Death of Husband of Centenarian

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 4

Death of Husband of Centenarian

The death occurred at Waikouaiti yesterday of Mr George Williamson, husband of Mrs Annie Williamson, one of Otago’s two centenarians. Last September, Mr and Mrs Williamson celebrated the seventieth anniversary of their wedding, and more recently, during the centennial celebrations, their home was visited by Mrs O. E.

Nielsen, the Auckland centenarian, who flew to Dunedin to take part in the 100th anniversary of Otago, and Mrs Susan McFarlane, of Dunedin, who celebrated her 102nd birthday last Saturday. Born at Walls, in the Shetland Islands, Mr and Mrs Williamson were childhood sweethearts. As a girl, Mrs Williamson went to live in Scotland after her father’s death, and in those years Mr Williamson sailed with his parents to New Zealand. It seemed to both of them the end of their little romance, but Mrs Williamson was determined to follow. In 1876 she reached New Zealand in the ship Dunedin, and on September 21. 1877, they were married at Waikouaiti by the Rev. John Christie. When he came out to New Zealand, Mr Williamson took up farm work. For many years he worked on the Shag Valley Station, and later in Waikouaiti, where he lived for 60 years.