Hi Beeston,

will add this info here in case other Beeston researchers missed it:

BEESTON New Zealand

...
Beeston, John William
- born 1830
- married Mary HUNT in 1866
- John died in 1875 aged 45

the following (numbered) are the children of John & Mary Beeston

1/ John William Beeston
- born 1867
- son of John William BEESTON & Mary HUNT
- wife not yet found
- he was a Labourer in Auckland
- he died 25 Feb 1936 aged 69 in a hit & run

NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS about this John William Beeston

... Evening Post 6 April 1936
- AUCKLAND, This Day
When John William Beeston, 69, an inmate? of the Salvation Army Men's Home (INTERESTING NOTE: there was a Salvation Army Men's Industrial Home at Epsom (erected about 1927) AND a Salvation Army Men's Prison-Gate Home at Epsom}, was walking home after church on the evening of Sunday, February 23, he was knocked down by a motor-car and died of his injuries in hospital later. This morning John Reginald Smith appeared in the Police Court on summons before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., charged with negligent driving on the Manukau Road, failing to stop and render assistance, and failing to report the accident to the police.
Messrs R. A. Singer and Bryce Hart appeared for the defendant
Two young men who were sitting in a side road about 8.50pm on February 23 witnessed the accident. They said the deceased was crossing the road. They chased a car on bicyles and saw it stop in front of a block of flats some distance along the road. They took the number of the car but when they reached it the occupant had left. The night was clear and there was no traffic on the road.
A taxi driver gave evidence of being called to the Manukau Road about 9.30pm where a man he knew as Fairlsy entered the taxi and was driven to a house in Buckland Road, Epsom. Witness said he now knew this to be the defendant's house. The case is proceeding.

... Evening Post 8 May 1936 ...
- AUCKLAND MAY 7
The trial of John Reginald Smith, aged 30, company manager, who was charged with negligently driving a motor-car so as to cause the death of John William Beeston, aged 69 was concluded in the Supreme Court today, before Mr Justice Fair.
The accident occured at the intersection of Manukau Road and the Great South Road (about 4 mins from the home), on the night of February 23, and Beeston died in Auckland Hospital early on the morning of February 25.
His Honour in summing up said the main point for the jury to consider was whether the accused had been negligent or not in failing to see the deceased in the circumstances that existed at the time.
The jury returned after a retirement of four hours with a verdict of guilty with a very strong recommendation to mercy in a written note handed to his Honour. The reason for the recommendation, it was stated, was that it was the unanimous opinion of the jury that the deceased contributed in no small measure to the accident
The accused was remanded for sentence

... John Reginald Smith was fined ?100 in the Supreme Court on 11 May 1936 (this is equivalent to about $10,650 in May 2011)

On 5th October 1936 John Reginald Smith committed suicide

... Evening Post 529October 1936
AUCKLAND, October 28
ROADSIDE TRAGEDY - MARRIED MAN'S SUICIDE
STORY OF GIRL COMPANION - "DETERMINED TO KILL HIMSELF"
- A verdict of suicide by gunshot was returned at the inquest into the death of John Reginald Smith, aged 31, who was found dead on the roadside more
- John William Beeston is buried SOLDIERS BURIAL D Row 1, Plot 28
at Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland


2/ Thomas Alexander Beeston
- born 1876
- son of ohn William BEESTON & Mary HUNT
- Thomas married Alice Rachel BOWDEN in 1901
- Alice was a daughter of Charles Elias BOWDEN & Elizabeth Jane JENNINGS and a sister of Philip Elias Bowden who married Thomas's half sister Gladys (see his mother Mary's 2nd marriage below)
- Thomas died 1944 aged 68


Mary (nee Hunt) Beeston remarried in 1883 to George CHESTER
- they had 2 children:
1885 - 1940 George Adrian Chester
- George married Kathleen Ada Stephens RETTER in 1919
1888 - 1961 Gladys Nadine/Undine Chester
- Gladys married Philip Elias BOWDEN (1883-1966) in 1912
- Philip was a son of Charles Elias BOWDEN & Elizabeth Jane JENNINGS and a brother of Alice Bowden who married Galdy's half brother Thomas Alexander Beeston above


.... there is more at the above link

Thank you so much. It was this information that showed us we were actually chasing two John W BEESTON's. Next step for us will be the English connection and the name of the ship he/they came over to NZ in. The brick wall is down at this point and we can progress forward.
Your help is so much appreciated, thank you again.

Re: neemudgway error - never married into the Beeston clan, but, was a genuine family line of was it now proud history to be part of the Beeston clan