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Isaac Clough Information


Isaac Clough



Isaac Clough above was born in Auckland on the 20th Sept 1865. He was the eldest child of John Cooke & Elinor Clough nee Smith.


Left photo, Queen Street Auckland 1865.



His parents arrived in Auckland New Zealand the year before his birth in Oct 1864 on the Eagle Speed, the population of Auckland at this time was about 12000.

New Zealand had come out of the Waikato war of 1864 which created a down turn in the economy, as the troops from the war went back to Aussie and England, the farmers left Auckland to resettle on their land, there was slump in trade and many houses became vacant.



Hamilton, the map to the right shows in light the Waikato area, and Hamilton the main center.



Little is known of Isaac in his early years. I have not found out where he did his schooling or his early work records up to about 1890.

His parents came out on a Church of England settlement, free of charge. They had been given land by the church at Kaitaia, they also brought land there in 1869 on the Victoria River.


Isaac was up in Kaitaia with his parents from 1867 till 1871 and this is where his sister Annie Clough was born in 1867.
When they returned to Auckland in 1871 his second sister Margaret Clough was born.




The above is a photo today of the farm call "Twin Oaks". The name was given to the farm by Isaac's dad John Cooke Clough. The Oak trees Isaac's father brought out from England and planted them about 1867.



In 1871 Isaac and his family went back to England to visit his grandparents. I have not found the ship they went back on or the ship they returned in, research is still in progress.


Both sets of grandparents lived in Shrewsbury Shropshire. Isaac and Annie Clough who lived at Nursery Cottage and also his mothers mother Ann Smith, living at Mountfields Model Cottage. His grandfather David SMITH had died in 1859.
Isaac was 6 at this time, and would be away from NZ till 1873. While in England his mother would have another child, Henry just before boarding the ship back to NZ.

The map of England on the left shows Shropshire which is where the CLOUGH and SMITH families came from. Within the Shire was the town of Shrewsbury on the Welsh boarder. Isaac and his family would have traveled by train to Shrewsbury probably from Gravesend London on the Thames river. By 1871 they had a good train system in the UK and was expanding rapidly.



On arriving back in NZ they lived in Dedwood which is now Ponsonby, and it was here that Isaac's last sister Elinor was born in 1875.
He was 10 now and for his birthday his father had made him a violin which is still in the family today.










This is Isaac's violin made by his father in 1875 for his 10th birthday. Gwen Moore has this today and also the second violin to survive is with Les Gubb, it is good to know that these musical instuments made by John Cooke Clough our gt gt grandfather survive to this day.

The family moved to Prospect Terrace Ponsonby the street is now called Prosford St. 1882 they where living in Grey St which is now Grey's Avenue. Between the years of arriving back in New Zealand and heading out to work he would have had a good education, learnt to play the violin, flute, piccolo, piano, with his father being a music teacher this was a natural progression, become a farmer/settler, an engineer.


The map on the right is where the family lived. Prosford St is a bit blured and is parallel to the yellow straight bit of the road which is Jervios Rd. Dedwood Rd crosses Jervios Rd and continues as Redmond and Prosford is off this rd.




I then found Isaac on the Electoral roll in 1890 for the Bay of Islands, he had a residentual property at Houhora/Waihoa and was a settler. So he had returned to the area were his dad had land. About 6 years later his parents went back to Kaitaia to farm. The council have named the road the farm was on after Isaac's dad, "CLOUGH Road"



The photo below is the entrance to the Houhora Harbour. The mouth of the entrance is where the Wagener homestead is situated, Mt Camel on the left on the other side of the Harbour. This is the area where Isaac farmed from the late 1880's till about 1891, then he moved down the coast a bit to Mangonui.

















This is where he meet his wife to be Elizabeth Smith, the youngest daughter of Thomas and Emma Smith nee Hurdley. Though in the 1841 census in Cheshire were she was from I have found the spelling to be YARDLEY. They had a farm at Mangaete and with Isaac been a farmer settler he would have no doubt meet all the locals of the area.



This is a photo of Elizabeth Smith at the age of 16, taken 4 years before she married Isaac.


Thomas and Emma had come out to NZ on the Andrew Jackson in 1865 and went north to farm. By the time of Elizabeth's marriage they where freehold with 140 acres, also Thomas was a sawyer.

In 1891 I have the consent form to the marriage of a minor for daughter Elizabeth, signed by her father.
On the 11th Feb 1891 at the St Saviours Church Kaitaia New Zealand Isaac and Elizabeth where married.



The photo of Kaitaia Anglican Church on the left is where Isaac and Elizabeth where married.

They where married by the Rev Joseph Mathews in the presents of Richard Smith who was Elizabeth's older brother and John Denny.

After the marriage according to the electoral rolls they moved to Mangonui. Between 1891 and 1897 Isaac was classed as a labourer/settler, then in 1898 he was a fireman/engineer on the Clansman, a steam ship which travelled between Mangonui and Auckland carring passengers and freight, run by the Auckland Steam Ship Company.

The first four of their eleven children where born in Mangonui.


