Born on the 24 Nov 1875 at Waianakarua, Waitaki, Otago, New Zealand
In her youth, she attended Otepopo and Waianakarua Schools until she left for the Student Teacher School in Mar 1893 – possibly at Dunedin Technical School.
She received First Class from the Sunday School Union of Otago in 1890.
Angusina grew up on the ‘Langwell’ farm, inland from the old flour mill on the Waianakarua River.
She sat her pupil teachers examination in 1897 as Angusina Ross, Otago, with First Class. The following outlines her working career as teacher :-
Pupil Teacher at Herbert (NZETC)
Trained at Normal School Dunedin (NZETC)
Relieving Teacher at Balclutha for 3 months (NZETC)
Otepopo School 1894 – Student Teacher
Otepopo School 1895 – Student Teacher
Otepopo School 1896 – Student Teacher
Otepopo School 1897 – Student Teacher – Qualified to Teacher
Appointed to Wahemo School 1899 (NZETC)
Waihemo School – 1900 – Head Teacher
Waihemo School – 1901
Resigned as Head Teacher at Waihemo School July 1901 (Paperspast)
Marriage:
On the 29 Aug 1901, Angusina married Fleming Robertson at the home of her parents at ‘Langwell’.
Sat her teaching qualification in 1906 as Angusina Robertson, Mrs., Otago
Angusina passed away on the 7 Mar 1959 at Oamaru, Waitaki, Otago, New Zealand. She is buried alongside her husband, Fleming, at Otepopo Cemetery, Herbert.
There is an oral history that runs something like this. After Fleming died, Angusina became infatuated with someone in the Moonee church; someone who was not a New Zealander. At some point, Angusina either sold plots of land and gave the money to this person or she gave away whatever cash she had.
The Moonee man then left NZ rather promptly, cash in hand.
That oral history is a variation of several that I have heard over the years. I cannot verify it at all, but as far as I know, there was very little left in her her estate when she passed.
Part of the truth is that she sold the farm to Leslie Caldwell in 1943, so perhaps that is where the comments about money come in. There is no trace of the money after the sale. My Nana (Angusina’s daughter) received nothing as a consequence of the sale directly or her estate.
Whatever happened, we are unlikely to fully know or appreciate.
After her death in 1959, she left her estate to her local sons, and all the household effects to her daughter, Lorraine.
“In Loving Memory Of
Fleming Roberston
Died 21st July 1934 Aged 63 Years
Also His Beloved Wife
Angusina
Died 17th March 1959 Aged 84 Years.”
Findagrave: SA
The ‘Chalgrove’ house still exists today, although the roof looks very rusty from satellite imagery.