The Men of the Maxton Family

Good news today. I've finally made contact with a living descendant of the Maxton family of Wairarapa so we have found a home for at least some of the photos. He is going to try to ID the photos I've already posted and then we'll work on the rest of them next year.

The photos today are of very fine looking gentlemen.

• Subjects: Unknown
• Photographers:
• 1 & 4) William Brickell Gibbs, Lambton Quay, Wellington, NZ
• 2 & 3) W H Clarke, Lambton quay, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown, probably late 19th century
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

• Subject: Walter Maxton born 1 Oct 1857
• Photographer: Wrigglesworth & Binns, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Late 19th century
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

Joseph Earle & Rosa Elizabeth Maxton

I've been able to identify a few more photographs from details written on some of them and a little bit of research into the NZ BMD records.

Rosa Elizabeth Maxton, daughter of Samuel Maxton of Greytown, was born in 1848 in Wellington, her birth registration was recorded as Elizabeth Rosa but on her marriage it's recorded as Rosa Elizabeth. She married Joseph Earl (Earle) in 1870 and although I haven't researched their children they had at least one son and one daughter. From what is written on the back of this photo I'm presuming this is Rosa.

 

• Subject: Rosa Elizabeth Earle nee Maxton
• Photographer: Unknown
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

This one I'm presuming is Joseph Earle, a fine figure of a man. The photo is in such bad condition that if I rubbed it between my fingers I'm sure it would just disintegrate!

• Subject: Joseph Earle
• Photographer: Connolly & Herrmann, Lambton Quay, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

These two I think are younger versions of the same man. Interesting to note that the first photo was taken in Melbourne.

• Subject: Joseph Earle
• Photographers: Burman's, Melbourne, Australia & W H Clarke, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

One more by an unknown photographer of the same man, or is it?

Lastly these two delightful children, luckily with details on the back. A scan of the boy was very kindly sent to me by Barry Cash of Once Again Images after I recognised the background as being the same as the one in the photo I had.

 

• Subject: C W Earle
• Photographer: Deveril, Wellington, NZ
• Date: April 1881
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

• Subject: Henrietta S A Earle
• Photographer: Unknown
• Date: May 1888
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

I can't quite decipher the scribbled word on this photo but I suspect it could be the name of the photographer who took the first one - Deveril although it looks more like Derverily.

Lots more unloved photographs after Christmas including some lovely ones that were found in a tip! I'm taking a few weeks break to enjoy our summer weather with my husband over the holidays but I'll be back next year. Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year everyone.

Mr & Mrs Richard Wakelin of Greytown, New Zealand

Another couple of photographs identified through a little online research.

• Subject: Richard Wakelin                                   Subject: Mary Wakelin nee Record
• Photographer: Davis & Co, Cuba St, Wgtn           Photographer: Davis & Co, Cuba St, Wgton
• Date: Unknown, before 1881                              Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ                                        Found: Wairarapa, NZ

The only indication I had to start with was written on the back of Mary's photo - Mrs Richard Wakelin.

I found references to at least two Richard Wakelins in Wellington who could have been the right age plus a son Richard Alfred but still not sure which one Mrs Richard might have been. In the course of reading this in the NZ Cyclopedia:-

Mr. Richard Wakelin, the founder of the Wairarapa Standard, was born at Barnical Hall, Warwickshire, in 1816. Educated at Rugby, he left England for New York and Upper Canada on a temperance lecturing tour when only eighteen years of age. After twelve months he returned to Warwickshire, and commenced literary work. After another trip to America, he settled down to journalism in England, and while keeping a bookseller's shop in Coventry, edited the Temperance Gazette. In the Isle of Man he started a paper on Radical lines called The Cause of the People, but as the Newspaper Reform Bill required £500, he ceased publishing. Coming to Wellington with his wife and family in 1850 by the ship “Eden,” he became editor of the New Zealand Independent, and subsequently of the New Zealand Advertiser. Removing to Greytown, Mr. Wakelin edited the Wairarapa Mercury for three years. After starting the Wairarapa Journal, which lived only a short time, he founded and edited the New Zealand Mail for Mr. Thos. McKenzie, in Wellington. Mr. Wakelin again took the Mercury, changing its name to the Wairarapa Standard, which he conducted until his death in 1882, at the age of 66. His widow, who still survives at the advanced age of 84, resides with her son, Mr. R. A. Wakelin, in Greytown, Of the family—three sons and a daughter—one son lives at Greytown, and another, Mr. G. K. Wakelin, is the editor of the Newtown Advocate, Wellington. The eldest son, Mr. T. Wakelin, and the daughter, are dead. Mr. Wakelin published the History of Politics in 1877, and a pamphlet entitled Small Farms. He was of a retiring disposition, and took little part in public bodies.

