cemetery, Wanganui with 2 daughters, Mary Ann & Margaret