Alfred (Alf) John Bland
(22 October 1862 - 5 May 1956)
Childhood
Alf was the son of John Richard Bland I and Mary Jane Bland, nee Curtis (c1841 - 1867). Alf was born in June 1863 in Bethnal Green, East London. Family records don't mention an older brother Frederick, however the 1871 England Census records him. The children of John and Mary were:
According to England and Wales Free BMD Marriage Index 1837-1915 it appears that John remarried a woman named Emma (possibly Jones) in the 2nd quarter of 1869. The marriage was registered in Stepney. Emma was 23 years old when they married. The 1871 England Census stated that she was formally a seamstress and was born in Sheffield. She would have been born around 1846.
The 1871 England census was taken on the evening of 2 April and gives the Bland's address as being 58 North Street, Poplar, which was within the parish of All Saints Church (Church of England), East London. John is listed as a 'machine sawyer' and is married to Emma. Four children are listed: Frederick (10), Alfred (8), Charles (6), and Stephen (4). Several other people also lived in the home, including two widows, the son (aged 8) of one of the widows, and the Griffin family (parents with three young children, aged 5, 3, and 2).
Frederick passed away in the 1st quarter of 1872. He was only 10 years old. His death was registered in Poplar, East London. Nothing else is known of the circumstances surrounding his death, or where he is buried. It appears that Emma also passed away around this time (details unknown at present).
Immigration to New Zealand
Alf's father married his third wife, Annie Maria Horne on 20 December 1873 at Stepney, East London. The following year John and Annie took the three boys, Alf (10), Charlie (9), and Stephen (7) and immigrated to New Zealand. They were government assisted passengers on the sailing ship Rooperell which docked in Auckland on 30 May 1874. On arrival in the city, they went to live at the Immigration Barracks which were located in Howe Street, Central Auckland.
John and Annie's children were born in New Zealand:
Northland
Alf's step-siblings, Annie and Robert, were born while the Bland family were living in Auckland. Not long after Robert was born, John and Annie took the family north to Mangawhare, Marsden District, Northland where they lived until at least September 1886 at which time John won a ballot for the 'perpetual lease' of some land at Motukaraka, Hokianga, Northland. Family records state that the family lived there until 1892. Alf's four youngest step-siblings were born in Northland. John I worked as a carpenter whilst living in Northland. It is likely that Alf learnt the carpentry trade from his father.
It is unknown what schooling Alf had but we do know that family records state that his younger brother, Charlie, only had one year of formal schooling.
Family troubles
Family documents suggest that Charlie (and possibly Alf too, but this has not been verified) had a rough time with his step-mother Annie. Later in life, Charlie reported to his children some of the hardships he endured, including being forced to flee the family home while still a young lad. There were also reports of drunken episodes and temper flare ups.* No doubt this kind of treatment resulted in Alf and Charlie leaving home early.
Family records give the following report about an incident involving Alf, in Northland:## "Alf sustained a potentially very bad injury while in the New Zealand bush. He was shooting deer or pig[s]. After aiming the gun at an animal which moved, he lowered it. The weight of the gun fired the gun into his foot. He managed to get to his hut where he lit the primus stove under a large container of water. He kept his foot in this while it heated slowly to very hot. The doctor said later that this action saved his leg."
Northland was famous for logging of timber as well as for gum digging. It appears that Alf may have tried his hand as a gum digger. In Alf's nephew's wife's autobiography, 'Destined to Teach', she writes about her husband's uncle (presumably Alf) who "used a sharpened steel spear to find solid chunks of the prized kauri gum under the ground. The search area would be marked out then spiked systematically. If something hard was struck, they wriggled the rod and could tell by the feel of the vibrations what type of object it was."
When Alf was 21, his baby step-sister, Sarah, became ill and died on 17 July 1884, just shy of her first birthday. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland.
On 21 April 1890, Alf's crippled brother Steve (23) died at his residence in Dargaville after suffering from tuberculosis for two years. Sadly, Steve was destitute and living on charity when he died. He was buried at the Mount Wesley Cemetery, in Dargarville. More information about Steve can be found here.
The New Zealand Electoral Rolls of 1890 and 1896 show that Alf lived on Rhodes Street, Wellington at this time, and was working as a carpenter. Alf had two uncles who lived in Wellington at the time- Stephen Curtis and James Curtis, his late mother's younger brothers. It is possible that Alf was close to them.
