Great Grandparents

My father's maternal grandparents.

When I was a child my grandmother had these pictures hanging side by side on her bedroom wall. Often I was put down in the spare bed for my afternoon nap. The brown holland blind was partly pulled down, and out of the gloom those four eyes glared at me. I was terrified! I daren't go to sleep. By the time my grandmother came to get me up I was a nervous wreck.

This couple, along with their 3 or 4 children came to New Zealand from Ireland, where as Protestants they were given a very hard time. Pioneers in a new country they had to start from scratch to develop a farm and make a living. I imagine life was hard, and at times very grim.