Bertha Keymer
(12 June 1892 - 1 November 1979)
Bertha Keymer was born in Auckland on 12 June 1892. At the time the Keymer family lived at 25 Ponsonby Road, in Auckland (on the right hand side, just down a bit from Karangahape Road), then moved to Brown Street (c1896), then to Chamberlain Street around 1905/06, and then, around 1911, to Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland.
 |
The Keymer family 1898
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
|
Education
According to the Richmond Road School Register, Bertha began her schooling at the Beresford Street School. On 7 August 1899, she was enrolled at the Richmond Street School, Ponsonby, by her father, William. On 18 December 1901 she was withdrawn and returned to the Beresford Street School. She was re-admitted to the Richmond Road School on 25 August 1902 and completed her schooling there. School records show that she completed either Standard IV or V (records are unclear) on 11 May 1906, then began 'home' duties.
 |
| The Keymer family, 1904. Seated back from left: Bertha (or could be Edith), Edith (or could be Bertha), Alice Seated middle from left: Eliza, Louie, Laura, William Snr, Mary, Ada, William Jnr Front, from left: George, Hector, Dorothy Unknown photographer. (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
Marriage & family
When Bertha was 21 years old she married Ernest (Ernie) Charles Jarrett (15 Dec 1891 - 2 Dec 1948) on 29 January 1914. Ernie was the youngest son of Alexander George Jarrett (1859 - 1945) and his wife Mary Elizabeth Sweet (1859 - 1944) who was known as Polly. The Keymer and Jarrett families may have known each other since the early 1900s as both lived in central Auckland. In a 1903 newspaper there are advertisements showing that Ernest's father ran an accounting business from Swanson Street, and that Bertha's mother ran her drapery making business from home in Ponsonby.
 | ||
| Bertha and Ernest's wedding. 1914 From left: Dorothy Keymer (15 years old), Unknown best man, Ernest Jarrett, Bertha Keymer, George Keymer (one month shy of his 20th birthday), Ada Keymer (30 years old). Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of O Keymer.)
|
Ernest and Bertha had six children:
- May Vera Jarrett (24 May 1915 - 22 Mar 1988)
- Alexander George Jarrett (15 Nov 1916 - Aug 1988)
- Myra Jarrett (21 June 1918 - 16 Aug 1924)
- Ernest Donald (Don) Jarrett (21 Oct 1923 - 2 Sep 2016)
- Marjorie June Jarrett (1927 - 2013) who was known as June
- Betty Dawn Jarrett (1 Nov 1932 - 7 Feb 2006)
The Jarrett family initially lived in Lloyd Avenue East, Mt Albert, Auckland but shortly afterwards moved to the government run Ruakura Farm (near Hamilton), where Ernest worked as the manager of the poultry section. Bertha's brother George also worked at the Ruakura farm as a carpenter until he went off to war in 1917.
 | ||
|
In November 1916 the following birth announcement was made:
Ernest was a reservist during World War 1. In July 1918 he was declared fit for service, however, in October of the same year, Ernest's father, Alexander, made a submission to the Military Service Board, appealling that Ernest be be granted leave on the basis that he was the manager of the poultry section of the government run Ruakura Farm, that he already had two other sons currently serving (referring to William James (b1887) and Frank Alexander (b1889), and that he had three very small children to care for. He was granted four months leave which was just enough, as the war ended during that period!
In 1920, the Jarretts appear to be living in New Plymouth. At that time Ernest was the government poultry expert in Taranaki. In June of 1920, Ernest gave a presentation to Eltham residents who were keen to start an Egg Circle. Details of the presentation appeared in the local newspaper and can be read by clicking the link here.
Myra died at the Epsom Hospital Annex on 16 August 1924 when she was just six years old. The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear at this stage. Myra was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Wesley Division C Row 26, Plot 81.
The following birth announcement was in the papers in June 1927:
Ernest continued to work in the poultry industry, becoming a government inspector for the Auckland province, and giving lectures and talks around the country, for example, New Plymouth. In 1925 he gave an address on poultry keeping in Northland. In 1929 he was part of a delegation at the Auckland Egg Producers Association meetings in Motuihi Island. Later, in 1940 Ernest gave a speech in the Bay of Plenty on the topic and used 'talking pictures' to support his presentation!
The following birth announcment was printed in The Auckland Star in June 1927:
In January 1936 the Ernest, Bertha, and their family celebrated the golden wedding anniversary of Ernest's parents, Alexander and Mary Jarrett. The following announcement of that occaision was given:
On May 29 1936, Bertha's mother, Mary, passed away at her home in Opaheke. Her funeral was held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby on the following Sunday afternoon. She was buried at the Purewa Cemetery.
Ernest's mother, Mary died on 20 August 1944 and was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, just two graves along from little Myra's grave - Wesley Division C Row 26, Plot 79. His father, Alexander George Jarrett (a shorthand writer, according to cemetery records), passed away on 14 November 1945. He was buried at the family plot in Waikumete Cemetery, Wesley Division C Row 26, Plot 79.
Ernest and Bertha's grandson, Dennis Raymond Jarrett (son of George and Ivy), died 24 January 1947 aged 13 months. He was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 87.
Ernest Charles Jarrett died 1 December 1948, aged 56 years. He was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 86
Bertha passed away on 1 November 1979. She was 87. She was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery next to her husband and grandson, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 87.
