A Headstone for George and Elizabeth

George fought in the New Zealand Wars as a Forest Ranger, under the command of William Jackson.

Biographical Note from A History of the Forest Rangers by Richard Stowers. George Preston 1266 No 1 Company: 5 July 1864 - November 1867 (last known month of service) Private. Enrolled at Pukerimu, Cambridge. Residence Auckland. Age 28 years. height 5' 8" Hair colour Brown Eye colour Blue, Complexion Ruddy. Occupation Sawyer, Country of birth England, Religion Roman Catholic, Sworn in By Major William Jackson. Born 1834, Birmingham England. Received land: Town Lot No 30 (39) in Kihikihi and Farm Lot no 221 in Puniu. A Town allotment (Kihikihi) was one acre and a farm allotment for a Private was 50 acres (Puniu).

The men of the Forest Rangers (Also known as Jackson's Forest Rangers) were a collection of nationalities and occupations. There were bushmen, settlers, gold-diggers, sailors and professional soldiers, all young and self-reliant, ready for adventure. The Forest Rangers were accustomed to long periods of hardship in the bush, cut off from society and many times separated from other unites - operating independently in enemy territory. So when they touched on the fringes of civilisation, they were determined to find some relief from the drudgery of field work - and if allowed, usually pursued it till they ran out of money.

George also was a Gold Miner in Thames until the family settled in Kawakawa where he completed a lot of Council contracts for roading and covets.. etc.

Elizabeth was a feisty Irish lass who married George Preston in Howick on 10 August 1865. She was born in October 1844 in Armagh, Northern Ireland and came to New Zealand with her parents Thomas Wilson and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Murphy, Thomas was a Fencible from the Howick area. He, Lizzie and Elizabeth came to New Zealand on Free Passage on the "Sir George Seymour" arriving on 26 November 1847.

George and Elizabeth had 11 Children

Agnes Caroline born in 1866 who married Thomas Henry Sampson Rogers in 1887 (Ancestor of the Rogers Family thur Agnes Caroline and my Aunty Mary Elizabeth Ethel daughter of Charles Richard Preston who married Uncle Herbert Rogers) I.E Lawrence Rogers Gt Gt Gt Grandparents. Jillian May Edmonds (Jill) your Gt Gt Gt Grandparents.

James George born in 1870 who married Wilmott Jane Quick in 1896 (Gt Grandparents of Karen Chard )

Teresa Sara Mary Josephine born in 1870 who married Jacob Elwood Behm

William John born in 1875 who married Lydia Louden in 1899 (Gt Grandparents of Allysa Carberry Https://www.facebook.com/allysa.carberry)

Henry James born in 1876 who married Mabel Rose Louden in 1899 (Gt Gt Grandparents of Gayle Semmens https://www.facebook.com/gaylesemm )

Charles Richard born 1881 who married Ethel Florence Louden in 1899 (Grandparent of Julie Preston https://www.facebook.com/julie.S.preston1)

The above three brothers married three sisters on the same day at the residents of John Louden.

Alice Maria born in 1879 who married Thomas Fyfe in 1896 ( Gt Gt Gt Grandmother of Tricia Whipple Https://www.facebook.com/tricia.whipple )

Albert Thomas born in 1882 and died in 1883

Florence Elizabeth born in 1884 who married Ernest Parkes in 1905

Edward Thomas (Edwin) born in 1887 who married Jessie Morgan in 1913

Ethel Maud born in 1888 who married George Martin in 1919

If you would like a better idea of where you fit into our family have a look at the page findagrave link above.

As you can see, George and Elizabeth have contributed to our family’s settlement in New Zealand and we as a family would like to acknowledge this.

We would like to raise money to do this for them and if funds are available after that, for others of our wider family who also don't have a headstone

This is a joint project by

Tricia Whipple

https://www.facebook.com/tricia.whipple

Allysa Carberry

https://www.facebook.com/allysa.carberry

Gayle Semmens

https://www.facebook.com/gaylesemm

Julie Preston

https://www.facebook.com/julie.S.preston1

If you would like to know more go to my/our web sites. I will gladly grant you access to this site below so you can see where you fit or even tell me/us where you fit if you are not there.

https://juliep.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=juliep