Elizabeth Henrietta Torlesse

Elizabeth Henrietta Torlesse (1835 – 22 September 1922) was a notable New Zealand homemaker and community leader. She was born in County Wicklow, Ireland in about 1835 as Elizabeth Henrietta Revell. The Revell family came to New Zealand on the Minerva in 1853. She married Henry Torlesse, who was also a passenger on the Minerva. Henry Torlesse farmed with his brother Charles Torlesse, who had first come to New Zealand in the early 1840s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Torlesse

Homemaker, community leader Elizabeth Henrietta Revell was born probably in 1835 or 1836, in County Wicklow, Ireland, third daughter of Thomas Revell, farmer, and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Bradell. Elizabeth and her mother, five brothers and four sisters, as second cabin passengers on the Minerva , arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand, on 2 February 1853. Henry Torlesse was also on board and became friendly with the Revells. The Revells lived at the Lyttelton barracks until their acre of land, Korotueka, at Kaiapoi, was purchased. Thomas Revell emigrated in late 1853. Elizabeth went as a lady help to a family at Governors Bay to assist with the Revells' finances. When the Revells moved to Kaiapoi, the whole family worked the farm; Elizabeth helped develop the garden and thresh wheat.

Elizabeth Revell became engaged to Henry Torlesse in October 1856 and married him at Kaiapoi on 16 June 1857. Afterwards they lived at Fernside sheep run, near Rangiora, where Henry had been farming with his brother Charles Torlesse. On 29 September 1859 Henry was ordained at Christchurch and assigned his first cure at Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula. Conditions at this remote bay were very primitive. Elizabeth aided in parish duties, took Sunday school, and school on Monday mornings while Henry rested. In addition to accommodating their own family (Elizabeth became pregnant almost yearly), they took in boarders so Henry could give them a preparatory education. Elizabeth and Henry Torlesse had eight daughters and two sons, but three daughters died within a year of being born.

In November 1863, when Henry's health failed, they returned to Christchurch, where, in January 1864, he was appointed the chaplain to the gaol, hospital, and Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. In these institutions he came across destitute women who were often driven to prostitution. Because there was no official means of helping them, he began raising funds for a female refuge. Elizabeth worked with Henry to establish the refuge, organising women to knock on doors and collect money. She wrote to her mother-in-law on 13 May 1864, 'We do not for a moment hope to stem the tide of sin but we want to have a home where those poor girls who have once fallen and are now anxious to leave the miserable life and try and regain by quiet industry and good conduct the position that they have lost.'

Despite being refused funds by the provincial government, the female refuge opened in 1864. Henry was the chaplain and Elizabeth was involved in running the institution until they moved to Governors Bay in 1867. Again they took day pupils, but Henry became ill, and they returned to Fernside, where he died in December 1870. Elizabeth was left with seven children and for two years received a pension of L40. She owned land in Rangiora and kept livestock and a large garden that she looked after herself. During the holidays she took in children in need of country air, and they helped with the work to be done around the place. In 1907 she moved to Christchurch and died there on 22 September 1922.

JO-ANNE SMITH

Hawkins, D. N. Rangiora. Rangiora, 1983 Torlesse, E. H. Memoirs, 1918--1921. MS Papers 1143. WTU Torlesse, F. H. Bygone days. London, 1914 Dictionary of NZ Biography.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1t104/torlesse-elizabeth-he...

1898 Kaiapoi Electoral Roll: Elizabeth Henrietta Torlesse Domestic duties residential. 1900 Kaiapoi Electoral Roll: Elizabeth Henrietta Torlesse Domestic duties residential.

LADIES, GENTLEMEN The visit to New Zealand ports of H.M.S. New Zealand has interested a very old lady in Rangiora, a Mrs Henry Torlesse, who has reminded Rangiora's Mayor that the first two New Zealand born men who joined the British Navy had their nativity at Rangiora. One of them was her son, Captain Henry Torlesse, recently deceased, and the other Mr. Arthur Torlesse, son of Mr. Charles Torlesse, one of the earliest Canterbury surveyors. The latter joined the Navy in 1869, and the former in 1871. NZ Truth , Issue 412, 17 May 1913, Page 4

Alston A Fenn notes Lizzie was alive in Christchurch in 1914.

NZ Card Index Auckland Library TORLESSE, ELIZABETH 1835 - 1922 During the 13 years of marriage she had 10 children, shifted house six times, coped, into her husbands abscences and sickness and her responsibilities as a clergyman wife.short biog. in B .O .N .Z .W . P.687-689 NZP 920.72A B72 NZCI000367103.