The children of Ernest & Bertha Jarrett
May Vera Jarrett (24 May 1915 - 22 March 1988)
Myra Jarrett (21 June 1918 - 16 August 1924)
Bibliography
Ernest was a reservist during World War 1. In July 1918 he was declared fit for service, however, in October of the same year, Ernest's father, Alexander, made a submission to the Military Service Board, appealling that Ernest be be granted leave on the basis that he was the manager of the poultry section of the government run Ruakura Farm, that he already had two other sons currently serving (referring to William James (b1887) and Frank Alexander (b1889), and that he had three very small children to care for. He was granted four months leave which was just enough, as the war ended during that period!
In 1920, the Jarretts appear to be living in New Plymouth. At that time Ernest was the government poultry expert in Taranaki. In June of 1920, Ernest gave a presentation to Eltham residents who were keen to start an Egg Circle. Details of the presentation appeared in the local newspaper and can be read by clicking the link here.
 |
| The Keymer sisters in the early 1920s Standing from left: Laura, Alice, Ada Seated from left: Dorothy, Bertha (or could be Edith), Eliza, Edith (or could be Bertha), Louie Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson) |
Myra died at the Epsom Hospital Annex on 16 August 1924 when she was just six years old. The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear at this stage. Myra was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Wesley Division C Row 26, Plot 81.
The following birth announcement was in the papers in June 1927:
In January 1936 the Ernest, Bertha, and their family celebrated the golden wedding anniversary of Ernest's parents, Alexander and Mary Jarrett. The following announcement of that occaision was given:
 |
| The Keymer siblings in 1939, possibly at the occasion of William Jnr's second marriage. Standing from left: Dorothy, Bertha, Laura, Alice, Edith, Ada, Louie, Lilah Seated from left: William Jnr, unknown, Hector Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson) |
Ernest and Bertha's grandson, Dennis Raymond Jarrett (son of George and Ivy), died 24 January 1947 aged 13 months. He was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 87.
Ernest Charles Jarrett died 1 December 1948, aged 56 years. He was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 86
Bertha passed away on 1 November 1979. She was 87. She was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery next to her husband and grandson, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 87.
The children of Ernest & Bertha Jarrett
May Vera Jarrett (24 May 1915 - 22 March 1988)
- May married Alfred Charles Quinlan (29 Dec 1916 - 12 Sep 1986) on 19 March 1938.
- May and Alfred had a son and a daughter. Sadly, their daughter Robyn Annette Quinlan (3 Oct 1946 - 28 June 1975) died aged 29.
- Named after his paternal grandfather, Alexander George Jarrett (1859 - 1945).
- Alexander was on the World War II ballot list. He was listed as a carpenter and his address was given as 74 Lloyd Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland.
- George married Ivy Florence Snell (b1920-) in 1942. They had five children, three sons and two daughters (b1943, 1945, 1948, 1952, 1955). Sadly, according to the cemetery record, their second son, Dennis Raymond Jarrett was accidentally killed 25 January 1947 aged 13.5 months. He was buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion - Anglican Block 2, Plot 87. Dennis Jarrett's grandparents were also buried in the same plot. The story of Dennis' death was reported in the Northern Advocate, 27 January 1947:
- Myra died at the Epsom Hospital Annex on 16 August 1924 when she was just seven years old. The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear at this stage. Myra was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Wesley Division C Row 26, Plot 81. Her paternal grandparents are buried two graves over from her grave.
- Don was a carpenter. He married three times, outliving each of his wives. His first wife was Marie Allison Cochrane (22 October 1924 - 7 July 1976). Don and Marie had one son, Roger John Jarrett (19 July 1949 - 20 Mar 2000), who was a photographer and enjoyed outdoor activities. Roger married and had two sons. Sadly, Roger took his own life.
- Don (carpenter) and Maire were listed in the 1954 Electoral Roll as living at 17 Roslyn Terrace, on the North Shore, Auckland.
- Don's second wife was Victoria (Vicky) Minerva Herbert (20 Nov 1917 -2000). They married on 10 December 1977. The 1978 and 1981 Electoral Rolls shows that the couple lived at 106 Methuen Road, Mt Roskill. Don is listed as a carpenter in both rolls, and Vicky, a tutor in the earlier one.
- Don's third wife was Cissie Margaret Bryan (1926 - 2014)
- Don died in Auckland in 2016.
- Marjorie June Jarrett was born on 1 June 1927. She was known as June.
- June married Alan Sydney Wood (6 Feb 1924 - 22 Jan 2013) on 29 March 1948. They had two daughters and one son (b1950, 1952, 1953).
- They lived on the Whangaparoa Peninsular at some point.
- Alan and June both died in Nelson.
- Betty married Warren Leslie O'Brian (22 December 1931 - 12 May 1995) on 9 July 1955. They had three daughters and two sons (b1958, 1959, 1962, 1969, 1971).
- Betty died in Blenheim.
Bibliography
Anonymous. (1947, January 27). Kaitaia Child Killed at Birkdale. Northern Advocate. 2. Retrieved from https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19470127.2.12 Accessed 3 April 2021.
Other Sources
- Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Auckland Council - Cemetery Records
- Auckland Council - Cemetery Records North Shore
- Ancestry - Records for Vera May Jarrett
- Richmond Road School. Registers of admissions, progress and withdrawals, 1885-1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116. Accessed 27 May 2016.
- Family records compiled by Jessie McLean
- D J Quinlan
- Photographs - O Keymer, G Bland, E Donaldson,
Last updated 3 April 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment