unusual names on the Wesport cemetery database 1867-1873

George ABER aged 20 (miner)
buried: 1 December 1868 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: drowned
* other:
BDM also has George Aber aged 20 (only Aber surname listed on BDM)
Grey River Argus, 5 December 1868 A miner named George Aber has been drowned at the Ohiki River, Buller District. The Westport Times says that his brother, Edward Aber, reached town on Tuesday evening, 1st instant. Both brothers had been working for some time up the Lyell river. The canoe in which the deceased was crossing is described as having been a most miserable apology for a boat, scarcely deserving the name of boat or canoe. The crossing-place, in anything like ordinary weather, is a very safe one, though the boat at no time was capable of holding two persons with any degree of safety. The only paddle in use also was a make-shift, a short-handled shovel, which was used by the boatman, Fred Moore. We understand the boatmen are subsidised by receiving a free license, which is certainly equal to whatever outlay it would be to have a good boat provided for such a crossing. Either there should be some other kind of subsidy or some penalty enforced on obtaining such subsidy; but these are matters too often only remedied by serious accidents of this kind.
NOTES I believe this was George Albert Aber, born in 1841 at Mint Street, Bermondsey, 9th of 12 children to William ABER (formerly A'Bear, see link) & Hannah BAKER, as on this extensive family tree site ABER. They also seem to think this was 'their' George, the only trouble being an incorrect age. Click all links to discover more

John CACICK aged 30
buried: 14 October 1868 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: drowned
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

Margaret A. COUBROUGH aged 7
buried: 25 February 1869 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: general debility
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

James ERWINE accountant aged 30
buried: 21 August 1867 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: consumption
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

William EVERTE aged 33
buried:28 November 1867 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: land slip
* other:
Colonist, 3 December 1867 Fatal Accident Near Westport A very melancholy accident occurred about one o'clock on the morning of November 26th, at the Caledonian Lead by which two men met with a most sudden death... at the inquest the verdict by the jury:- "That the said Thomas KILBURN and William EVERESTE were by misfortune killed by an accidental fall of earth, attributable solely to natural causes and not to any negligence or carelessness of themselves or others" The funeral of the two unfortunate men to place on Nov 28th. There was between 400 and 500 miners and others present, the mates of the deceased being next to the corpse

Michael HENIG aged 32
buried: 13 November 1869 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: natural
* other:
BDM has Michael HENIG aged 82 (only Henig recorded death on BDM)

James Batman HILBECK aged 27
buried: 16 Dec 1868 in mass grave at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: accident at Giles Terrace
* other:
JAMES BALMAN HILDECK was killed on December 16 at Giles Terrace, Buller district. The deceased was standing near the wash-boxes at the side of the creek, a stone weighing about three or four hundred-weight, and which took two men to lift, fell from a truck at the mouth of the tunnel, a distance of sixty feet, and struck the deceased on the side. Driver was attempting to hold the stone when it slipped on to the shoot. Driver and Griffiths (deceased's mates) called "Look out," and the deceased jumped a distance of eight feet, but the stone caught him on the right shoulder, broke his arm, almost severing it, and crushing him so severely about the chest that he died on the spot. The Coroner's jury added "great carelessness was attributable to Griffiths and Driver"

John HOFFREN aged 42
buried: 10 January 1871 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: abscess of brain
* other:
West Coast Times, 16 January 1871 John Hoffren, a native of Belgium, died on the 9th inst., at the District Hospital, Westport. He was admitted about three months ago, with symptoms of disease of the brain, which he attributed to injuries of the head, received some two or three years back, when he was the subject of a violent assault at Hokitika, An examination after death disclosed the existence of extensive disease of the base of the skull and of abscess of the brain. Deceased was well-known as a prospector both in this province and in other parts of New Zealand, and was much respected by all who knew hi,

Alfred JEPHCOTE aged 19 months (born in NZ)
buried: 31 August 1872 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: catarrh
* other:
BDM also has Alfred Jephcote aged 19 months