The Memoirs of Henrietta Torlesse (nee Revell) wife of Rev Henry Torlesse, "Stoke Lodge" Rangiora N.Z. July 25th 1918 Papanui Road, Christchurch I think I will try and write down something of our early arrival in Canterbury, New Zealand in the last of the Canterbury Association ships, the "'Minerva".

Captain Johnson was a most kind and considerate man and was much liked by all his numerous passengers.

We had left Ireland in October 1852, the day that the Duke of Wellington died. We were a large family. My father Thomas Revell, at that time was prevented from coming with us. My mother, with five sons and five daughters, crossed to England in a small steamer and had a very rough journey.

We had nice lodgings off the Strand, where we were delayed several days longer than we expected to stay, owing to some delay in the Minerva not being ready for the voyage. In the end we got out to sea in a hurry, as some new regulations were to come into force the day after we left the docks. It was some days before we all got settled down to sea life. We lost our anchor coming down the channel and we were nearly lost on Goodwin Sands. We put into Plymouth for an anchor and some other things. There we met Rev. C.M. Torlesse and his wife, who had come to Plymouth to see the last of their son Henry, who was a passenger on the "Minerva". We had introductions to the Torlesse and to Edward Gibbon Wakefield (a brother of Mrs Torlesse), through a friend in Ireland, a Dr Mansell. Mrs Torlesse asked my mother and eldest sister to spend Saturday on shore with them - which they did, and were introduced to several friends of the Torlesse. Next day mother and I were asked and we had a nice visit. It was very sad to see the dear old Mrs Torlesse cling to her boy. She had only two sons; the elder Charles Obin Torlesse had gone to New Zealand some time before on a survey party under Captain Thomas. Henry was leaving England on account of bad health and it was thought that he would benefit very much by a long sea voyage, and be able to return to England in a year or two.

Mrs Torlesse begged us to do whatever we could to cheer and help her boy on the voyage. My brothers, William and Edward, took great care of Henry and played chess and other games with him on the days he was well enough to play. We had a very long voyage, 118 days from shore to shore. We were becalmed in the tropics for a fortnight. (These were the days of sailing ships). We had a pleasant voyage on the whole, but just south of New Zealand, we had a very bad storm and we were in danger for a while.

1. The Minerva, 830 tons, was the second last ship sent out by the Canterbury Association. She left England 12/10/1852 and arrived Lyttleton 02/02/1853 with 99 passengers; 28 first cabin, 18 second cabin and 43 steerage. 2. Reverend C.M. Torlesse, Stoke-by-Nayland. 3. C.O. Torlesse surveyed in Nelson in 1840's - returned to England and back to Canterbury 1848. He surveyed North Canterbury, between the Waimakariri and Waipara rivers. Bought 100 acre sections and built the first house in Rangiora; also had the Fernside run 1851.

Page 2. It was a lovely clear morning when we sailed up Lyttleton Harbour. We saw for the first time "Maoris", and we were all amused with them. They evidently thought we looked queer. They brought beautiful kits of new potatoes on board to sell. . . . . other people brought lovely bread and butter, which was greatly enjoyed after ship's bread. . . . . it was so good. We landed at a small jetty and went to the barracks close by, where we had a very long large empty room. We made it comfortable with our ship's beds etc., and made our boxes into a dividing wall, and so had two rooms. We had the use of the washhouse, a huge place, with three boilers. We were a family of eleven to wash for and we had a very large extra wash after being at sea for 18 weeks, the brothers helped us and we got it all clean, but did not try to iron very much at first. William, Edward and John went up to the section of land we had at Kaiapoi and they had an acre of bush where they built a whare and set to work to saw timber. By Christmas time they had built a whare for the family at "Koratueka", Kaiapoi. We, the women folk, went on living at the barracks at Lyttleton. Mother had a son born a few months after we landed. We were very short of money, but some kind friends lent us some to go on with. I went to work as lady help to a family at Governors Bay, at the head of Lyttleton Harbour. My eldest sister took charge of mother and the children. We had some amusements and a dance soon after we landed. Georgina and self wore blue dresses and we were the only girls in colours, we were called the Blue Belles. In those days, people went to dances in white muslin's, which were often washed and came out quite fresh.

We had some nice friends in Lyttleton, which was a very small town at this time. Mr 4 Dudley was the Vicar at Lyttelton. The church that had been built, was intended to be a cathedral when added to, however it was so badly built that it had to be taken down and afterwards a nice building of stone was built. The Dudleys were moved to Rangiora in the year 1868 and lived there till the Archdeacon's death. He had retired and lived in his own house a year or two before his death. His second wife and his only daughter went on living at "Earnly" and both died there. The daughter lived quite alone there, when the house was burnt down one night, she was so badly burned that she died at once. I was very fond of Fanny and she liked us. My father arrived in July 1853 and did not like the colonial ways at all. His health was not good for a couple of years before he died in 1868.

