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Charles and Mary Cowie Nichols
Our story begins with a tragic accident. On the 21st of May 1878, Charles Nichols was thrown from a horse-drawn stagecoach while travelling from Palmerston to Moeraki in the Otago Region of New Zealand.[1] The vehicle had been travelling on a hilly section of Horse Range, when the kingpin came loose [6], sending the carriage careening down the slope. Charles was fatally injured, and it was not long before a telegram reached the offices of Dalgety, Nichols & Co. in Dunedin."Break to Mrs. Nichols, gently ; Nichols badly hurt. ... since dead."[2]Charles was buried in the Northern Cemetery of Dunedin, the city where he had lived. He was 50.
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| Photo source: Timothy Nichols |
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| Photo source: National Library of New Zealand |
While working in Launceston, Charles met and married Mary Cowie on 15 July 1858 [17]. It was the first marriage to be held at Holy Trinity Church (Cressy)[8]. Mary was born in Lauceston on 13 June 1837 to Robert Cowie and Juliana Luthman [9]. They lived at Brookstead, Avoca, Tasmania[18]. Mary was one of four children.
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| Photo source: Mundia |
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| Photo source: Mundia |
The Children of Charles and Mary Cowie Nichols
Mary Cowie and Charles Nichols had nine children.
1. Joseph Cowie (1859-1954)
Colonel Joseph Cowie Nichols, CBE, VD, JP, married Helen Hunter Ayre in 1890, and had six children. On completion of his education at Jesus College, Cambridge, England (1879-81), he returned to New Zealand and bought the Kuriheka estate in 1885. He was awarded a CBE on 4 October 1918 [19] for his service as Commander of the Otago Mounted Rifle Brigade and Commander of the Otago Military District from 18 August 1914. Joseph and Helen lost two sons to the bloodbath of the First World War, Private Joseph Nichols, who is buried at Rouen, and Lieutenant Cyril Robert Nichols.
2. Mary Beatrice (1861-1953) was born on 18 February.[13], and married Hans Thomas Fell White.
From July 1895, the moved to Springfort Hall from Bellevue House, Mallow. Mary Beatrice died on Jersey.
3. Charles (1863-1914), J.P., was born in Launceston, Tasmania on January 2nd.[12] He purchased the Brookstead Estate (Duntroon, NZ) in 1889 [not to be confused with Brookstead, Avoca, Tasmania][see 18], and became an exporter of lamb. He was educated at Christ's College Grammar School (Christchurch, NZ) and Jesus College, Cambridge (England). He married Jessie Mayhew of Scotland in 1900.
4. Emily Maud Tots (1865-1955) married Richard Blair White on 25 September 1886.
5. Ada Marion (1866-1955) married Sir Walter William Adrian MacGeough Bond in 1901. They lived at the Argory, Northern Ireland.
6. Arthur Robert (1868-1888), received some his schooling in England, and returned to New Zealand to help his brother, Joseph, to farm. He died of drowning at 19 years of age, and is buried with his father.
7. Septimus (1870-1950) married Elvira Mary Smith on 23 January 1895 at Holy Trinity Church. It was described as a fashionable wedding, and his brother Harry was the best man.[20] The following year, he purchased Palmerston at Cressy[14]. They had three daughters.[16]. Septimus died at the age of 80, and was cremated at Carr Villa Cemetery in Launceston, but his remains were buried in Cressy's Holy Trinity Anglican Church Cemetery[15]
8. Walter Henry "Harry" (1872-1915) died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Loos (Hulluch). After being posted missing, it was later learned that he had been captured. He is buried at Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany. He was a Major in the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry.[10] He also served in the Boer War, and attended Jesus College, University of Cambridge, England.
