DescriptionJane Susannah Smith sailed from England to Lyttleton with her family in 1852 at aged 20. In 1856, she married fellow Englishman Thomas Eaton at St Michael's Church, Christchurch.
The couple had six children together between 1856 and 1868. Son Victor dying in 1874 aged 11.
Thomas, Jane and family settled at Banks Peninsula, however later shifted to Sawyers Bay, Dunedin. About 1869, Thomas established himself as a blacksmith at Waipori and built a house from timber he had pit sawn.
He travelled between Waipori and Sawyers Bay where his family remained. On one such journey, Thomas was held up by notorious highway man Frank Gardiner. Upon finding only groceries in Thomas' bags, Frank let him go on his way.
About 1874, Thomas built a larger house at Waitahuna and the family shifted there from Sawyers Bay. However, goldmining brought the Eaton boys back to Waipori over the years.
Thomas died, aged 51, at his residence on 12 March 1883. He had been complaining for some time about his lower back. On the day of his death Thomas, and his son Ernie, had been working at the cemetery. While walking home, he complained of terrible pain and asked his son to go fetch a neighbour. When Ernie returned with the neighbours, Thomas was taking his last breath.
Mrs Eaton lived in a little cottage at the corner where the Waitahuna road met the Lawrence-Waipori Road. She always wore a bonnet, and was known locally as 'Queen Victoria.'
She died on 25 October 1915 at her son Edgar's home. She was 86. Both Thomas and Jane are buried in the Waitahuna Cemetery. PhotographerUnknown DateC.1900RightsThis item is out of copyright. ContributorWaipori Goldfields Charitable Trust