5 On December 24th 1853, we started to walk over the Bridle Path to Heathcote, where William met us with Mr Kerwin's bullock dray, kindly lent to take us to Kaiapoi. (Mr Kerwin and family were fellow passengers). It was a very hot day. We camped at the Styx River for lunch and to rest the bullocks. It was so hot that one of our fowls died on the journey. It was getting late when we arrived at Kaiapoi and we crossed the Cam in a boat to get to our whare and land. Edward and John had nice bread baked for us and also had cooked some meat for our Christmas dinner. We had bunks in one room and we had to make mother's and father's beds in the living room every night.

4. Arch Deacon Dudley, many references to him. See Hawkins, C.1. Jennings in Rangiora Borough School Jubilee booklet. The story is that Miss Dudley got out of the burning house, but rushed in again to rescue her dog. 5. They were 10 months in the Immigration Barracks - an unusually long time.

Page 3 We were in this whare till we were able to build a house. My brother's cut the timber for it then put up the house with help from other settlers. We all helped to put up the house in many ways. We were very comfortable in our new house and glad to have more room to live in. We had a nice big verandah, all along the front of the house and we soon had a garden made and had fruit trees planted.

We cleared about half an acre and my brothers dug it and sowed wheat. When it was ready, we cut it with a scythe, then threshed the crop. We had a small handmill and ground the wheat and made it into bread. We had not much flour to use, as it was then very dear, 50 pound a ton, 4 pounds a two hundred weight sack. We really lived on rice for a good while - getting a quarter of mutton when we could do so. This was the early part of 1854.

My eldest sister, Georgina, was married to 6Luke Higgins of the Christchurch district. They afterwards lived at "Tara Hall" near Cust. Archdeacon Mathias came from Christchurch to perform the ceremony at Kaiapoi Church. This was the first wedding in this church, which was built on the sandhills, on the upper part of the North Road. Since then the building was removed to a better site. My youngest sister, Jane, was born at "Korotueka", and was a year old when Georgina was married .'William the eldest son, joined the police force and was in time moved to the West Coast and became Resident Magistrate over there, in the year 1868. He married Emily O'Callaghan and they lived in Greymouth for some years. We used to have a good many visitors and my brothers brought their men friends in the evenings. I often went to stay with the Charles Torlesses at Rangiora and we used to have great fun there. Charles had an Easter party each year and we young people got up Charades for the evening entertainment.

In 1856, I became engaged to Henry Torlesse, who was then living with his brother Charles and working on the station at Fernside. Priscilla Torlesse arrived to visit her brothers, Christmas 1856 and was surprised to find her brother Henry engaged to be married. She meant to have kept house for him at Fernside, where a house was being built. Our garden was very bright and gay, with roses and carnations etc. Our engagement was supposed to be for two years, but circumstances altered and Charles took Henry into partnership. We were married on June 16" 1857, at the Kaiapoi Church by 8Rev. Raven, who took services at times at Kaiapoi. It was a beautiful day after a very severe frost. Priscilla, Charles and Henry rode down from Rangiora and we walked over the sandhills to the church, at 11 o'clock. About 3 o'clock Henry and myself, rode off to our home at Fernside, where Henry had been making furniture and Priscilla had helped him a good deal, in preparing the house for the bride. It all looked so nice and fresh, but quite plain. A good married couple were at the house and had it all ready for us.

We lived at Fernside for nearly a year and then my husband decided to prepare for ordination under Bishop Harper. Henry bought property from Charles at Rangiora - about 17 acres - and we settled there while Henry studied and prepared for Ordination. Charles eldest living son was born at Rangiora in 1857 and our eldest boy was born at Rangiora in 1858. Both these boys went into the navy, Arthur (Torlesse?) in 1870 and Harry in 1871. They both did well and were captains in due time.

6 Luke Higgins - see Acland's "Canterbury Runs" and Hawkins "Beyond the Waimakariri". William Revell - very well known character on the West Coast gold fields. See books about early history of the Coast. 8 Rev. Raven - Parson Raven who owned land at Woodend. See Hawkins.

Page 4 In 1859, my husband was ordained a deacon and was placed at Okains Bay as deacon-- schoolteacher. We had church schools in those early days. We lived there for four years and got a stone church built the last year we were there. Henry was much beloved by the Bay people and he had a good influence over them. The school prospered. Henry left every Saturday and had morning service alternate Sundays at the head of the Akaroa harbour and at Little Akaroa (Akaloa'?), returning about 2pm each Sunday and then had service at Okains Bay and an evening service at 7pm, which was well attended by men. I had Sunday school at 11 am and we had a teachers' meeting to train those who would help to teach. This was a great help to us all, as Henry took this class and explained the lessons to those would-be teachers. This double work was too much for my darling husband and his mother got a Mrs Bishop to come out from England to join us at Okains Bay and to help in the school. This was a great relief to us both. I used to take school on Monday mornings, to let Henry have a little rest after his hard Sunday duties.

