M. J. Coltman

M J Coltman was born Mary Jane Russell in 1866 in Temuka, New Zealand to Archibald Henry Russell and Jane Denley.

On 1 August 1889 Mary Jane Russell married William Coltman in Temuka. This was William’s second marriage; his first wife Mary McCallum died in 1885.

In 1890 William was a Waimate Borough Councillor and around 1894 become Mayor of Waimate, a position he held for two years.

Mary and William Coltman had six sons; Archibald Russell born 1890, William Hall Denley born 1892, Cyril Warren born 1893 Bertram Howard born 1901, Grahame born 1903 and John Morton born 1904.

In 1908 the Coltman family moved from Waimate to Auckland where William established a jewellers business in Queen Street, Auckland.

The electoral roll for 1911 and 1914 record Mary Jane and William living in Stanley Street, Devonport. Around 1919 they moved to 89 Park Road, Newmarket and by 1928 they were living at 79 Park Road.

In Auckland William was the first President of the Auckland Justices’ Association, past President of the New Zealand Bowling Association Auckland Bowling Association and Auckland Rotary Club.

William Coltman died on 18 June 1940 in Auckland age 77 years.

After William’s death, Mary moved to 103A Market Road, Epsom where she lived until her death.

Mary Jane Coltman died on 28 July 1954 in Auckland age 87 years. Both were cremated and their ashes are in Waikumete cemetery, Auckland Columbarium Niche Wall Vlt, Row Vlt, Plot 3VI.

Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker

Sources

• NZ DIA BDM Birth Index 1866/22495 - Mary Jane Russell
• NZ DIA BDM Marriage Index 1889/2406 – Mary Jane Russell/William Coltman
• Ancestry – New Zealand Electoral Rolls
• NZ DIA BDM Death Index 1940/29119 – William Coltman
• Obituary William Coltman, Auckland Star 20 June 1940, Page 3
• Obituary William Coltman, New Zealand Herald 20 June 1940, Page 16
• NZ DIA BDM Death Index 1954/23549 Mary Jane Coltman
• Auckland City Council cemetery records online