Agnes MARSHALL ^9,10

  General Notes:

Agnes Marshall and Hugh Bower (Contributed by Glenys Kirby)

Agnes Marshall (my Great Great grandmother) married Hugh MacDonald Bower at the age of 18. The Rev Robbie Burns tying the nuptial knot.

Agnes was bom 13/5/1838 at Williamsburg near Paisley Scotland. Agnes was 9 when she came to N.Z. Hugh was born in Edinburgh.

The Bower family came to N.Z in 1849 on the Larkins.

Agnes and Hugh lived at Maori Hill. Hugh spent a short time digging for gold at Gabriels Gully. When their first child, Julia was two weeks old they moved to Greenfield where Hugh and his brother Joseph worked as shepherds for a Mr Jas Shand who had a run on the North bank of the Molyneaux. Later Hugh and Agnes farmed on land near Manuka Island which was situated above the township of Balclutha. The farm became known as Abetturf. They lived there until 1878.

Agnes and Hugh were residents of Balclutha when the big flood hit South Otago in 1878. / [p. 57]

Consider this report from the Clutha Leader on October the Ilth 1878.

"The churches and schoolrooms presented the appearance of immigration barracks on the arrival of a home-ship and many took refuge in Wangaloa, where needless to say they found a cordial welcome- The water from the submerged parts stood at from three to eight feet deep. On Tuesday morning the river made two breaches in the sand-pit, and thereupon the real work of destruction began. The water finding such ready means of egress, began to fall too rapidly, and tore up the river banks. Frightfully ... Everything is at a standstill and the district is put back at least two years through the flood."

Hugh a tanner by trade followed the occupation of wool-classing until the time of his death. He was connected with the old firm of Stewart and Gow (General providers)

Obituary Of Hugh McDonald Bower

The Late Mr Hugh Bower

We have this week to chronicle the death of one of the earliest settlers of Otago viz Mr Hugh Bower, who died at Balclutha on Friday evening. The deceased was born in Inverness shire Scotland, on 12th February 1830, and came to Otago 49 years ago by the ship Larkins. On arrival he commenced sawing in the Dunedin Bay, near to the site of the township of Ravensbourne and supplied timber for almost all the principal dwelling houses of Dunedin. He then went shepherding for a short time in West Taieri and subsequently built and started Mr A J Burns' sawmill at Mosgiel. Subsequently he leased Mr. Edward McGIashen's sawmill, Water of Lieth, which he wrought for a few years. Forty years ago he went to Greenfield as shepherd and a year afterward he purchased a farm on the river bank at Manuka Island Station. Here he remained for 20 years when he came to Balclutha where he resided ever since. Mr Bower married in 1856 and now leaves a widow and six of a family. The deceased has been in bad health for the past 12 years, the origin of his trouble being believed to have been an injury he received when making Mr. McGIashan's sawmill.

The deceased took no active part in public business although he was a keen observer of all that was going on. He was much respected in the community and his widow and family have a hearty sympathy in their bereavement.

Obituary of Agnes Marshall (Married Hugh MacDonald Bower)

Death

Bower. On the 17th February, at Balclutha, Agnes Bower, widow of the late Hugh McD Bower, aged 68 years.

Obituary Mrs Hugh Bower

Mrs Hugh Bower, an old and respected resident of Balclutha, passed away on Saturday morning, at the age of 68. The deceased went to Christchurch last Easter to visit her second son Hugh and while there had a stoke of paralysis, from the effects of which she never wholly recovered, and had been practically confined to her bed for the last six months. / [p. 58]

She was a daughter of Mr & Mrs Francis Marshall, was born at Williamsburg, near Paisley, and came out with her parents in the ship Philip Laing in 1848. They settled at Halfway Bush where her father died in 1887, Mrs Marshall being still alive and resident there.

Mrs. Bower was married in Dunedin at the age of 18, the rev Robt. Burns tying the nuptial knot. The young couple lived at Moari Hill for some time, and after Mr Bower had essayed gold digging for a short time at Gabriel's Gully came to the Clutha about 1868, Mr Bower having been engaged as shepherd for Mr James Shand, of the Taieri, who had a run on the north bank of the Molyneux, which was subsequently known as Greenfields Estate. Mr. Joseph Bower was associated with his brother in looking after the sheep. After 18 months Mr. & Mrs. Bower took up land near Manuka Island, calling their farm Aberturf. There they lived till just previous to 78, being resident in Balclutha during the big flood. Mr. Bower, who was a tanner by trade, followed the occupation of wool-classing until his death about eight years ago.

The deceased lady was of a kindly disposition, and was heartily liked and respected by all who knew her. She leaves six children to mourn her loss. They are Mrs. John Ramage (Balclutha), Mrs. Manly (Dunedin), and Messrs Frank (Balclutha), Hugh (Christchurch), Matthew (presently in Levin), and John, the youngest, who joined the colonial naval reserve in January 1905, and is at present one of the crew of the HMS Challenger. All the family were here yesterday with one exception. The funeral cortege included a number of the fast diminishing band of 'old identities'. Rev S Wilson Currie and F W Boys conducted the funeral services at the house and the graveside.

The Will of Francis Marshall Bower (4th child of Hugh Bower)

Probate No. 13943 Francis Marshall BOWER of Balclutha, Carpenter

Probate filed 1 February 1934

Will dated 27 November 1933 (Prepared by Stewart & Kelly, Solicitors, Balclutha)

Appointed wife Agnes Crawford BOWER to be sole trustee and executrix and left his property to his wife absolutely

Witnesses L M Burnett, Medical Practitioner, Box 10, Balclutha and G Kelly, Solicitor, Balclutha

Francis Marshall Bower died at Balclutha on or about 28 November 1933

Descendants of the Marshall family and Bower family : a collection of notes / compiled by Rod Asher with contributions from several family members. - Nelson : The Author, 2000, p. 56-58.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Baptised: 29 Nov 1851, Mavis Bank, Dunedin, By Rev Thomas Burns. ⁵⁸

Agnes married Hugh Mcdonald BOWER, son of David BOWER and Isabelles McDONALD, on 1 Aug 1856 in Halfway Bush, Dunedin ^10,56.^,57 (Hugh Mcdonald BOWER was born on 12 Feb 1830 in Edinburgh, Sct ^9,57 and died on 25 May 1897 in Balclutha, Otg, Nz ⁵⁷.)