William Jnr

William John Keymer (Jnr)

 William John Keymer (known as Willie) was born in Kentish Town, London on 3 March 1880. He was the second child, and oldest son of William Keymer and his wife Mary Elizabeth Smith. William immigrated to New Zealand on the ship, Northumberland with his parents, grandmother Mary Ann Smith, nee Preston, and two sisters (Eliza and Louie), when he was three years old. The ship left London on 10 December 1883 and arrived in Auckland on 18 March 1884, a journey of 93 days. While enroute to New Zealand William's sister, Ada, was born.

 William's parents were Government Immigrants which means they were given cheap fares by the New Zealand government to entice them to immigrate.

 On arrival in New Zealand, in 1884, 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 Chamberlain Street around 1905/06, and then, around 1911, to Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland.
The Keymer family. 1889.
Unknown photographer.
(Photo courtesy of the Keymer Family Tree)
The Keymer family 1898
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
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)


 William married Eliza Stow (1885 - 28 Feb 1936) at her uncle's home in Glenmore, Auckland on 24 January 1904. It appears that Eliza was heavily pregnant at the time and had her first child a week later. William and Eliza had 12 children. Many of them were sporty.



The Keymer family 1915/16, probably just before George went off to the war.
Standing from left: Louie, William Jnr, William Snr, George, Eliza, Edith
Seated from left: Ada, Alice Mary, Laura,  Bertha
At front: Dorothy & Hector
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)

William Keymer Snr, Laura James (nee Keymer), and William Jnr's son Willie.
Photographer and date unknown, but around 1915.
(Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)


In 1918 William Jnr was looking to buy a reliable work horse suitable to pull a farmer's wagon. 

 In July 1928, William and Eliza's son Ted (aged 21), a labourer, along with two other lads, was charged with breaking and entering two Birkenshead shops and stealing goods. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 18 months reformative detention (imprisonment). Not long afterwards, a petition with more than 2000 signatures was sent to Parliament requesting that the imprisonment orders be replaced by probation.

William's sons were very sporty. In 1926, several of his sons were involved in club cricket. In 1929, E Keymer, W Keymer and R Keymer (Ted, Wilfred, and Raymond) were listed as playing league football for Northcote. Some of them also played indoor bowls.
The Keymer family, back row from left: William Jnr's son (Ted?), Hector, Dorothy, William Jnr's son (Wilfred?)
Front row from left, Lilah, Mary, William Snr
Photographer and date unknown but likely to be around/before 1924.
(Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)

 In 1932 William Jnr was on a committee which organised the annual dance for the Northcote and Birkenhead Ramblers League Football Club. 

 Eliza died at her home, 20 Birkdale Road, on 28 February 1935, aged 50. Her death notice read as follows:
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Eliza was buried on 2 March 1935 at the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion, Public, Block 2, Plot 77. 

On 28 February 1936, a year after Eliza's death, the following tributes appeared in the Auckland Star:




William Jnr was a volunteer fireman with the Birkenhead Fire Brigade. He received his five year medal in 1936. In 1938 he was awarded his two year service bar. On both occasions R Harkin (the brother of George's fiancee) also received medals.

 On May 29 1936, William'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. 

 William Jnr remarried in 1939. His new wife was widow, Lola Edmiston Dryden, originally McDell (26 Nov 1883 - 19 July 1965). Lola had two sons and a daughter from her first marriage.
William Keymer
Photographer and date unknown.
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 woman, Hector
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)


In August 1941, two of William Jnr's sons, William and George T, were called up for service in World War II. William refused to report for duty and was sent to jail for one year. At this time William Jnr and Lola lived at 29 Birkdale Road

William passed away on 28 November 1961, aged 81. He was buried at the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion, Public Block 2, Plot 77 alongside his first wife, Eliza. Lola died on 19 July 1965.


