ALFRED CANNING SHAW, was born 1837 in County Down, Ireland to Hunter Shaw (1802-1876) & Eliza Montgomery (1810-1869) and arrived into Wellington 11 April 1858 on the 'Montmorency'
NZ Spectator, 15 June 1864

MAGISTRATE'S COURT Alfred C. Shaw v. C. C. Rookes, Debt £7 11s (todays equivalent of $733)

* armed with the added info on this family, sent in by BWat 15-3-2020 (see in comments) I can add a little more to this journal .. Alfred Canning Shaw was one of 10 siblings (adult and still young) who emigrated to NZ with their parents Hunter and Eliza Shaw from Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland c1861. Hunter Shaw Snr ran the Hunter Shaw & Sons Jewellery and Watchmakers store on Lambton Quay. I believe he ran it with his elder son William and with Alfred. William died April 1876 and Hunter, the father, died a few months later. Alfred then appears to have taken over the business. The story is that none of the siblings married or had children, although it now appears that Alfred was married for a short time! The family was reported to be rather 'eccentric' through their mother's side. One brother John Henry did rather well as a Barrister in Auckland. The last surviving sibling was Hunter Shaw Jnr of Whenuakura, Patea area who died in 1927. He had inherited from all his siblings and left his estate (valued at around 20 000 pounds) for charitable purposes. One survivor of this is the heritage Hunter Shaw building in Patea.

Alfred Canning Shaw married Lucy Hannah Wright (1857-1895) 18 Oct 1877. She was a daughter of Daniel Wright (1823-1856) & Henrietta Tant (1827-1864). No children found

Wellington Independent, 3 March 1866
WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT - Alfred Shaw, sworn - I am a partner in the firm of Shaw and Son, watchmakers, Wellington, We repaired the watch produced on the 18th of October last. We received it from Capt. Davidson of the schooner Ruby ..

Evening Post, 19 April 1869
Death of his mother Eliza SHAW - On April 18, at Hawkestone street, Eliza, the wife of Mr H. Shaw, aged 58 years. The Friends of Mr Hunter Shaw are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his late wife, which will leave his residence, Hawkestone street, on Tuesday, the 20th inst., at 4p.m.
photo credit thanks to Terry Love

HEADSTONE
Sacred to the memory of Eliza, the beloved wife of Hunter Shaw, who departed this life 18 April 1869, aged 58. "Each moment since her dying hour, my loss I keenly feel; But trust I feel the saviors power, to sanctify and heal" Also of Hunter SHAW, who died 10 September 1876, aged 74. Also of William, their son, who died 3 April 1876, aged 38. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Rev.XIV.13".

Evening Post, 2 April 1870
AWARD to brother JOHN At the recent Honor Examinations in the University of Melbourne, the Scholarship in Social Science was awarded to Mr John J. Shaw, LLB., son of Mr Hunter Shaw, jeweller, of this city. The examination, which consisted chiefly of the character and method of Social Science, the History of the Formation of Society, Political Economy and the Constitutional Law of England, was taken from the works of J. S. Mill, Bastiat, Herbert Spencer, Gibbon, Guizot, Grote, Broom &c. It was conducted throughout by Professor Hearn, author of Plutology and the Government of England.

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 Oct 1875
BANKRUPTCY of brother Hunter It is notified that in consequence of the insufficient attendance of the creditors in the estate of Hunter Shaw, the younger, late of Parawanui, in the Province of Wellington, carrying on business in partnership with one Westwater Small, as flax-millers, under the style of "Small and Shaw" upon two occasions, in which advertised meetings were convened to take place in the Supreme Court-house at Wellington, for the purpose of choosing fit and proper persons to be respectively trustees and supervisors of the estate and effects of the said bankrupt. This notification may be of importance to some persons in Rangitikei and therefore we give it publicity, as the business partnership alluded to has so long ceased to exist that the circumstances are almost forgotten.