We had four daughters born to us during our stay at Okains Bay. The eldest - a lovely babe - lived only a few months and was buried at Okains. She was born about six weeks after we went to the Bay and we had only just got into our house. No windows glazed; the carpenters put the glass in the window of my room two days before the baby was born.

We began the schoolwork in one of the rooms of this house. The schoolroom was some time being built. The Bishop came down to the Bay about three weeks after we had arrived. We had service in the intended church schoolroom. The framework was up, we had sheets round the walls and a good congregation assembled to hear the Bishop. In time the building was finished and we had it beautifully decorated for the Christmas services, a good many young people helping with the decorations. In the afternoon of Christmas Day, the young men were inclined to go in for a drinking bout; Henry went among them and proposed they should have cricket and other games. When they found the Parson could beat them at running and jumping and other things, they began to think there must be something good in Parson and the young men were soon interested in other things.

The South Island gold fields came into great notoriety in 1860-1861 and nearly all the male population left to make their fortunes at the gold fields. My husband was most devoted to his work amongst the Bay people and they were so pleased when any improvements were suggested. We began by getting them to grow flowers and vegetables and had a show and great competition amongst us all. Henry got a good many first prizes. Then at New Year we had a big social, an all day affair. We had a picnic on the beach and in the afternoon a gathering for sports and a big tea at the schoolroom. Everyone brought something - cakes, milk, butter, cream - I was supposed to receive it all and the tea etc., afterwards the games were kept up. In 1861, our second daughter was born, Susan Bridges, and before I was about, a Miss Neale and a Miss Schot came from Christchurch to pay us a visit and see what a rough life in the Bays was like. They stayed for a month and then returned to Lyttelton Easter Monday. The men that came down for them in a whaleboat were upset on the bar and the two men were drowned. Henry had been ill with a sore throat, but was better and he and the two ladies left in a timber boat (from Okains), taking the bodies of the two men with them to Lyttelton. Henry could not take any services all the week, as he could only speak in a whisper. It was a sad time. Miss Schot decided to return and help with the schoolwork; she had kindly taken it for a fortnight while Henry was ill. She lived with us for a year and was married at the Bay to a 9 Mr Stoddart of Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton. He brought his friends down to the Bay in a steamer and it was a glorious day. We had a tent put up and entertained all the wedding guests, and then all the married people in the Bay and then the children. The bride was such a favourite with everyone. They left with their friends in the afternoon by steamer and we kept the wedding festivities going till 9pm. It was a great day for the Bay. Mrs Stoddart took a great interest in the work going on in the Bay and she visited us on two occasions, walking over the hills.

10Mr Bishop came during the next year; he was appointed schoolteacher. "Henry's health gave way and he decided to give up his work, which he did in 1863 and was then appointed Chaplain to the jail, hospital and Sunnyside asylum. My sister Charlotte married Arthur Ellis while we lived at Okains Bay - she had a large family and had a very trying life. They moved about so much, she died from diphtheria, leaving three girls and five sons. Kitty, the eldest girl, had to take charge and they lived at Sydenham until the sons went to homes of their own. Two sons died and one disappeared in the North Island. Kitty and Maggie Ellis have earned their living in various ways. They had the high school girl boarders for several years and had to resign on account of Maggie's health. Their father lived at "Korotueka" with the Henry Revells and his sons paid for him there. Daisy Ellis married a Mr Gee and lives in Sydenham.

We lived in Christchurch for nearly four years and then went to Governors Bay - Henry as Vicar of that place for a year. All went well and we had a good Governess and had other pupils by day, to be taught with our own children, Harry, Margaret and Susie. The others were quite babies (Charlie and Kate). After we came to Christchurch in 1863, our little daughter Amy died - she was our fourth daughter. Another son Charlie was born in Christchurch and daughter Frances was born and lived only a fortnight, and then Catherine was born.

After we went to Governors Bay, Mary was born and just before we left there in 1869, Lizzie Henrietta was born. Henry was then a confirmed invalid and was constantly obliged to be in Christchurch near the doctors, who were so good to him. Our good friends, the Rev. Hoare and family, took Henry in at the Vicarage at St. John's and I came over to see my dear Henry when I could get away from home. Miss Hunt, our Governess, took charge when I was away. I had to come to Christchurch for my confinements and Lizzie was born at a nursing home. Henry was then at Hoare's and supposed to be dying. When I left St. John's for the Home, it was very doubtful if I should see him again. It was a terrible time for us both, but God spared him to me for another year.

