Biography

Elizabeth Eason nee Stone

Elizabeth was born on 19th Dec 1858, in Weston, Portland, Dorset, England, the youngest of three daughters of Robert and Charlotte Duke Stone, nee Hansford. Robert died in 1860 and Charlotte in 1865 and the girls were cared for by relatives. Eventually they all came to New Zealand. Elizabeth, aged 13, came with her sister Anne, aged 15, on the Roslyn Castle (in the care of the captain) which sailed from London on the 6″ February 1871 and arrived at Port Chambers on the 2nd June 1871. Both girls were listed as domestic servants. They joined their Hansford. relatives, who were well known carpenters in Port Chambers at that tirne.

Elizabeth is believed to have worked for a dressmaker in Dunedin before her marriage to Charles Robert Eason on 13th September 1877 at the house of Alfred Marrett, Arthur Street, Dunedin. The officiating minister was Josiah Wardf. Witnesses were Flora A Sharp, dressmaker, the Glen, near Dunedin and Alfred Marrett, carpenter.

It appears Charles and Elizabeth moved about for a number of years as their first son Charles was born at Green Island on 15th June 1878, and second son Albert was born at Hina Hina in the Catlins on 4th April 1880. Daughter Edith Jane was born in South Dunedin on 24h Nov 1881, followed by Daisy Myrtle, 28th Aug 1883, and Eva Maud, 24th Aug 1885, both being born in Kaikorai.

Charles and Elizabeth had bought property in the Kaikorai Valley where they milked cows and kept poultry and the family attended Kaikorai School.

Elizabeth died in her home at Maori Hill on 271h Dec 1887 aged 29 of Phlebitis and failure of heart caused by coagulation, leaving five children between the ages of 9 and 2.

She was buried in the Northern Cemetery on 29th Dec 1887