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WILLIAM CHALLIS (1822-1896) of Donyatt, Somerset was 1 of 14 children of Edward Challis (1793-1882) & Mary Dent (1794-1850).
* William married 3 times
William married . 1 . JULIA STRINGER (1827-1857) in England
their known children
* 1848 - 1935 William Charles Challis, born in St George, London, christened 5 Nov 1848 in Donyatt, Somerset
* see William below
* 1851 - 1921 Frederick Challis
* Frederick married Mary Ann Marshall (1861-1925) in 1877 & had 15 children. He died 16 April 1921 in Thames and is buried with Mary at Tararu cemetery. separate journal for Frederick shortly
JULIA died in London of TB, 15 Feb 1857, aged 30

William next married . 2 . ELIZA ELLEN DALEY (a widow, nee Edwards), 24 Nov 1857 at St John Waterloo, Surrey. They emigrated to New Zealand on the Oliver Lang, departing London 18 June 1858, arriving NZ 18 Sep 1858, with his 2 sons William & Frederick and Eliza's daughter Ellen (1853-1929) who married as Challis to John Chance in 1877).
William & Eliza had a son
* 1858 - 1939 James Edward Challis
* James was born 7 Nov 1858, 2 months after their arrival. He married Phoebe Emma Chittenden (1860-1898) in Feilding 6 Jan 1890. He next married Sarah Boyd (1865-1923) in Masterton 22 Feb 1900
they had 2 sons
* 1900 - 1975 James William Daley Challis (+Strawbridge)
* 1902 - 1966 Frederick Henry Challis

Eliza Ellen died 3 months after the birth of James, on 20 March 1859, aged 38. Burial not found

William next married . 3 . CAROLINE AMELIA RACHAEL nee Willshire, formerly Fensham (1825-1893) on 12 Jan 1864. Caroline had also travelled on the Oliver Lang with her 4 children, John Fensham (1851-1943), James Fensham (1853-1858 died aged 5), Caroline Fensham (?, married Charles William Schultz in 1869 & had 3 daughters) & Ann Frances Fensham (1857-1915 didn't marry). Her husband Henry Fensham (1817-1892), stayed behind (or was left behind). He was a Gardener/Fruiterer in Epsom, England. He remarried to Emma ADAMS (1835-1912) in 1877 (he was 60, she was 42). He died in High street, Epsom on 7 April 1892 aged 77. His widow Emma died in the Epsom Workhouse Infirmary on 23 July 1912 aged 77. They are buried together, Grave F74A, Epsom cemetery
known children of William & Caroline
* 1864 - 1917 Emily Challis (+George Gordon)
* 1867 - 1959 Charlotte Challis (+Arthur Philpotts)

Caroline died 17 Feb 1893 aged 67
NZ Mail, 24 Feb 1893
An Old Settler, Mrs William Challis, died at Carterton last Wednesday, at the age of 67 years. She arrived in Wellington in 1858 in the Oliver Lang. She was then a Mrs Fenshaw, a widow with four children. They settled in Carterton and five years later she married Mr William Challis, who for the last 15 years, has been a helpless cripple from rheumatic gout.
* She is buried Plot 60 at Clareville, Carterton with husband William and daughter, Ann Frances Fensham (1857-1915)

William Challis died 20 Nov 1896 aged 75
Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 Nov 1896
Death Of An Old Settler. Our early settlers are gradually thinning out until they can, in the Wairarapa, almost be counted on the two hands. Yesterday was followed to his last resting place all that was mortal of Mr William Challis, who came to the Colony in 1858 in the good ship Oliver Lang and settled on a seventy-acre farm at Carterton immediately after landing. Mrs Challis died about three years ago at the age of 71 years and Mr Challis died on Friday night last, having reached the good ripe age of 75 years. Close on 40 years he lived in the Wairarapa and for the latter half of that time he was bedridden with rheumatic gout. He leaves three sons and two daughters. His was one of the good old Wesleyan Methodist families, who give as much care for spiritual things as for the temporal affairs of this life and have the respect of all with whom they came in contact.
He is buried with wife 3 Caroline, & 1 of her daughters, Ann Frances Fensham (1857-1915)

