Susannah

Susannah (Susie/Sue) Margaret Tonson 

(27 June 1880 - 5 January 1972) 

Parents and siblings
Susannah Margaret Bland was born on 27 June 1880 to John Richard Bland (19 December 1836 - 31 March 1918) and his wife Annie Maria Bland, nee Horne (17 April 1852 - 18 April 1933), in Mangawhare, Northland, New Zealand. Susannah was named after one of her paternal great grandmothers. She was known as Susie or Sue.

Susie was part of a family that included sons from her father's first marriage. Her step brothers, the children of John Richard Bland and Mary Jane Bland, nee Curtis (c1841 - c1867), were born in East London:

• Frederick William Bland (1861 - 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 - 21 April 1890) 

The children of John and Annie Bland 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 (Jack) Richard Bland II (29 March 1882 - 28 February 1966)  
• Sarah Bland (August 1883 - 17 July 1884) 

Living in Northland

Susie's older full sister and brother, Annie and Bob, were born while the Bland family were living in Auckland. Not long after Bob 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. The youngest four children were born in Northland. John worked as a carpenter whilst living in Northland.

On 17 July 1884, when Susie was just four years old, her baby sister Sarah died, aged 11 months. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland.

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 Susie'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, Susie'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.

While living in Northland, Susie attended the Native School, Hokianga around 1891/92 where she was working on Standard I material. Family records state that the Bland children were the only European children at their school in Northland.

On 29 January 1892, the Bland family may have 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, Susie'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. Susie, Edward and John were enrolled at Richmond Road School on 31 May 1892. Susie was registered as student # 943. She completed Standard I at her new school on 6 June that year. Nothing more is presently known about Susie's schooling.

Susie'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 aged 8 months. 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.


Family weddings
On 26 October 1898 Annie II married Frederick (Fred) William Pettett. They settled in Hawera where Fred became superintendant of the Fire Brigade. Fred and Annie had five sons.

In 1899 Alf married Henrietta (Hettie) Florence Minifie (1867 - 1956). According to the New Zealand Births register, they had one daughter, Esther Leonie Bland (1900 - 1966). She was known as Leonie.

In November 1902, Susie's step-brother, Charlie married to Emily Barnett. They settled in Auckland and had three children. Charlie and Em would often visited the Tonson home.


Starting a family
In 1902, Susie married James (Jim) Tonson (1873 - 1957) in Palmerston North where he worked as a confectioner. Their children are:

• James (Jim) Edward Tonson (26 April 1903 - 10 June 1980) 
• Vera Tonson (16 August 1905 (or 1906?) - 27 April 1955)
• Hazel Margaret Tonson (20 April 1910 - 14 April 1917) 
• Daisy Verna Tonson (4 November 1911 - 20 December 2003)
• Robert (Bob) Edward John Tonson (12 January 1914 - 1976)
• Albert Ernest Tonson (18 June 1917 - 29 April 2003)

James and Susie welcomed their first son to the world, James Edward on 26 April 1903.

On 30 January 1904, Susie's brother John II married Flora (known as Flo) Alice Bentley. They eventually settled in Birkenhead, Auckland where John worked at the sugar factory. John and Flora had twelve children.

The New Zealand Electoral Roll of 1905-06 records the family as living on Main Street, Palmerston North with James working as a confectioner. James and Susie's daughter, Vera was born in 1905.

In 1910, James and Susie's daughter Hazel Margaret was born. The name Margaret is likely to have been given in honour of one of her paternal great grandmothers.

James continued to work as a confectioner and his address is listed in 1911 as New North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland. It was around this time that daughter Daisy Verna was born. 

In 1914, the Tonson family lived on Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland. At this must have been the first home for their new son, Robert Edward John.

In 1916, Susie's 20 year old niece Daisy Bland, married Henry Standen.

In 1917, Susie and her children were living with her parents at 108 Grey Street (later renamed Greys Avenue), Auckland while James was away working in Wanganui. On Saturday evening, 14 April 1917, the family was hit by tragedy when seven year old Hazel was accidentally killed on Queen Street, Auckland, when she ran out onto the road and was hit by a taxi coming down the hill. The following story of Hazel's death was printed in The New Zealand Herald 16 April 1917:

At the inquest into Hazel's death, her older sister Vera, gave evidence, and the driver involved in the accident told how he took the unconscious Hazel to the hospital, however, it was too late. She died 15 minutes after being admitted. The cause of death was a fracture at the base of the skull. Further information about the accident and the result of the inquest can be read here and here. The death notice for Hazel can be found here. Hazel's funeral was on Tuesday afternoon, 17 April. Her place of burial is unknown. 

