Charles Frederick August French

Family bible and other family records show birth in 1847 in Bredow near Stettin. He was a sailor and jumped ship at Port Chalmers, Dunedin at an unknown date. His wife to be, Helen Thomson, Airdrie, Scotland, arrived in NZ in 1878 and then met Charles.She was some 6 years younger than him. He was 32. As it was the time of the gold rush in Otago, he is believed to have joined the prospectors. He acquired enough money to buy an acre at Ravensbourne and some gold was made into family jewellery which remains in the family on Helen's side. Family history has it that Helen knew him for a year before marrying him. He may well have spent several years in the goldfields. Interestingly some of the boys then fought for NZ (the British) against the Germans in WW1. Source: http://www.justanswer.com/genealogy/6qt00-cannot-validate-birth-cha...

OBITUARY. The death occurred suddenlv at Ravensbourne on Friday of Mr Charles French, aged 81 years. Mr French was one it the oldest residents of the district, where he had resided for the past 40 years. Mr French was a keen poultry fancier, and was a successful competitor at many shows held in Dunedin. He took a live interest in matters affecting the district. He leaves a widow and four sons and one daughter, one of the sons being Mr C. French, who is well known in Otago yachting circles. Source: Otago Witness (14 April 1925, p. 58) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19250414.2.195