Edward (Ted) Bland
Parents & siblings
Edward (known by some, as Ted) was born in Mangawhare, Northland on 19 March 1879. His parents were John Richard Bland (19 December 1836 - 31 March 1918) and his wife Annie Maria Bland, nee Horne (17 April 1852 - 18 April 1933). It is likely that Ted was named after his maternal Grandfather, Edward Horne.
Life in Northland
Ted's older full sister and brother, Annie and Bob, were born while the Bland family were living in Auckland. In early 1878, the Bland family moved north to Mangawhare, Marsden District, Northland where Ted, Susie, John II and Sarah were born.
Ted lost his 11 month old baby sister, Sarah, on 17 July 1884, when he was five years old. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland. (At present her burial place is unknown.)
In January 1888 Ted's mother took her youngsters to a community picnic at the farm Onoke, which belonged to the late Judge Manning. A contingent of about 100 from the nearby town of Rawene attended, and around 50 more, including the Blands, came across from Motukaraka. They spent a happy day together on the swings, playing cricket and football, fishing for mullet, and eating a delicious hangi.
On 21 April 1890, Ted's crippled step-brother Steve (23), passed away 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.
Ted attended the Native School in Motukaraka (starting year unknown), where he may have passed his Standard I and II years. Family records state that the Bland children were the only European children at this sole-teacher school apart from the schoolmaster's children. Ted's brother, John II, would later tell his children, that their teacher would row across the harbour from Rawene each day to teach lessons. Apparently he was often drunk on arrival!***
On 29 January 1892, the Bland family probably attended the annual picnic on a farm near the Wairupe Creek. About 200 settlers and their friends attended the picnic. Races and activities were organised for the day, and a concert was held in the school in the evening.
At the monthly Band of Hope meeting in February 1892, Ted's sister Annie II, who was about 17 years old at the time, sang a solo entitled, 'The Cottage by the Sea'. She also sang at the April meeting. (The Band of Hope was a church-run programme for young people which educated them about the dangers of alcohol, and encouraged them to abstein from it.
Life in Auckland
The Bland family moved back to Auckland in 1892. Ted, Susie and John II were enrolled at Richmond Road School, Ponsonby, on 31 May 1892, presumably by their father. Ted was registered as student #944. No further records of Ted's schooling are known at present.
Ted's older teenage sister, Annie II, became an unwed mother in 1894 after giving birth to a son. He was named, Edward John. It appears that the baby remained in the family and was adopted by Annie's parents. Sadly, he died on 16 December 1894, aged 8 months. Baby Edward is buried at Purewa Cemetery at Block A Row 15, Plot 65, the same plot where his cousin and grandparents would be buried. Interestingly, Edward's name is listed on the cemetery records as Edward John Blanch, rather than Bland. It is unclear if this was a mistake or deliberate.
In 1896, Annie, now 21 and still unmarried, gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Susannah Daisy (known as Daisy). Obviously, Susannah was Annie's sister's name, but it was also the name of one of her paternal great grandmothers, so it was a special family name. Daisy was adopted and raised by her grandparents.
Although it appears that Ted never married himself, he would have attended several Bland family weddings in the late 1890s and early 1900s:
According to the diary of Ted's sister in law Em Bland, Ted suffered an terrible accident at the Sugar Refinery around 11 December 1914. It appears that he fell onto machinery and badly cut his heel. He was hospitalised until at least 27 December.
On 14 April 1917, Ted's seven year old niece, Hazel Margaret Tonson, was accidentally killed on Queen Street, Auckland after she ran out onto the road and was hit by a taxi coming down the hill. Click this link to read the story of Hazel's death. Ted may have attended Hazel's funeral on Tuesday afternoon, 17 April. Her burial place is unknown.
Ted's brother Bob 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. Bob was at the front line in the Somme, France, by March 1918.