At the time of Hazel's death, Susie was heavily pregnant with her youngest son, Albert. The loss of her daughter was a traumatic experience for her and something she never really recovered from. Susie gave birth to her son Albert, just two months later at the home of her parents.

Robert, one of Susie's older brothers, 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 a the front lines in the Somme, France by March 1918. 

On 31 March 1918, Susie'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: 

Sadly, Susie's step-brother Robert was fatally wounded while on front line duties in France. He 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'.] The following memorials for Robert were shared by his family on the first anniversary of his death in 1919. Notice the lovely one written by Susie and her family:

Susie and her daughter Vera.
Date and photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Albert Tonson, This photo was taken
on his second birthday 18 June 1919
Photo by Electric Studios, Wanganui.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

The New Zealand Electoral Roll of 1919 states that James and Susie were living at 8 Nelson Street, Wanganui. James was working there as a confectioner. By 1928, the family had moved back to Auckland, and were living at 362 New North Road, Mt Eden. Perhaps they returned to Auckland to help take care of Susie's aging mother who was still living at the family home at 108 Grey Street, Auckland Central. Also living at New North Road, were son James E (confectioner), and daugther, Vera (spinster).

Susie's mother, Annie I, died on 18 April 1933. She was buried with husband John I, 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 is below:

New Zealand Eectoral Roll data gives the following locations for James and Susie for their latter years:

• 1935 - 53a Sussex Street, Ponsonby (James is listed as a confectioner. Son Robert (confectionery hand), and daughter Vera (spinster), were also living at Sussex Street.)
• 1938 - 53a Sussex Street, Ponsonby (James and Robert are still working as a confectioners. Albert (electrical worker) is living at home, along with Vera (spinster).
• 1946, 1949 - 67 Sussex Street, Ponsonby (During this period James and Susie share their home with Albert (electrical worker).
• 1954 - Just James and Susie are listed as living at 67 Sussex Street Ponsonby. James is still working as a confectioner.
• 1954 - James and Susie moved to 45 Turama Road, Onehunga where they retire. 

James passed away in 1957. He was buried at the Papatoetoe Lawn Cemetery, Anglican Area, Row AA, Plot 773.

Family records state that Susie lived with her sister-in-law Flora and later, with Daisy, when in old age.

Susie died on 5 January 1972 in Balmoral, Auckland. She was buried at the Papatoetoe Lawn Cemetery, alongside her husband.

The children of James and Susie Tonson

James (Jim) Edward Tonson (26 April 1903 - 10 June 1980) 

• Electoral Rolls give the following locations for James:
• 1928 - James was living at 362 New North Road, Mt Eden with his parents and sister Vera. He was working as a confectioner, probably with his father. 
• 1935 James lived at 249 Adelaide Road, Wellington South and worked nearby as a manager. 
• James married Mavis Thelma (unknown surname) (c1910 - 23 June 1995) around 1938. The Electoral Roll of that year show that they lived at 63 Calabar Road, Wellington East.
• Electoral Rolls give the following locations for James & Mavis:
• 1946 - 53 McKinley Crescent, Brooklyn, Wellington. James was still working as a manager. His brother Robert and his wife Olive were also living at Brooklyn too, at 105 Washington Avenue. Robert was working as a confectioner. Family records from Maurice Bland and Sylvia Anderson indicate that Jim had a 'lolly factory' but the location of this is unknown at this point.
• 1946, 1949 -  James and Mavis shifted back to Auckland. They lived at 87 Waipapa Road, Mt Victoria. James worked as manager. The Electoral Roll of 1949 states that James was a 'company manager'.
• 1954 - 35 Arawa Road, Wellington Central. James was working as a company manager.
• 1957, 1963 - 216 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington South. James worked as a grocer.
• 1972, 1978 - 11 Parsons Avenue, Levin. Here, James worked as a storeman. James' sister Daisy and her partner Robert J Roberts lived in Levin around this time also. 
• James died in 1980, aged 77 and was buried at the Avenue Cemetery, Levin, Block A Plot 273. His last known address was 11 Parsons Avenue, Levin.
• Mavis died in 1995 aged 85. She was buried with her husband at the Avenue Cemetery, Levin, Block A Plot 273. Mavis' last known address was Flat 6, 69 Queen Street, Levin.