Anne KAPLER aged 31 (from Germany)
buried: 22 November 1871 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: cerebral disease
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

Ellen KOPINAM aged 6 days
buried: 4 April 1869 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: convulsions
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

John LEECE aged 33 (baker from Isle of Man)
buried: 5 February 1871 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: drowned near the old school
* other:
West Coast Times, 7 February 1871 John Leece, baker, was drowned at Westport this morning while bathing

Lucritia MARRIS aged 39 (wife of William)
buried: 7 December 1872 at Charleston cemetery
reason: known given
* other:
BDM has Lauretta Marris aged 89 which is incorrect
she was born Lauretta HORE 1833 in Devon, England & married William Marris in Melbourne in 1853
their children were:
* 1854 - Annie Lauretta Marris (born Melbourne)
* 1855 - James Barmby Marris
* 1856 - John Marris
* 1858 - William Percival Marris
* 1859 - Thomas Marris
* 1860 - Albert Edward Marris
* 1862 - Emma Jane Marris
* 1864 - Elizabeth Marris (born Dunedin, Otago)
* 1866 - Samuel Arthur Marris
* 1868 - Amelia Marris (born Charleston, West Coast)
* 1870 - Lauretta Marris
NOTE Grey River Argus, 18 May 1904 Another old and esteemed resident of the district has passed away (says the Westport Times). Mr William Marris, senior, of the firm of W. and J. Marris, timber merchants, died at 7 o'clock this morning, at his residence, Waimangaroa. The deceased was in his seventy-sixth year and death resulted from general break-up of the system. Mr Marris was a native of Nottingham, England. Deceased was a man of most kindly nature, beloved by all who knew him. He was always a conscientious church worker and was a Past master of the Phoenix Masonic Lodge, Westport. He leaves four daughters and three sons - all grown up. His wife predeceased him at Charleston in 1872.

Mary McGOOLVEN aged 43 (from Ireland)
buried:30 May 1869 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: apoplexy
* other: nothing on BDM or newspapers

Ellen NOICE aged 27
buried: 13 July 1868 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: luamp fever ??
* other:
BDM has Ellen NOICE aged 27 (only 3 other recorded deaths of this name)

Charles OSTERLAND aged 51 (miner from Germany)
buried: 5 June 1872 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: drowned
* other:
BDM has Charles Osterland aged 51
Daily Southern Cross, 8 June 1872 A well-known miner, named Charles osterland, or German Charlie, is missing from Deaman's Creek, Westport. It is feared that he has been drowned

Joseph PUFFLETT aged 27 (born Essex, England)
buried: 19 August 1870 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: killed by fall of earth, iron fence
* other:
BDM has Joseph PUFFLETT aged 27 (only 1 other recorded death of this spelling)
Colonist, 9 September 1870 On August 29, at the Caledonia Terrace, Joseph Pufflett was killed through the fall of a large mass of earth in his claim. Deceased's brother, Robert Pufflett, was buried up to the throat, and was very much crushed and bruised
The Westport Times informs us that a melancholy and fatal accident occurred near Caledonia Terrace on the 29th ult., resulting in the death of a miner named Joseph Pufflett, and the serious injury of his brother Robert Pufflett. From what we can gather, there were three men in the claim, which is situate on a spur leading to Donovan's Creek, and within a short distance of Caledonia Terrace. The party were working by ground-sluicing, the two brothers being engaged at the face, while a third attended to the boxes some distance away. The deceased, when the accident occurred, had charge of the hose, and the elder with a shovel was easing down the face, when a large mass of earth gave way unexpectedly, completely burying the deceased, and covering the survivor to the throat. The third mate, owing to the position of the boxes, was not in view of the accident, which fortunately witnessed by Peter Gray and another man, who immediately made for the scene, and who succeeded, after half an hour's labor, in extricating the surviving brother. Joseph Pufflett, when discovered, was found to be dead, and, but for the timely assistance, Robert must have met with a similar fate, on man, while the work of extrication proceeded, being fully engaged keeping him free from the debris that continued to fall. The survivor is very much crushed and bruised, and it was deemed expedient by Dr Thorpe, who was quickly in attendance, not to remove him