On 31 March 1918, Ted'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 was buried at Purewa Cemetery on 2 April 1918 at Block A Row 15, Plot 64.# John's death notice reads:
Unfortunately, Ted's brother, Bob, was fatally wounded while on front line duties in France. He received gunshot wounds to his abdomen, right, hop, right ankle and hands on 5 September 1918, but died of his injuries two days later, aged 41. [More details about Bob's life and war service can be found at the blog, 'They Served'.] The following memorials for Bob were shared by his family, including Ted, on the first anniversary of his death, in 1919:
After his father and brother died, Ted moved to Wanganui where he lived until at least 1928. His step-brother, Alf, also lived Wanganui with his family, and worked as a builder. It is likely that Ted attended the wedding of Alf's only daughter, Leonie (5 November 1899 - 17 January 1966), to Eric Lind (1 May 1897 - 1977) in 1922.
When Ted moved back to Auckland it is likely that he lived in the family homestead on Grey Street, with his mother, Annie. He may have been present when his mother passed away, aged 81, on 18 April 1933. She was buried with husband, John, at Purewa Cemetery, on Thursday 20 April 1933. Annie's death notice reads:
During the remaining years of Ted's life, he worked as a labourer in Northland and Auckland.
Ted attended the golden wedding celebrations for his brother John and sister-in-law, Flo, on 30 January 1954. He is pictured with them in the photo below:
Note
# The Purewa grave mentioned is where baby Edward Bland (the cemetery register lists him as Edward Blanch), the firstborn son of Annie II, and baby Edward Charles Robert Bland, the firstborn son of John II & Flo are buried. In 1933, Annie I was buried there also.
(19 March 1879 - 1966)
Parents & siblings
Edward (known by some, as Ted) was born in Mangawhare, Northland on 19 March 1879. His parents were John Richard Bland (19 December 1836 - 31 March 1918) and his wife Annie Maria Bland, nee Horne (17 April 1852 - 18 April 1933). It is likely that Ted was named after his maternal Grandfather, Edward Horne.
Ted was part of a family that included sons from his father's first marriage. His step-brothers, the children of John Richard Bland and Mary Jane Bland, nee Curtis (c1841 - c1867), were born in East London:
- Frederick William Bland (4th quarter 1860? - 1st quarter of 1872)
- Alfred (Alf) John Bland (June 1863 - 1956)
- Charles (Charlie) Robert Bland (17 August 1864 - 13 February 1931)
- Stephen (Steve) Bland (June 1866 - 1887 or 1890)
- 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 - 1966)
- 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)
Life in Northland
Ted's older full sister and brother, Annie and Bob, were born while the Bland family were living in Auckland. In early 1878, the Bland family moved north to Mangawhare, Marsden District, Northland where Ted, Susie, John II and Sarah were born.
Ted lost his 11 month old baby sister, Sarah, on 17 July 1884, when he was five years old. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland. (At present her burial place is unknown.)
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| Annie Bland with her children. Left back to front: Bob, Ted & John II. Right back to front: Annie II & Susie. Photo taken 1884, probably just after John and Annie's youngest daughter, Sarah, died. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of C Murphy) |
In January 1888 Ted's mother took her youngsters to a community picnic at the farm Onoke, which belonged to the late Judge Manning. A contingent of about 100 from the nearby town of Rawene attended, and around 50 more, including the Blands, came across from Motukaraka. They spent a happy day together on the swings, playing cricket and football, fishing for mullet, and eating a delicious hangi.
On 21 April 1890, Ted's crippled step-brother Steve (23), passed away 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.
Ted attended the Native School in Motukaraka (starting year unknown), where he may have passed his Standard I and II years. Family records state that the Bland children were the only European children at this sole-teacher school apart from the schoolmaster's children. Ted's brother, John II, would later tell his children, that their teacher would row across the harbour from Rawene each day to teach lessons. Apparently he was often drunk on arrival!***
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| The Native School, Hokianga where the Bland children attended school in the late 1880s and early 1890s Unknown date and photographer. (Photo courtesy of C Murphy) |
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| Daughters of John Bland II outside the school-room in Hokianga where the Bland children went to school in the late 1880s and early 1890s. (Photo courtesy of L) |
On 29 January 1892, the Bland family probably attended the annual picnic on a farm near the Wairupe Creek. About 200 settlers and their friends attended the picnic. Races and activities were organised for the day, and a concert was held in the school in the evening.
At the monthly Band of Hope meeting in February 1892, Ted's sister Annie II, who was about 17 years old at the time, sang a solo entitled, 'The Cottage by the Sea'. She also sang at the April meeting. (The Band of Hope was a church-run programme for young people which educated them about the dangers of alcohol, and encouraged them to abstein from it.