We gave up Governors Bay and settled at Stoke Lodge in Rangiora, where we had a small house and we were very cramped for room. Of course the invalid had to have the first care. It was a sad year, as he suffered so much. At times he was better and able to go out. He taught his elder children when well enough. Harry was sent to Christ's College, where he was taken by Mrs Harris as a boarder. Harry did well at college and it was decided he was to

9. Mark Stoddart, Australian squatter and Canterbury runholder. 10. Many references - see Acland, Hawkins etc. Father of Miss M.O. Stoddart, artist. 10 Mr Bishop - think he taught in other early Canterbury schools. 11. Henry seems to have had either cancer or TB

go home and try for the navy. He got a nomination through Henry's relations in England and he had to leave for England in 1871. Before he left his father died in 1870, after great suffering, which he bore cheerfully and he felt he could part with us all in the full assurance that we would be provided for - he never doubted that all our movements were ordered by a wise and just God. He was a faithful servant of his Heavenly Father, a good and loving father to his children and a devoted and loving husband. His loss was great to us all and after I had got my boy ready to go to England to his father's people, I had to settle down to make life as happy as I could for six remaining children.

Friends were very kind in many ways and we had our home and we got cows and managed to make a living out of milk and garden produce. I had a pension of 40 pounds a year from the Clergy Pension Fund. This was a great help, but only lasted two years, as the Pension Fund was not on a proper footing. The capital was divided and each pensioner got 10 pound for each year the Clergyman had subscribed to the Fund. Each Clergyman had to pay 4 pound a year for ten years, before being entitled to draw a pension. Another pension fund was started on a proper basis and continued to grant pensions, but I was out of this new fund. In due time I had a Governess for my girls and had other girls to be educated with them as day pupils. It was suggested that I should take charge of children. The first I had were the Singer girls from Dunedin, the Stout children who came several holidays. Mrs Todhunter left her two little boys with us for a year, as she had to take her little daughter to England for special treatment for her feet. These boys were with us for two years. This was a great help and gave us means to add to the house and make it more comfortable. We had boys from the college for holidays and girls and all used to come back regularly for holidays at Stoke Lodge. Charlie went to Mrs Rae's Preparatory School when nine years and remained till he was ready for Christ's College. He boarded at the Rev. Cotterill's. When he went to college, he got a Scholarship, when between 13 and 14 years, to the value of 20 pound a year. This he held till he went into the Union Bank in 1882, just before he was sixteen years of age. He lived at home and worked in the Rangiora Branch and was there for some time. He was at Christchurch branch, then moved to Wellington and back to Christchurch. He was acting manager at Lyttelton. He was moved to Wellington again and became engaged to Florrie Chatfield and was married on December 27th 1900. He was then in the bank at Dunedin. The next move was to Auckland and then to Hastings, where he was manager. They had four children and Florrie became ill and had a mental breakdown after the youngest child was born (Susie). Charlie was moved to Waimate as manager there and Florrie had to leave home for a year. She returned and had to have someone to live with them to take care of her. The Waterstons took charge of the younger boy Robert - at the age of two years. After nine years at Waimate, Charlie was moved to Timaru as manager, where he is now, in 1919. Betty was educated at St. Hilda's, Dunedin and lives at home now; she is at present 17 years of age. Jack the elder son is at Waitaki school and doing very well. He got a Junior Civil Service Scholarship when nearly 14 years old and has sat for the senior one in 1919, but failed. Margaret Priscilla our third daughter was married to 12 George Buckham in June 1884 and lived at Rangiora. She had five children - three daughters and two sons who lived only a few days. The girls grew up (Kathleen, Helen and Gladys). George died December 1892.

12. Buckham was postmaster in Rangiora. Their home was on the NW corner of King and John Streets.

Page 7. Margaret left Rangiora three years afterwards and took up life as a boarding house keeper. She was not successful the first two years, but got on better afterwards and has a large house on Papanui Road. Her eldest daughter was married to Arthur Moffet of Invercargill on September 20th 1910 at Merivale church. A large wedding and reception in the evening.

