item details
Overview
Born in 1830 in Radipole, Dorset, Sarah Gillard worked in service before marrying stonemason William Randell in July 1854. Both were members of the Brethren Assembly. The couple sailed as immigrants to Australia, and very soon travelled on to New Zealand. They arrived in Wellington on 12 February 1855, having been married just seven months.
In 1867 William built a small wooden cottage in St Mary Street, in Thorndon, and William and Sarah raised their ten children there. William died in 1880 but Sarah stayed in the cottage until 1912. This photo was taken in about 1900, when Sarah was 70, and was still living in St Mary Street. She died in 1921, aged 90, and this was one of the treasured objects passed down to her descendants.
Randell, Beverley, and Susan Price. 2021. Unpublished research notes provided to curator.