Family Names

The 'Morgan' family has been an integral part of early New Zealand settlement history in the Taranaki and Wanganui regions since 1850.

But what of the Morgan women? They married and created lineages that blend into what I consider to be the complete picture of our family history. Understanding our family connections provides answers to how some of these family names came to be part of our heritage. Many of these surnames come up as 'middle' names passed down through generations - and in isolation appear random or strange (Coombes, Elvins, Penfold).

COOMBES

COOMBES is the maiden name of our great-great-great grandmother Miriam (COOMBES) MORGAN and COOMBES is the middle name of her great grandson.

William Coombes MORGAN (1857-1934) - great uncle (uncle Willie)

Miriam COOMBES (1807-1873) was born on 15 June 1807 at Gillingham, Dorset, England. Her parents were John COOMBES (1743-1819) and Rachel GRAY [GREY] (1773-1864). The fifth child of eight children, her siblings were: Joseph COOMBES (1791-) [may have died at/after birth]; Stephen Fox COOMBES (1794-18679); John COOMBES (1799-1879); James COOMBES (1802-1876); Charlotte COOMBES (1808-1846); William COOMBES (1810-1810); and Caroline COOMBES (1813-1878).

Miriam (aged 21 years) married Edmund MORGAN (1800-1876) on 26 February 1829 at the Parish Church of St. Mary’s in Gillingham. They had twelve children (four died at birth/infancy) including our great-great grandfathers John MORGAN (1829-1916) and William MORGAN (1831-1857), who were the first of the family to emigrate to New Zealand in 1850. Both Edmund and Miriam were to follow their sons to New Zealand, emigrating in 1865 on the ship Chapman.

Miriam died on 12 December 1873 aged 66 years and is buried at at the Heads Road Cemetery (Old Public Cemetery) with her son William and husband Edmund.

Miriam COOMBES

ELVINS

ELVINS is the maiden name of our maternal great-great-great grandmother Elizabeth FAULL (1804-1874) and pops up as a middle name in several of our ancestors.

Mary Elvins MORGAN (1833-1905) - great-great grandmother
William Elvins MORGAN (1857-1934) - great-great uncle
William Elvins Spiers (Inky) MORGAN (1893-1968) - first cousin 2x removed

Elizabeth ELVINS (1804-1874) was born on 16 April 1804 at St. Ewe in Cornwall, England. Her parents were John ELVINS (1775-1839) and Elizabeth JAMES (1776-1838), and siblings - older brother John ELVINS (1803-1844), and younger sister Catherine ELVINS (1811-1880).

Elizabeth married Richard FAULL (1803-1844) on 12 February 1826 at St. Ewe in Cornwall, England. They had five children: Richard (1829-1860); Catherine (1830-1903); Mary Elvins (1833-1905); Elizabeth (1835-1912); Henry (1836-1909); and Nathaniel (1840-) [no records of Nathaniel can be found - he may have died at/after birth]. The FAULL's emigrated to New Zealand in 1841, on the barque William Bryan, and are one of the early immigrant families to settle in New Plymouth.

New Plymouth in 1841 was an early immigrant settlement, without any of the amenities (lodgings, shops) or infrastructure (roads) prevalent back in England. The family lived in a tent until secure lodgings could be found/built. Husband Richard, miner by trade, died not long after their arrival (1844), leaving Elizabeth to raise the five children alone.

Elizabeth died on 15 July 1874 aged 70 years and is buried at New Plymouth with her husband Richard, and son also named Richard (1829-1860), at St Mary's Anglican churchyard, Row 5 - plot 70.

Daughter, Mary Elvins FAULL (1833-1905) married John MORGAN (1829-1916).

Elizabeth (ELVINS) FAULL

FAULL

Richard FAULL (1803-1844), our maternal great-great-great grandfather, was born on 28 February 1803 at Redruth in Cornwall, England.

His parents were William FAULL (1763-1843) and Christian [Christiana] HONEY (1766-1817). Richard was the youngest of six siblings - Henry Honey (1787-1836); William (1791-1850); Thomas Honey (1794-1863); Anne (1796-?) [may have died at/after birth]; and Nathaniel (1797-1860).