and this article (have you noticed the clue yet? I didn't!):-

New Zealand Journalism and Journalists.
Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 23, 2 July 1894, Page 20

Many present-day newspaper men may not remember Richard Wakelin, for thirteen years have rolled by since the King of Terrors took him to the realm where contributors cease from troubling, and (let us hope) poor editors are at rest. Richard Wakelin is generally regarded as " The Father of New Zealand Journalism," and it is appropriate that he should take the first place in this series of sketches. He was born in Warwickshire, England, 22nd December, 1815 (actually 1816), and at the age of eighteen visited America, where he gained much information respecting American institutions. On his return he published the tale of his wanderings in one of the English papers, and soon after was appointed editor of the Temperance Gazette, established by George Kenrick, at Birmingham. Mr. Wakelin afterwards started a paper on his own account in the Isle of Man, which obtained a fairly large circulation in England; but in consequence of a Bill being passed imposing postage on papers published in that place, he embarked for New Zealand in the year 1849, and landed in Nelson the same year (actually 1850). After a short stay he proceeded to Wellington, where, after many disappointments, he was engaged to report the proceedings of the Nominee Council for the Independent, of which journal he was appointed editor. After five years of newspaper work he purchased a farm in the Wairarapa. His literary tastes, however, were not conducive to successful farming and in the year 1859 he was appointed editor of the New Zealand Advertiser, a new paper just started, which had a successful career for five years under his guidance. He then became editor of ,the Wairarapa Mercury, but his greatest literary success was when he took over that paper some years later (1872) and changed its name to the Wairarapa Standard, and wrote with much vigor till a short time before his death hi 1881. Mr. Wakelin was generally acknowledged to be " The Father of New Zealand Journalism," although the late Samuel Rivans, Judge Chapman, Dr. Featherston,  Sir William Fox, and other public men were contributors to the Press of the colony previous to his arrival, but none of them followed up newspaper work as a profession. Mr Wakelin was the first to give the name of "Empire  City" to Wellington in an article he wrote some time previous to the seat of Government being shifted from Auckland to Wellington. He was almost single-handed in his endeavours to get liberal land laws, and was never tired of pointing out the advantages of small-farm settlements. His knowledge of the political history of New Zealand was second to none, and he was induced to write a small book called "History and Politics," and a pamphlet on "Small Farms and Small Farm Settlements," which have proved very useful for reference. G. W. Wakelin, a son of "The Father of New Zealand Journalism," was born in Willis street, Wellington, in 1851, was educated at the Te Aro School and afterwards at Toomaths Grammar school on the Terrace. He was apprenticed to the printing trade in the office of the Wairarapa Mercury, the first paper printed in the Wairarapa district, by Messrs Greig Bros., and under the editorship of the late Richard Wakelin. After a varied experience in many offices in the North Island, he took over the management of the Wairarapa Standard for his father, and during the latter's illness became editor of that journal. On his father's death he removed to the Manawatu district, and worked on the Manawatu Standard as reporter and overseer, and for a time edited the Patea Evening News. He came to Wellington in 1885, and for some years worked in the Government printing office, at the same time contributing, articles and letters to various papers. His aspirations and natural talents being in a literary direction, in 1889 he applied for and obtained the editorship of the Pelorus Guardian, a paper just being started by a company, and which, under his literary guidance for the last four years and a-half, has been a power in the district. Mr. Wakelin during his life in the country watched the progress of settlement, and in consequence wrote with confidence on the land question, besides holding advanced ideas on all social, and political questions. [We should like to have reproduced Mr. Wakelins " counterfeit presentment," but, unfortunately, the photo to hand is not suitable for the purpose.]

It finally clicked! I've highlighted the clue in red! Yes it's the name of the book that Mrs Wakelin is holding in the photograph. I still didn't know who the photo of Richard was until I found this picture of them both in the NZ Cyclopedia and I realised I also had his photo.

