Tui Laurel Victoria FELLOWS
Relationship to me: Great Aunt (paternal)
Tui was born in December 10th, 1901 and died on July 24, 1968. Tui was most likely to have been born on Dog Island as her father was the assistant lighthouse keeper there from 1900-1903.
Tui seems to have had some troubled times. Tui married James Eric CORRIGAN on May 24, 1922 when she was 21 years old. James and Tui had two daughters – Laurel Edna (1923-1983) and Doreen “Dawn” Elizabeth (1924-2002).
In June 1924, James and Tui were in court, with Tui asking for maintenance to support herself and their two children. She accused James of drunkenness and a failure to provide for her and the children. At the time, one of the children was living with Tui, and the other living with Tui’s mother. Interestingly, James’ lawyer asked Tui if she “did not promise the hubby on Sunday night” – an inference perhaps that Tui had promised she would. The judge ordered that James must pay 15 shillings a week for each child, but nothing to maintain Tui, and provide a home for his wife and children.
Tui and James were granted a decree nisi in 1925, on the grounds of Tui committing adultery with a Stanley CLEAL.
Tui Laurel Victoria FELLOWS
b. 10 Dec, 1901
d. 24 Jul 1968
m. 24 May, 1922 (James Corrigan)
m. 7 Mar, 1930 (Henry Sherbourne)
m. 1940 (Thomas Maddock)
Mother: Rose Ann Adelaide Henricksen
Father: Robert Thomas Fellows
Siblings:
Arthur Russell Fellowes
Clement George Fellows
Irene Iris Graham Fellowes
Eileen Lilac Fellows
Rose Rewa Fellowes
Robert Trevor Fellowes
James Eric CORRIGAN
b. 20 Mar, 1901
d. 14 Mar, 1987
Henry SHERBOURNE (aka. Bert SMITH)
Thomas George MADDOCK
b. Jan 1903 in Westham, Essex, UK
d. 21 Apr, 1970 in Auckland, NZ
Children of Tui and James
Laurel Edna (1923-1983)
Doreen Elizabeth (1924-2002)
In 1926, Tui was arrested at Port Halswell for being “idle and disorderly” and was sentenced to one month. She was described as having a sallow complexion, fair hair, and hazel eyes, with a scar on her left leg, left thumb, and the inside of her right wrist.
She next married Bert SMITH – except he was not Bert Smith! Bert’s real name was Henry SHERBOURNE (also spelt SHERBORNE). Henry had previously been married to Mabel in 1911. He separated from Mabel in 1917 and was granted a divorce in 1923 when he stated that he had discovered Mabel had previously left him and then had given birth to an illegitimate child that was not his. I believe that child was Charles James Henry SHERBORNE born in 1918. Henry then married Annie Elizabeth MITCHELL in Wellington on January 17th, 1925. He failed to divorce Annie and was prosecuted for bigamy in January 1931, reported in the Auckland Star newspaper (January 28th, 1931). In the court hearing for bigamy, Henry claimed that he had left Annie in 1924 and had received a telegram from a friend stating that “everything is fixed up” and took that to mean that he was now divorced and free to marry again. Henry and Annie had five children together. He claimed he changed his name to Bert Smith to blot out the past and make a fresh start. Henry was found guilty of bigamy and sentenced to three years hard labor. In 1940, Henry was charged with being without lawful excuse on enclosed premises and was fined for indecent language.
Seated: Harry, Herbert (Bert Corrigan), Ernest, Thomas, Vic, Edward
In 1940, Tui took a third husband, Thomas “Tom” George MADDOCK who she remained with until her death in 1968. She does not appear to have had any other children after her first marriage.
Sources
Tui’s divorce from James Corrigan: Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19250529.2.142?phrase=2&query=james+eric+corrigan&snippet=true
Bigamy charge against Henry Sherborne: Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19310210.2.131?items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=tui+laurel+victoria&snippet=true
