NINETY YEARS OLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21702, 18 January 1934, Page 10

NINETY YEARS OLD

AUCKLAND-BORN WOMAN The distinction of being , one of the oldest surviving white-women born in Auckland is possessed bv Mrs. Margaret Jane Willetts, of 42 Lake Road, Devonport, who will be 90 years old to-day.

Mr«. Willetts is a daughter of tha late Mr. John McQuoid, who arrived in Auckland in 1840 from Sydney, and who subsequently commenced farming in what is now the Mount Eden and Epsom district. She was born in St. Andrew's Road and was one of the first scholars at St. Andrew's Church, Epsom. She was christened at the old St. Paul's Church, at the top of Shortland Street. Queen Street was then little more than a gully and Shortland and High Streets contained most of the business premises. Mrs. Willetts was first married to Mr. Richard Blackwell, who took up farming at Cievedon and Brookby, returning to Auckland about 1887. Thero are eight children, Mr. David Blackwell, of Glenmore, Mr. George Blackwell, Hawera, Messrs. Albert and Edwin Blackwell. Sydney, Mrs. B. Gravson, Mount Eden, Mrs. M. Grant, Waikato, Mrs. J. S. Fleming, Cantbridge, and -Mrs. H. S. Clist, Devonport. There are 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.