After his parents death the family split up and David Edward, who would have been aged 10, milked cows for Mr Anderson a farmer at Blackstone Hill He walked to Hills Creek School. In 1899 David Edward Griffiths was shown in the General Roll as living at Wedderburn. It was the 28th of March 1900 that David Edward Griffiths a Carrier and Bachelor of Cambrian Married Margaret Beck a Spinster of Naseby, date of birth
1882, her father James Beck a Miner of Naseby and mother Elora (Eliza Jane) Beck nee Nasbits. Witnesses where William Beck of Naseby, and Lavinia Griffiths of Cambrian. The Marriage was held in the residence of James Beck, Enterproa Hill. This was the 100th Marriage in the Naseby District. David had asked Margaret to marry him on a bridge on the road into Naseby. David run a carrying business for old Jim Botting in Naseby for 25/- a month, later moved Omakau and Chatto Creek working on the Railway to Alexandra where He was
a Inspector.Then to Dunedin and worked on the wharf & in 1919 Roll is shown with Margaret living in 9 Thomas Burn St Dunedin stayed there until retirement then lived in Wedderburn until they got a Pensioner Flat in 275 Melbourne St Dunedin On his death certificate it shows his mother as Louisa Ann Griffiths
In 1919 roll shows Robert Owen Griffiths, his brother living at 19 Burke St Mornington , Motorman, with Isabella Jane.
Notes: Unable to find birth register, but Certificate of Baptism shows Margaret was born 9th June 1880 and baptized 9th July 1882 at St George's Church of England Church Naseby Sponsors where Margaret's Mother and Peter Busch.(Bush) Margaret's mother died at age 38, Margaret was aged 4 and was looked after by her sister Anne, then Mrs Bush , Anne had a daughter of her own, Hannah, known to me as Aunty
Hannah.Maragret started school at the same time as Hannah in Jan 1890 It was the 28th of March 1900 that David Edward Griffiths a Carrier and Bachelor of Cambrian Married Margaret Beck a Spinster of Naseby, date of birth 1882, her father James Beck a Miner of Naseby and mother Elora (Eliza Jane) Beck nee Nasbits. Witnesses where William Beck of Naseby, and Lavinia Griffiths of Cambrian. The Marriage was
held in the residence of James Beck, Enterproa Hill. David had asked Margaret to marry him on a bridge on the road into Naseby. David run a carrying business from Naseby, later moved to Dunedin and lived in 9 Thomas Burn St Dunedin until retirement then lived in Wedderburn until they got a Pensioner Flat in 275 Melbourne St Dunedin.
6. David Ritchie (Laing) Compositor
Notes:David was born at 4.30am September Nineteenth 1872 On Page 23 entry no 69 of 1872 births in the parish of Coupar Angus in the County of Forfar, shows Name as David Laing. Mother, Grace Laing Powerloom Weaver. David married Florence Thomas Daughter of William Thomas, Engine driver, and Clara Ann nee Lewis of North East Valley Dunedin in Dunedin on 2nd April 1896. Their first child Florence Mable was born 23rd Feb 1897 in Maclaggan St Dunedin The register shows that David was a Compositor aged 24 born in Edinburgh and David Charles was born 19/6/02 in South Dunedin The informant when he was registered was his
Grandmother Grace Ritchie, she shows her son David being aged 29 and being born in Couper Angus Perthshire. David Charles died 28/10/86. Florence died 19/6/1902 of Parturition Embolism one hour after giving birth to Charles. Buried in Southern Cemetery Dunedin, officating Minister, Rob Mackie Presbyterian Minister. David Remarried. On 21st August 1907 Marriage entry shows age 34. On the 21st August 1907 David Ritchie, of Oamaru age 34, Coalman, widower, at Residence of Mr Thomas Moloney at Reidston, Married Elizabeth Florence Manning age 26. Domestics servant, Spinster, born Kakanui, Present Residence, Reidston, Usual Oamaru. The witnesses were Alexander Cook Brown a train examiner. and Elizabeth O'Connor Domestics of Oamaru. The officiating minister was Patrick Jas O'Neil. Reidston is on Kakanui river, 8 miles
south of Oamaru and half a mile from Teshemakers. Thomas Moloney was a family friend of the Mannings. Eileen Nora was born 30th May 1908 at 87 Oxford Street Dunedin. Elizabeth was shown on birth registry as aged 28 and David 37. being born in Perthshire occupation blacksmith. Violet was born in 1914 and died 3rd Dec 1915 of bronchi pneumonia aged 18 mths. Victor Charles was born at 244 Melbourne St Dunedin 16th July
1917 Register shows David as a Furnaceman age 45. The 1919 Roll show David Jur & Elizabeth Florence at 110 Melborne St. Striker David died Monday 2nd May 1927 aged 56. His occupation at the time was Blacksmith's Striker. His Death Register entry shows that the Coroner's Verdict suicide while in a depressed
state of mind. Under when and where died the register-book shows (1) on or about May 2nd (2) 61 Cutten St South Dunedin from 9 Lorne St South Dunedin. Shows his father's Occupation as Gas Stoker.
It is also shown that he had been in NZ for 50 years. He was buried in the Southern Cemetery Plan 2320 Block 143g Plot 15.on 8th May 1927 Also buried in this plot is Violet and Elizabeth on 30th June 1965.
]
On the 21st August 1907 David Ritchie, of Oamaru age 34, Coalman, widower, at Residence of Mr Thomas Moloney at Reidston, Married Elizabeth Florence Manning age 26 Domestics servant, Spinster, born Kakanui, Present Residence, Reidston, Usual Oamaru. The witnesses were Alexander Cook Brown a train examiner. and Elizabeth O'Connor Domestics of Oamaru. The officiating minister was Patrick Jas O'Neil.
Reidston is on Kakanui river, 8 miles south of Oamaru and half a mile from Teshemakers. Thomas Moloney was a family friend of the Mannings. Eileen Nora was born 30th May 1908 at 87 Oxford Street Dunedin. Elizabeth was shown on birth registry as aged 28 and David 37. being born in Perthshire
occupation blacksmith. Violet was born in 1914 and died 3rd Dec 1915 of bronchi pneumonia aged 18 mths. Victor Charles was born at 244 Melbourne St Dunedin 16th July 1917
Grave stone reads Elizabeth F Ritchie d 30 June 1965 age 84 Also her husband David died 11 May 1927 age 56 Also Their Daughter Violet died 1st Aug 1915 age 18 mths