9. Cyril Thornton (1874-1953) born at Dunedin, New Zealand. St. Andrew's Memorial Church (Maheno, New Zealand) was built by a benefaction given by Cyril. He was living in St. James, Westminster, London in 1901, and in Hove, Sussex in 1881 with his brother Harry (Walter Henry).[24]
The 1881 UK census shows Mary living in Hackney, Middlesex, in the household of Henry George Erith. He was the husband of Isabel Belle Nichols, a sister of Charles Nichols (i.e. Mary's sister-in-law). Apparently, Mary also spent some time in Dresden, Germany.[23] Eventually she settled in Kilbrack House, Doneraile, County Cork, Ireland. [see this blog: The Nichols Family. Part Two, November 2013]
The three watercolours shown below were painted by Mary Nichols. They are studies of the interior of her home, Kilbrack House. Depicted on the wall of no.1 (upper right-hand corner) is An Oriental Woman: Fatima also by Mary Nichols. Some of her other paintings in the National Trust Collection can be seen here. These are reproduced by the kind permission of Chris Rooney, the great great grandaughter of Mary Nichols.
Notes
Colonel Joseph Cowie Nichols, CBE, VD, JP, married Helen Hunter Ayre in 1890, and had six children. On completion of his education at Jesus College, Cambridge, England (1879-81), he returned to New Zealand and bought the Kuriheka estate in 1885. He was awarded a CBE on 4 October 1918 [19] for his service as Commander of the Otago Mounted Rifle Brigade and Commander of the Otago Military District from 18 August 1914. Joseph and Helen lost two sons to the bloodbath of the First World War, Private Joseph Nichols, who is buried at Rouen, and Lieutenant Cyril Robert Nichols.
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| Photo source: Dix Noonan Webb |
2. Mary Beatrice (1861-1953) was born on 18 February.[13], and married Hans Thomas Fell White.
From July 1895, the moved to Springfort Hall from Bellevue House, Mallow. Mary Beatrice died on Jersey.
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| Photo source: Ancestry.com |
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| Photo source: Mundia |
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| Photo source: Cyclopedia of New Zealand |
4. Emily Maud Tots (1865-1955) married Richard Blair White on 25 September 1886.
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| Photo source: Ancestry.com |
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| Photo source: BBC |
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| Photo source: BBC (painted by her mother) |
6. Arthur Robert (1868-1888), received some his schooling in England, and returned to New Zealand to help his brother, Joseph, to farm. He died of drowning at 19 years of age, and is buried with his father.
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| Photo source: Timothy Nichols |
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| Photo source: Ancestry.com |
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| Photo source: Find A Grave |
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| Photo source: Mundia |
Emigration to Europe
After the sudden death of her husband, Mary made the life-changing decision to move her family to Europe. On 5 May 1879, almost a year after Charles' death, Mary and her children boarded the SS Stad Haarlem [22] for Plymouth, England, a journey of about two months. The following is from the passenger list published in the Press (Canterbury)[21]. |
| SS Stad Haarlem: photo source: Clydebuilt Ships Database |
The three watercolours shown below were painted by Mary Nichols. They are studies of the interior of her home, Kilbrack House. Depicted on the wall of no.1 (upper right-hand corner) is An Oriental Woman: Fatima also by Mary Nichols. Some of her other paintings in the National Trust Collection can be seen here. These are reproduced by the kind permission of Chris Rooney, the great great grandaughter of Mary Nichols.
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| 1. Kilbrack House. Interior by Mary Nichols |
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| 2. Kilbrack House. Interior by Mary Nichols |
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| 3. Kilbrack House. Interior by Mary Nichols |
Notes
[1] Reported in the local newspapers: Otago Times 3 June 1878 ; The Argus 29 May 1878 ; Otago Witness 15 June 1878 ; Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston) 3 June 1878. See also:
[2] Otago Daily Times 22 May 1878 ; Otago Witness 25 May 1878
[3] The Peerage. His father was Joseph Nichols, who died 7 June 1864. He was one of 13 children.