Richard Henry Clough (Harry) born 1891


John Cooke Clough (Johnny) born 1893


William Frederick Clough (Winky) born 1894


Alice Muriel Emma Clough (Muriel) born 1897



In 1899 the family up and left Mangonui for Auckland. I think it was to do with his job on the S.S.Clansman, it would have been easier to work the shifts from Auckland with its large population and port compared to Mangonui which was only a small town.



The photo to the right is the Clansman leaving the whalf at Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Isaac worked as a fireman and also a cook on this vessel till at least 1902.




It is about this time that a photo was taken with his sibblings at big family picnic near Auckland. His sisters Annie and her Husband Samuel Merrick, Margaret, Elinor, Isaac, Elizabeth and all the kids.

They moved to Collage Rd Ponsonby/Newmarket and this is where they were on the 1900 electoral roll, and in 1902 Isaac renewed his marine ticket according to the Marine Department Report. So he was still involved with shipping until about 1908.



Between 1901 when they arrived back in Auckland and 1908 five more children would be born.


Gladys Irene Winifred (Gladys) born 1901


Ruby Elinor Christina (Nellie) born 1903


Hilda Gwendoline Mavis (Hilda) born 1905

,


Cyril Vincent Clough (Squid) born 1906


Thelma Ethel Margaret Clough (Thelma) born 1908


1908 was about the time that Isaac left the sea and was working at a timber yard/sawmill in Newmarket Auckland. I don't think he was here that long, on the 1908 electoral roll he was a trackman living in Newmarket.
Then in 1911 his occupation was engine driver and the family where now living in Morrow St Newmarket. The last two children where born in 1912 and 1913


Norman Arthur Benthold Joseph Clough (Norm) born 1912


Horrace William Ernest Clough (Horrie) born 1913


1913 Isaac had changed his jobs and was a watersider on the wharves at the port of Auckland.



The photo on the left is the Auckland wharf's about 1913

He must have taken a fall on the day before Christmas at work, on the 24th Dec Isaac was seriously bruised the left side of his body according to the Auckland Hospital records, he was not discharged until the 27th December. His address was 26 Morrow St Newmarket. The cost was 18 pounds, no ACC those days.


1914 was the last big move for Isaac and Elizabeth, this is the year they brought their 4 bedroom house in Seccombes Rd Newmarket.

They lived in the above house until they both passed on. Family use to come and go, live with them a short while until they found other accomadation. Their house was open to everyone and no one was turned away.
As can be seen below on the 1919 electoral roll,

1919

Electoral Roll Auckland East

Isaac Clough, 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, Trackman

Elizabeth Clough (wife) 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, married

Muriel Clough (daughter) 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, spinster

William Clough (son) 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, Labourer

Richard Clough (son) 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, Labourer

Nina Clough (wife of Richard) 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket, married.


In 1934 he gave my dad, Charles Clough his grandson, a silver fob watch, which I have today. The inscription says "To Charles from Grandad" 1934

1934 was also a sad time as his wife Elizabeth passed away.

He was at this time working at the Captain Cook Brewery in Khyber Pass Rd Newmarket as a boilerman,

this is where he worked until he was asked to retire at the age of 75. He was so upset that a month later he had a stroke and died.

Isaac and Elizabeth where together 43 years had 11 children 20 grandchildren. Elizabeth died suddenly in 1934. Isaac died of a heart attack in 1940, both are buried in the Hillborough Cemetery Auckland.

The inscription on their Headstone reads

Cemetery Transcription. Hillsborough Cemetery
In loving memory of Elizabeth CLOUGH on 8 Dec 1934 aged 64 years and beloved husband Isaac CLOUGH died 1 Oct 1940 aged 75 yrs


"God's greatest gift, loving parents"
2006 From Mervyn Clough, Isaac grandson.

My recollections of both Elizabeth and Isaac are fairly hazy now, Elizabeth was fairly plumpish as I knew her and I guess this was probably the beginings of her illness (Dropsy), what we know as Diabeties today.

She was a kind caring person who was loved by her children, and liked to have a little flutter on the g,gs. The home was always open to anyone who needed a meal or some help. My Dad loved her dearly and often spoke of the errands he ran for her, to laying her little bets with the "bookies" or running to get the midwife when another of his brothers or sisters decided to enter this world.

Isaac on the other hand, always seemed to be remote to me, probably because we were taught to respect our elders (not like todays kids). I suppose with so many grandchildren it would be difficult for him to have favourites, although when asked, he did buy me my first set of drums, I guess this was his love of music, like the rest of us. Any chance he would get out his flute and join in whenever there was a gathering in his home. He Loved to read and would spend time at the Auckland Public library once a week.


Auckland Public Library about 1925, Isaac spent a bit of time at the library, he loved reading and education.


My fond memories of uncle John at the piano with Isaac on his flute and the old family thing of all singing and having fun. My Dad wasn't that fond of him probably because he seemed to be punished the most, and he always felt, so often, that he didn't deserve it. The other problem he saw as a boy, was the fact that, everytime Isaac came home from sea, his dear mum was pregnant again. 11kids (as we all know.) If you want to get more info on him, Gwen is your best bet because, they lived with him for a time after Elizabeth died. I Hope this is of some help but I was only eleven when Isaac died.