Richard was the son of Joseph Wakelin and Mary nee Nole born 22 Dec 1816 bap 5 Jan 1817 at Bulkington. Richard Wakelin married Mary Record at Bulkington on 17 Jun 1839. They had three children baptised at Bulkington - Mary 16 Mar 1841, Elizabeth 9 Jan 1842 and Tom 2 Sep 1843. Two more children - Richard Alfred c1846 and Mary L c1848 - were born before the family left England to migrate to NZ in 1850.

Barque: "Eden"
Captain: Alexander Murdoch
Surgeon Superintendent: Mark Kebbell
Sailed from the Downs 8th June 1850 - arrived various
Wakelin Richard 33 Gardener arrived Nelson
Mary 38
Elizabeth 8 
Tom 6
Richard A 4
Mary L 2

Another son, the G K Wakelin mentioned in the above article, was born on 18 Oct 1851 in Wellington NZ.

Two of Richard's brothers, Thomas & George, also migrated to NZ with their families a few years later.

Mariner
Ship: 683 tons
Captain: Robert Harland
Surgeon Superintendent: John Latimer Parke
Departed London 11th February 1849 - arr Port Chalmers 5th Jun 1849, arr Wellington 12th Jul 1849. Wakelin Thomas 36 Wheelwright & Joiner arrived Wellington
Jane 29
Mary Jane 4 months

Admiral Grenfell
Barque: 500 tons
Captain: William McClellan
Departed London, Gravesend 14th May 1853 - arrived Port Nicholson, 12th August 1853
Wakelin ? (George) 
Wife  
Child - Damarus Owen-Born at Sea

In the course of my research I found a few more Wakelin family photos on this website, one of them is the son of Richard & Mary, Richard Alfred apparently known as Alfred.

I also found this house at 123 Main St, Greytown, built in 1872 for Richard Wakelin to replace an older, smaller cottage built in the first years of Greytown, on one of the original town acres of the Small Farms Settlement. Another photo of 123 Main St.

And this one at 75 Main St, an imposing building built for the Bank of New Zealand in 1875 by R A Wakelin, and the town's principal bank until its closure in 1997.

Richard Wakelin died 2 Dec 1881 at Greytown and Mary followed 15 years later on 21 Dec 1896.

I hope this has been of interest & If there are any descendants out there who would love to have these photographs please get in touch with me.

One last note: Richard is the grandfather of the well known Australian artist Roland Shakespeare Wakelin 1887-1971.

More on Charles William Davies

Remember these two photos?

I posted these back on 4 Dec thinking they might be the same woman and wondering if she was the Elizabeth Tinney who married Samuel Maxton's son Mark.

I thought it was too much of a coincidence for the name of the photographer (F Davies of Dawlish in Devon) to be the same surname as the Davies family so set about looking for him in the census. Sure enough here he is in 1861:-

1. 1861 Census
2. 12 Portland Place, Dawlish, Devon
3. Fredrick Davies head 35 Photographer born Clerkenwell, Middlesex
4. Jessie Davies dau 11 scholar born St Brides, Middlesex
5. Clara Davies dau 9 scholar born St Brides, Middlesex
6. Fredrick Davies son 8 scholar born St Brides, Middlesex
7. Harriet Johnson cousin 35 housekeeper born Stoke Newington, Middlesex
8. © ancestry.com

Frederick turns out to be Frederick Peter Davies the brother of Charles Wm Davies. Fred Peter Davies was born c1826 in Clerkenwell, he married Jessie Peters in the 3qtr of 1848 West London RD. They had three children - Jessie Maria 1849, Clara Matilda 1851, Frederick A 1852.

The two brothers also had two sisters, Caroline Anne c1820 and Emily Susannah 1837. Caroline married Charles Doubble/Double in 1845, they had 3 children, Henry Thomas c1848, Caroline Dinah 1851 and Emily Maria c1856. Emily Susannah may have married either Thomas Bell or Samuel Smith in 1860.

None of which tells me who the woman is in the F Davies photo above but it seems that it most probably isn't Elizabeth Tinney who married Mark Maxton. She may be related somehow to Fred Peter Davies the photographer seeing the photo turned up in New Zealand.

