Katie Halbert 1840-1913.
Wyllie Ancestry tree, 778 people - Catherine Wyllie descended from Kate's 1st marriage
Much of this came from Cerberuscoins Ancestry tree - but some now verified using the Teara & NZ Newspapers Past site
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1840 Kate (keita/Isabella) Halbert was born Tutoko, Waerenga-a-Hika, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, NZ to Thomas Halbert & Keita Kaikiri
"During the 1840s Halbert entered a fifth, more stable marriage, with Keita Kaikiri of Rongowhakaata, a close relative of Raharuhi Rukupo"
She was educated at the Auckland Mission School
"Kate Halbert was born probably at Tutoko, near Waerenga-a-hika in Poverty Bay, in the early 1840s. She was the daughter of the trader Thomas Halbert and his fifth wife, Keita Kaikiri (Kaikeri). Through her mother she belonged to Ngati Kaipoho of Rongowhakaata and was descended from Te Hukaipu. Kate became an acknowledged authority on the lore of Rongowhakaata, and was therefore later able to be a persuasive advocate for her people at Native Land Court hearings in Gisborne. She moved in both Maori and Pakeha worlds, protecting her mana and interests through determination and skill in debate and discussion."
"Kate is said to have been educated at the Anglican mission school at Waerenga-a-hika. According to family tradition, on 14 August 1854 she married James Ralston Wyllie. He was from Ayrshire, Scotland, and had been employed by the trader Captain G. E. Read. Kate Wyllie was also known as Keita Waere (Waera). She and James Wyllie were to have six sons and three daughters. The family had a farm at Tutoko until 1865, when it was devastated in the local fighting between Hauhau followers and government forces. In compensation, pro-government Maori gave them land in the Kahanui block. In November 1868 the family was warned in time to escape when Te Kooti and his followers struck at Matawhero, killing 54 people (including more than 20 Maori) and taking many prisoners. However, her son William was killed at Manutuke in a raid by Te Kooti in December.
In the following year Kate Wyllie was one of 17 owners who sold land at Turanganui to the government for the site of the township of Gisborne. According to the judgements of the Poverty Bay Commission in 1869, she was among the owners of 13 blocks of land, including the 19,200-acre Whataupoko block and the 9,000-acre Repongaere block. Kate Wyllie addressed the court several times in support of land claims, including land at Te Rahui, and the Kaiaua block. She was well known as a forceful and effective conductor of cases. Disputed land at Tutoko was also awarded to James Wyllie.
In the early 1870s Kate Wyllie lived in Gisborne and built a house, now known as Wyllie Cottage, across the Taruheru River from the township. James Wyllie died at Gisborne on 19 December 1875. On 9 June 1881, at Wellington, Kate married Michael Joseph Gannon, a licensed interpreter, and was sometimes known as Keita Kenana. They had two sons and two daughters. In March 1883 Michael Gannon appeared in the Native Land Court claiming on his and Kate's behalf that land he was living on at Whataupoko had been conveyed to him by Wi Pere (Keita's half-brother), Riperata Kahutia and W. L. Rees, the trustees of the block. However, the case was lost by the Gannons. In 1893 they moved to Auckland, where Michael Gannon worked as a mining agent and later as an interpreter.
In 1906 Kate became involved in a controversy with Pimia Aata (Euphemia Arthur) over the identity of Te Ratu, the man described in Captain James Cook's 1769 journal as the paramount chief of Turanga. Pimia claimed he was her ancestor. Kate did not dispute that Pimia had an ancestor named Te Ratu, but held that the one referred to by Cook was the great-grandson of Te Hukaipu and the ancestor of Heta Te Kani and not of Pimia. The dispute was conducted in the pages of the journal Te Pipiwharauroa, and on occasion, by public dispute in the streets of Gisborne.