Lizzie Henrietta, my youngest daughter (and child) was married on August 28th 1893 to Rev. Percy Pritchett. We had a huge gathering for that wedding, as Percy had been Curate of Rangiora Parish the year before. The little Buckham girls were bridesmaids and two of Percy's nieces, Barkers. It was a pretty wedding, Margaret Buckham looked so sweet and pretty in her widow's dress and was so helpful in every way. The Pritchetts left for Hokitika, where Percy was vicar. They had a tiny four roomed cottage, where their eldest child was born (Delabere). Margaret Buckham went over to be with her sister and her three children lived with me and she let her pretty home to the Palmer Chapmans and after to some other people. The house was burnt down during their occupation of it. Meanwhile the Buckham family moved to Papanui and a Miss Hoare attended them as a daily governess for a time, then they went to Miss Gibson's school. The eldest girl matriculated, but did not go to college.

My13mother remained at Korotueka till all her daughters married. After trying to live with her son Henry and his wife, she decided to come and live with us at Rangiora, where she lived, passing away at 91 years of age and was buried in Rangiora Cemetery in our plot of ground. A tombstone was put up by her many grandchildren. She died in 1901.

Mary Torlesse, our fifth daughter, was married to Charles Waterston of the Union Bank, then in Wanganui, on April 24th 1905. They went to Whakatona (Whakatane?) in 1906. Mary had come down to stay with me and help nurse our eldest daughter, 14Susan, who was just fading away. She passed away on October 25th 1906, at the age of 45. This was a great blow to us all; she was such a good unselfish woman. The Waterstons lived at Whakatane till Charlie volunteered for the war. He was away for nearly eighteen months and was invalided back to New Zealand. After his discharge, he rejoined the bank in Ashburton as manager, in 1918. Mary and Robert Torlesse lived with me during Charlie Waterston's absence. In June 1905, Catherine, my fourth daughter, was married to Charles Hamilton, a widower with one little daughter. Kate and Charles' first wife were cousins and great friends. Emily, the first wife, left for England with little Frances to see her mother and sisters, and Emily died at sea about a fortnight after leaving New Zealand. Friends on board took care of Frances and she was met by her aunts and remained in England until her father was able to go to England and bring her out here. The second marriage took place soon after Charlie's return and they settled at Sumner. A son - Richard - was born on May 27" 1906. He was a very delicate baby, he was with us at Rangiora for a while and the change did him good. His Aunt Susie was very devoted to him.

After Susie's death, I could not go on living at Stoke Lodge, so decided to sell if possible and I bought a house in Aikmans Road, Christchurch, with some money lent by C.M. Torlesse, which just at that time was available and moved to his new home in January 1907.

13 There are still Revells in Kaiapoi (1970). 14 Susan - well known church worker and private school teacher in Rangiora.

Page 8. We let 15 Stoke Lodge for five years and renewed the lease for a little longer. Then we sold the property and the money was put out on mortgage at Waimate. I improved the Christchurch home very much and had a pretty home. Two of the Pritchett girls lived with me and attended St. Margarets School in Christchurch. My eldest son, Harry, died in December 26th 1911, aged 56. Had he lived a month longer he would have reached an Admiral's position. He was a great favourite in the Navy and did well. He married a Miss Nina Roberts of Brisbane in 1888. He had two daughters, May the elder was very delicate. She was ten years old when her sister Dorothy was born. When Nina and Harry were married, they came over to New Zealand. Harry in the "Rapid" and Nina by the usual passenger steamer. They had a week together with us and we liked Nina very much. They returned to Sydney and May was born there September 1889. Harry was only with us three times from the time he joined the navy in 1871, till his death. He loved his home and was always so happy to come and see us all. He was a most affectionate son to me and wrote by every mail he could. He saw a great many places. His last sea trip was as Captain of the H.M.S. Inflexible, taking his Admiral, Sir Edmond Symons, to the Hudson Fallen (?) celebrations in 1900. Then on his return to England, he was appointed as Captain Superintendent of Sheerness dockyard. While holding this position, he was decorated by the German Emperor, with the 2nd class order of the Red Eagle when the Emperor came to England for King Edward's funeral. Harry died at St. Ronans, Southsea on December 2th 1911 and was buried at Haslar cemetery with a full naval funeral. His wife died three years later at Camberley, England. Dorothy, a clever girl, went in for a college education and entered Girton College in October 1919. May and her aunt live at the cottage which May has bought with Arthur Torlesse's help. It will take time to pay this mortgage off, but this they expect to be able to do. Lady MacAlurarth, a great friend of their mother and aunt, paid all expenses for Dorothy's preparation for Girton and also the expenses there. She has been a really good friend to those two women. May was able to pay at once for the cottage, by using some of their capital - money left to them by their parents. Dorothy doing well at college. Lady MacAlruaith (McIlwraith?) gave May a cheque to pay all expenses, for May and Aunt Edith to have a months visit to London in February 1920. They had a flat and enjoyed it all - every minute. May spent four days with Dorothy at Girton College and said Dorothy has a very nice room and lovely old chairs, one given by an old naval friend of her father's. Later in 1920, Lady MacAlwraith bought the girls' cottage and gave them 100 pound more than they paid for it two years ago, so that they will now have a better interest and more than the low rent comes to. They have written since November 1920 to say Lady MacAlwraith has given a present to Miss Edith Roberts of the cottage and garden. As Aunt Edith and girls share all expenses, this kind act will leave the three free of rents. She has been a very good friend to those three women. May paid Dorothy a second visit in October 1920 and was asked by the Head of Dorothy's college to spend two days as her guest. This is a lovely change for May. January 1921 just received letters dated 24th November, saying that Dorothy was engaged to be married to a Mr Butler. He belongs to a well-known family. His great grandfather was head of Harrow School when Rev. C.M. Torlesse - Dorothy's great-grandfather - was a student at Harrow. Aunt Fannie very pleased with the engagement. May very pleased and she likes Mr Butler very much. Dorothy wrote to tell me of the engagement and that they were a very happy couple. They are both at Cambridge and mean to finish their courses there.

