My Family Tree

NZ Death Index 1929/13379 Clutterbuck, James 73Y
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www.myancestorsstory.com/clutterbuck_005.html

This is a very detailed posting by Ian Clutterbuck with photos and charts of the family.

James Clutterbuck, born Northwood, England 1856 – 1929 Story No. 005
Posted by Ian Clutterbuck, New Zealand. Great grandson.
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James Clutterbuck was born in Northwood, Westbury on Severn, and Gloucestershire, England on 24 August 1856 to William (18.03-1820 – 30.08.1905) and Caroline Clutterbuck (nee Baldwin) (01.04.1820 – 13.05.1845) being Cousins they married on 06.05.1845. William like his father before him was the local Blacksmith and the young James took up the same occupation as his assistant. James grand parents were William (23.04.1785 - 17.02.1854) and Sarah Clutterbuck (nee Baldwin (1796 - 24.01.1883) being married on 25.08.1815. James came from a very large family including 3 brothers and 7 sisters Olivera, Jane, William, Emma (died aged 4 years), Henry, Rhoda, James, Caroline, John, Emma (2 x) and Maria.
On 9th November 1878 James arrived at Lyttelton Harbour Christchurch New Zealand. He shortly after went to Stonyhurst a North Canterbury Sheep farm where he served as an assistant blacksmith / wheelwright. By late 1880 James got restless again and moved back towards Christchurch again. Stopping at Woodend, he worked for the Judson family as their blacksmith and while there met one of their daughters, Martha Maria Judson (born 07.01.1862) first white women born in the Woodend North Canterbury district, who at that time was a mid wife and continued on this service for the rest of her life. James and Martha were married at Woodend on 15 November 1881 and moved out to Oxford where James had bought some land and ran a blacksmith shop.
Due to a fire at his property in Oxford James moved to Sydenham Christchurch where they had 3 Children, Daisy 19 August 1882 - 1882 (at Amberley), William George 03 August 1883-1883 in Sydenham Christchurch, Ethel Sybil (6th August 1884) Herbert Walter Osborne (30 January 1887 in Kaiapoi Christchurch) and George Arnold (17 March 1889 in Sydenham Christ church) James became discontent in New Zealand and moved his family to Melbourne Australia where on 12 February 1892 at Footscray, Bourke, Victoria Australia William James was born before James moved the family again back to Papanui Christchurch New Zealand.
Maria Martha and James Clutterbuck
James was a hard man who brought his family up tough and took no nonsense from them where his wife Martha was most of the time the opposite she evidently loved children and as a mid - wife was responsible for bringing most of her grand children into the world.

James died on 29 March 1929 and was buried in Christchurch; Martha out lived James by over 10 years eventually died on 15 November 1940 and was buried with her husband.
Children of James and Martha Clutterbuck
1: DAISY Clutterbuck August 19 1882 – Died under one year old.
Daisy was born in Amberley, North Canterbury on August 19 1882
and died the same year.
2: WILLIAM GEORGE Clutterbuck August 3 1883 – Died under
one year old. William George was born in Sydenham,
Christchurch on August 3 1883 and died the same year.
3: ETHEL SYBIL Clutterbuck August 6 1884 - 7 June 1972.
Ethel Sybil was born on 6 August 1884 at Queen Street, Christchurch.
She remained with her family until she married John Paul (February 28 1879 - 1951) on February 23 1905 at Johnsonville, Wellington. It was reported that Ethel once told her mother (Martha) off for having 13 children and then went on to have 13 children of her own. After their marriage they moved to Petone in Wellington where they stayed there until 1912 when they moved to Christchurch where they stayed there for two to three years before returning to the Hutt Valley in Wellington. On the death of John in 1951, Ethel remarried in 1951 to a George Thompson (details unknown) in Lower Hutt. While on a visit to Christchurch to see family and friends she had an accident and was hospitalized, never regaining her mobility. Later care was achieved at Cornation Hospital (now demolished) in the suburb of Cashmere in Christchurch where she died on 7 June 1972 aged 87. She is buried in the Bromley Cemetery in Christchurch.
John Paul and Ethel Sybil (nee Clutterbuck)
Children of Ethel and John Paul:
Donald Floarance December 19 1905 - 1979,
Ruby January 2 1907 – August 20 1926,
Ethel Annie (Dolly) December 2 1908 – April 23 1989
Patrick John January 31 1911 – unknown
William James 1912 – 1913
Eric Clarence 1913 – 1914
Herbert Ernest January 29 1916 – unknown
Kenneth January 25 1918 – unknown
Mona Evelyn January 8 1920 – unknown
Stewart Edwin December 31 1923 – October 26 1967
Victor Alec January 11 1924 – December 28 1945
Ngaire Margaret January 22 1926 – June 2 1979
Keith Arnold January 8 1928 – current
4: HERBERT WALTER OSBOURNE Clutterbuck January 30 1887 – February 27 1969