2006 Unknown Source
Issac and Elizabeth were short people. Elizabeth and Isaac lived in Secombes Road in a 4 bedroom home. The house was always full of people, whether they were living there short term or just calling for a visit. There were always boarders staying at the house.

2 piano's in the lounge. The Kitchen was huge, with a coal range,

The picture on the left is an old coal range which would have been used by Elizabeth.

which Elizabeth with her lazy Susan would make the scones. Culinary, with a sink, gas stove and pantry. The typical big Kauri table and an area in the corner for the children. On the wall hung a cane walking stick called Betty Brackle and god help anyone if Betty Brackle came off the wall. Elizabeth wore a lot of Black


The kauri table was common in a lot of homes in NZ especially in the years of Elizabeth and Isaac having large families.

Isaac loved to read and collect books, every Friday night after work with his friend Cocky Row, he would walk down to the Auckland Library to spend a couple of hours reading. He felt so strong about learning, he brought encyclopedias for his grandchildren.


The old Betty Brackle cane kept a lot of us kids in check, just the thought of it would have every one behaving.
He brought a`new pianola instead of new beds, because of this Elizabeth and Isaac had a terrible fight. Though one day Elizabeth was found playing it happily. It wasn't till she put a needle through her finger and Isaac came home from work to help did they make up and she told him she enjoyed the pianola. Isaac always called Elizabeth Lizzy and if he called her Elizabeth you new he was mad. Even though, he was a wonderful man.


The Pianola on the right was played by all the family

He was a saver and on his death money was found pressed in books because he didn't believe in banks. He was nicked named Wee Willy Winky, because he wore a long white night shirt with a hat and hanging pompom. He was also called Ike.

Once a week white paper would be replaced on all the shelves and cut in van dyke edges vvvv. The wooden bench and kitchen table would be scrubbed every day. On one side of the linen cupboard in the hall was laden with linen on the other rolls of pianola music.

Isaac would bring wood home from the brewery where he worked, for the wood stove, he would store it under the house. Being a methodical man everything was put in the right place and order. If there was one piece of wood at the bottom of the pile to short, he would take everything down and start again.

Isaac loved music played the pikalo, a quite man and a good provider. If there was anything needed mending he would fix it.

He was an engineer on the Northern or Auckland steam company, working between Auckland & Mangonui He worked on the Clansman steamship. Worked also as a Cook on Coastal shipping and Scows. Worked at Captain Cook Breweries in Newmarket Auckland,

Scow sailing ships where a common form of transport around the coast of NZ in the early part of the 20th century

Loved Music. He played the flute and was in a band, His son John Cooke Clough use to cut his hair as he got older. He also played the Pickaloe

Isaac Clough (b. 1865, Auckland), along with his 5 sons, worked at the Cpt Cook Brewery (now Lion Breweries) in Kyber Pass Road, Newmarket. The family home was nearby, at 10 Seccombes Road, Newmarket.





2006 This is from Gwen Evens nee Moore Isaac's granddaughter. Her mother was Hilda Moore nee Clough.

I always got on fine with granddad Clough (Isaac). Every night before going to bed he would have a tinkle on the Piano.

When out on a special occasions he would take out his "Whistle" and join in the music. The same when the family gathered at 10 Seccombes Rd Newmarket. I don't know when they moved from Morrow St to there.
I used to go there every day for seven years and do the messages for the grandparents. Saturday mornings was the big shopping day with Grandma, Grandad made me a big cart to carry all the shopping home, and it was a BIG cart.

After Grandma passed away in 1934, Grandad use to go every Sunday to Auckland`city by tram and look around all the ships at the wharves. After which he would then walk all the way back to Newmarket where we lived for his evening meal. He would quite often give me the "threepence" tram fare which he had saved by walking to our place.

Thripence or Threepence coin
In his early days he was a boilerman on the boats, and later in life a boilerman at the "Captain Cook Brewery" at the bottom of Kyber Pass Rd Newmarket. It was only a five minute walk along Melrose Road to his home in Seccombes Rd, which he did every lunch`time and at night.

This photo is of Newmarket rd and Kyber Pass Rd corner taken about 1929
Mum told me that on a Friday night, Granddad used to take home a billy of beer and they would all have a drink.

He always carried under his arm a few placks of firewood, and after he passed away the Uncles had a big job cleaning out under the house where he had stacked them. (It was quite a large basement)

At the age of 75 the firm decided it was time for him to retire, and he was so upset he sat on his back verandah just looking at his old work place. A month after he retired he had a stroke which affected his speech and he died.

My memories may be different from others, this is because he signed my papers to go to secondary school, he also gave me two special books, an atlas and Encyclopaedia (matching pair) which I cherish very much. We got along fine and he was always there for me.
Love Gwen

My thanks go to Merv Clough and Gwen Moore for there memories of their grandparents. I don't know who was the unknown author but it gave me some insite on my Gt grandparents. I found the information on some papers that where given to me with a box of papers, so I think I was quite lucky to have it to share on this page.
If anyone of the family can fill in any other gaps please get in touch with me and I'll include it on this page.




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