Ann Lidiard

The Histories

The Histories of the Stevens—Croot Family Heritage

Ann Lidiard, the only child of John Clark Lidiard and Ann Kearaki, was born on 4 July 1837 at Bluff; her parents having recently moved there from Otago Heads where Lidiard had worked as a whaler for Johnny Jones. Ann was 7 years old when her parents were married in a European ceremony officiated by Bishop Selwyn on 3 February 1844. Ann’s mother Kearaki died a few years later around 1848 and was buried in Bluff. After her mother’s death, Lidiard brought Ann to Riverton where he worked for Captain Howell.

When Ann was just 14 years old she married James Lee at Ruapuke Island on 16 August 1851. James Lee drowned two years later and was buried at Riverton.

A year later Ann married Edward Thomas Stevens on 13 August 1854—also at Ruapuke Island. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. J. F. W. Wohlers, a German Lutheran missionary, and registrar of births, deaths and marriages of Foveaux Strait. Wohlers had also officiated at her first wedding. James Spencer and John Parker were witnesses to the marriage. Ann was 17 years old.

Little is known of the early married life of Ann and Edward Stevens except that, like her first marriage, it was short lived. Edward Thomas Stevens died in January 1857, six months before the birth of their son. Twenty years and four days after her own birth, Ann brought Edward John Stevens into the world at her home in Riverton on July 8, 1857. He was to be her only child.

Two years later Ann married for a third time to William Thomas at a ceremony in Invercargill on 14 December 1859. This time the marriage was performed by the Registrar J. W. Blacklock. It was the second marriage solemnized in Invercargill.

There is some evidence to support the fact that Ann may have gone by the name Nancy. An account on page 20 of the reference text states:

Ann (Makee) Lidiard (1837—1900)

‘The Pauline children, then two in number—Mary and Ann, little Amelia Johnstone, Nancy Lennard* (the late Nancy Thomas and mother of Mr. E.J. Stevens, Hekeia), Anne Williams, the late Mrs George Pauley, a half-caste boy called “Johnny” formed the younger portion of the happy household of Mrs Paulin. ‘ [*EDITOR’S NOTE: probable misspelling of ‘Lidiard’]

This has been substantiated in the account of John Clark Lidiard’s life on the website:www.myancestorsstory.com by a line that states:

‘In July 1837 Kearaki gave birth to a baby girl, Ann, known as Nancy.’

Little else is known of Ann Lidiard, except that she took in the child of Captain Raymond and Mary Ann Paulin (the niece of Richard Stevens—her second husband’s father).

It is possible that Ann raised the boy, Ronald, along with Edward John and appeared to spend her time between her home in Riverton and Wrey’s Bush where her father, John Lidiard was the overseer of Captain Howell’s run. Ann returned to Riverton in 1863 and then the family moved to Otaitai Bush in 1864.

There is no account of life after this time. Ann died on 27 April 1900 and was buried at Riverton. She was 62 years old.

Edited excerpts from pp 44-45
“RECORDS OF EARLY RIVERTON AND DISTRICT” 1937

Ann Lidiard’s listing in the Blue Book of
“Ngai-Tahu Kaumatua Alive in 1848”

Getting wed was a dangerous business. A couple wishing to marry were obliged to go across Foveaux Strait in an open boat to Ruapuke Island, the Rev. J.F.H. Wohlers being the only person in the far south at that time authorized to solemnize a marriage.

A dreadful accident occurred on 7 December 1858 when a wedding party of 6 took a boat from New River. The boat was upset on the bar and all drowned.

In July 1857 Captain Raymond was married to Mary Ann Paulin at Ruapuke, being the second wedding from Jacob’s River that winter. To this marriage was born a child, Mrs Raymond dying not long after. The boy—Ronald—was taken in by Ann Lidiard Stevens who was probably still feeding Edward John at the time.

Ronald grew up into a fine young man and in time found congenial employment with a survey party. Unfortunately he met his death in the discharge of his duties when crossing a river in the Lake Wakatipu district while still in his early twenties.

Ronald Raymond

The Perils of a Ruapuke Wedding