15 Memorial Stone in John St, between King & Percivil Streets, marks the position of Stoke Lodge.

Page 9. He is an engineer. It is a great comfort to know that Harry's girls are doing well and this engagement will make life easier for both girls. Dorothy was going to Mr Butler's family home in Northumberland to be introduced to the family before the January 1921 term.

FOOTNOTES: The footnotes came to the Rangiora Early Records Society by courtesy of Mrs D.G.H. Todd, "Bickleigh", Culverden, after she had seen a photo of "Stoke Lodge", Henry Torlesse's home in Rangiora. Mrs Todd, I think, is related to the Torlesses either through the Buckham or Hamilton connections mentioned in the Memoirs. Ref: Rangiora Museum, Belgrave Drive, Rangiora, NZ.

APPENDIX TO MEMOIRS OF MRS E. H TORLESSE, The property "Stoke Lodge" the Rangiora home of the Torlesse's mentioned in Mrs Torlesse's memoirs was first taken up by Charles Obins Torlesse in 1851. He built a small dwelling, the first in Rangiora, near what is now the corner of King Street and John Street. A larger house was later built further in. The 17 acre property has, in recent years, been developed as a housing area. It is bounded on the West by King Street, and on the East with Victoria, with Charles Street on the south. John Street, linking King Street with Victoria Street runs through it. The first sections along Victoria Street were sold in March 1954, further sections being auctioned in September 1965. Ref: Rangiora Museum copy at Nelson Archives - 2012.

Much of this work is extracted from the above memoir. Elizabeth Torlesse (1835-1922) A Clergyman's Wife. Jo-Anne Smith Canterbury Museum.

Elizabeth was the sixth child of 16 born to Margaret and Thomas Revell in 1835. Margaret Revell was 5 months pregnant when with her 9 surviving children, the eldest 24, youngest 2, she left Ireland for England in 1852. Thomas, who was 24 years older than his wife, stayed behind in Ireland finalizing their affairs, which where not in a very good state. They stayed in lodgings off the Strand, where after some delay they boarded the Minerva and set sail on 12 October 1852 for Lyttelton, Canterbury. The ship put in at Plymouth, and here the Revells were introduced to the Reverend C.M. Torlesse and his wife who had come to farewell their son Henry who was taking a sea voyage for his health. Mrs Torlesse begged the Revells to cheer and help her son on the voyage, and they took good care of Henry and became good friends. The Minerva arrived in Lyttelton on 2 February 1853. The Revells stayed at the Immigration Barracks in Lyttlelton while the three eldest sons, William, Edward and John, went to the land they had purchased at Kaiapoi which they called "Korotueka". The rest of the family continued to live at the barracks. Elizabeth went as a lady help to a family at Governors Bay, while her elder sister looked after her mother and the rest of the family. Thomas Revell arrived in July 1853, but it was not until 24 December 1853 that they walked over the Bridle Path to Heathcote and travelled by bullock dray to Kaiapoi, a trip which took all day. They lived in a whare built by her brothers, all the children sleeping in one room until the house was built.

Elizabeth worked with her brothers and sisters to make a garden, plant fruit trees and clear land to plant wheat, which they then scythed and threshed by hand, and ground in a handmill to make flour. In 1856 Elizabeth became engaged to Henry Torlesse, who had been living with his brother Charles, not far away near Rangiora. They married on 16 June 1857 and went to live at Fernside, near Rangiora. After living there for about a year, Henry decided to prepare for ordination into the Church of England and they moved to a smaller property not far away they called Stoke Lodge.

