* in reply to novice's query:
Charles Harmer
* and to bron4's query:
looking for harmer/lewis/day family of wairoa
.. I have just touched the surface of this family, it needs a lot more info and we would like your help in building it. Please leave a comment with what you know of this line and it will be added here

WAIROA as it was written in about 1900. Although 'our' Harmer are not mentioned, it is none the less a great read.
It mentions the Wairoa Hotel as being established by Arthur Poyzer .. Wairoa Hotel (Arthur Poyzer, proprietor), Wairoa. This fine hotel was established by the present proprietor in 1877. Situated close to the wharf, it is convenient for travellers and visitors to Wairoa, and Mr. Poyzer has a good connection with the travelling public and settlers in the district. The Wairoa Hotel, which is beautifully furnished, contains twenty-five rooms, including a large dining-room, a sitting-room, billiard-room, etc. From the balcony a fine view of the surrounding country is obtained, and as the house is directly opposite the river, shooting and boating are within easy reach of those seeking pleasure in that direction ...

Charles Harmer (1834-1894) was born in London, England. His father was Charles Harmer, mother not known at this time.
Charles married Alice SMITH (1849-1987) in 1865

known children of Charles & Alice
. 1 . 1867 - 1867 Clydine Harmer
died aged 1 day at the Wairoa Hotel on 5 March 1867

. 2 . 1868 - 1963 Charles Ernest Harmer
born at the Wairoa Hotel on 25 Feb 1868
Charles married Annie Ethel Cash in 1925
CHARLES DIED 18 April 1963 in Wellington & buried Karori

. 3 . 1869 - 1956 Albert Montague Harmer
born at the Wairoa Hotel, Clyde on 4 Nov 1869
Albert married Ernestine Elizabeth JOLLEY (1884-1970) in 1905
known children of Albert & Ernestine
* 1905 - 1989 Laurance Marian Harmer
* 1907 - Philip Charles Harmer
* 1909 - 1998 Airini Helen Harmer
* 1915 - 2006 Marjorie Alison Harmer
* 1918 - 2011 John Colin Harmer
* 1920 - 2000 Donald Henry Harmer
* 1921 - 1998 Molly Isobel Harmer
* 1923 - 1925 Phyllis Harmer (in Dannevirke)
ALBERT DIED 17 June 1956 in Helensville & buried Waikumete

. 4 . 1871 - 1949 Louisa Maria Harmer
Louisa married William SEARLE in 1893
known children of Louisa & William
* 1895 - 1895 Esther Evelyn Searle (aged 7 months)
* 1896 - 1896 Emily Bernice Searle (aged 3 months)
* 1898 - Francis William Searle
* 1900 - 1907 Cecelia Josephine Searle (aged 7)
* 1902 - 1987 Mary Louisa Searle
- married Roy Hewitt HALSE in 1928
* 1905 - Myrtle Amelia Searle
- married Horace Frederick TRIPP in 1922
* 1906 - 1906 unnamed baby Searle
* 1908 - Arthur Lewis Searle
- married Mabel Ellen ADAMS in 1930
* 1911 - Charles Robjohns Searle
* 1914 - 1914 Olive Margaret Searle (2 weeks)
* 1915 - 1915 Trevor Searle (5 hours)
* 1917 - Hilda Aubrey Searle
- married Maximillian Bowden Stephens 1934
LOUISA DIED in Napier & buried Park Island cemetery

Alice Harmer died 1 March 1874 in Wairoa aged 25 (childbirth?)
Charles next married Mary Puti Ruihi LEWIS (1854-1930) 1 May 1875 at Maru Maru Wairoa
* Mary was a daughter of William LEWIS & Koko POROHIWI