Kate Gannon predeceased Michael Gannon; she died at her daughter's house in Remuera, Auckland, on 4 February 1913. She is remembered as a woman who sought to defend her rights and those of her people." - from N.Z. Teara site
1855. Kaita Halbert married James R Wyllie and had 9 children by him until he died in 1875. These children were: William 1855,; Hannah 1857; Flora 1859; Gavin Ralston 1862; Alex 1863; James 1865; Nigel R 1867; Kate R 1871 & William 1875
1860. Kaita Wyllie was a successful Advocate in land claims Their farm was devasted and they received land at Kahanui
1879. Arthur Te-whata was born to Michael & Kate
1880. Kate was already known as Kate Gannon: a report of 21/12/1880 in the Poverty Bay Herald has her up in Court in Tutoko for menacing behaviour to natives. She was committed to trial
1881. Isabella Kate Wyllie/nee Halbert married Michael Joseph Gannon on 9/6/1881 in Wellington, NZ
1881. Eleanor Gannon was born Gisborne on 8/12/1881 to Michael, 29, licensed interpreter, & Katie , 39. This record would give his birth ~1852 , but would also have her being born in Dec 1841- early December 1842
1882. Resident in Gisborne 31/5/1882.
1893." In 1893 they moved to Auckland - from Tutoko, Gisborne - where Michael Gannon worked as a mining agent and later as an interpreter".
1900. Michael Joseph Gannon, licensed interpreter, was living Ring Terrace, Auckland, with his wife, Kate
1911. Michael Joseph Gannon, clerk, was living McMurray Road, Remuera, Parnell, Auckland . At the same address, Kate Gannon,married, c/o R. B. Young??
1913. Katie Gannon died 4/2/1913 in Remuera. A death notice in the Poverty Bay Herald, announces her death in Remuera as one of the eldest residents of the region: it was placed by her children Mesdames Pavitt & E. Stevens, and Messrs A R & GR Wyllie of Gisborne- NO Mention of her husband! . She was buried
Purewa Cemetery
Meadowbank, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Plot | Area E, Row 48, Plot 153 |
Maybe a photo on Cerberus Ancestry tree
Kate GANNON formerly WYLLIE and her granddaughter Leah GRESHAM
In loving memory of
Kate GANNON
Died 4th February 1913
Aged 70 years
He giveth his beloved sleep
And of Leah
Beloved infant daughter of
Hugh and Eleanor GRESHAM
Sleeping
Block E Row 48 Plot 153
Married 1stly James WYLLIE [3]
Married 2ndly Michael Joseph GANNON (Isabella Kate [sic]) c1881 [5]
It seems that the grave was opened in 1918 to place Leah Constance GRESHAM aged 1 day who died on 21 August with her grandma Kate but the grave was never repaired.
Leah was daughter of Eleanor [aka Nellie] Rewanga nee GANNON and Hugh GRESHAM who married in 1907. Eleanor born 1882 was the daughter of Kate Isabella and Michael Joseph GANNON
Hugh Gresham served in the Boer war with the 8th Contingent and was the eldest son of Thomas GRESHAM, Coroner of Auckland.[6]
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12974, 5 February 1913, Page 2
GANNON – At Remuera, Auckland, on February 4th, Kate Gannon, beloved mother of Mesdames Pavitt and E. Stevens, and Messrs A.R. and G.R. Wyllie, of Gisborne; one of the oldest residents of this district [1]
Kate was the wife of J GANNON,a well known reporter and Maori interpreter**.
Another article states her husbands name is Michael Joseph GANNON[4]
Native land court 1880
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
Court case of alleged forcible entry involving Kate
December 1880
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
and
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1284, 30 March 1881, Page 2
1881 Connected with 302 acres more or less, part of Whataupoko Block, known as “Mangapapa,” Poverty Bay, in occupation of applicant.[2]
** Michael was appointed interpreter under the Native Lands Act in November 1877
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
1890 considered bankrupt
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...
Michael Died 19 November 1922 and is buried not far from Kate in Block E Row 48 Plot 82