BRODERICK, MARY JANE nee WATSON

Mary Jane Watson was born on the 23 May 1850 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland, the daughter of John and Mary Jane Watson.

In 1873, Mary sailed to New Zealand on the Eastern Monarch with friends, settling in Christchurch where she remained for three years until her marriage to William Broderick.  The couple then moved to Wellington, living there for a short time before coming to South Taranaki in 1878.

William and Mary resided in Glover Road, Hawera, for three years before moving out to Te Roti when that district was in standing bush.  They were amongst the earliest settlers to take up land there, and experienced all the trials and hardships of pioneering.  During the troubles which disturbed other parts of the district, William and Mary won and retained the high esteem of the Maori who frequently invaded their property, but at no time sought to molest them.

In 1911, the couple retired to Hawera, and Mary took a great interest in Hawera’s jubilee celebrations in 1932, after watching the town grown from a few scattered houses to the status of a borough.

Mary Jane Broderick died on the 29 October 1936 aged 86 years, and is buried at the Hawera cemetery.

Also see her Obituary from the Hawera Star.

SOURCE

Obituary “Hawera Star” 30 Oct 1936