Robert Brown and Esther Ann Galvan

The Brown's

Robert Brown and Esther Ann Brown (Galvan) with their 8 children

This photo was taken in 1917 when William had returned from Gallipoli and Charles was on final leave. Back row: Maida, Charlie, Maud, William, Robert, Ellen Front row: Harry, Robert, Esther and Joe.

Robert Brown was born in Ashburton in 1865 and came to Te Mata in 1888 - he married Esther in 1889. Esther was born on 10th January 1868 and passed away in Raglan on 26 Jun 1932 aged 64 years. Richard passed away on 17th December 1936 aged 71 years. Both Esther and Richard are buried within the Raglan Lawn Cemetery..

By 1895 Robert and Esther had purchased their first 250 acres of land. The land is still farmed by two of their grandchildren - Tim and Johnny Brown, until 2003. Johnny continues to own the original property while Tim and his wife Sue now own an adjoining property.

Esther's family

Esther was the 2nd child of Richard and Catherine Galvan - settlers to Raglan - to be born in New Zealand. Her elder brother Michael was their first to be born in New Zealand and he is my paternal great grandfather. Esther was just a small child when her mother Catherine passed away birthing her twins and it is believed that Esther was raised with the help of Harriet Moon, pictured below with her son Ernie.

Esther and Robert's Children

Robert and Esther had nine children – John, (1889) Ellen (1891), William John (1893), Robert Henry (1895), Charlie David (1898), Maud (1899), Maida Jane (1902), Joesph Joe (1903) and Harry Alphonso (1906). 

John Brown

Baby John was born on 21st November 1889 and died aged just 6 days old. His uncle John Brown delivered the news to the registrar on 28th November 1889.

Ellen Brown

Ellen was born in Te Mata on 2nd March 1891 and passed away on 14th April 1965 aged 74 years. She married Thomas Frederick Wightman in 1914. Ellen is buried in the Hamilton Park Cemetery. Thomas was born in Australia in 1882 and passed away on 2nd October 1942 aged 63. He is buried in row 10 at Kawhia Cemetery. He was employed as an overseer at the Public Works in Kawhia.

Ellen and Thomas had 11 children, two of whom were still born. Maud Mary 1916-1988, Grace Joan 1917-1998, Aileen Maida 1919-2005, Esther Lillian 1923-1995, Frederick Henry 1925-1996, a still born baby 1925, Richard Thomas 1929-2005, Joseph Robert 1931-1931 (4 days old), John Edward 1932-2016 and 1934 another still born. Francis Leopold was born out of wedlock to Ellen on 19th February 1910.

William John Brown (1893-1958)

William was born in 1893 and passed away in Wanganui on 28th November 1958 aged 65. He married Annie Grace McKay in 1921. They had a daughter Myra Brown. 

William served in WW1. He enlisted on 11th August 1914, upon enlisting he is recorded as a Bushman from Raglan district. On 16th October 1915 he sailed to Suez in Egypt. He returned home on board the RNZ Tahiti on 11th September 1915 and was discharged on 25th September 1915.  He became a police officer in Wanganui and his last address was 31 Ballance Street, Wanganui. William and Grace are buried together at Aromoho Cemetery in Wanganui.

Robert Henry Brown (1895-1918)

Robert Jnr died in the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 while he was working on the family farm in Methven. Robert was one of round 9,000 New Zealander's who lost their lives to the pandemic. It is believed that returning soldiers from WW1 brought the virus back to New Zealand. 

Charles David Brown (1897 - 1941)

Charlie was born on 24 December 1897 in Te Mata. Like many young lads of the time, Charlie lied about his age and enlisted serving in WW1. At 17 years, he was awarded the Military Medal. He returned to NZ and opened a business in Putaruru and married Jennie Tomalin. However he returned to service in WWII and was killed in action in the Western Desert North Egypt on 25th November 1941 aged just 43 years. He is buried at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery in Egypt. 

