Framcis Reuben TRASK was born 1840 in Merriot, a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, near the town of Crewkerne and 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district

he was a son of Reuben TRASK & Ann LAWRENCE
- the children of Reuben and Ann were:
1829 - Sampson Trask
1833 - Mary Trask
1836 - Mary Lawrence Trask
1839 - George Lawrence Trask
- emigrated to New Zealand
1840 - Francis Reuben Trask
- emigrated to New Zealand
1843 - Emma Trask
1845 - William Trask
1850 - Llewellyn Trask
- emigrated to New Zealand, moved to Victoria Australia & Cleveland Ohio


Francis Reuben TRASK married Emily Osborne MERCER in Nelson in 1864
- they had 4 children

1865 - 1941 Lawrence Reuben Trask
- Lawrence married Mabel SPARKS in 1894
- they had 4 known children
1895 - 1951 Mabel Isabel Trask
1900 - 1904 Dorothy Mercedes Trask
1904 - 1979 Mercedes Catherine Trask
1906 - ? Eva Patience Trask


1866 - 1955 Ada Emily Trask
- Ada married Albert Meluish BEER in 1897
- they had 3 known children
1898 - 1977 Ernest Albert Beer
1899 - 1952 Emily Trask Beer
1904 - 1982 Francis Trask Beer


1872 - 1928 Arthur Francis Reuben Trask
- Arthur married Ada LAING in 1895
- they had a son
1896 - 1969 James Arthur Gilchrist Trask


1877 - 1927 Sydney Vincent Trask
- Sydney married Kathleen DRISCOLL in 1902
- they had 2 children
1903 - 1957 Clifford Sydney Trask
1907 - ? Eileen Emily Trask


from the 1905 Cyclopedia of New Zealand
... The Hon. Francis Trask was called to the Legislative Council on the 18th of March, 1903. He was born at Merriott, in Somersetshire, England, in 1840, and in 1860 he came out in the barque ?Minorca? to Christchurch, whence he went on to the Otago goldfields. After a stay of a few months at Wetherstones Gully, Mr. Trask went to Nelson, where he has resided ever since. In 1878 he was electod to a seat in the Borough Council, and held office as a councillor till 1890, when he was first elected mayor?an office which he held for ten successive years. Among the many works which were undertaken during Mr. Trask's term of office was the Rocks Road, a new main road from the town to the country, by way of the sea coast. This work was started mainly through his exertions; it is perfectly level for its whole distance, and forms the highway into Nelson from the fertile Waimeas, and thence to the West Coast. ?Gunnersbury House,? Mr. Trask's residence in Collingwood Street, is on? of the best (if not the finest) in Nelson

Trask served for several years on the Town Schools Committee, was a director of the Nelson Permanent Building Society from 20 May 1890, and took a very keen interest in friendly society matters, being a member of both the Court Robin Hood, A.0.F., and the Howard Lodge M.U. I.O.O.F. Trask was chair of orders and was a trustee of the Nelson District A.O.F.

He was also a member of the Nelson Jockey Club and the Nelson Trotting Club, being both a steward and on the committee of Trotting Club. Trask was also a member of the Nelson Bowling Club, having been President for one term. He had identified himself with other branches of sport by allowing his name to appear as a vice-president in the list of officers. Trask was a Justice of the Peace for many years and a member and past president of the City Club

In 1866 he was a Juror in the Maungatapu murders

In 1878 he was elected as a city councillor until being elected Mayor in 1890. Trask became Mayor during a typhoid epidemic in the city. He kept a steady course through the 1895-1897 depression. Happier moments came in 1892 when the enthusiastic 50th jubilee celebration of Nelson took place.

The most notable works during his term were the Rocks Road, a new main road from the town to the country, by way of the sea coast, and the Queens Gardens. He remained Mayor until 20 December 1899 when he was succeeded by Joseph Auty Harley.


MENTIONED IN MURDER at the BAY VIEW HOTEL


Francis Reuben Trask died on 6 April 1910 aged 70
Emily Osborne Trask died in 1924 aged 84




Francis Reuben Trask c.1905
from NZETC