Evening Post, 5 April 1876
Death of his brother William SHAW - On the 4th April, at Hawkestone-street, William, fourth son of Hunter Shaw, Esq., of this city, aged 30 years.
* William is buried Plot 51 M, Public section at Bolton Street

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 Sep 1876
Death of his father Hunter Shaw SHAW - On the 10th September, at his residence, Hawkestone-street, Hunter Shaw, aged 75 years.
* From our Wellington files we regret to learn that a well known and much respected resident, Mr Hunter Shaw, has passed away, at the ripe age of 75 years. The deceased gentleman carried on the business of watchmaker and jeweller on Lambton Quay for many years, but owing to declining health he took no part in business for some time past. He leaves seven sons and one daughter to mourn their loss. Mr Shaw was personally acquainted with many in Wanganui.
* Hunter is buried Plot 51M, Public section at Bolton Street

Evening Post, 9 Jan 1880
We regret to learn that Mr Alfred C. Shaw, the well-known jeweller, of Lambton Quay, is dangerously ill. His condition today is exceedingly critical

Evening Post, 10 Jan 1880
On enquiry to-day, we were glad to learn that Mr Alfred Shaw was slightly better, although his condition was still very critical

Evening Post, 13 Jan 1880
The Friends of the late Mr ALFRED CANNING SHAW, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Hawkestone-street (Thorndon), on Wednesday, at 10 a.m. - W. F. PARSONS, Undertaker

Evening Post, 17 Jan 1880
SUPREME COURT WELLINGTON - In the matter of ALFRED CANNING SHAW, of the City of Wellington, Jeweller, deceased and in the matter of "The Public Trust Office Act, 1876" Friday, the 16th day of January, 1880. Upon reading the affidavit of Lucy Hannah Shaw, Patrick Alphonsus Buckley and Solomon Levy and the affidavit of the Public Trustee, and on hearing Mr Fitzherbert, or counsel for the Public Trustee, I do order that the Public Trustee be, and he is hereby appointed and constituted administrator with the Will annexed of all the estate and effects of the said Alfred Canning Shaw, deceased, and that this order be published once in the Evening Post newspaper. - C. W. RICHMOND

NZ Herald, 13 Feb 1880
IN THE ESTATE OF ALFRED CANNING SHAW, DECEASED. Tenders are invited for the Purchase of the Lease and Goodwill of the shop and Premises on Lambton Quay, Wellington, in which the late firm of Shaw and Son have so long carried on the business of watchmakers and Jewellers, together with the valuable and well selected Stocks of Clocks, Watches, Jewellery, Plate and Platesware, now in the said premises. All inventory is in course of preparation and cards to view, with all necessary information as to terms, particulars of Lease, &c., & c., can be obtained at the Public Trust Office, Wellington, on and after Thursday, the 12 inst.Tenders will be received at the Public Trust Office as aforesaid, up to noon of Friday, the 27th of February instant. The highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.
- J. WOODWARD, Public Trustee

Widow Lucy Hannah next married David Moncrieff Thomson (1849-1889) in 1882 & had 4 known children
1882 - 1940 John Moncrieff Thomson
. died in Napier
1884 - 1948 Adam Neilson Thomson
. Adam married Mabel Newsham in 1918. He was a Chemist in Matamata. Died in Hamilton
1887 - 1972 Evelyn Neilson Thomson
. Evelyn married John Ward in 1912
1890 - 1972 Mabel Neilson Thomson (born 4 months after David's death)
. Mabel married George Cahais Smith in 1929. Died in Wellington
* Lucy & David are buried in Bolton street cemetery

Patea Mail, 3 Dec 1891
Brother John Henry Shaw in Melbourne. We are informed by Mr Hunter Shaw that his brother, Mr J. H. Shaw, barrister, who some of our readers may remember spent a few days in our district, on a sporting tour, with a couple of fine Clumber spaniels, has obtained first prize with those animals at the late dog show in Melbourne

Patea Mail, 2 Oct
Death of brother John Shaw The death took place at Auckland recently at the ripe age of 89 years of Mr J. Hunter Shaw (this is incorrect, it was John Henry Shaw), brother of Mr Hunter Shaw of Whenuakura. The late Mr Shaw was born in County Down, Ireland and was educated at Queen's College, Belfast. He came to New Zealand in 1858, with his father, the late Mr H. Shaw of Wellington, in the clipper Montmorency.


PHOTO
plot 5705, Bolton Street Cemetery
last resting place of:
Alfred Canning Shaw in 1880
photographed 1960s by City Sexton, Percival James Edward Shotter, (1912-1989), prior to its being dismantled to make way for the Wellington motorway