OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 305, 23 November 1932, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MRS RACHAEL GILMOUR.

A long life of 90 years was brought to a close on Monday by the death of Mrs Rachael Gilmourj the deceased having been able to claim that she was among the first children to be born in Nelson. Unfortunately, the early history of the deceased is to a large degree unknown for, although twice married, there we re no children of either marriage. She was the daughter of the late Mr James Epps, who was well-known as one of the, early nurserymen of the Dominion, and who propagated the apple which is to-day known sas Epps’s Seedling. Her first husband was Mr Merritt, who was a steward on boats touching at New Zealand and Australian ports, and it is thought that Mrs Merritt accompanied her husband on his voyages. On one occasion when in Sydney Mrs Merritt was trapped in a building which caught fire and she was compelled to jump from an upper storey. In her flight to. earth Mrs Merritt struck a man, who sustained a broken shoulder, whereas Mrs Merritt escaped serious injury, although she suffered severe burns prior to making her exit from the building. Following upon her second marriage—To Mr James Gilmour —deceased went to Dannevirke to reside in 1890, and she continued to live in that centre for a period after the death of Mr Gilmour in 1911, then coming to Palmerston North. Throughout her long life Mrs Gilmour enjoyed wonderful health, and up to within six weeks of her death she was able to get about quite freely, while she retained all her faculties right to the end. A brother of deceased, Mr George Epps, who was a goldminer in Nelson, married Miss Husbandman, a sister of Mrs J. Christie, of Palmerston North. Mr Epps, however, predeceased his sister. The only known relative of deceased is Mr R. Gilmour, of Foxton, a foster-son.