Mrs Joseph Lack X

Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker.

Mrs Joseph Lack was born Elizabeth Lowe c 1834 in Stagsden, Bedfordshire, England to Thomas Lowe and his wife Ann Lowe nee Chanderlin.

Elizabeth Lowe married Joseph Lack in December 1855 in Stagsden, Bedfordshire, England.

In 1874 Joseph, his wife Elizabeth and children; Elizabeth born 1857; Edward born 1858; Thomas born 1862; Louisa born 1864; Jane Ann born 1867 and Joseph born 1869 departed England on 3 November and arrived in Canterbury on 21 January 1875 on the ship Lady Jocelyn.  The family settled in Waimate.

Letter from Joseph Lack to the Waimate County Council for Charitable Aid – 10 May 1879

‘It is with great regret that I find myself compelled to ask for assistance from the charitable aid funds, but that I have good and sufficient cause for so doing the following facts will show. I was one of those unfortunate persons who were burnt out in the late bush fire, but having a few pounds laid by I did not receive any aid from the Relief Fund. This misfortune threw me back greatly, and in the endeavour to obtain a fresh shelter for my family I expended my savings and incurred a large debt besides. The latter I could have cleared off in time had not a new and even greater mishap befallen me. One after another of the members of my family sickened with fever until now there are no less than four of them laid up with this terrible disease. So far I have been spared myself, but having no one to nurse the invalids I am compelled to remain at home and thus prevented from going forth to earn food for my family. Under these distressing circumstances I venture to ask the Committee to aid me in obtaining assistance in nursing the members of my household in order that I may be enabled to earn money to maintain them. I am, gentlemen, your humble servant, Joseph Lack.’

Within five years of arriving in New Zealand, Joseph and Elizabeth had lost their home in the bush fire in Waimate of 15 November 1878 which lasted eight days, and two sons had died; Thomas on 24 May 1879 and Edward a few days later on 27 May 1879.

She also signed the 1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition Roll as Elizabeth Lack.

Joseph died on 23 September 1899 age 71 years and Elizabeth died on 5 August 1914 age 85 years.  They are buried together in Waimate Old cemetery, Methodist section, Plot 000299.

Sources:

Ancestry Family Trees

Terrible Bush Fire, Waimate Press, 18 November 1878, Page 3

Archives NZ, Christchurch CH046/1, fi – Application to Waimate County

Council for Charitable Aid – Joseph Lack & family, 10 May 1879 (R23799896)

1892 Women’s Suffrage Petition Roll – Sheet 262, Waimate – Elizabeth Lack

NZ DIA Death Index 1899/6978 – Joseph Lack

Archives NZ Probate Record – Joseph Lack (R22108464)

NZ DIA Death Index 1914/6266 Elizabeth Lack

Archives NZ Probate Record – Elizabeth Lack (R21844511)