Henry was ordained a deacon on 25 September 1859 and placed at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula as a deacon-school teacher. They lived in a one room hut for six weeks while the vicarage was being built and moved into it before it was completed. Elizabeth gave birth to her second child, Louise, here just two days after glass had been placed in the windows.

The Torlesses were received with hostility by some of the men at Okains Bay who said they did not want a Church, and organised disturbances during the services. Henry won them over, impressing them with his sporting skills and began a night school for men. In addition to school and church duties at Okains Bay, he ran school and services at Duvauchelles and Little Akaloa and was away a good deal of the time leaving Elizabeth in charge. Elizabeth took sunday school and school on Monday mornings to let Henry have a rest. ln addition to their increasing family (Elizabeth gave birth to four daughters while they were at Okains Bay) they took in boarders to give them some extra income.

Henry's health worsened and they reluctantly decided to return to Christchurch, so on 12 November 1863 they left for Christchurch on horseback, just 3 weeks after Elizabeth had given birth to her fifth child, Elizabeth riding sidesaddle on her horse, while Henry carried the baby on his mule. They rode from Akaroa Harbour, over the hills to Lyttelton Harbour, crossed by boat to Lyttelton and drove in a carriage to Rangiora, arriving none the worse for wear.

Henry was appointed chaplain of the hospital, gaol and lunatic asylum on 1 January 1864 with a stipend of L300 per year. On 6 October 1863, the Bishop of Christchurch spoke of the desirability of establishing a refuge for fallen women and after the Synod adopted this, they instructed the standing committee to take steps to establish and institution. Henry took charge of the establishment of a refuge with Elizabeth's support. She organised a women's committee who went round collecting funds, street by street, in Christchurch, Lyttelton and the surrounding areas. She wrote in a letter to her mother-in-law 13 May 1864 "We do not for a moment hope to stem the tide of sin but we want to have a home where those poor girls who have once fallen & are now anxious to leave the miserable life & try & regain by quiet industry & good conduct the position that they have lost" Land was leased next door to where Elizabeth and Henry were living in Antigua street (now called Rolleston Avenue), a house built, and in December 1864 the Female Refuge was opened. Elizabeth supervised the day to day running of the Refuge to a large extent while Henry acted as chaplain. Eleven women entered the Refuge during the first year. Laundry was taken in to provide an income for the running costs of the Refuge, and also for the women so when they left they were not destitute.

In June 1867, Henry resigned from his chaplaincy, and the Refuge due to poor health, and was appointed vicar at Governors Bay. he attributed many of the successes (women who had not returned to prostitution) during the time they were involved with the Refuge, to the great interest and exertion shown by Elizabeth. Henry's health deteriorated even further after the move to Governors Bay and Elizabeth spent a lot of time nursing him and applying constant poultices. When Elizabeth went to Christchurch for the birth of her last child in 1869, Henry was expected to die. They decided to move back to Stoke Lodge in Rangiora, which consisted of a small house with 17 acres attached. Elizabeth supervised the packing of the furniture, having to sell some because the new house was smaller. Henry was an invalid by now and Elizabeth did everything without help apart from her children because they were took poor to have servants, surviving on a pension of L55 a year. She cared for Henry, dressing his absecess, did the housework, made butter, looked after the livestock and the garden. The eldest children helped by looking after the younger children and Henry gave lessons when he was able. Elizabeth suffered badly from toothache during this time, and had three teeth out. On 17 December 1870, Henry died aged 38. Elizabeth was left with 8 children to provide for, the eldest was 12. During her 13 years of marriage, she had given birth to 10 children, 2 who died as infants. She had shifted house 6 times, coped with Henry's absences and ill health, lack of money, and her duties and responsibilities as a clergyman's wife. A strong faith in god and the work they were doing sustained her throughout.

For two years after Henry's death she received pension of L40, remaining at Stoke Lodge. She took in children over the holidays, and for longer periods to help pay expenses and to pay for her sons to go to Christs College, while the girls had a governess. In 1907 after her daughter Susan died, she moved to Aikmans Road in Christchurch and again took in boarders. She died on 22 September 1922 aged 87.

References G.R. Macdonald Biographies, Ms, Canterbury Museum. Revell family history. Canterbury Museum Memoirs of Elizabeth Torlesse. MS Typescript, Canterbury Museum W Norris, Christchurch Hospital. MS, Canterbury Museum Torlesse, Sister Frances. Letter written 16 October 1920 including extracts of letters written by Elizabeth and Henry Torlesse during 1864. Typescript, Canterbury Museum. Family information including a typescript of Henry Torlesse's diary 1870 lent to me by Mrs B Davis. The Press 4 June 1864 Lyttelton Times 10 February 1866 The Press 11 February 1867 Lyttelton Times 7 June 1867