Elizabeth Middlebrook

1851-1943

 

 

 

Elizabeth was born December 16 1851, just 19 months after Benjamin .

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On her fathers death in July 1866 she was just 15 years old, but she very soon after married George Douglas Hardy, at the time a Tea Dealer in Auckland.(  She was possibly the first of the Middlebrook children to marry - a fact we can not confirm until we have a confirmed marriage date for Jane. Elizabeth and George  were married by James Wallis, a very well known Wesleyan Missionary in Auckland, at the home of her mother Ellen in Duke  Street Newton.  George later became Head Attendant at the Whau Asylum in Auckland, a job he remained in for over 20 years.  The Hardys had at least 11 children, however only 5 survived to adulthood. ( They also reared their grandson Frank as their own child and are listed as having 6 living children on their deaths) Frank's birth records state he was the son of Elizabeth and George's daughter Ellen.

Elizabeth and George lived in Duke Street and later in Avondale, being well known residents of that suburb.  Elizabeth died on March 8th 1943 at the ripe old age of 91.