Francis Clarence Greer

Immigrated on the Rajah 1853

Francis married Elizabeth Pilcher when he was 28 and she was 18. They had 16 children from 1866 to 1891 by which time he was 53 and she was 43 He built the "Greer" house in 420 Middleton Rd Johnsonville, in 1865 before he married. It was extended in 1908. The farm building south of the house may have originally been a flourmill with loft, grain chute and a nearby millpond is now a Historic Place.

Articles in the Evening Post dated:

- 1867, 17th October - BIRTHS - On the 9th inst., at Porirua Road, the wife of Mr Francis Greer, of a son

Immigration Notes The RAJAH arrived in Port Chalmers, Otage on the 6th October 1853.

- some of the pasengers (including the Greers) went on to Wellington.

9 July 1917 Evening Post - Death Notice Francis on 7July 1917 at his residence Tawa Flat after a long and suffering illness- aged 79 years. 10 July 1917 - Article on the death of Mr Francis Greer, one of the original settlers at Tawa Flat, occurred at his home there shortly before 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased who was 79 years of age, had been ill for a long time. He carried on a contracting business for many years and was one of the best known men between Wellington and Paekakariki. He leaves a large family. 10 November 1917 - Hawera & Normanby Star. Death duties -Estates certified in the month of October in Wellington Francis Greer 2836 Pounds.

GEDCOM Note

Born at 69 Arley Street, Liverpool, England on 16 April 1840. He emigrated with his parents from England to New Zealand on the "Rajah" in 1853. Francis took over the property owned by his widowed mother and built a cottage on Section 33 for his bride to be Elizabeth Pilcher in 1865 daughter of Stephen Pilcher and Bennett Hook. Francis and Elizabeth married on the 20th April 1866 at the residence of Rev. M. Fells at High Street Wellington NZ. Francis, along with his farming interest, was a builder and some time later in his life became an Undertaker. Francis died on the 8th July 1917 and Elizabeth died on the 13th January 1941 in Lower Hutt NZ. They are both buried in the Porirua Cemetery Porirua, NZ.