BIOGRAPHY
Ernest Edwin Rushbrooke, the second son of Alban Rushbrooke and Charlotte Norton, was born on 10 February 1859 in
Scoulton, Norfolk, England. Ernest's mother died in childbirth before he was a year old. As a child Ernest suffered from poliomyelitis and walked with a limp. Edwin's father was a farmer and the April 1881 Census he reported farming 374 acres, employing 13 labourers and 2 boys. However, by August 1881 Alban was bankrupt, with his property being sold in October 1881. Many smaller farms in Norfolk were severely affected in the 1870s and after by a long depression of the agricultural economy.
Ernest was living with his father and step-mother in April 1881 when the Census was taken. He worked for his father on the farm. After his father went bankrupt Ernest and his older brother Alban moved to
Great Ellingham, Norfolk and took on Bury Hall, a substantial property on the outskirts of the village. Ernest married Ellen Sarah Wright on 30 September 1884 in
Great Ellingham. Ernest and Sarah had six children while living at Bury Hall, and appear to have lived comfortably. Sarah's sister Mary lived with the family and was employed as mother's help and a general domestic servant also lived with the family.
In 1897 Ernest, Sarah and their six children migrated to New Zealand on the
steamship Gothic. Mary Alice Wright and James Wright, Sarah's sister and brother, travelled to New Zealand with the family. It is thought that Ernest's father Alban insisted that Ernest migrate because he disgraced himself by getting his sister-in-law Alice pregnant. Ernest prohibited his family from making contact with relatives in England, and it was 100 years before contact was established again. On arrival in New Zealand at Wellington, the family immediately travelled on to Auckland on the steamship Te Anau.
Soon after their arrival in New Zealand Mary Alice Wright, Sarah's sister, gave birth to Ernest's daughter Mary Louisa Rushbrooke. Mary Louisa was brought up as part of Ernest and Sarah's family. Mary went to live with her brother James at Remuera. James Wright worked for the Farmers Trading Company in Auckland and he supported Mary.
Despite his previous comfortable life, Ernest did not have much money and had to find employment on arrival in New Zealand to sustain the family. Ernest found employment as a share milker at Kihikihi. His first venture in New Zealand was a farm on the outskirts of Hamilton, now used as a golf links. This was followed by successive farms in the Waikato at Taupiri (1901-1905), Te Aroha, Kihikihi (1911) and Te Mawhai (1914). The farm at Te Mawhai near Te Awamutu was 130 acres. Ernest built a house from clay and straw. Ernest and Sarah sold the Te Mawhai farm to their sons in 1929.
The Evening Post on 8 March 1899 provided a report of Ernest's impressions of living in the Waikato based on a letter sent to friends in Norfolk.
Mr. E. E. Rushbrooke, of Beerescourt, Hamilton, after being a year in the Waikato, writes a most cheery letter to his friends at Norfolk, who have forwarded the communication to the local papers, and they think that Mr. Rushbrooke is "not sorry he left Norfolk for a colonial life." In his letter he says:- "I am very pleased with the colony. I only wish I had come before I lost so much of my capital. There is a very good chance for any young man in this part with a small capital if he will work and we can grow anything. If any of my old friends ask how I am getting on, tell them that I am glad I am away from 'pay and pay, and nothing for self."
In 1912 Ernest chaired a meeting of residents to discuss matters relative to railway station improvements and roads. The meeting resolved that an application be made to the Minister of Railways to have the name of the Te Puhi railway station changed to Te Mawhai; so as to be the same as the post office. The station's name was subsequently changed. The meeting also requested that the station have a a loading bank, cattle yards, caretaker and goods shed. A goods shed was added in 1915 and improvements for stock loading were made in 1929.
In 1918 Ernest and Sarah retired and moved to Te Awamutu. After Sarah died in 1934, Ernest moved to Te Aroha where he resided until his death. Ernest died in Waikato Hospital, Hamilton on 27 April 1940. Both Ernest and Sarah are buried in Te Awamutu Cemetery.
OBITUARY
MR E. E. RUSHBROOKE.
After a residence of about forty four years in New Zealand, the death occurred at Waikato Hospital last Saturday of Mr Ernest Edwin Rushbrooke, a former resident of Te Awanrutu and district, and very highly respected in the community.
Mr Rushbrooke was born at Scoulton, in Norfolk, England, and came to New Zealand in the ship Gothic in 1896. Brought up to farming, he was not long in realising conditions in this country. His first venture was a farm on the outskirts of Hamilton, now used as a golf links; then he removed to Taupiri, and successively to Te Aroha, Kihikihi, and Te Mawhai, improving each holding, for he was a diligent and practical farmer. He retired from activities in 1918 to live in Te Awamutu, and was frequently to be seen about town or on the bowling green, until a leg injury compelled him to abandon that pastime. Six years ago Mr Rushbrooke removed to Te Aroha, where he resided until failing health just recently caused him to remove to Waikato Hospital.
His wife predeceased him by several years, as also did three members of the family - Mrs Westgate, Kihikihi; Mr A. G. Rushbrooke, Te Aroha; and Mr E. E. Rushbrooke, who was killed in action at Gallipoli. Surviving members of the family are Mrs Roberts, Wanganui; Miss P. Rushbrooke, Te Aroha; Mrs Pearson, Patumahoe; Mr T. A. Rushbrooke, Te Mawhai; and Mr Jack Rushbrooke, Te Aroha. There are also 23 grandchildren ,and two great-grafndchildren. The funeral will leave St. John's Church this afternoon, interment being at Te Awamutu cemetery.
Source: Te Awamutu Courier, 29 April 1940, Page 4.
Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project
1859 - 1940 (81 years)
Has 20 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.
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