Update on Charles Frederick Davies

Further to my post on 11 Nov I have further information on Charles. I previously thought he might have been the eldest son of Charles William Davies (married to Ann sister of Samuel Maxton) from a previous marriage because he was too old to have been Ann's son, which turned out to be the case.

Father Charles Wm had previously been married to Mary Ann Burrows in 1843 and they had two sons - Charles Fred born 1844 and William Samuel born 1846. Mary Ann was quite possibly the sister of Henrietta Burrows who was the first wife of Samuel Maxton although I haven't been able to confirm that suspicion. Mary Ann died sometime before late 1851 when Charles Wm married Ann Maxton. (6-4-09 - I found out later that father Charles Wm didn't marry Mary Ann Burrows. His first wife was Matilda Maxton, sister to his second wife Ann. Matilda was the mother of Charles Wm's first two sons.)

I also found the family in both the 1851 & 1861 which shows both sons still living at home. In 1861 father Charles Wm wasn't at home, haven't found him yet:-

1. 1851 - 1 Foxton Terrace, Islington, Middlesex
2. Chas Wm Davies head 29 Watch Maker (1 apprentice) born Clerkenwell
3. Ann Davies wife 32 born Clerkenwell
4. Chas F Davies son 6 scholar born Islington
5. Wm S Davies son 4 scholar born Islington
6. © ancestry.com

1. 1861 - 1 Foxton Terrace, Thornhill Rd, Islington St Mary, Middlesex
2. Ann Davies wife 39 wife of Master Watch Maker (emp 1 man 2 boys) born Clerkenwell
3. Charles F Davies son 16 watch maker born Islington
4. William S Davies son 14 company's clerk born Islington
5. Arthur Davies son 7 scholar born Islington
6. Florence Davies dau 5 scholar born Islington
7. Walter Davies son 3 scholar born Islington
8. © ancestry.com

I recently received more photos of the Maxton Family of Wairarapa and amongst them was this one:-

The details on the back are written in the same hand as the three previous photos of the Davies family plus the one above of Charles Frederick, the date is the same as on the photo of daughter Florence, also taken by the same photographer. I now believe her to be Ann Davies nee Maxton, second wife of Charles Wm Davies.

Even More on the Maxton Family of Wairarapa, NZ

• Subject: Unknown Young Women
• Photographer: Batt & Richards, Wellington, New Zealand
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

• Subject: Unknown
• Photographer: Mr William H Davis, Wellington, New Zealand
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

This couple could be the parents in the family photo posted yesterday, Mark & Elizabeth Maxton. And what about these two, do they look like the same woman?

• Subject: Unknown
• Photographer: F Davies, Dawlish, South Devon, UK
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

The one on the right looks like a younger version of the other one and they both look very much like the mother in yesterday's family photo.

The two outside ones definitely look like each other.

Then we have the four of her husband Mark, or are they all the same man?

In the end I have no idea if they are Mark & Elizabeth Maxton and their family or not - please someone put me out of my misery!

More on the Maxton Family of Wairarapa, NZ

I have more details on Samuel Maxton's second wife Susannah Martha Dunn. I hadn't noticed previously that Susannah came to NZ with her parents and siblings on the same ship that Samuel did!

• Birman
  Ship: 544 tons
  Captain: John Cleland
  Surgeon Superintendent: James Motherwell
  Sailed London 13th October 1841 - arrived Wellington 1st March 1842
• Dunn Susanna Martha 14 Sempstress
  Dunn William 38 Labourer - Ships Constable
  Mary Ann 37
  William Thomas 11
  Anna 7
  Walter 5
  John 9 months

Susannah Martha Dunn was born on 25 Aug 1827 & baptised on 16 Sep 1827 at St Leonards Church, Shoreditch, London, parents William Dunn and Mary Ann. William married Mary Ann Goodwin on the 4 Mar 1826 at St Leonards Church, Shoreditch. Other children for William & Mary Ann were:-

• St Leonards Church, Shoreditch, London
• William Thomas 16 Oct 1829 bp 8 Nov 1829
• Ann 16 Sep 1833 bp 1 Dec 1833
• Walter 27 Sep 1835 bp 10 Jul 1836
• St Luke Old St Church, Finsbury, London
• John 25 Sep 1840 bp 8 Aug 1841

The Dunn family were living at Apple Yard, St Luke, Finsbury in the 1841 census, father William's occupation was a Dyer.