The children of William & Eliza Keymer
  • Mavis Keymer (2 Feb 1904 - 5 Jan 1976)
    • Mavis was born in Auckland in 1904. She married Arthur Henry West (1902 - 18 May 1992) on 14 March 1929. They had three children, one son and two daughters (b 1928, 1934, 1943). 
    • According to the November 1942 World War II ballot list and the 1954 Electoral Roll, Arthur worked at the sugar works in Birkenhead, Auckland, and lived nearby at 12 Wairoa Avenue.
  • Dorothy Keymer (4 Oct 1905 - 23 Dec 1981)
    • Dorothy was born in Auckland. She married Edward Withy West (31 May 1901 - 9 Dec 1939), who was known as Mick, on 11 June 1929. Mick was a mechanic according to the 1928 and 1938 Electoral Rolls.
    • Mick and Dorothy had one son, David West (3 Mar 1934 - 2001).
    • Mick died in 1939 aged 38 and was buried at the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Old Portion, Public, Block 3, Plot 154. Dorothy was buried in the same plot on 26 December 1981.
  • Edward (Ted) William Keymer (3 Jan 1907 - 1 Oct 1992)
    • Born in Birkdale, Auckland.
    • Ted got into trouble with the law, aged 21. He was tried in Auckland on 23 July 1928 on two counts of breaking and entering two Birkenhead shops then stealing goods. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 18 months reformative detention (imprisonment) on each charge. Ted was sent to Hautu Prison Farm near Turangi. Not long afterwards, a petition with more than 2000 signatures was sent to Parliament requesting that the imprisonment orders be replaced by probation. He was released from prison on 9 May 1929.
    • Ted never married.
    • He lived in Mokoia Road, Birkenhead.
    • Ted, a waterside worker, was called up to serve during WWII in August 1941, but failed to report for duty, saying he was a conscientious objector. When he was arrested on 20 May 1942, he was sentenced to one month in prison. Ted was released to military authorities on 12 June 1942 where he yet again disobeyed orders. This time he was sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment. He was again released to military authorities, on 25 July 1942. He left New Zealand to serve in WWII on 10 December 1942 and served as a driver with the New Zealand Army Service Corps, Petrol Company in North Africa and Italy.
  • Wilfred (Willie) James Keymer (13 Dec 1908 - 12 Aug 1982). 
    • Wilfred was born in Auckland. 
    • He married Lottie Heaps (11 October 1924 - 3 December 1994). They had a son and a daughter.
    • Wilfred and Lottie are buried together at the Purewa Cemetery, Auckland, Block M Row 28 Plot 24. Click here to see a photo of their grave.
  • Raymond Keith Keymer (28 Feb 1911 - 8 May 1994). 
    • Raymond was born in Auckland. He married Florence Marjorie McIntyre (12 Mar 1912 - 2005) on 23 December 1935. They had a daughter and a son.
  • Clement (Buster) Eric Keymer (24 Dec 1912 - 28 Feb 1972). 
    • Buster was born in Auckland in 1912.
    • He married Joyce Bentley (6 March 1917 - 7 January 2008) in Milford, Auckland). To Buster and Joyce were born five sons (b1938, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1948). 
    The Keymer brothers (sons of Buster and Joyce) at a family wedding, c1960.
    Photo by Photoservices Ltd Paraparaumu
    (Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
    • Buster and Joyce's middle son, Denis Jack Keymer (1943 - 5 Jan 1951) drowned aged 7. He is buried in the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Public Lawn, Row C, Plot 22.
    • Buster died in 1972. Following his death, Joyce married Albert McLean, the widower of Buster's sister, Fay Keymer.
    • Buster was buried at the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Public Lawn Row C, Plot 22 with the son who pre-deceased him. His parents are also buried at this cemetery. After Joyce died in 2008 (aged 90), she was cremated. Her ashes were buried in the grave containing Buster and their son Denis. Also buried in the family plot is the Jason Denis Keymer, the stillborn son of Buster and Joyce's youngest son (b19 September 1991). 
  • Muriel Keymer (21 Feb 1916 - 28 Jan 1991)
    • Muriel was born in Auckland. She never married. 
    • Died aged 74. Cremated and her ashes are buried with the ashes of her brothers Allan and George, and sister Murial, at the North Shore Memorial Park, Central Division Ash Lawn Section 5, Block F, Row D, Plot 20.
  • Thelma Keymer (12 May 1918 - 22 Dec 2001)
    • Thelma was born in Auckland. She never married.
    • She died at the North Shore Hospice, aged 83, and was cremated. Her ashes are buried with the ashes of her sister Muriel, and brothers Allan and George, at the North Shore Memorial Park, Central Division Ash Lawn Section 5, Block F, Row D, Plot 20.
  • George Trever Keymer (23 Jan 1920 - 31 Dec 1994)
    • George was born in Auckland. It is likely that he was named after his paternal Uncle George Edward Keymer, who was killed in the Battle for Passchendaele in 1918.
    • He never married.
    • George worked as a builder's labourer and factory hand.
    • In August 1941 George was called up for service in World War II. At the time he was living at 12 Wairoa Road. During his time in the Army his nicknames were Chubby and Joe. He was a Driver with the NZ Army Service Corps, Petrol Company, serving in Italy, Monte Cassino and North Africa.
    • George died of cancer. According to cemetery records, he was cremated on 1 March 1995, two months after his death. His ashes are buried at the North Shore Memorial Park, Central Division Ash Lawn Section 5, Block 7, Row D, Plot 20. The ashes of his brother Allan and sisters Muriel and Thelma are also buried there. 
  • Allan Sydney Keymer (1 Apr 1922 - 7 Sep 1987)
    • Allan was born in Auckland. He never married.
    • Allan died aged 65. He was cremated and his ashes were buried at the North Shore Memorial Park, Central Division Ash Lawn Section 5, Block 7, Row D, Plot 20. The ashes of his sisters, Muriel and Thelma and brother George, were also buried there subsequently.
  • Bruce Reginald Keymer (28 Oct 1924 - 4 Apr 1984). 
    • Bruce was born in Auckland in 1924.
    • He married Muriel Clara Hare (26 July 1914 - 1999). They had a daughter and a son (b1955, 1958).
  • Fay Keymer (15 Aug 1926 - 6 Jan 1975)
    • Fay was born in Auckland in 1926. 
    • Fay married Lloyd Albert McLean (dates unknown) who was known as Albert. They had two daughters (b1959, 1969).
    • Fay died aged 48. Following her death, Albert married Joyce Keymer (originally Joyce Bentley), the widow of Fay's brother, Clement Eric (Buster) Keymer.
    • Albert died in 1991. Following Joyce's death in 2008 (aged 90), she was cremated. Her ashes were buried with her first husband and grandson Denis at the Birkenhead/Glenfield Cemetery, Public Lawn, Row C, Plot 22.


Bibliography
Anonymous. (1936, 28 February). In Memoriam. Auckland Star. 1. Retrieved from http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19360228.2.6

Sources
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 
Keymer Family Tree
Births, Deaths and Marriages
The Stacey's of Somerset - genealogy
Papers Past
Keymer family records - complied by Jessie McLean
Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium
Auckland Council - Cemetery Records
Photographs - G J Bland, E Donaldson


Last updated 3 April 2021

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