During 1894, Alf would have been informed that his step-sister Annie had become an unwed mother after giving birth to a son. The child was named Edward John and was adopted by Alf's parents. Sadly, little Edward died aged 8 months. Alf's sister had another child in 1896 when she was 21. The daughter that was born was named Susannah Daisy, and was known as Daisy. She was adopted and raised by her grandparents.
We are unsure if Alf attended his step-sister Annie's wedding to Frederick William Pettett on 26 October 1898.
Marriage and family
On 8 February 1899 Alf married Christchurch-born Henrietta (Hettie) Florence Minifie (1867 - 1956) at the Weslyan Church in Petone, Wellington. He was 36 years old, while Hettie was 32. The wedding announcement in the local paper indicates that Alf was working for the Public Works Department in Wellington where his construction and handyman skills were, no doubt, put to effective use.
Alf and Hettie had one daughter, Esther Leonie Bland (known as Leonie) (5 November 1899 - 17 January 1966) who was born in Petone. Leonie has been described by her cousins as "her father's pride and joy."**
Alf probably attended the weddings of his sibling's during in the early 1900s. First, his step-sister Susie married James Tonson in 1902, eventually settling in Wanganui, then his brother Charles married Emily Barnett in Auckland, also in 1902. On 30 January 1904, Alf's step-brother John II married Flora Alice Bently. They eventually settled in Birkenhead, Auckland.
Alf and his family moved around a fair bit. Here are the locations for Alf and Hettie during the 1900s and 1910s:
In 1916, Alf's 20 year old niece Daisy Bland, married Henry Standen.
Later in the same year, more bad news arrived in Alf's home. His step-brother, Robert, had been fatally wounded while on front line duties in France. Robert had received gunshot wounds to his abdomen, right hip, right ankle and hands on 5 September, but died of his injuries 2 days later, aged 41. [More details about Robert's life and war service can be found at the blog 'They Served'.]
In the 1920s Alf's niece Nancy Curtis (later Sturman) became the national tennis champion and the Australian national champ. Alf was also interested in the sport and played competitively. He entered the St John's club championships in 1920. It appears that Alf's wife and daughter also played tennis. In October 1920, Alf was elected a Vice President of the club. Hettie and Leonie were elected members of the women's committee, and Leonie's future husband, Eric Lind, was elected honorable secretary of the club. Family records say that Alf played in the New Zealand veterans' tennis tournament around 1945. Apparently his photo was in local papers, although this has not been located. It is possible that he also was a tennis coach.
In 1922, Alf and Hettie celebrated the marriage of their daughter Leonie to Eric Lind (1 May 1897 - 15 October 1977). Eric was an accountant according to the 1928 New Zealand Electoral Roll. Later rolls record him as working as an insurance agent in Wanganui. According to the papers, Eric was also an accomplished actor, performing in the theatre in Wanganui in the 1920s and 30s.
Eric and Leonie had two children:
Alf's step-mother, Annie I, died on 18 April 1933. She was buried with husband John, at Purewa Cemetery on Thursday 20 April 1933 at Block A Row 15, Plot 64. Annie I was 81 years old at the time of her death. Her death notice conspicuously fails to mention her step-children:
New Zealand Electoral Rolls give the following locations for Alf during his later years:
Sources:
(22 October 1862 - 5 May 1956)
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| Alfred (Alf) Bland Unknown date and photographer. (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
Alf was the son of John Richard Bland I and Mary Jane Bland, nee Curtis (c1841 - 1867). Alf was born in June 1863 in Bethnal Green, East London. Family records don't mention an older brother Frederick, however the 1871 England Census records him. The children of John and Mary were:
- Frederick William Bland (4th quarter 1860? - 1st quarter of 1872)
- Alfred (Alf) John Bland (22 October 1862 - 5 May 1956)
- Charles (Charlie) Robert Bland (17 August 1864 - 13 February 1931)
- Stephen (Steve) Bland (June 1866 - 21 April 1890)
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| Mary Jane Bland nee Curtis, with her four sons, Frederick (seated at the back), Alfred (seated at the front), Charles (standing), and baby Stephen c1867. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
Alf's life took a major turn in the 2nd quarter of 1867 when his mother, Mary, died suddenly as the result of a heart attack while at a wedding. She was only 26 years old, so her death would have come as a huge shock to her family. Mary's death was registered at the district of St Olave, Southwark, London. Alf was just 4 years old when his mother passed away. Frederick was 6, Charlie, 3, and baby Stephen was around 1 year of age. This must have been a terribly traumatic time for the boys and their poor father.