William David RUSZ aged 26
buried: 8 April 1873 at Charleston cemetery
reason: accidentally drowned, Incumbent of St Marks Church, Charleston
* other:
BDM has nothing recorded on any event for this name
Colonist, 11 April 1873 Another name has just been added to the terrible list of persons who have lost their lives by drowning in that of the Rev W. D. Rusz, who lost his life while bathing in the surf at Charleston, in company with Mr Montague Browne, editor of the Charleston Herald. This gentleman was educated at King's College, London and was associated with the Bishop of Nelson in the very active labors in the east of London, which preceded their arrival here. We can well believe that the sudden loss of one whom he had so carefully trained, and then intimately connected with, almost from childhood, will be a sad blow to his Lordship now absent in England, and now the less so that this is the second of his protegees who has been drowned within the space of a few months, the Rev Mr Guskin having met his death in crossing the Aorere river (the funeral was attended by 400 persons)

Henry TIBBY aged 47 (from England - Publican)
buried: 20 December 1867 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: liver complaint
* other:
Colonist, 3 January 1868 TIBBY - December 20, at the Westport Hotel, Westport, Nelson Province, Mr Henry Tibby
NOTE Grey River Argus, 25 October 1866
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP - The Partnership hitherto existing between John Dick and Henry Tibby, Bakers and Publicans, Twelve-Mile and North Beach, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. The business in future will be carried on by John Dick, to whom all debts must be paid

John WITTLESEA aged 59
buried: 20 March 1868 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: jaundice
* other:
BDM has John WHITTLESEA aged 59 (only person in NZ recorded with that name)

Anne WORMALL aged 30 (from Ireland)
buried: 4 January 1869 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: accidentally burnt
* other:
BDM has Annie Wormall aged 30
Colonist, 8 January 1869 a Mrs WARMOLL, who burnt herself severely at Giles Terrace a few weeks ago, has died in the Westport Hospital from the injuries she received

Romana ZALA aged 51 (miner from Italy)
buried: 18 August 1872 at Orowaiti cemetery
reason: drowned, Lyell
* other:
BDM has Romana ZALA aged 17
Grey River Argus, 26 August 1872 On Sunday evening last, a melancholy accident took place below the Lyell Junction, resulting in the death by drowning of Roseno Zala and James Edmondson (database has Edminson), both residents of Lyell. Zala was a cousin of the prospector of the same name who opened the now famous reef in that district. The accident occurred by the canoe being swamped on the rip of a fall and it adds greatly to the distressing character of the affliction that one at least, if not both lives would have been saved had a boar been available. On the intelligence reaching Antonio Zala at the reef on Sunday evening, all the workmen in the Alpine Company volunteered to search for the bodies, but up to Tuesday morning their efforts had been unsuccessful. The deceased Zala leaves a wife and children in Europe. Edmondson is well known on the Coast, having been in the employ of Mr McBeath, draper, Hokitia and Messrs Thomas and McBeach, Charleston. His friends are resident in Lancashire
NOTES a week earlier ... 'Highly favorable news has come to hand from the Lyell district. Affairs in the Little Wonder and Excelsior claims are progressing most satisfactorily. A report is current that in Zala's claim, twenty pounds weight of nearly pure gold has been obtained (a value in NZ$ as I write this of $449,218)
* Charles Zala (1848-1900) is also buried at Orowaiti. Database has him from Switzerland
Press, 26 February 1900 Charles Zala, who sustained a compound fracture of his skull while working on his claim at German Gully on Wednesday, died on Friday night. He never regained consciousness. At the inquest, a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned

PHOTO
JOHN MARRIS (1830-1904)