- - -

William Charles Challis jnr (1848-1935) married twice
William jnr 1st married .1 . CHARLOTTE ENGLAND (1849-1877) in 1869. Charlotte was a daughter of Charles England (1820-1901) & Ann Challis (1826-1879) who was a sister of his father, William Challis, therefore his 1st cousin.
their children, born in England
1 . 1873 - 1951 Julia Ann Challis
* Julia had a base born daughter, Elsie Lavinia Challis (1893-1894). Elsie died 11 Feb 1894 aged 15 months and is buried Plot ELC, Row 4, Area Plan VI, Archer St, Masterton
* Julia married John COTTER in 1900. They lived at 40 Victoria St, Petone
known children of Julia & John
* 1900 - 1990 Edwin Percy Cotter
* 1901 - 1987 John William Cotter

2 . 1874 - 1885 Sarah Emily Challis
* Sarah died aged 10 (possibly in Carterton)

3 . 1876 - 1963 Kate Sophia Challis
* Kate married Levi Walter JEFFERIES (1874-1954) in 1902. They lived in Feilding
the known children of Kate & Levi
* 1905 - 1986 William John Jefferies
* 1907 - 1924 Agnes Amelia Jefferies
* 1908 - 2001 Charlotte Edina Jefferies
Charlotte married James McEwan in 1939
* 1909 - 2002 Emily Ilene Jefferies
Emily married Leonard Wynne CRESSY in 1934
In Sep 1901 Levi Jefferies was offered £10 (Sep 2011 equivalent of $1680) from Mathew Barr of the Pohangina Council, for the land cut off his (Levi's) section for the road deviation. In Nov that year Mathew Barr asked the Council to refund £2 10 as he thought he had been charged too much for the land
In Jan 1911 Levi Jefferies (farmer, of Taonui) applied for a discharge of Bankruptcy in the Palmerston North Supreme Court

Charlotte died in 1877
William jnr next married . 2 . ELIZA MATILDA TUCKWELL
CHALLIS - TUCKWELL, On the 17th April 1879, at St James' Church, Lower Hutt, by the Rev. Mr Fancourt, William Challis, of the Wairarapa, to Eliza Matilda Tuckwell, the eldest daughter of the late Thomas Tuckwell
* her father was Thomas Tuckwell (1822-1870) from Burford, Oxfordshire. Her mother was Adelaide Sarah BARNES - married in Burford about 1854. Thomas & Adelaide emigrated to New Zealand on the NEW ERA (with his brother Richard Tuckwell who married Eliza Collier in Wellington & had 14 children). Thomas Tuckwell died 11 Jan 1870. His widow, Adelaide, remarried the following year to Joseph BROWNE (1826-1897) on 26 April 1871 in Lower Hutt. They remained in the Eastern Hutt Valley where Joseph died 24 July 1897

children of William & Eliza
1 . 1880 - 1958 Adelaide Elizabeth Challis
Adelaide married Frank James LINDOP (1880-1960) in 1903. They lived in Petone. Frank was a son of Walter Joseph & Josepha LINDOP, a Pharmacist in Carterton
known children of Adelaide & Frank
* 1905 - Frederick William James Lindop
* 1906 - Walter D'Mountford Lindop
* 1908 - 1999 Warwick Frank Lindop
note the name D'Mountford runs through a number of Lindop families