Alf not only lost his mother when very young, but he also lost his mother's parents. First, his maternal grandfather, Charles Curtis died on 21 December 1867 when he was four years old, and then his maternal mother, Esther Curtis died in January 1869.
Alf not only lost his mother when very young, but he also lost his mother's parents. First, his maternal grandfather, Charles Curtis died on 21 December 1867 when he was four years old, and then his maternal mother, Esther Curtis died in January 1869.
According to England and Wales Free BMD Marriage Index 1837-1915 it appears that John remarried a woman named Emma (possibly Jones) in the 2nd quarter of 1869. The marriage was registered in Stepney. Emma was 23 years old when they married. The 1871 England Census stated that she was formally a seamstress and was born in Sheffield. She would have been born around 1846.
The 1871 England census was taken on the evening of 2 April and gives the Bland's address as being 58 North Street, Poplar, which was within the parish of All Saints Church (Church of England), East London. John is listed as a 'machine sawyer' and is married to Emma. Four children are listed: Frederick (10), Alfred (8), Charles (6), and Stephen (4). Several other people also lived in the home, including two widows, the son (aged 8) of one of the widows, and the Griffin family (parents with three young children, aged 5, 3, and 2).
Frederick passed away in the 1st quarter of 1872. He was only 10 years old. His death was registered in Poplar, East London. Nothing else is known of the circumstances surrounding his death, or where he is buried. It appears that Emma also passed away around this time (details unknown at present).
Immigration to New Zealand
Alf's father married his third wife, Annie Maria Horne on 20 December 1873 at Stepney, East London. The following year John and Annie took the three boys, Alf (10), Charlie (9), and Stephen (7) and immigrated to New Zealand. They were government assisted passengers on the sailing ship Rooperell which docked in Auckland on 30 May 1874. On arrival in the city, they went to live at the Immigration Barracks which were located in Howe Street, Central Auckland.
John and Annie's children were born in New Zealand:
- Annie Maria Pettett (25 July 1875 - 25 December 1958)
- Robert (Bob) William Bland (28 August 1877 - 7 September 1918)
- Edward (Ted) Bland (19 March 1879 - 1965)
- Susannah (Susie/Sue) Margaret Tonson (27 June 1880 - 5 January 1972)
- John Richard Bland II (29 March 1882 - 28 February 1966)
- Sarah Bland (August 1883 - 17 July 1884)
Northland
Alf's step-siblings, Annie and Robert, were born while the Bland family were living in Auckland. Not long after Robert was born, John and Annie took the family north to Mangawhare, Marsden District, Northland where they lived until at least September 1886 at which time John won a ballot for the 'perpetual lease' of some land at Motukaraka, Hokianga, Northland. Family records state that the family lived there until 1892. Alf's four youngest step-siblings were born in Northland. John I worked as a carpenter whilst living in Northland. It is likely that Alf learnt the carpentry trade from his father.
It is unknown what schooling Alf had but we do know that family records state that his younger brother, Charlie, only had one year of formal schooling.
Family troubles
Family documents suggest that Charlie (and possibly Alf too, but this has not been verified) had a rough time with his step-mother Annie. Later in life, Charlie reported to his children some of the hardships he endured, including being forced to flee the family home while still a young lad. There were also reports of drunken episodes and temper flare ups.* No doubt this kind of treatment resulted in Alf and Charlie leaving home early.
Family records give the following report about an incident involving Alf, in Northland:## "Alf sustained a potentially very bad injury while in the New Zealand bush. He was shooting deer or pig[s]. After aiming the gun at an animal which moved, he lowered it. The weight of the gun fired the gun into his foot. He managed to get to his hut where he lit the primus stove under a large container of water. He kept his foot in this while it heated slowly to very hot. The doctor said later that this action saved his leg."
Northland was famous for logging of timber as well as for gum digging. It appears that Alf may have tried his hand as a gum digger. In Alf's nephew's wife's autobiography, 'Destined to Teach', she writes about her husband's uncle (presumably Alf) who "used a sharpened steel spear to find solid chunks of the prized kauri gum under the ground. The search area would be marked out then spiked systematically. If something hard was struck, they wriggled the rod and could tell by the feel of the vibrations what type of object it was."
