My Webb/Furley Story Matilda, Mary and Elijah settled in New Zealand at various times between 1842 and 1855 and there are many descendants living in New Zealand. Matilda married Samuel Furley at Oldham, Lancashire in 1835. They had three daughters, Matilda (1850 married to William Henry Hayers, Sarah Ann (1852) married to Isaac Wilson-mariner from Orkney (my line) and Mary (1853) married to Farrell They each had children. Matilda Furley owned property in Onehunga and was very successful in business. (Ref Bio Matilda Webb/Furley NZ Archives) In addition she had shares in the Montezuma Gold Mine Company (Papers Past Daily Southern Cross 14 August 1869 Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 She died in Onehunga on 22nd Oct 1899. Somewhere, I have read that Matilda commenced work in her father's woollen mill in Dursley when she was aged about 12 In the 1841 Census Mary was also described as a Female Servant in the Westminster home of John Bridges, a tailor. I was unable to find her in the Middlesex section of the 1851 Census but she is said to have married a William Birch around 1850. Unfortunately, I was not able to find him in any Census They had two children, William Jacob (1851) and Matilda (1853) but unfortunately William (the father) died from Diabetes shortly after Matilda's birth, .Mary was left a widow with two small children to care for. This situation prompted Mary's elder sister Matilda to arrange for the family to come to New Zealand and they duly sailed from London on board the immigrant barque "Joseph Fletcher". They arrived at Auckland on 18th. Oct 1855. On 13th Jun 1857 Mary married Nelson Spaulding at Old St. Paul's, Onehunga. Who had arrived on the William-Ship: 596 tons-Captain: C McPhee-Surgeon Superintendent:Sailed San Francisco January 21st 1853 - arrived Auckland April 2nd 1853-Reference: The New Zealander/April 6th 1853 -NB I think there may a error on the William ship's list as he appears as SPALDEEN They had one child who died at the age of 6 years of Scarlet Fever. Nelson was involved in a boating accident on the Manukau Harbour in 15 August 1866 Ref Papers Past DSC 15 August 1866 Ferry "Mystery" Onehunga 10 Drowned. He was Ref Papers Past NELSON SPAULDING NATURALIZED-DSS 3 March 1863 P5 Mary died in Auckland on 30th Mar 1885, aged 65 years. One thing that I find somewhat strange is that Mary and her two children appear on the passenger list of the "Joseph Fletcher" as Webb's, not Birches. This story is continual so if anyone can add anything to it feel free to do so. Elaine Mattsen nee Wilson