Richard married Elizabeth ELVINS on 12 February 1826 at St. Ewe in Cornwall, England. They had five children: Richard (1829-1860); Catherine (1830-1903); Mary Elvins (1833-1905); Elizabeth (1835-1912); Henry (1836-1909); and Nathaniel (1840-?) [no records of Nathaniel can be found - he may have died at/after birth].

Richard, listed on the ships passenger list as a miner, emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and five children in 1841 on the barque William Bryan. This was the first immigrant vessel to arrive at New Plymouth - organised by the Plymouth Company (its parent being the New Zealand Company), hence the city’s name ‘New Plymouth’.

Richard died on 9 July 1844 aged only 31 years. His cause of death is unknown. He is buried at New Plymouth with his wife Elizabeth, and son also named Richard (1829-1860), at St Mary's Anglican Churchyard, Row 5 - plot 70. Richard FAULL is the fifth name in St. Mary's Burial Register and his grave is the oldest 'identifiable' grave at this cemetery.

His daughter, Mary Elvins FAULL (1833-1905) married John MORGAN (1829-1916).

GARNER

The Morgan's have two connections with the GARNER family.

The GARNER family, John and Mary, arrived in Wanganui from the ship ‘Surprise’ in 1841. John was both butcher and the first Wanganui Chief Constable. An ardent Methodist, John was referred as ‘Father of Wanganui’, and generally considered to be one of the first European's to set foot in Wanganui. John and Mary had three children: Thomas John Tyrell, Lucy, and William.

Ellen Eleanor (Helen) PENFOLD (1839-1878) was younger sister of our great-great grandmother, Hannah PENFOLD (1834-1906). Ellen married Thomas John Tyrell GARNER (1831-1864) in 1857 – they had four children, Thomas died in 1864. Ellen married a second time to Joseph CROZIER (1846-1883) in 1870, having an additional four children between them.
Elizabeth Miriam MORGAN (1858-1937), older sister of our great grandmother Charlotte Mary (Lotte) MORGAN (1860-1933), married Noah Baker GARNER (1859-1920) in 1885. Noah was the son of William Edmund GARNER and Elizabeth PICK [and grandson of John and Mary GARNER]. Elizabeth and Noah had four children.

Elizabeth Miriam (MORGAN) GARNER

GERSE

John Ivo GERSE (GUILLEMIJN) is the second husband of our paternal great-great grandmother Hannah PENFOLD.

After the sudden and tragic death of our great-great grandfather, William MORGAN (1831-1857), his wife Hannah remarried John Ivo GERSE (1822-1899) on 1 June 1858 at St Paul's Anglican Church, Wanganui. John, was born at Wakken, West-Vlaanderen (Belgium) in 1822, and was a well-known veterinary surgeon in Wanganui and the surrounding district for many years. He arrived in Wanganui in 1853, at one time was 'Mine Host' at the Ship Hotel [located on Taupo Quay] and prior to his death, Inspector at the Aramoho Freezing Works - only resigning due to ill-health.

Children of Hannah and John Ivo GERSE:

Collette Storme Jeanette Victoria Maria GERSE (1859-1931) – married Charles LOMAX; died in Australia.
Beatrice Frances Mansell GERSE (1860-1860) – died aged 6 months.
Ferdinanda Henerika Penfold GERSE (1861-1946) – never married; buried at Wanganui alongside her mother and father.
Caroline Emily Louisa GERSE (1863-1948) – married William Henry CLAPHAM; buried in Wanganui.
Charles Long Ferdinand Storm GERSE (1865-1866) – died aged 10 months.
Euphemia Hannah Mansell GERSE (1867-1962) – married Jabez William Mace LUXFORD; buried in Wanganui.

John died on 29 November 1899 aged 77 years and is buried at at the Heads Road (Catholic) Cemetery (Old Public Cemetery). His death leaving our great-great grandmother, Hannah, a widow for the second time.

Author's note: Sadly, I grew up without any knowledge of the GERSE side of the family. The children of Hannah and John are our great-grand uncles and aunties. My research suggests the Gerse's were a much adored side of our family, and my guess [could be wrong] is that the middle name of our great uncle 'Jack' is a nod to John Ivo GERSE.

John Ivo (Jack) MORGAN (1894-1965) - great uncle

[1] Some narratives suggest Hannah and John Ivo GERSE married some 3-4 years after William's death - I believe this to be incorrect as Hannah and John's first daughter, Collette, was born on 14 March 1859.

John Ivo GERSE