So the photo I previously posted of Jack Dunn is most probably Susannah's brother John.

Now onto some of the other photos I have of this family.

First a family group photo:-

• Subject: Unknown Family at Ngaipu, Wairarapa, NZ
• Date: c1895 (guess)
• Photographer: Dr Wm Gunn
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

No names on it but if you hold the photo in a certain light you can see that this message has been written in pencil on a black background on the back:-

Taken at Ngaipu

by Dr Gunn a

missionary at the

New Hebrides.

Rev. Dr. William Gunn (1853-1935) was Presbyterian missionary on Futuna Island, New Hebrides 1883-1917, he died at Roseville, N.S.W. I haven't been able to ascertain when he might have been visiting NZ but working from his birthdate of 1853 one would presume it to be sometime in the late 1800s.

The place 'Ngaipu' was a little harder to find, not on any NZ map that I have and Google NZ Maps doesn't know it either! On further investigation I did find a bed & breakfast place named 'Ngaipu Station' which might very well be the same house that this family were staying in at the time of the photo. The shearers' quarters have been transformed into a bed & breakfast, you can see some lovely photos of it here. I was able to pin point it more or less to being about 3 kms from Hinakura on the way to Ngakonui on this map.

View Larger Map

None of that helped me find out who the family was in the photo though, so on to the next one.

• Subject: Elizabeth, Miss Malleson, Aunt Mary, Aunt Jim.
• Photographer: Thomas E Price, Masterton, New Zealand
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

Again it has been written in pencil on the black background on the back, very hard to see in a scan, it says:-

L to R

Elizabeth

Miss Malleson

Aunt Mary

Aunt Jim

Miss Malleson could be the children's governess or nanny.

• Subject: Polly, Jim, Bess/Bessie, Sandy
• Photographer: Unknown
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

Polly is a nickname for Mary, Bess/Bessie is Elizabeth. Not sure about Jim and Sandy but could be Jemima and Alexandra or Sandra although I'm fairly sure that Sandra didn't become a popular girls' name until much later in the 20th century. I originally thought these four girls were sisters but now I'm starting to think they are probably cousins, more on this later.

• Subject: Aunt Mary
• Photographer: Wrigglesworth & Binns, Willist St, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

Mary certainly looks like Polly in the previous photo and Aunt Mary in the one before that and is most probably the one sitting on the extreme right in the first family photo.

• Subject: Unknown
• Photographer: James Ring, Greymouth & Reefton, New Zealand
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

• Subject: Unknown
• Photographer: W H Clarke, Lambton Quay, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

This baby looks awfully a lot like a younger version of the young girl in the previous photo, up close they both have the same cupid shaped top lip. Is she Jim or Sandy or perhaps one of each?

• Subject: Unknown
• Photographer: W H Clarke, Lambton Quay, Wellington, NZ
• Date: Unknown
• Found: Wairarapa, NZ

Are these both the same young man, I think so, what do you think?

End of photos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had thought that the family photo was of Samuel & Susannah Maxton and their children but apart from the parents not really looking like the photos of them I previously posted the ages of the children just didn't fit with some of the years I have of when the children were born.

I'm now leaning towards the parents as being Samuel's son Mark and his wife the former Elizabeth Tinney. They had two sons and two daughters who I think are the four youngest children in the photo, the other three older girls are possibly Mark's three sisters. Mark & Elizabeth were married in 1882, the eldest boy looks to be about 10 or so which means the photo was probably taken around 1895 give or take a few years depending on when their first son was born.

