CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27064, 12 June 1953, Page 2

CENTENARIAN’S DEATH

MRS MARGARET WILSON, OF PAPATOETOE

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 11. Mrs Margaret Wilson, formerly of Thames, died at Papatoetoe today at the age of 101. She was born at sea on February 29,1852. The daughter Of Mr and Mrs James Norries, who came from Edinburgh, Mrs Wilson was one of nine children born in the ship Inchirinan during a voyage to New Zealand. On the same trip 22 persons, including 21 children, died of measles. Mrs Wilson was brought up at Onehunga, and in 1872 went to Thames after marrying Mr Robert Park Wilson, a gasworks engineer. When Mr Wilson’s health deteriorated after an accident, Mrs Wilson took a book-keep-ing course and helped him with his office work. She took charge of the gas company’s books after her husband died, arid held this post from 1901 to 1936. .

An active member of the St. John Ambulance Association from the time of its inception in Thames in 1905, she received a certificate from King George V in 1918 in recognition of her services in the First World War. She was decorated in 1940 as a Serving Sister of the Venerable Order of St. Jbhn of Jerusalem.

After living in Thames for 74 years, Mrs Wilson left the town in 1946 to live in Papatoetoe. She lost her sight for reading some years ago, but derived great enjoyment from the radio and from the Institute for the Blind’s talking-book.