Biography

EMMA THOMSON

Burial register ID: 7124
Surname: THOMSON
First name: EMMA
Middle names:
Gender: Female
Age: 41 Years
Cause of death: Unknown
Burial type:
Date of death: 22-Jul-1894
Date of burial: 24-Jul-1894

Block: 138
Plot: 8
Inscription:

On the larger monument:-

IN MEMORY OF

MARGARET JUSTINA THOMSON

BORN AT EDINBURGH 12th AUG. 1813

DIED AT DUNEDIN 27th NOV. 1889

AND OF HER HUSBAND

WILLIAM THOMSON

BORN AT DUNDEE 8th MAY 1811

DIED AT DUNEDIN SEPT. 4th 1897

ALSO OF

EMMA ALLAN

WIFE OF GEO. M. THOMSON

BORN AT DUNEDIN 20th SEPT. 1832

DIED 21st JULY 1894.

AND OF

ELIZABETH ANNA

THEIR DAUGHTER

BORN AT DUNEDIN 29th AUG. 1887

DIED 26th OCT. 1909.

FLORENCE JANE

DAUGHTER OFGEO. M. THOMSON

DIED 29th JULY 1886

AGED 10 MONTHS.

ETHEL MARGARET

DAUGHTER OF Wm. THOMSON

DIED 10th JUNE 1890

AGED 16 MONTHS.

On the smaller monument:-

IN

LOVING MEMORY

OF

ELLEN HARRIET THOMSON

WIFE OF

GEORGE STUART THOMSON

DIED 4th AUGUST 1918

AGED 37 YEARS

ALSO

JOHN GILBERT THOMSON

1911 – 1989

Bio contributor: C Begg

Emma Thomson (1852 – 1894)

Emma was part of a large and successful farming family living at “Hopehill” on the Taieri Plain. Her father was James Allan and she had many brothers and sisters – Dick, Joe, Jim, Will, Alec, Harry, Agnes Jean and Effie.

She first met her future husband, George Malcolm Thomson, in 1871 in Dunedin when she was nearly nineteen and a pupil at a girls school. They also saw each other at Knox church.

They married at “Hopehill” on 26 December 1876. Through a marriage settlement arranged between the Allans and Thomsons a house was provided for them in Dunedin.

Both Emma and George enjoyed music and played and sang together. Emma had also won a music prize at school. She went on botanical excursions with George and helped him find new ferns for his collection.

When George became master of the Otago Boys High School boarding establishment, he and Emma moved in there in January 1878 to receive the boarders. Emma saw to the staff and attended to the list of washing, cleaning and mending for her own household and the round of calls expected of a lady in her social position.

She attended meetings with George and joined a group of ladies who met regularly for literary evenings where great books were discussed.

In July 1878 their first child was born, William Malcolm, and then in July 1881, James Allan, named after Emma’s father.

When George was accidently shot in the foot by a pupil while teaching school cadets in September1882 he was unable to work for four months. Emma helped George in his study of crustaceans. During this time she had all the burden of the boarding house and gave birth to another son, Stuart. Later on she had daughter, Florence. Unfortunately this child died at 10 months in 1886 when Emma had to leave her with a nurse for a few nights. Two more children were born also, Annie in 1887 and John in 1892.

1892 was a difficult year again as George’s foot was troubling him again and Emma once more looked after the boarding house for the months that he was not at work. She became very unwell and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. After a long illness she finally died on 21 July 1894.

Reference:

Galbreath, Ross. “Scholars and Gentlemen Both, G M and Allan Thomson in New Zealand

Emma Thomson (1852 – 1894)

There are 9 Interments in this grave:

Surname First names Age Date of death Date of burial
STRANG MARGARET STEVEN 32 Years 03-May-1906 05-May-1906
THOMSON ELIZABETH ANNA 22 Years 26-Oct-1909 28-Oct-1909
THOMSON ELLEN HARRIETT 37 Years 04-Aug-1918 07-Aug-1918
THOMSON EMMA 41 Years 22-Jul-1894 24-Jul-1894
THOMSON ETHEL MARGARET 16 Months 10-Jun-1890 13-Jun-1890
THOMSON FLORENCE JANE 10 Months 29-Jul-1886 31-Jul-1886
THOMSON GEORGE MALCOLM 84 Years 25-Aug-1933 28-Aug-1933
THOMSON MARGARET JUSTINA 76 Years 27-Nov-1889 29-Nov-1889
THOMSON WILLIAM 86 Years 05-Sep-1897 07-Sep-1897