[4] South Australian Register 14 February 1849 (name spelled as Nicholls)
[4] South Australian Register 14 February 1849 (name spelled as Nicholls)
[5] Launceston Examiner 23 May 1878
[6] Otago Witness 25 May 1878 (uncertainty surrounds the actual cause)
[7] Timothy Nichols. A Short History of Cressy [see note 8 below] p. 26. It is noteworthy that S.W. Silver and Abraham Scott, as the London Chairman of the National Bank of Australia, knew each other, both being members of the Board of Directors of India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Co. See Electrical Review vol. 16 (1885). Both were members of the Royal Colonial Institute. How far back one can project their acquaintanceship is difficult to judge, but it may be that Charles Nichols came with a letter of recommendation from Silver to his new employer.
[8] A Short History of Cressy and Bishopsbourne by K.R. von Stieglitz.
[9] Robert arrived in Tasmania in June 1828 on the Sarah (Tasmania's Heritage) ; Juliana arrived 19 September 1829 on the North Briton Tasmanian News 13 Oct. 1829.
[10] Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13973, 31 December 1915, Page 4
[11] Launceston Examiner 8 August 1928.
[12] Australia: Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981
[13] Australia: Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981
[14] Palmerston was one of the finest homesteads in northern Tasmania built by Thomas Archer.
[15] Drawing of the church by Emily Bowring 1859. (Mary Cowie's sister, Emily Stuart Cowie married Edwin Bowring.). Launceston Examiner funeral (15 Nov 1950) announcement ; Obituary (14 November 1950)
[16] Lucy Mary Molly [Nichols] Sessions, Margaret Elvira Madge [Nichols] Jackson, Nancy Maude [Nichols] Scott-Young. Two, Lucy and Margaret, moved to England, See also: Launceston Examiner 24 May 1947 ; Examiner 30 April 1947.
[17] See also: The Courier 19 July 1858 ; Cornwall Chronicle 21 July 1858 ; The Argus 22 July 1858
[7] Timothy Nichols. A Short History of Cressy [see note 8 below] p. 26. It is noteworthy that S.W. Silver and Abraham Scott, as the London Chairman of the National Bank of Australia, knew each other, both being members of the Board of Directors of India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Co. See Electrical Review vol. 16 (1885). Both were members of the Royal Colonial Institute. How far back one can project their acquaintanceship is difficult to judge, but it may be that Charles Nichols came with a letter of recommendation from Silver to his new employer.
[8] A Short History of Cressy and Bishopsbourne by K.R. von Stieglitz.
[9] Robert arrived in Tasmania in June 1828 on the Sarah (Tasmania's Heritage) ; Juliana arrived 19 September 1829 on the North Briton Tasmanian News 13 Oct. 1829.
[10] Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13973, 31 December 1915, Page 4
[11] Launceston Examiner 8 August 1928.
[12] Australia: Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981
[13] Australia: Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981
[14] Palmerston was one of the finest homesteads in northern Tasmania built by Thomas Archer.
[15] Drawing of the church by Emily Bowring 1859. (Mary Cowie's sister, Emily Stuart Cowie married Edwin Bowring.). Launceston Examiner funeral (15 Nov 1950) announcement ; Obituary (14 November 1950)
[16] Lucy Mary Molly [Nichols] Sessions, Margaret Elvira Madge [Nichols] Jackson, Nancy Maude [Nichols] Scott-Young. Two, Lucy and Margaret, moved to England, See also: Launceston Examiner 24 May 1947 ; Examiner 30 April 1947.
[17] See also: The Courier 19 July 1858 ; Cornwall Chronicle 21 July 1858 ; The Argus 22 July 1858
[18] Drawings of Brookstead 1839 by Emma von Stieglitz ; 1855 by JC (Julia Cowie). Emma was the sister of Mary Cowie's father, Robert: see Tasmania Itinerary chap. 21, p. 343-44. Emma married John Lewis von Stieglitz.