Herbert Walter Osborne was born on January 30 1887 in Kaiapoi Christchurch New Zealand. Pre 28 June 1917 Herbert (Bert as he was known as) was employed as a truck driver with Empire Express. On 28 June 1917 things changed for Bert he joined the army and served during World War one in France gaining the British war medal and the Victory Medal. Bert served in the occupation army from 1918 – 1919 when he was discharged from duty on 3 August 1919. After the war he returned to his former employer for a time. On October 15 1923 Bert married Edith Ledsham (March 5 1893 – December 26 1966). They had one daughter Doreen Louise (June 12 1927 – current). Bert was a friendly man who would always go out of his way and was highly thought of. Bert died on February 27 1969 in Christchurch.
5: GEORGE ARNOLD Clutterbuck March 17 1889 – April 10 1956

George Arnold was born in Christchurch on March 17 1889; he was the sort of person that was always up to mischief even as an adult George appeared to be in it somehow. He married Elizabeth Stuart Merin (? – 1918) in 1912 she was the proprietor of the Waterloo private hotel in Colombo Street Christchurch, she died of a heart problem in 1918 while staying in Wellington, until his death he always carried a lock of her hair.

George was a real character he was quite an unassuming person during the time he was personally remembered, he got on well with his brothers and sisters. George was a heavy smoker (mainly a pipe smoker). As with most of his brothers horses were his interest and were involved in his work in 1911 he was employed as a groom. He was one of the last Hansom cab drivers in Christchurch. I was told on occasions he used to take a fare to Addington, enter the horse in a race and then take a fare home again. George had his own registered racing colours as both owner and trainer.

George as well being one of the first registered motorcar taxi cab drivers must have been the first boy racer in Christchurch when most people who rode in a car with him would tell of hair-raising experiences and would never ride with him again.

During the early 1930’s George bought a carrying business with some of his brothers working with him when he was busy. George was a National party supporter (right wing in politics) and when the Labour Party (left wing in politics) became the government he decided that his business would be ruined through too much regulation by this radical new government, so he sold the business to E H Boyce along with it his youngest brother (Francis Henry) went to the new company until his retirement.

Memories of George from some of his nephews show and tell us a lot of his character here are some of the stories from them.
Francis Henry and George often went to out of town races in Georges car he always gave his brother the car keys with himself a passenger driver telling his brother to pass the six cars ahead with 200 hundred yards to a bend his comments were “plant your foot, you can pass them all before the bend” his brother being smart fiend deafness and didn’t obey the request. Gate posts were a challenge to him because he always knocked them over, until his youngest brother put in old railway sleepers, widened the opening and shifted them back 6 foot George never hit them again.

Uncle George was always a very willing helper but on several occasions things just seemed to go wrong when he helped, like splitting green wood, when George was due to arrive it was immediately down tools and hide the tools and any sign of what they were doing, but they were too slow George showed up early saw some of the equipment (a maul and steel wedge) and proceeded to continue to split green wood causing the wedge to fly out hit him on the nose from which he just had recovered from a broken nose, came into the house blood streaming everywhere and off to the hospital again to re-fix his nose again. George died on 10 April 1956 while boring a hole in a gatepost at his home in Boardsley Street. George and Elizabeth never had any children.
6: WILLIAM JAMES Clutterbuck February 12 1892 – October 15 1939
William James was born on February 12 1892 inFootscray, Bourke, Melbourne, Victoria Australia after the young Clutterbuck family moved to Melbourne Australia. Sometime between 1889 and 1892 James moved his entire family over to Melbourne Australia. All we know of William he was a sick person with heart problems and spent most of his life in and out of hospital. William married Elsie Watson (1900 – September 6 1986). William died on October 15 1939 of a leaking valve of the heart.

