Gerard George FitzGerald

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BHJ-B6M?i=22&cc=1...

Wikipedia states that Emily (Gerards Mother) was the daughter of Sir John Gibbons 2nd Baronet and Martha Kenrick. Nobody has come up with a date of birth. Sir John Gibbons 2nd Baronet died 09/07/1776. Wikipedia also states that: Gerard George Fitzgerald born 1832 in Bath and died 1904 in New Zealand. Does this work out? If Sir John Gibbons 2nd Baronet died 1776 and say Emily was born 1776 at the latest, she would of been 56 at the youngest when Gerard George FitzGerald was born. Is this possible??? I don't think so. I am resonably sure (not positive) that Gerald and Emma are on the 1841 census in Bath and it gives Emily's year of birth as c1800.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_George_Fitzgerald

Arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand 14th February 1851 on the "Castle Eden".

Newspapers - Timaru Herald 8 June 1904 Page 2 This article

OBITUARY. GERARD GEORGE FITZGERALD. It is with the deepest regret that we record to-day the death of an old colonist, one who in earlier days honourably occupied responsible positions in the public seivice, and later an enviable position in the ranks of the able editors of the colony. We refer to Gerard George FitzGerald, who passed away yesterday morning, as the result of cardiac weakness and an internal illness which seized him six weeks ago. For the last: nineteen years Mr FitzGerald had been editor of this journal, and though his circle of personal acquaintance was not extensive, in:that capacity he gained and maintained the respect and esteem of the thinking portion of the population of South Canterbury, as, he. had done when, -elsewhere;he had filled similar positions. physically and mentally, Irish by descent and English by training, he was a good representative of " a fine old English gentleman." A member of a notable family, of whom a brother; the late James Edward FitzGerald, became better known in. this colony, he had a deep sense of the principle " noblesse oblige," and strove to give effect at all times to the demands of the noble" sentiment. That was his aim, and if any should think that in the pursuit of his duty as "an educator of public opinion, he ever fell short of it, let it be remembeied that human nature is not infallible. Many men have had more varied-careers, but his had been varied enough to give him a wide outlook upon human nature and public affairs, which was of the greatest use to him in his later profession of journalism He was born in' England, and educated a 1 the Grammar School at Bath, conducted on the old-fashioned classical lines where habits of industry and thoroughness were cultivated perhaps more successfully than the dead languages. Soon after leaving school he followed his older brother, James Edward, to New Zealand, arriving in Port Cooper in February, 1851, in the Castle Eden, the fifth direct ship from London to the infant Canterbury settlement. He did not remain long in Canterbuiy. but long enough to form a number of friendships which opportunity was given to renew, years afterwards, on-the West Coast. Attracted by the glowing reports "from the newly discovered goldfields in Victoria, he crossed over to Australia, and was engaged.for some time, and successfully, in buying, and driving cattle to the goldfields centres, varying this occupation by engaging in digging himself, and acting as gold buyer for banks in Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand in the early sixties, and with the assistance of his brother, who at that time had started the Christchurch "Press", he established a telegraphic news agency for the colony, and then for a short time was part owner and editor of tire "Invercargill Times" ; (now the " Southland Times"). Business , was stagnant in the south at that time, and he gave up the paper to try his fortune on thel Otago goldfields. The results on the' whole were not encouraging, but one indirect result affected his future career to a marked extent. He there renewed an acquaintance previously made in ' Victoria, with Mr G. S. Sale (now Professor Sale, of the Otago University), whe was then acting as Goldfields Commissioner of Otago. The official formed a high opinion of the young man's capacity, and on being appointed Commissioner of Westland after the discovery of gold there, he recommended Mr FitzGerald for the second post in the newly formed administrative district, and urged him to accept it. Thus he became from 1867 Magistrate and Sheriff, Warden and Crown Lands Commissioner of Westland, which though remaining a portion of the province of Canterbury was semi-detached by the difficulty of intercommunication. , His headquarters were at Hokitika, and his duties required him to make long journeys, extending to Greymouth on the north, and to Okarito on 'the south, over the rough tracks that the pioneers had made in haste through the dense bush that covered the uneven country. The late Inspector Broham had charge of the police force of Westland, and Magistiate and police had , plenty to do in dealing with the class of parasites which infest new and prosperous goldfields. His various and arduous duties were performed witil circumspection and success. He was possessed of the judicial mind in an eminent degree, and as avMagistrate was most painstaking; very few of his decisions were reversed on appeal, and as an evenhanded dispenser, of justice he was highly esteemed by all classes. This was probably the happiest period of his life, as in his later years 'he most frequently recalled it, and from the stores of an unusually retentive memory especially delighted in selecting racy stories and peculiar experiences illustrative of life on the West Coast, and his ability as a narrator made him a most entertaining companion. He resigned his public offices about 1880 to betake himself to journalism again, and after a brief spourn at Blenheim, as owner of a small journal there, he became editor of the- "Wanganur Chronicle." He made his home for some years in Wanganui, and though a nonresident he was elected ,as member for Hokitika in 1881, and sat for three sessions. Parliament was then dissolved, and he was defeated by Mr John Bevan by a very narrow majority in 1884. General elections in the gold-digging communities of those days were much more lively affairs than we are accustomed to see in Timaru: candidates must travel far and entertain the electors in more ways than one; and some of Mr FitzGerold's stories of his two election campaigns were highly diveiting. In 1884 he removed to Wellington on accepting the editorship of the "New Zealand Times," and after occupying that post for about a -year he resigned it to take "the editorship of the "Timaru Herald," in succession to Mr Triggs, now editor of the Christchurch "Press." It is quite unnecessary for us to.make any remark on the manner in which" the "Timaru Herald" has been conducted under Mr FitzGerald's watchful care, or on the consistency which has marked his editorial articles. He was a man of pronounced opinions on political questions, and these he fearlessly and strongly, and lucidly expressed. Occasionally, but rarely, he permitted his strong sense, of humour to enliven a dull subject or to delicately flagellate an opponent. In private life he was extremely reserved, finding books- he was an omnivorous reader—the pleasure and stimulus which others find in the society of their fellows. He leaves no family. He married when employed in Westland, a Miss Kennedy, a sister of a well-known resident of Wanganui; she was unfortunately drowned by the wreck of the Taiaroa off Kaikorua, in April, 1886, when on her way down to join her husband -at Timaru. The deceased has relatives in Wellington, a nephew and nieces, son and daughters of the late Mr James Edward FitzGerald. He was well cared for in his fatal illness, and until a few days ago hopes were entertained of his recovery; but towards the end of last week failure of the heart became more and more pronounced. On Monday he was removed to the Hospital by his desire, but he survived only a few hours, passing away early yesterday morning, at the age of 71. The funeral will take place from the Hospital tomor-row afternoon.