From the Cyclopedia of NZ 1908.
Maxton and Co. (Mark Maxton), Advertising Contractors and Newspaper Brokers, General Agents and Valuers, Opera House Buildings, Manners Street, Wellington. Telephone 89; P.O. Box 65. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Tinakori Road. This business was established in 1893, in Grey Street by Mr Maxton, Mr. James Mander joining the firm in October, 1894, under the title of Messrs. Maxton, Mander and Co., but in October 1895 Mr. Mander retired, leaving Mr. Maxton in sole possession. Considering the short time elapsed since its inauguration, the business has made good progress, and it is still increasing rapidly. The agencies already secured include:—The Age, Leader, and Illustrated Australian News, Melbourne: Daily Telegraph, Sydney; Taranaki Herald, New Plymouth; Daily Telegraph, Napier; Wairoa Guardian, Napier; Egmont Star, Hawera; Waimate Witness, Manaia; Chronicle, Wanganui; Wairarapa Standard, Greytown; Eketahuna and Pahiatua Mail, Masterton; Wairarapa Star, Masterton; West Coast Mail, Otaki; Manawatu Daily Times, Palmerston; Kaikoura Star, Kaikoura; Evening Mail, Nelson; Times and Evening Star, Westport; Guardian, Havelock; Chronicle, Petone; also sub-agent for Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, and broker for Scottish Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, (Accident Branch). Mr. Maxton is very well known throughout the district, having spent the whole of his life in Wellington and the Wairarapa. He was born in Wellington in 1853. His father, the late Mr. Samuel Maxton, had settled in Wellington many years previously, having arrived per ship “Birman” in 1842. In 1876 Mr. Maxton, sen., removed to Greytown, where several members of the family are still resident. Mr. Mark Maxton was educated at the Church of England School, under Mr. Mowbray. After serving an apprenticeship to the business of a baker and confectioner with his father, he decided to learn the printing, and was bound for six years at the Government Printing Office, when that institution was a very small affair as compared with its present dimensions. On the expiry of his apprenticeship, Mr. Maxton went to Masterton for a few years, during which time he was employed as a jobbing printer on the staff of the Wairarapa Daily. He then returned to Wellington to assist his brother-in-law, Mr. W. F. Roydhouse in the establishment and conduct of the Evening Press. During the time he was thus engaged Mr. Maxton gained an experience of newspaper work which is now very useful to him. Unfortunately, when he severed his connection with the Evening Press, instead of at once turning his experience to good account, he returned to the Wairarapa. At first he engaged in storekeeping at Greytown, and did fairly well, working up a good trade with the Maoris; but, an opportunity offering, he purchased a flour mill near Greytown, and during his first year in the new line was so unsuccessful, through a misadventure, that he lost all his previous savings, and was obliged to make a fresh start. His many friends will be pleased to learn that he is again doing well. In connection with his agency business, he has a circulating library of over 3000 volumes, which, being so centrally situated, is well patronised. Socially, Mr. Maxton has been prominent for a long time. As a tenor singer in the old Choral Society, and in similar institutions, he has assisted in the performance of nearly all the oratorios which have been given in Wellington for the last twenty years. He was the inaugurator and moving spirit of a string band which did good work many years ago, and in which he played the double bass. In the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows he holds a number of important offices. He is a “past grand” of the Antipodean Lodge, for which and for the Juvenile Antipodean Lodge he is auditor; and of the Sister Wallis Lodge he is trustee. The acting-secretaryship of the Widows' and Orphans' Society is also in the hands of Mr. Maxton.

* * * * * * *

Mr. Mark Maxton was born in Wellington, and is the son of the late Mr. Samuel Maxton, who came to New Zealand by the ship “Birman,” in the year 1842. He was educated at the Church of England School, under Mr. Mowbray, afterwards served an apprenticeship to the bakery business under his father, and then learned the printing trade at the Government Printing Office. After completing his indentures he removed to Masterton, where he was engaged for a few years as jobbing printer on the staff of the "Wairarapa Daily Times.” He then returned to Wellington to assist his brother-in-law, Mr. W. F. Roydhouse, in the establishment of the “Evening Press,” but subsequently severed his connection with the paper, and found employment in Greytown as a storekeeper, and, later, as a flourmiller, until establishing his present business. Mr. Maxton has always taken a keen interest in public affairs, was a member of the borough council, and is a member of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board, and the South Wairarapa Hospital Trustees. He was the founder of the local bowling club, of which he was secretary for some time, for many years served as a volunteer, and in 1872 was appointed honorary lieutenant of the Wellington Rifle Volunteers. Mr. Maxton is local correspondent of the “Evening Post,” the “Dominion,” and the “Wairarapa News.” He married Miss Elizabeth Tinney, of Wellington, and has two sons and two daughters. Both sons are working for the firm.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found a couple of photos of Mark Maxton and comparing him with the father in the family photo I reckon I've hit the nail on the head, what do you think?

I still think I have gone wrong somewhere though because the ages of the various children in the various photos just don't seem to add up - perhaps the three older girls are not sisters of Marks but children of a sibling of his - more thinking upon needed!