When Alf was 21, his baby step-sister, Sarah, became ill and died on 17 July 1884, just shy of her first birthday. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland.
On 21 April 1890, Alf's crippled brother Steve (23) died at his residence in Dargaville after suffering from tuberculosis for two years. Sadly, Steve was destitute and living on charity when he died. He was buried at the Mount Wesley Cemetery, in Dargarville. More information about Steve can be found here.
The New Zealand Electoral Rolls of 1890 and 1896 show that Alf lived on Rhodes Street, Wellington at this time, and was working as a carpenter. Alf had two uncles who lived in Wellington at the time- Stephen Curtis and James Curtis, his late mother's younger brothers. It is possible that Alf was close to them.
During 1894, Alf would have been informed that his step-sister Annie had become an unwed mother after giving birth to a son. The child was named Edward John and was adopted by Alf's parents. Sadly, little Edward died aged 8 months. Alf's sister had another child in 1896 when she was 21. The daughter that was born was named Susannah Daisy, and was known as Daisy. She was adopted and raised by her grandparents.
We are unsure if Alf attended his step-sister Annie's wedding to Frederick William Pettett on 26 October 1898.
Marriage and family
On 8 February 1899 Alf married Christchurch-born Henrietta (Hettie) Florence Minifie (1867 - 1956) at the Weslyan Church in Petone, Wellington. He was 36 years old, while Hettie was 32. The wedding announcement in the local paper indicates that Alf was working for the Public Works Department in Wellington where his construction and handyman skills were, no doubt, put to effective use.
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| Henrietta (Hettie) Bland, nee Minifie Unknown date and photographer. (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
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| Alf with his daughter Leonie, 1900. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
Alf probably attended the weddings of his sibling's during in the early 1900s. First, his step-sister Susie married James Tonson in 1902, eventually settling in Wanganui, then his brother Charles married Emily Barnett in Auckland, also in 1902. On 30 January 1904, Alf's step-brother John II married Flora Alice Bently. They eventually settled in Birkenhead, Auckland.
Alf and his family moved around a fair bit. Here are the locations for Alf and Hettie during the 1900s and 1910s:
- 1905-06 - Hutt Road, Petone
- The Electoral Roll shows that Alf was a railway employee.
- 1910 - No.3 Line, East Wanganui
- Wises New Zealand Post Office Directory indicates that Alf was a railway foreman.
- 1911 - Bright Street, Cobden, Greymouth
- The Electoral Roll gives Alf's occupation as 'railway employee'.
- 1914, 1919 - Mount View Road, Wanganui East
- Electoral Rolls indicate that Alf was working as a builder.
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| Alf with his wife Hettie, and daughter Leonie. Photo taken in the 1910s, in Wanganui. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of K J Bland) |
1917 and 1918 were difficult war years, but also challenging for the Bland family as they suffered at least three personal tragedies. First, Alf's seven year old niece Hazel Tonson (his step-sister Susie's daughter), was accidentally killed when she was hit by a taxi when crossing Queen Street in Auckland on 14 April 1917.
Alf's step-brother, Robert, enlisted for war on 14 June, 1917 and by November he was en route to front line duties with G Company, 31st reinforcements Canterbury Battalion with the rank of Private. Robert was at the front lines in the Somme, France by March 1918.
On 31 March, Alf's father, John, passed away at his home at 108 Grey Street (later Greys Avenue), Auckland Central, after suffering from a long and painful illness. He was 81 years of age. John I was buried at Purewa Cemetery on 2 April 1918 at Block A Row 15, Plot 64. His death notice reads:
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In the 1920s Alf's niece Nancy Curtis (later Sturman) became the national tennis champion and the Australian national champ. Alf was also interested in the sport and played competitively. He entered the St John's club championships in 1920. It appears that Alf's wife and daughter also played tennis. In October 1920, Alf was elected a Vice President of the club. Hettie and Leonie were elected members of the women's committee, and Leonie's future husband, Eric Lind, was elected honorable secretary of the club. Family records say that Alf played in the New Zealand veterans' tennis tournament around 1945. Apparently his photo was in local papers, although this has not been located. It is possible that he also was a tennis coach.
