Biography

JOSEPH WHITAKER WOODCOCK

Burial register ID: 3560
Surname: WOODCOCK
First name: JOSEPH
Middle names: WHITAKER
Gender: Male
Age: 22 Years
Cause of death: Unknown
Burial type:
Date of death: 30-Dec-1881
Date of burial: 01-Jan-1882

Block: 32
Plot: 29
Inscription:

SACRED

TO

THE MEMORY OF

JOSEPH WHITAKER

WOODCOCK

FIREMAN NZR

WHO WAS KILLED BY ACCIDENT

AT KAIHIKU

30 DECEMBER 1881

AGED 22 YEARS

ERECTED

BY HIS FELLOW EMPLOYEES

ALSO OF

THOMAS HENRY WOODCOCK

FATHER OF THE ABOVE

DIED 17 JUNE 1880

AGED 54 YEARS

Bio contributor:

Joseph Woodcock was a stoker on a train that collided with a horse on the Kaihiku railway bridge on 30th December 1881. He was killed instantly when the engine, tender and seven wagons were derailed and he was crushed under the tender, at the age of 22 years. The Railway Department subsequently paid his widow the equivalent of six months of his pay. Joseph also had a government life insurance for 300 pounds, which was duly paid out.

(Details from the Otago Witness, Issue 1573, 7th January 1882; the Tuapeka Times of 4th January 1882; the Otago Witness, Issues 1574, 14th January 1882; 1583, 25th March 1882; and 1589, 6th May 1882.)

There are 2 Interments in this grave:

Surname First names Age Date of death Date of burial
WOODCOCK JOSEPH WHITAKER 22 Years 30-Dec-1881 01-Jan-1882
WOODCOCK THOMAS HENRY 54 Years 17-Jun-1880 19-Jun-1880