Children of William and Elsie Clutterbuck:
Lloyd James September 21 1917 – unknown
William Leonard November 9 1918 – March 27 1994
Irene Elsie April 27 1920 – unknown
Joan Isobel April 17 1921 - current
7: CHARLES JOHN Clutterbuck 13 March 1894 – June 6 1949
Charles John was born on 13 March 1894 at Papanui Christchurch. Very little is known about Charles but as a child he sold newspapers on the trains and by 17 years of age until 1924 he worked as a seaman between U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand his address on known records was given as Wellington. On November 8 1924 Charles married Ellen (Nellie) McGrath (1894 – 1967), they lived in Cambrose Sydney Australia, but we know that he spent some time with his brothers as a jockey in the North Island. Charles died on June 6 1949 at Cambrose House, Cambrose, and Sydney, Australia. Charles and Ellen never had any children.
8: DAISY MAY Clutterbuck May 20 1897 – October 29 1949
Daisy May was born on May 20 1897 at Papanui Christchurch. Daisy led a very troubled life after her marriage to Charles George Chatfield (1895 – 1975) on January 19 1916 at Christchurch. Daisy was described as a type of person that was very generous and understanding of others and would help others that were in trouble, her husband was totally the opposite fiery and temperamental if Daisy’s brothers knew what he did to her they would personally have sent him to his grave. Living with him was very difficult for everyone as reported by one of there daughters who spent more time at her Chatfield’s grandmothers than at home. Daisy’s life was a hard but brave life, and she never let it sour her outlook. Daisy died on October 29 1949 in Auckland New Zealand.

Children of Daisy and Charles Chatfield
Iris Margaret (Peggy) October 20 1915 – living in Auckland.
Eunice Jane May 11 1917 – died 2-3 years ago, late of Auckland.
Douglas Judson January 28 1920 – died 28-10-1978, late of Gisbourne.
Leigh Kathleen Vallery January 7 1926 - living in Florida, USA.
9: CLIFFORD JUDSON Clutterbuck August 26 1898 – November 1981
Clifford Judson was born on August 16 1898 in Papanui Christchurch very little is known about him but in 1912/1913 at the age of either 14 or 15 years he vanished to the San Francisco Fair in the USA and on his return was given a massive hiding by his father (James) for vanishing. During world war one he spent some time in Featherston and Trentham before he moved back to Christchurch where he worked for Ballin’s brewery looking after the horses, after that he went to work on the wharf from there he retired ant to work at Glenelg health camp – a place for kids in need.
Clifford married Hillary Greta Gipsy Welsh (July 12 1903 – August 1981). Clifford Judson died November 1981.

Children of Clifford and Hillary Clutterbuck
Rex Graham February 23 1925 – current
Jaunita 1930 – 1945
Terry 1933 – 1933
Robin Tex September 16 1936 –
Tony Clifford October 13 1939 –
Rosemary August 23 1949 - current
10: BRUCE BALDWIN Clutterbuck August 31 1900 – December 13 1976
Bruce Baldwin was born on August 31 1900 at Sydenham Christchurch. Nothing is known of his early life but he was asked by his mother to be looked after by his youngest brother Francis Henry where he became part of his extended family. Although over the age limit on 14 March 1941 Bruce entered the army as a private serving his basic training at Trentham from 3 July 1941 to his departure on 13 September 1941 arriving at Helwan, Egypt serving in the army medical corps there until 30 September 1945. Bruce was only 5 foot 4 inches tall during his years of service but he was awarded the following medals for service Africa Star 1939 –1945, 1939-1945 Star, Defence medal, War medial 1939-1945 and the N.Z War Service Medal.

On his return to New Zealand on 30 September 1945 and his discharge from the army on the 4 January 1946 as promised a room was waiting at his youngest brothers place, to this his brother and his wife honoured his mother’s wishes, for them it must have been frustrating at times as Bruce was not the adventurous type and stayed fairly close to his home comforts, Bruce however never shirked his share of providing for his brothers young family for example buying the weeks meat from the local butcher, bringing it home in a sugar bag, telling his brothers wife it was half the actual price. It was his way of supplementing the family budget. Apparently his brother’s wife was aware of his deception and it annoyed her no end, but she never did pay the full price.

The family’s memories of Bruce are of a short man, puffing on a fag, lollies in his waistcoat pocket in various states of stickiness walking to work, (he was a very fast walker, always walking at a very brisk pace). He only relented to taking the bus in his later years. He never obtained a drivers licence, so it was walk, bus or by car with his younger brother and his wife. He once tried to ride a bike, fell off, and never tried it again. That was his determination for you. His greatest love was the garden and he spent many hours tending to the vegetable patch. His other favourite hobby was betting on the races especially when he had brothers in the racing industry.

