Jessie Stark

Jessie arrived Mataura on the 15 May 1890. She was the second youngest child, but similar to her sister Margaret, her life would be, sadly, cut short.

Jessie attended school at Gore Main, Croydon Siding and Mandeville, which are all located in and around the Gore district.

On the 2 December 1919, she married Henry Mauger RHODES at St Michaels All Saints Church in Christchurch. From that union came the following 6 children.

NameBornPlaceDiedPlace
Frederick Henry19202005
Charles Mauger19221969
Amelia Jessie19232013
Marjory Joan19252003
Gilbert John19262015
Phyllis Dulcie Jessie19291961

Sadly, Jessie developed a sarcoma on her left thigh and died at the Christchurch Public Hospital on the 3 December 1930. She is interred at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, alongside her father James, who passed in 1921. The husband, is buried in a separate grave in the same cemetery.

There is evidence to suggest that the children were placed into foster care with one record for Phyllis mentioning a Mrs J C Forward as a foster mother. Phyllis would have been only 2 years old when her mother died.

The Children of Jessie and Henry

Phyllis Dulcie Jessie

Phyllis managed the general shop at Waikuku Beach (which is off State Highway 1 going north out of Christchurch). A deranged man killed her in her shop in December 1961. Phyllis is buried in Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch.

I have not been able to find a death record for the man who killed Phyllis.

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