Mary Greatbatch

Evening Post, 3 Aug 1908: Our Featherston correspondent telegraphs: - Mrs Mary Greatbatch, relict of the late Mr William Greatbatch, died yesterday, after a lingering illness, aged 74 years. She leaves a grown up family of four sons and five daughters.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 Aug 1908: At Featherston yesterday the death occurred of Mrs Mary Greatbatch, at the age of seventy-four years. Deceased had been ailing for five months. Four sons and five daughters are left to mourn their loss.

Manawatu Standard, 5 Aug 1908: The death is announced of Mrs Mary Greatbatch, an old resident of Featherston, at the age of 74 years. The late Mrs Greatbatch was born in Shropshire in March 1834. in October 1840, she left England with her parents, Mr and Mrs Bevan, arriving at Port Nicholson in March 1841, after a rough passage of nearly six months, during which her mother, a baby brother and a cousin died at sea. Mary Bevan roughed it with other early settlers, and in 1845 she left Wellington, under the guidance of a Maori named Ropino to join her father at Waikawa (in the Otaki district), a journey which occupied five days on foot. In 1858 she was married at Wellington to Mr Greatbatch, who predeceased her by two years and eight months. In 1864 Mrs Greatbatch came to the Wairarapa, and had resided in Featherston ever since. The bereaved family comprise four boys, Joseph (Christchurch), John (telegraphist, Wellington), Thomas (railway stationmaster, Kumara) and Samuel (railway stationmaster, Wakefield). There are five daughters including Mrs Robert Bevan (Manakau) and Mrs Everitt (Featherston). Of the deceased lady's parents' family, the surviving ones are Mrs W. Clark (Wellington) and Messrs Thomas and William Bevan (Manakau). Another son of the late Mrs Greatbatch, William, died at Levin some four years ago.