Vera Tonson (16 August 1906 - 27 April 1955)

• Vera was born on 16 August 1906, in Wanganui, New Zealand. 
• In April 1917, an 11 year old Vera is mentioned in newspaper reports which told the story of her sister Hazel's tragic death in an accident on Queen Street, in Auckland. 
• Electoral Rolls give the following locations for Vera Tonson:
• 1928 - 362 New North Road, Mt Eden, Auckland. Vera is listed as 'spinster' and is living with James and Susie.
• 1935, 1938 - 53a Sussex Street, Ponsonby. Vera is living with parents, James and Susie in 1935, and then in 1938 with brothers Albert (electrical worker) and Robert (confectioner) moved back home to live with their parents.
• Vera married Lloyd Pearson. They had one daughter. Lloyd died in 1950. Vera remarried. 
• Vera died on 27 April 1955. She was buried at Waikaraka, Onehunga, Auckland.

Hazel Margaret Tonson (20 April 1910 - 14 April 1917) 

• Hazel was born in Auckland on 20 April 1910. She died aged 7, as a result of an accident on Queen Street, Auckland Central.
• The story of the accident was widely reported in New Zealand newspapers in April 1917. A link to the report of the accident can be found here. Further information about the accident and the result of the inquest can be read here and here.
• The death notice for Hazel can be found here. Hazel's funeral was on Tuesday afternoon, 17 April. Her place of burial is unknown.

Daisy Verna Roberts (4 November 1911 - 20 August 2003)

• Daisy married Merelva Ingham (9 May 1909 - 1979), a storeman, in 1932. They had three children. Electoral Rolls record them living in Auckland (1935, 1938-Morningside, 1946-Mt Roskill) and Palmerston North (1949). It appears that while living in Palmerston North, they separated. I have found no record of them divorcing.
• According to Archway-Archives NZ, Daisy Verna Ingham changed her surname by deed poll to Roberts in 1954 in the Hamilton High Court. This was the same year that Electoral Rolls show her living with Robert James Roberts (1 November 1897 - 20 May 1986), a foreman, in Seaview Park, Foxton. Robert was a trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles during WWI (Military number 72732). Robert and Daisy later lived in Napier and Wellington, then retired in Levin. 
• Robert's cemetery record lists his last address as 4 Aberdeen Avenue, Palmerston North. It also states that he was a Baptist.
• Robert died on 20 May 1986, aged 86. His body was cremated and his ashes were buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Area DA, Block 005, Plot 194.
• Daisy's last address was Sunset Home, 123 Boundary Road, Auckland. On her cemetery record, her occupation is listed as confectioner. 
• Daisy died in 2003, aged 91. She was cremated and her ashes were buried with Robert's, at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Area DA, Block 005, Plot 194. A photo of their shared grave can be seen here.

Robert Edward John Tonson (12 January 1914 - 2 May 1976) 

• Electoral Rolls give the following locations for Robert:
• 1935, 1938 - Robert was living with his parents at 53a Sussex Street, Ponsonby where his occupation was listed as confectionery assistant. He was still living there in 1938, along with brother Albert (electrical worker), and sister Vera (spinster) were also living back at home too
• Robert married Olive Mabel Beck (10 September 1910 - 24 May 2004) in Ashburton on 27 April 1946. Olive was trained as a teacher. Robert and Olive had two sons.
• Electoral Rolls give the following locations for Robert and Olive:
• 1946 - 105 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, Wellington. Robert was working as a confectioner.
• 1949 - 234 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North. Robert continued working as a confectioner.
• 1954, 1963, 1969, 1972 - 179 Ruahine Street, Palmerston North. Robert was still working as a confectioner up until the 1969 roll which records him as a storeman. In 1972, his occupation is recorded as 'factory hand'.
• Robert died on 2 May 1976, aged 62. He was buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Palmerston North, Area R, Block 005, Plot 040.
• Electoral Rolls record that after Robert's death, Olive continued to live on Ruahine Street (1978), then moved to 10/130 Milson Line (1981). At the time of her death, Olive was living at Linville Rest Home, Palmerston North. 
• Mabel died on 24 May 2004, aged 93. She was buried near her husband at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Area R, Block 005, Plot 042.

Albert Ernest Tonson (18 June 1917 - 2003)

• Albert lived in Papatoetoe, Auckland.
• He worked as a publisher
• Married, but later divorced (no details known at present)

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 - Paul Tonson 2002 family tree
• Wiki Tree - Emily Barnett
• Family held records of Maurice Bland & Sylvia Anderson (courtesy of K J Bland)
• Family tree of Dr P Tonson
• Auckland City Council - Cemetery Search - West
• Horowhenua District Council - Cemetery Search - Mavis T Tonson and James E Tonson
• Purewa Cemetery Search 
• Papers Past
• Archway - Archives New Zealand
• Archway: Archives New Zealand - Record R20806572
• Palmerston North City Council - 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. 
• L L and M
• Photographs: K J Bland, C Murphy

Last updated 30 November 2022