known children of Charles & Mary
. 5 . 1876 - 1951 Edwin James Harmer
Edwin 1st married Ellen Lilly McKENNIE in 1898
their known children
* 1900 - 1972 Alma Rawhiti Harmer
- Alma married Hoki/Joe/Teo HURA in 1919 & had 12 children
* 1902 - 1979 Edith Aroha Harmer
- Edith married Harold Norman DAY in 1922
Edwin's wife Ellen died in 1909 aged 35
Edwin remarried to Jane KRETSCHMAR in 1910
Jane ran a boarding house. On the 21 Sept 1912, Edwin was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for breaking, entering and theft at Wairoa. On 14 Aug 1915 Edwin went to war as Private #10/2613 with Wellington Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements. He put his next of kin as his daughter Miss A. R. Harmer (Alma Rawhiti was about 15 at that time) c/o Mrs C. Harmer of Wairoa
Edwin again remarried, to Matuakore (Wini Ratama) PAKAI in 1920
they had a son:
1925 - 2005 Edwin James Harmer (1925-2005)
- this Edwin married Frances Kararaina DENNIS (1926-2003), a daughter of Tom DENNIS & Te Aroha Urunga HAPI. She had been married to Desmond Kemp RATIMA (1928-1998). Possible Edwin may have also married Annie Te Apa CLAYTON. He had a motel in Wairoa

. 6 . 1877 - Percival Harmer
born at the Wairoa Hotel, Clyde on 29 March 1877
- nothing else known

. 7 . 1878 - 1942 Alice Mary Harmer
Alice married Thomas Alexander Pearse (1872-1930) in August 1897
known children of Alice & Thomas
* 1898 - 1957 Garthue Alice Pearse
* 1900 - May Louisa Pearse
* 1902 - 1978 Kathleen Harmer Pearse
* 1904 - 1942 Thomas Alexander Pearse
* 1907 - 1977 James Arthur Pearse
Alice next married Eustace George Fannin (1890-1982)

. 8 . 1880 - 1957 Arthur James Harmer
born 27 Nov 1880
Arthur married Nonori TAMEHANA
* they had 6 children
1911 - 1989 Paul Arthur 'Pane' James Harmer
- married Dolly Lewis 1931
1914 - 1996 Mihiroa 'Minnie' Harmer
- married Luke Russell & Julian 'Arthur' Walford
1916 - 1996 Jack Noema Harmer
- married Josephine Reremoana Russell & Doreen Birch
1918 - 2008 Sarah 'Hera' Harmer
- married Aubrey Turpin Walford (brother of Arthur) & Robert Webby
1926 - 1996 Charlotte Harata 'Bubba' Harmer
- married Bernard Henry Sandilands in 1951
1928 - Amy Findlay 'Donnie' Harmer
- married Ru Iehu Sciascia (1931-1998)
ARTHUR is buried at Te hauke Urupa

. 9 . 1882 - 1973 Florence Ethel Harmer
* in 1907 Florence was a room mate of Mary Ann VOCASIWICH at the Albert Hotel in Napier
Florence married William Frederick SMITH in 1911
known children of Florence & William
* 1911 - 1976 Basil James Smith

. 10 . 1884 - 1938 Grace Josephine Harmer
* on 8 Dec 1895, aged 11, Grace was partaking of her first Communion at the St Peter's Church at Wairoa. She became faint and fell against a candle which she held in her hand and this ignited her veil. The side of her face was burnt a good deal, but not seriously
Grace 1st married William Francis BROWN (1876-1926) in 1901
known children of Grace & William
* 1902 - 1986 Charles William Brown
* 1903 - 1989 Clarence Huntly Brown
* 1907 - 1949 Rose Adeline Brown
* 1910 - 1980 James Reginald Brown
* 1912 - 1983 Albert Francis Brown
* 1915 - 1973 Grace Josephine Brown
* 1918 - 1980 Patrick 'Mervyn' Brown/Martin
Grace had children:
1920 - 1980 Richard 'Leo' Martin
1927 - 2014 David Francis Martin
Grace next married Walter Harding 'Scotty' MARTIN (1896-1976) in 1927
GRACE DIED 19 March 1938 in Taihape Hospital
- Walter next married Mollie Foley in 1940

. 11 . 1886 - 1962 Ivy Beatrice Harmer
born 4 Nov 1886 in Wairoa
Ivy had a daughter:
* 1907 - Mary Ethel Harmer/father not recorded, her name became Speer
Ivy had a son:
* 1909 - 1909 John Harmer/father not recorded (16 days)
Ivy married William SPEER in 1910
known children of Ivy & William
* 1911 - Mearl Teresa Speer
IVY DIED 15 July 1962 in Hamilton & buried Hamilton Park cemetery