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| Alf Bland, wearing white, is standing at the rear holding a tennis racket. His daughter is in front of him, also dressed in white. Hettie is on the far left, partially obscured by her father, Henry Minifie. Photographer and date unknown, possibly c1920 (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
In 1922, Alf and Hettie celebrated the marriage of their daughter Leonie to Eric Lind (1 May 1897 - 15 October 1977). Eric was an accountant according to the 1928 New Zealand Electoral Roll. Later rolls record him as working as an insurance agent in Wanganui. According to the papers, Eric was also an accomplished actor, performing in the theatre in Wanganui in the 1920s and 30s.
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| Leonie and Eric Lind c1922 Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
- Eric David Lind (known as David) (2 June 1929 - 26 December 2007). David married B S. They had two daughters and a son.
- JH (still living). She married RCH. They also had two daughters and a son.
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| The Lind family: Leonie, Eric David, JH, Eric Snr Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
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- 1928 - Alberton Avenure, Mt Roskill, Auckland (builder)
- Alf's brother, Charlie was also living in Mt Roskill at this time. It appears that Alf and Hettie had separated because she continued to live in Wanganui East, at No 3 Line. Alf and Hettie's grand-daughter JH recalls that Alf was an inventive man, and had devised a 'hollow brick'. He had a business partner in Auckland. Alf, apparently, lived with his step-sisters for a while before out-living his welcome.
- 1935 - 28 No.3 Line, Wanganui East (carpenter)
- By this time, Hettie had moved and was living on High Street, Bulls, Manawatu.
- 1935 - 54 Cairns Avenue, Wanganui (retired builder)
- This was the home of daughter Leonie and her husband, Eric Lind and their two children.
- 1938 - 28 No.3 Line, Wanganui East (carpenter)
- 79 Mokoia Road N5, Birkenhead (pensioner)
- At this time Alf was living with his step-brother John and his wife Flo Bland. (John is listed as a watersider.) John's grand-daughter recalled+ that Alf built his own quarters below the house to live in.
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| The Blands having a picnic after visiting the grave of John and Annie Bland at Purewa Cemetery. Back row from left: Flo and John Bland, M Bland, Alf Bland Front from left: Valerie (M Bland's friend) and L Bland. Photo labeled 'Candid Camera Studies' and taken around 1940. (Photo courtesy of C Murphy) |
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| Alf Bland enjoying Long Bay Beach with his step brother John, sister-in-law, Flo, and their children. Back: Alf Bland, Flo and John Bland Front: Jim, Herb, L L, Mavis, Noel Photographer unknown. c1940 (Photo courtesy of C Murphy) |
- 1938 - 54 Cairns Avenue, Wanganui (retired builder)
- Hettie is listed as also living there with Alf and their daughter's family.
- 1946, 1949 - 6 Tawa Street, Wanganui (retired)
- This was the address of Eric & Leonie Lind. Hettie was also living in Wanganui at this time, but at 26 Duncan Street, and is listed as married. In the 1949 Electoral Roll, Eric and Leonie's son, Eric David (known as David) was listed as living at 6 Tawa Street and was a civic servant.
- 1954 - 6 Tawa Street, Wanganui, retired.
- Here both Alf and Hettie are living with their daughter Leonie and her husband. Grandson, David, is listed as living at 8 Mathieson Street, with his wife Betty Margaret Lind.
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| Alfred and Hettie's headstone at the Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui. (Photo courtesy of S Houston) |
Sources:
- FreeBMD England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USE Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006
- Free BMD England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USE Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006
- Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [data base on-line]. Provo, UT, USE Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004
- Ancestry.com - Murphy Bentley family tree
- Ancestry.com - Susanne Houston family tree
- Wiki Tree - Emily Barnett
- Geni - Henrietta Florence Bland (Minifie)
- Family held records (courtesy of K J Bland)
- Auckland City Council - Cemetery Search - West
- Purewa Cemetery Search
- Papers Past
- S Houston, R Houston
- #Recollections of J Houston (courtesy of S Houston) October 2016
- ##Recollections of Maurice Bland, recorded by Ngareta Bylund (courtesy of K J Bland)
- *Recollections of Sylvia Anderson nee Bland (courtesy of K J Bland)
- **Recollections of LL and Mavis Nevill (daughters of John Richard Bland II), 28 May 2016
- +Recollections of C Murphy, 28 May 2016
- Destined to Teach, autobiography of Irene Bland (as told to her daughter Ngareta Bylund) 1999
- Photographs: S Houston, C Murphy, K J Bland
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