Life in Auckland
The Bland family moved back to Auckland in 1892. Ted, Susie and John II were enrolled at Richmond Road School, Ponsonby, on 31 May 1892, presumably by their father. Ted was registered as student #944. No further records of Ted's schooling are known at present.
In 1896, Annie, now 21 and still unmarried, gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Susannah Daisy (known as Daisy). Obviously, Susannah was Annie's sister's name, but it was also the name of one of her paternal great grandmothers, so it was a special family name. Daisy was adopted and raised by her grandparents.
Although it appears that Ted never married himself, he would have attended several Bland family weddings in the late 1890s and early 1900s:
- 26 October 1898 Annie II married Frederick (Fred) William Pettett.
- 1899 Alf married Henrietta (Hettie) Florence Minifie (1867 - 1956).
- 1902, Susie married James (Jim) Tonson (1873 - 1957) in Palmerston North.
- 12 November 1902, Charlie married Emily (Em) Barnett (24 August 1882 - 1 July 1970) at a home in Karangahape Road, Auckland.
- On 30 January 1904, John II married Flora (Flo) Alice Bentley (1887 - 13 August 1968).
Electoral Roll information
Electoral Rolls give the following locations for Ted:
- 1905-06 - Kaiwarra, Hutt, Wellington, labourer
- 1911 - 8 Alexander Street, Kingsland, Auckland, labourer (lived there with parents and brother Robert)
- 1914 - 163 Grey Street, Auckland City, labourer (lived there with parents)
- 1919 - 8 Nelson Street, Wanganui, labourer
- 1928 - Mulligans Lane, Wanganui, labourer
- 1935 - 53a Sussex Street, W2, West Auckland, labourer
- 1938 - Kaeo, Northland, labourer
- 1938 - 53a Sussex Street, W2, West Auckland, labourer
- 1957 - Titirangi Road SW4, New Lynn, pensioner
- 1963 - C/- Mrs W Smith, South Titirangi Road, New Lynn, pensioner
According to the diary of Ted's sister in law Em Bland, Ted suffered an terrible accident at the Sugar Refinery around 11 December 1914. It appears that he fell onto machinery and badly cut his heel. He was hospitalised until at least 27 December.
On 14 April 1917, Ted's seven year old niece, Hazel Margaret Tonson, was accidentally killed on Queen Street, Auckland after she ran out onto the road and was hit by a taxi coming down the hill. Click this link to read the story of Hazel's death. Ted may have attended Hazel's funeral on Tuesday afternoon, 17 April. Her burial place is unknown.
Ted's brother Bob 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. Bob was at the front line in the Somme, France, by March 1918.
On 31 March 1918, Ted'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 was buried at Purewa Cemetery on 2 April 1918 at Block A Row 15, Plot 64.# John's death notice reads:
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When Ted moved back to Auckland it is likely that he lived in the family homestead on Grey Street, with his mother, Annie. He may have been present when his mother passed away, aged 81, on 18 April 1933. She was buried with husband, John, at Purewa Cemetery, on Thursday 20 April 1933. Annie's death notice reads:
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Ted attended the golden wedding celebrations for his brother John and sister-in-law, Flo, on 30 January 1954. He is pictured with them in the photo below:
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| John and Flo celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with John's brother Edward (Ted). 30 January 1954. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of C Murphy) |
Ted died in 1966 aged 87. It is thought by some relatives that he may have passed away in unusual or suspicious circumstances.[Yet to be investigated.] Ted's burial place is unknown.
Note
# The Purewa grave mentioned is where baby Edward Bland (the cemetery register lists him as Edward Blanch), the firstborn son of Annie II, and baby Edward Charles Robert Bland, the firstborn son of John II & Flo are buried. In 1933, Annie I was buried there also.
Sources
- Family held records
- NZ Births Deaths and Marriages
- Archives NZ
- Purewa Cemetery Search
- Richmond Road School. Registers of admissions, progress and withdrawals, 1885-1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116. Accessed 27 May 2016.
- ***Recollections of L Lydiard (daughter of John R Bland II)
- C Murphy
- Photographs: C Murphy, L Lydiard
Last updated 28 March 2020
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