[19] London Gazette 4-10-1918. CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. St. James's Palace, S.W., 4th October, 1918. The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in and appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services in or for the Oversea Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates, in connection with the War. The appointments to date from the 3rd June, 1918: -- DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND. To be Commanders of the said Most Excellent Order. Colonel Joseph Cowie Nichols, Officer Commanding Otago Military District.
[20] Launceston Examiner marriage announcement 25 Feb 1895.
[19] London Gazette 4-10-1918. CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. St. James's Palace, S.W., 4th October, 1918. The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in and appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services in or for the Oversea Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates, in connection with the War. The appointments to date from the 3rd June, 1918: -- DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND. To be Commanders of the said Most Excellent Order. Colonel Joseph Cowie Nichols, Officer Commanding Otago Military District.
[20] Launceston Examiner marriage announcement 25 Feb 1895.
[21] See also SS Stad Haarlem
[22] The Ships List
[23] Dresden is in the State of Saxony. Mary Nichols had family connections with Saxony through her paternal aunt, Emma Cowie, who married John Lewis von Stieglitz (see [18]), and her paternal uncle, John Anthony Cowie, who married Charlotte Christine von Stieglitz. Their father (Heinrich Ludwig von Stieglitz 1762-1824) and grandfather (Christian Ludwig von Stieglitz (1724-1772) belonged to the nobility of Saxony, holding a baronial title. Heinrich Ludwig von Stieglitz moved to Ireland in 1802, and married Charlotte Atkinson of Armagh, where their children were born. John Lewis von Stieglitz returned to Ireland in 1852.
[24] 1881 UK census shows Harry 8 years old and Cyril 6 living with Amelia B. Broach and Louisa H. Broach. This is Amelia Bethia Brock and Louisa Harriet Brock, daughters of Frederick George Brock, who was appointed coroner of Tasmania in 1859, and presumably a friend of the Nichols family.
Of Interest
Grant of Arms to the descendants of Robert Cowie: Emily Stuart and Mary Cowie
Early Van Dieman's Land, 1835-1860 by Emma von Stieglitz
Sketches in early Tasmania and Victoria by Emily Bowring. See LINC Tasmania catalogue
Kuriheka War Memorial
F. G. Dalgety and the making of an Australian pastoral house by Ann McMurchy
Dalgety and Company Limited: jubilee souvenir, 1884-1934
MacGeough Bond Papers (Public Records Office, Northern Ireland)
[22] The Ships List
[23] Dresden is in the State of Saxony. Mary Nichols had family connections with Saxony through her paternal aunt, Emma Cowie, who married John Lewis von Stieglitz (see [18]), and her paternal uncle, John Anthony Cowie, who married Charlotte Christine von Stieglitz. Their father (Heinrich Ludwig von Stieglitz 1762-1824) and grandfather (Christian Ludwig von Stieglitz (1724-1772) belonged to the nobility of Saxony, holding a baronial title. Heinrich Ludwig von Stieglitz moved to Ireland in 1802, and married Charlotte Atkinson of Armagh, where their children were born. John Lewis von Stieglitz returned to Ireland in 1852.
[24] 1881 UK census shows Harry 8 years old and Cyril 6 living with Amelia B. Broach and Louisa H. Broach. This is Amelia Bethia Brock and Louisa Harriet Brock, daughters of Frederick George Brock, who was appointed coroner of Tasmania in 1859, and presumably a friend of the Nichols family.
Of Interest
Grant of Arms to the descendants of Robert Cowie: Emily Stuart and Mary Cowie
Early Van Dieman's Land, 1835-1860 by Emma von Stieglitz
Sketches in early Tasmania and Victoria by Emily Bowring. See LINC Tasmania catalogue
Kuriheka War Memorial
F. G. Dalgety and the making of an Australian pastoral house by Ann McMurchy
Dalgety and Company Limited: jubilee souvenir, 1884-1934
MacGeough Bond Papers (Public Records Office, Northern Ireland)