Bruce’s character was described as a plodder letting nothing get to him, unlike his brother’s who most of them had short fuses. He worked for Arthur Yates, seed merchants for a time and then as a cleaner at the Theatre Royal, this was a bonus for his nieces and nephews as they managed to get free tickets to some of the shows there. The lollies shop next door was well known for all their imported sweets and through Bruce they got to try some of the products regularly. By the time his youngest brother moved to his retirement home, Bruce was getting too hard to manage and was fully retired and becoming infirm, it was decided to put Bruce into a rest home in Woodham Road to out his twilight years. He died in the rest home in Woodham Road on December 13 1976 and was laid to rest in the Soldiers Cemetery in Linwood Avenue. Bruce never married unlike the rest of his family.
11: DONALD VICTOR Clutterbuck January 17 1903 – 1903
Donald Victor was born in Johnsonville on January 17 1903 and died the same year.
12: VICTOR DOUGLAS Clutterbuck September 12 1904 – March 7 1974
Victor Douglas was born in Petone Wellington on September 12 1904. To every one that knew Victor (Vic) it meant horses, horses and more horses in fact he was horse mad. But this was his passion and became very well known in the Horse racing industry as a respected trainer, first in the trotting industry and then in gallopers. During World War 2 Vic served in the reserves as a trainee and the story often told was that he put a Bren Gun Carrier or Scout car into a swamp deliberate or not no one is sure or if even the vehicle was recovered.

Vic was a person like some of his brothers that had an “I will win attitude”, even with stubborn horses that wouldn’t do as they were told, he had the knack of bringing them into submission, by patting it on the nose, giving it a sense of security, then quietly work towards the off side foreleg, one sharp yank and down it would go, this technique was only known by the experienced few and was called the “drop it technique”, even at the cost of substaining a few broken bones and metal plates inserted he still did it no one was going to be his boss.

Vic married late to Jenny Margaret Ellen (December 13 1939 – current) on February 23 1961 in Christchurch. With his wife they became a very successful training team and if female jockeys were allowed then, Jenny would have been one of the first (if not the first) female jockeys. Vic was a very successful trainer, having won the New Zealand cup once and the Winter Cup (very prominent awards in the New Zealand horse racing industry) and was the most successful trainer in New Zealand for quite a few years.

Along the way he became a private trainer to a Mrs. Leigh Page and her husband who arrived from the U.S.A before America entered the war, and were unable to return. Those who remember her as an old nasty person dripping in jewels, but they got on well with Vic, on Mrs page’s death things went back to the old tradition of Horses, Horses and more Horses plus a few chickens thrown in to add good measure.

The stories that his nieces and nephews can remember is that Vic had this uncanny way of getting people into the races for free as told by one of his nephews that once when they were approaching the horse entry gate at Riccarton Raceway with only one pass between us, at the turnstiles he gave his nephew the pass for him to go through, which he did, while Vic gave the horse he was leading a sharp tug on the reins then ran trough the gates with the horse on it’s hind legs and yelling at the attendant to get out of the way. As planned the attendant gave no inclination to obtain HIS gate pass thus he got in for free.

Vic died on 7 March 1974 in Christchurch.

Children of Victor and Jenny Clutterbuck
Vickie Marie March 13 1968 – current
James Francis August 28 1969 - current
Hydaspes, 1878
13: FRANCIS HENRY Clutterbuck September 21 1906 – May 3 1985:
Click on his name to read Francis Clutterbuck's Story - Story No 006.
Can you add to this story?
I have been researching the whole Clutterbuck family of New Zealand. There were 3 main groups that came over, 2 in 1878 on the same ship (Hydapes November 1878), their common ancestor being Thomas Clotterbooke (1515 - 1551). I have part of his will written in 1551, interesting reading, and my Great, Great grandfathers in 1909. One area remains a mystery the orignal Clutterbuck's arrived in Dunedin before December 1860 as their first child a girl was born in December that year (can get more precise info) her name was Frances parents being William and Lydia Clutterbuck no one knows how they got to New Zealand their decendants all come from Frances the oldest daughter as the rest of her brother and sisters died under 5 years old. William and Lydia died in Nelson so at some point they moved from Dunedin to Nelson his occupation was listed as a carpenter.