The Wrigglesworth Pianoforte
A DigitalNZ Story by Dawn Chambers
The "very superior pianoforte" featured in these photographs may have been bought at an auction held on behalf of Emilie Desiree Maxwell nee Le Magnen (1829-1891) on 05 October 1868. She was the widow of Rev Patrick Maxwell who died 19 Aug 1868.
See "The Wrigglesworth Pianoforte" in the August 2019 Famnet newsletter that features another "piano" photograph of Agnes Sinclair nee Spiers (1809-1878) of Wainuiomata.
Rev Patrick Maxwell, his wife and three children arrived at Wellington on the 'Berar' in May 1865 and he became the Incumbent of St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington. Emilie and the children returned to England soon after his death. [3-5]
The pianoforte was probably sold a week after John Dacie Wrigglesworth (1836-1906) lost his wife and two sons when the barque 'Cyrus' was wrecked during a heavy storm between Sinclair Head and Island Bay on 07 March 1874. [6] For the photographs this suggests a time period of October 1868 to March 1874.
No information on the back
Purchased 1999 Reg No. O.021916
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Henry Welch (1832-1884)
Of Taita, Lower Hutt and Opaki, Wairarapa
Alexander Turnbull Library
Laura Eliza Robinson (1860-1946)
Dau of Robert and Ann nee Collier of Makara, Wellington
Wairarapa Archive
The Carte de visites labelled as "Wrigglesworth Photographer Wellington NZ" were taken before the establishment of the Wrigglesworth-Binns partnership. Frederick Charles Binns (1844-1915) joined Wrigglesworth about 1870 as an assistant. [7] The opening of new premises opposite the Empire Hotel in Willis Street in February 1874 may be the point when the Carte de visite labels changed. [8]
No information on the back
Purchased 1999 Reg No. O.021911
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
No information on the back
Purchased 1999 Reg No. O.021912
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wrigglesworth Display Window
May be photographs of the ships "Day Spring" (Feb 1869) or "Nebraska" (May 1869)?
Alexander Turnbull Library
Part Town Section 512
Purchased by John Warmoll 13 December 1867. Sold to James McDowell on 22 February 1872.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jessie Drummond nee McDonald (1852-1870) ??
Married Thomas Finlayson Drummond 25 Aug 1869 at Dunedin. Died 22 May 1870 at Wanganui.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wrigglesworth & Binns (Wellington) fl 1874-1900 :Portrait of unidentified woman in costume
Alexander Turnbull Library
Catherine Vallance formerly Drummond nee McRae (1822-1875) of Kaumingi, Wairarapa
The image is sourced from a film negative.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Sources:
[1] Wellington Independent 01 Oct 1868 R. J. Duncan auction sale notice of the Piano
[2] Evening Post 20 & 22 Aug 1868 & Wellington Independent 20 Aug 1868 Death of Rev Patrick Maxwell
[3] Wellington Independent 11 and 13 May 1865 Arrival of the 'Berar'
[4] Western Times 23 Jun 1875 Marriage: June 16 at St James’s, Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, John Gibbs Fogwell, only surviving son of George Fogwell, Esq., of Brixham, to Sarah Wood Hay, elder daughter of the late Rev Patrick Hay-Maxwell, M.A., Incumbent of St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington (N.Z.)
[5] 1871 Census 14 Hanover Road, Plumstead, Kent: Emily Hay Maxwell (42, widow, born France), son: Thomas Hay Maxwell (19, clerk, born Belgium), dau: Sarah Wood F. Maxwell (18, born France), Maria Hay Maxwell (16, born France)
[6] Wellington Independent 09 Mar 1874 Heavy Storm in Cook Strait
[7] Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Wrigglesworth & Binns - Canterbury Provincial District Volume page 288
[8] Wellington Independent 10 Feb 1874 Completion of new photographic rooms
[9] Ships in Wrigglesworth Display windows - Evening Post 18 Feb 1869 (Day Spring), Wellington Independent 14 May 1869 (Nebraska)
[10] Sinclair Family of Wainuiomata - Genealogy