Frank & Ellen Brading

Frank Brading (1834-1915) and his wife Ellen Peach (c1835-1913) were born in East Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. Frank was the son of Benjamin and Ruth Brading and it appears the couple met when they were working at Tauckles Farm, Whippingham, Cowes, some time around 1851. Frank was a 'farm servant' and worked on the farm, while Ellen was a domestic servant.  They married in 1860.

Their first three children were born on the Isle of Wight: Robert (1861), Harriet (1864) and Ellen (1865).  Sometime between 1865 and 1868 they left the Isle of Wight for New Zealand. The next daughter, Annie, was born in Castlepoint in 1868, followed by Lucy in 1869 and Walter in 1877.

Frank farmed at "Thorplands," in Tinui, a respected member of the local community. On 31 August 1884 Minister of Lands, William Rolleston, appointed Frank and John Alfred Perry as trustees of the Tinui Cemetery.

He was a member of the Tinui Church Building Committee, which first met in July 1901. He went on to be elected Vicar's Warden in 1902 and served on the Tinui Parish vestry as Vicar's Warden until his death in 1915.

Frank died at his home in Tinui on 6 April 1915. His wife Ellen predeceased him by two years, dying on 24 April 1913.

Children

Robert Brading was born in August 1861 on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. He died tragically on 14 November 1881, aged 20, while breaking in a horse.

An unfortunate and fatal accident happened to a young man named Robert Brading, at Tenui, on Saturday last. He was engaged breaking in a young horse, and had just obtained his seat in the saddle, when the animal reared and fell backwards, Brading going underneath. He was immediately released from the position and conveyed home, where, pending the arrive of a medical man, every assistance was rendered to alleviate his sufferings. On Dr. Beard's arrival from Masterton the case was pronounced hopeless. The poor fellow lingered in great pain till the following day, when he expired. It was not considered necessary to hold an inquest.  New Zealand Times, 18 November 1882, page 2

Harriet Brading was born c1864 on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. Harriet and John Alfred Perry were married at 'Thorplands' on 15 July 1885, by the Rev. J C Andrew. John had been given a piece of the block known today as "Te Paraetai," near Tinui Village, by Thomas Guthrie. He called this Hillside. John had brought Guthrie to Castlepoint in the early days, with a view to Guthrie's settling there. John Perry also worked for Guthrie as a drover.

John Perry also worked as overseer for the Castlepoint Road Board and was an active member of the Tinui School Committee and the Tinui Foresters' Lodge.

John Perry died on 25 December 1926, in Masterton, having retired from Tinui seven months earlier.  Harriet Perry died in 1951 and they are both buried in the Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton.

Ellen Brading was born in September 1865 in Newport, Isle of Wight. On 3 January 1889 she married John Munro and they set up home in Kimbolton, Feilding. Tragically, she died on 5 September 1889, nine months after her marriage to John.

MUNRO. On September 5th, at Birmingham, Feilding, Ellen, the beloved wife of John Munro, in her 24th year. Deeply regretted and loved by all who knew her. Wairarapa papers pleasе сору.
New Zealand Mail, 13 September 1889

Annie Brading was born in Castlepoint in 1868. She married Frederick William Groves in 1892, and they had six children:

• William Frank Groves

• Ellen Lucy (Nellie) Groves

• Ralph Frederick Groves

• Douglas Sidney Groves and

• David Victor Groves

Further information on the family of Annie Brading and Frederick William Groves is here.

Lucy Brading was born in 1868, at Castlepoint. She was photographed by John Sykes in his buggy (see photo below) and she was also baptised by him, as an adult, on 11 March 1900. 

Lucy Brading never married and died in Masterton on 11 June 1961.

Walter Brading was born in 1877 at Castlepoint. He died in Tinui, aged 8, on 8 October 1885 and is buried in Tinui Cemetery.

BRADING--On the 8th instant, at Tinui, Walter, the only son of F. Brading, aged eight years and six months; deeply regretted.
Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 October 1885

Sources:
Wairarapa Archive
Papers Past
Tinui Parish Minutes
English census and marriage information, Ancestry.com