2 . 1881 - 1948 Eveleen Maude Challis
* Eveleen married Charles WOODLEY (1884-1928) in 1907. They lived in Carterton, Masterton & Petone.
* Charles was the 9th of 11 (5th of 7 NZ born) children of John (1847-1916) & Martha Ann (1847-1903) Woodley who arrived on the CRUSADER in 1874
* Charles's mother, Martha Ann Woodley, died 25 Oct 1902 aged 55. His father, John Woodley, died 1 Aug 1916 aged 69. They are buried Plot 160 at Clareville, Carterton
* Charles's brother, John Woodley (1868-1952), & his wife Eliza Oaks AUSTIN (1861-1946) lived in Carterton where John had a "Thresher, Chaffcutter and Hay-Presser" business. They are also buried in Carterton with their 10 month old daughter Reta Woodley (1902-1902) who died of teething problems
known children of Eveleene & Charles
* 1908 - 1978 Bazil Roy Woodley
* 1914 - Dorothy Maud Woodley (+Edhouse)
Charles died 11 May 1928
In Memorium 11 May 1931. WOODLEY, In loving memory of Charles Woodley, who died on 11th May 1928
In our hearts your memory lingers,
Though to weep we know is vain,
God will some day cure the heartache,
When He links the golden chain.
- Inserted by his loving wife and family

3 . 1883 - 1913 Frederick William Challis
* Frederick married Margaret Eleanor HALL in 1911
they had a son
* 1912 - 1956 Frederick Bertram Challis
Frederick died 26 Jan 1913. He was 1 of 4 men who lost their lives when a party of 7 men in a punt capsized on Saltwater Creek. He was a Painter and had been living in St Asaph street, Christchurch. He is buried Plot 104, Block 25 at Linwood cemetery

4 . 1885 - 1957 Thomas Bertram Challis
* Bertram married Annie FARMER (1890-1969) 7 Feb 1912. They lived in Carterton
their known children
* 1913 - 1990 Gordon William Bertram Challis
* 1915 - 2007 Zelma Jean Challis (+Wyeth)
* 1918 - 1919 Lawrence Reuben Challis
* 1920 - 1982 Bruce Challis
Thomas died 22 April 1957 and is buried Plot 58 at Clareville, Carterton
Annie died 30 April 1969 aged 79 and is buried Plot 9, Row R, Area Lawn A-X at Archer St, Masterton, with son Gordon

5 . 1887 - 1887 Winifred Myrtle Challis
* Winifred died aged 4 months

6 . 1890 - 1947 Winifred Myrtle Challis
* Winifred married Harry GOODIN (1878-1948) in 1908. They lived in Petone. He was the 3rd of 8 children of Enoch GOODIN & Kate Sophia WESTCOTT
known children of Winifred & Harry
* 1910 - 1910 Ronald Harry Goodin (aged 4 months)
* 1911 - 1994 Ina Myrtle Goodin
28 Oct 1939 - The engagement is announced of Ina, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Harry Goodin, of Petone, to Mervyn, (Mervyn William 1912-1988) second son of Mr and Mrs W. R. Patrick, of Christchurch (this was William Robert Patrick 1885-1946 & Alice Catherine Keith Wilson 1888-1963)

7 . 1892 - 1972 Lilian Millicent Alice Challis
* Lilian married Frederick HAXTON (1898-1983) in 1922. He was the 4th of 8 known children of Armond HAXTON & Emma Elizabeth KEMP. They lived in Palmerston North where Frederick was a Garage Proprietor
note 2 of Frederick's sisters were killed in the 1931 Napier Earthquake
Lilian died 22 March 1972 aged 78. Her last address was 18 Karaka st. She is buried Plot 57, BLock 15, Area Q at Kelvin Grove
Frederick died 31 Aug 1983 age 84. His last address was 18 Karaka st. His ashes are buried Plot 55, Block 15, Area Q at Kelvin Grove

8 . 1894 - 1961 Gordon Leslie Challis
* Gordon married Bertha Preston in 1939. Bertha was born 13 Aug 1905. They lived in Masterton
Gordon died 3 Dec 1961 aged 67
Bertha died 26 Feb 1980 aged 74
* They are buried Plot C, Row 11, Area Lawn A-X at Archer St, Masterton

