Eliza Wise Skelton

Eliza Wise DAY, first daughter of George and Ann Day, was born on 3rd January 1829 and baptised at Birling, Kent, England.

Aged twelve when she first embarked on the ship ‘Abrab’ with her parents and set sail for New Zealand; aged fifteen when she married Captain William Robert Skelton at St. Paul’s Church in Wellington, on 13th June 1844 with her parents consent.

Captain Skelton was known to Eliza, he too was from Kent. He was in command of a ship trading around the Pacific Islands; following their marriage, Eliza seas with her husband, indeed, one son was born at sea, one other at Tahiti. The first-born was Arthur, born 12th December 1845, the second was William George Skelton born 16 March 1847, born at sea. The two boys were followed by the birth of two daughters, firstly Jane Skelton born 16th June 1849 followed by Emma Skelton born 22 December c1852 and the last child was John Skelton born 22 March 1855 in Tahiti.

Captain William Robert Skelton died early 1858, although this date has not been confirmed in spite of extensive research in Consulate Records of England and Tahiti. Eliza returned to New Zealand on the ship ‘Swan’ during February 1858 accompanied by four children, disembarking at Lyttlton, New Zealand, going onto Sumner, New Zealand to be with her family.

Eliza remarried a widower by the name of Samuel Dean on 25th October 1858 in the Temporary Church at Sumner. Following the marriage Eliza and Samuel went to Western Samoa; I suspect Samuel Dean may have been a resident there previously. According to descendants, Samuel Dean grossly mistreated his stepchildren; William left home to board a trading vessel as Cabin Boy at the tender age of twelve. Arthur did likewise, ending up in Australia; he became quite a successful as a Jockey and was known to ride with success in New Zealand in the past century. He returned to Western Samoa prior to his deaf on 12th April 1900 and is buried in Tulfuiopa Cemetery, Apia, along with his mother Eliza Wise Dean who died 26th February 1894. Samuel Dean does not appear to be buried there.