HARP, William Gibbons
Bill was born in Auckland.
On 1 November 1873 Bill enrolled with the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers and he served with this troop until May 1879.
He was 23 years old and a carpenter when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge in January 1874 and he was married to *Mary Anne. They had a family of eight children.
In 1934 when he celebrated his 81st birthday in Hamilton (where he had lived since 1915) Bill stated that he had been a bridge builder, carpenter, storekeeper, mail contractor, post master, farmer and fireman.
... NOTE (my additions)
- William actually married Jane WALKER on 20 May 1873

their 8 children were:

1874 - 1929 James George Harp
- James married Ethel Maud TAYLOR (1881-1952) in 1900

1876 - 1954 William Archibald Murray Harp
- William married Florence May RENNER in 1912
- Florence was a daughter of Charles Edward RENNER & Hannah GALVIN

1878 - 1892 Mary Hamilton Harp
- Mary died aged 14

1880 - 1915 John Albert Harp
- John married Selina SAVAGE (1880-1960) in 1905
- Selina was a daughter of Valentine SAVAGE & Annie Elizabeth MOULDEN
- John was KILLED IN ACTION 5 June 1915 in Gallipoli
- he served as Private 12/1425 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion
- his memorial is Pane 72, Lone Pine Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey
- He was a keen sportsman, especially as a shot, a yachtsman, a bandsman, a cyclist, a footballer, and a hockey player and had been living in Rotorua for 10-12 years prior

1883 - Lucy Isabella Harp
- Lucy married Ivo CLARKE (1885-1913) in 1905

1885 - ? Jessie Elizabeth Harp
- Jessie married Harold Kennard CLARKE (1880-?) in 1904
- Harold was a son of John Lewis CLARKE & Margaret LEGG

1888 - 1971 Jane/Jean Ethel Harp
- Jane married Thomas Henry ASTON in 1909

1890 - 1968Catherine/Kathleen Emma Harp
- Catherine married Percy Stanley PREBBLE (1894-1941) in 1916
- Percy was a son of Arthur Edward PREBBLE & Alice Frances TINDILL


Jane died in 1892 aged 37
- William next married Rebecca LOWE (1853-1934) in 1897

William Gibbons Harp died in 1939 aged 87