9 . 1896 - 1967 Elsie Doris Challis
Elsie married Horace Milton 'Joe' CATT (1898-1983) in 1917. They lived in Carterton. He was the 3rd of 6 known children of Henry (1867-1952) & Annie (1872-1950) Catt.Henry Catt died 29 Oct 1952 age 85. Annie died 20 Jan 1950 aged 78. They are buried Plots 117 & 118 at Clareville cemetery
known children of Elsie & Joe
1917 - 1976 Burney Milton Catt
Elsie died 22 July 1967 aged 69 and was buried Plot 424, Block 1 at Clareville
Horace died 16 years later, 15 Nov 1983, aged 86 & is buried beside Elsie

Eliza Matilda Challis died 18 May 1904
William Challis jnr died in Petone Nov 1935 at his daughter Julia's home.
Evening Post, 30 Nov 1935. The death of Mr William Challis, of Petone, and formerly of Carterton, occurred recently at the age of 89 years. The late Mr Challis left England on June 18, 1858, by the ship "Oliver Lang" and arrived in Wellington on September 18, 1858, at the age of twelve. It took the settler four days to cross the Rimutakas to Carterton. They rode on a cart as far as Kaitoke and walked or rode on bullocks for the remainder of the journey. Mr James Challis, the late Mr Challis' uncle, kept the Pioneer Hotel at Carterton. Mr Challis took up his residence at Clareville, Carterton. He was a volunteer during the Maori Wars. He left the district about 21 years ago to reside with his daughter, Mrs Cotter, of Petone. He was twice married, his second wife predeceasing him shortly before he left Clareville. He is survived by a family of nine sons and daughters. They are:
Mesdames:
* Jeffries, Feilding (Kate Sophia)
* H. M. Catt, Carterton (Elsie Doris)
* F. Haxton, Palmerston North (Lilian Millicent Alice)
* J. Cotter, Petone (Julia Ann)
* H. Woodley, Petone (Eveline Maude)
* H. Goodin, Petone (Winifred Myrtle)
* F. Lindop, Petone (Adelaide Elizabeth)
Messrs
G. Challis, Masterton (Gordon)
B. Challis, Carterton (Bertram Thomas)
There are 25 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren
8 William & Eliza are buried in Plot 51, Block Old Unsec at Clareville, Carterton

other CHALLIS
buried in Archer St Cemetery, Masterton
BRUCE Challis
born 18 June 1920
died 20 Sept 1982 aged 62
buried Plot 296, Row 7, Block Z, Area Lawn Z with Clare

CHARLES ALFRED Challis
born 1927
died 28 Aug 1967 aged 40
buried Plot CAC, Row 9, Area Ex Servicemen

CLARE CATHERINE Challis
born 19 Aug 1926
died 25 July 1982 aged 56
buried Plot 297, Row 7, Block Z, Area Lawn Z with Bruce

GORDON WILLIAM BERTRAM Challis
born 1 Aug 1911
died 8 Nov 1990 aged 79
buried Plot 9, Row R, Area Lawn A-X with Annie Challis

PHOEBE EMMA Challis (nee CHITTENDEN)
born 1860
married James Challis (1861-1939) in 1890
died 29 August 1898 aged 38
buried Plot PEC, Row A, Area Plan II

Rimutaka photo, the highest peak is Mount Matthews, at 940 metres. The road was completed in 1856 and it took William Challis and his family 4 days to cross the range by bullock & cart. Early European settlers drove sheep around the shoreline rather than attempt to cross the Rimutaka Range between Wellington and Wairarapa

JUST FOR FUN, to experience the Rimutaka road, jump on the back of a Haybusa and do the uphill trip from Wairarapa to the summit (towards Wellington)
* 155 years after the completion & one still marvels at how the men ever built such a road back then using the limited resources they had. If you stay till the end of the ride (about 6 minutes) you are actually in the clouds!