. 12 . 1888 - 1970 Rosabel Harmer
Rosabel married Albert Victor ARNOTT in 1908
known children of Rosabel & Albert
* 1908 - 1908 James Selwyn Arnott
* 1910 - Althea Rose Arnott
* 1914 - 1914 Florence Mona Arnott (2 months)
ROSABEL is buried at Purewa

. 13 . 1891 - 1960 Madge Harmer
Madge married Charles Laudseer PAINTER in 1910
known children of Madge & Charles
* 1911 - 2001 Helen Joan Painter
* 1912 - 2002 Grace Irene Painter
* 1913 - 1981 Landseer Charles Painter
* 1914 - 1977 Melvin Arthur Painter
* 1915 - 1968 Ernest Clifton Painter
* 1917 - 2012 Rona Mary Painter
MADGE is buried Hamilton Newstead cemetery


HARMER TIME LINE
1878 - August 1st, an entertainment night was held in Wairoa in aid of the fund for the erection of an English church. It appears most the town got involved in singing items ... Mr Harmer sang "Come birdie come" in his usual style and was loudly applauded for his song "My fader keeps the brewery"

1878 - December, In the Christmas examinations for the pupils of Napier Commercial Academy, Charles Harmer came 3rd for Vocal and also received a prize for Geography

1880 - November, Charles Harmer was in Wairoa and was a Country Sub-Agent for The United Insurance Company

1887 - November, Charles Harmer, a Storekeeper of Wairoa, applied for a discharge of Bankruptcy

1889 - February, Charles Harmer was a Storekeeper in Clyde when he applied for a release from Bankruptcy (he was 1 of a 100 that day)

1889 - 25 Oct, According the the 'Feilding Star' C. E. Harmer was nominated to run the 100 yards, the quarter mile, the half-mile and the Hurdle race at the Taonui Athletic Sports (if the above Charles Ernest he would have been about 21)

1893 - Charles Ernest Harmer took out a Game Shooting License in Hawkes Bay

4 Aug 1894 CHARLES' OBITUARY
Last Sunday, shortly after noon, there passed away, after a long and painful illness, one of Wairoa's oldest settlers, in the person of Mr Charles Harmer, who had been identified with this town during the past 29 years. Mr Harmer, who was a native of London, was in his young days in the British Navy. On coming to New Zealand, he joined the Defence Force, in the turbulent times of the East Coast in 1864, when the natives were most troublesome, and was for some time stationed at Paku Paku. On leaving the Defence Force in 1865, Mr Harmer came to Wairoa, and entered into business and was at one time proprietor of the Wairoa Hotel (now in the occupation of Mr A. Poyzer). Relinquishing hotelkeeping, Mr Harmer subsequently opened a general store and continued in that line till shortly before his death

1895 - 8 July, Charles Harmer, a fireman from the 'Ionic', whose arrest on Lambton Quay (Wellington) on Saturday night was effected by Constable Armstrong only after a severe struggle, was this morning brought up in the Magistrate's Court before Mr Martin, S.M., and Mr Duncan, J.P. of Christchurch. For having been drunk and disorderly, used obscene language and assaulted the constable, he was fined 40s or one months imprisonment on the first charge and one months imprisonment on each of the other charges, all the sentences to be concurrent. Mr A. G. Johnson went to the assistance of Constable Armstrong while that officer was struggling with the fireman and received a nasty fall before the man was secured

1909 - March 23, A strongly-built man named Herbert Charles Harmer, pleaded not guilty this morning, before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk in Cuba street (Wellington) at 10.45 last night. Accused pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting the arresting constable. After hearing the police evidence and the accused, his Worship said he must convict. On the first charge accused would be convicted and fined 20s, with the option of seven days in gaol; for resisting the constable, to which he had pleaded guilty, he was fined £3 (about $450 in 2010) or in default 14 days imprisonment


1942 - March 6, A John Frederick Harmer in Wellington (his wife was Ivy Ellen SNOW, they married in 1941)
- further research shows that this John Frederick was a son of Mrs M. Harmer of Bexleyheath, Kent, England
1925 - 2005 Edwin James Harmer (1925-2005)
- this Edwin married Frances Kararaina DENNIS (1926-2003), a daughter of Tom DENNIS & Te Aroha Urunga HAPI. She had been married to Desmond Kemp RATIMA (1928-1998). Possible Edwin may have also married Annie Te Apa CLAYTON. He had a motel in Wairoa