Charlies Service History

Charles served in HQ of 24th Infantry Battalion when first enlisted and was later the Officer in Charge of B Company. B Company was instructed to capture the summit of Point 175 near Tobruk and once on the sumit the Company came under fire. By nightfall there were 30 casualties, including Charlie. Wounded he insisted on limping back into action only to be fatally wounded the following day. 

WW1 - 15th November 1916 to 30th January 1917 he was stationed at Plymouth in Devon.
He sailed on the Maunganui as a Corporal in the 10th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion, G Company, NZ Rifle Brigade. He is listed as a painter from Opotiki when enlisting.

• He was awarded his Military Medal - London Gazette 16 July 1918 - "For conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally good work during operations on the right of Hebuterne on the morning of 27th March 1918. He led his section to the capture of a trench, and afterwards went forward into a sap occupied by the enemy, bombed them out and enabled two platoons to consolidate their recently won positions without casualties. His fearless conduct set an example to all ranks."

WW2 - Charlie was stationed as a Captain at the Military Headquarters, 24th Infantry, 2nd NZ Expeditionery Force, 3rd Embarkation. He served in Greece, Sidi Rezegh and Libya. He is listed as a hardware merchant when enlisting.

"Charlie's daughter Mona told me that between the wars he would go overseas (he was the Opotiki Post master) for weeks and never said where he was going. Once, he sent a telegra, telling his wife to pack up and move to Putaruru. She thought he was doing recon on the Japanese and that he perhaps thought that living on the coast was not safe." Aaron Brown

Charles is the close relative of three Anzacs from Te Mata who all feature on the Te Mata Hall Roll of Honor - his brother William John Brown and the cousins Constant Galvan and Alfie Galvan.

Maud Brown (1899 - 1968)

Maudie as she was known to her family never married. She ran the family farm in Te Mata with Harry and Joe until Joe eventually married. Maud was very close to her brother Harry and his tragic death in 1952 was devistating for her.  Together Maud and Harry also provided support by sending care packages to POWs The Maps pictured hung on their wall in their home.

"Maudie never got over that and ended up in Kingseat Hospital. Maud and Harry lived in the house they grew up in on the farm. Neither of them married. Both did amazing community work especially helping the local iwi elders get their pensions as most could not understand English." Aaron Brown. 

Maud passed away in 1968 and is buried in the Te Mata Catholic Lawn Cemetery. 

On a personal note, my great grandfather Michael Galvan clearly thought the world of Maud as he stated in his will that should his son Constant not make it to the age of 21, as beneficiary of his will, that Maud should then be beneficiary. My grandfather Constant also named one of his daugther's after his aunt Maud.

Maida Jane Brown (1902-1994)

Maida was born in 1902 and passed away in 1994 in Napier. She married Robert Clayton Little and they had a son David Michael Little who was born inn 1937 and passed away in 1998. They also had Dennis Brown who was born on 3rd March 1929 in Parlmerston North and now lives in Napier.

Joseph Galvan Brown (1903 - 1982) 

Joe married Fidelis Ward of Ruapuke in 1939. They had a family of eight – Tony, Tim, Mark, Adrian, Marie, Rex, Peggy and Neville (known as Johnny). Joe lived with his sister Maudie and brother Harry in their parents home on the farm until he married Fidelis. He built another home on the land for his family. Joe and his wife are buried at the Te Mata Catholic cemetery.

The Brown children are pictured outside Te Mata School.

Joe and Fidelis with their eight older children

Harry Alphonso Brown (1906-1952)

Harry was tragically severely burnt in 1952 when his clothes caught fire after he had been using sodium chlorite to kill ragwort. He died a few days later on the 3rd January 1952 in Waikato Hospital. Harry’s death had a huge impact on his family. 

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I was very fortunate to meet Tim, Sue and Johnny Brown who still farm in Te Mata. This picture was taken at Sue and Tim's home in May 2019. Johnny Brown is on the left, me in the middle and Tim Brown on the right. It was such an honor to meet them. Thank you also to Aaron Brown, Tim and Sue's son who has provided some facinating insights on the Browns.