THE BIRD FAMILY JOURNEY TO NEW ZEALAND:Information about Edward Punjab Bird
Edward Punjab Bird (b. 16 September 1856, d. 26 June 1943)
Notes for Edward Punjab Bird:EDWARD PUNJAB BIRD
Edward Punjab Bird aged 23 and his brother Thomas aged 18, left the Princess Ghaut, Calcutta, India on Oct 20th 1879, on board the barque Kilmeny, bound for Dunedin, NZ. The Kilmeny arrived at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, 49 days later on December 12th 1879. Edward was sworn in and appointed to the New Zealand Constabulary Force on 21st Oct 1881. He was described as being 6' 3" in height, of sallow complexion, brown hair with grey eyes. Having trained in Wellington he arrived back in Dunedin on 14th March 1882.On 16th August 1882, Edward married Helen Young STEWART at Roslyn, in the house belonging to her father, James Stewart.
Two weeks later on 31st Aug 1882, Edward was transferred to Waikouaiti. On 1st June 1884 Edward was promoted to Second Class Constable. Eva Helen Bird, the first of seven children, was born in Wakouaiti on 23rd July 1884. There followed Edward Thomas Bird 3rd June 1886, Clara Reynolds Bird 3rd March 1888, Reginald James Bird 9th December 1889 and Francis Joan Cuthbertson Bird 13th Jan 1892, all having been born in Waikouaiti. Having served 13 1/2 years in Waikouaiti, Edward was transferred to the coal-mining town of Coalgate on 11th February 1896. 8 months later, Frank Crompton Bird was born in Coalgate. On 7th January 1898, Edward was transferred to Akaroa, where Rowland Stewart Bird was born on 1st December 1898. Edward now being a First Class constable, having been promoted on 13th February 1898. On 1st October 1904, promotion to Sergeant came and with it a transfer to Christchurch on 8th October 1904. The family resided at 179 Barbadoes St until 1911, moving to 309 Barbadoes St. On 1st August 1911, Edward was Officer in Charge of St. Albans and resided at 142 St. Albans St until his retirement on 16th September 1921 aged 65. During this time Edward separated from Helen Young Bird and in 1925 was living at 39 Oxley St. In about 1927 Edward's sister Eva Jane Bird arrived from India and were living together in 1928 at 23 Mersey St. There followed shifts to 201 Springfield Rd in 1935, 33 Carrington Rd in 1938 and finally back to Mersey St in 1941. It was while at Mersey St, that Edward passed away on 26th June 1943 aged 86 years.
More About Edward Punjab Bird:
Burial: 28 June 1943, Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, NZ.
More About Edward Punjab Bird and Helen Young Stewart:
Marriage: 16 August 1882, House of James Stewart, Roslyn, Dunedin, NZ.
Children of Edward Punjab Bird and Helen Young Stewart are:
- +Eva Helen Bird, b. 23 July 1884, Waikouaiti, NZ, d. 12 January 1966, Auckland, NZ.
- Edward Thomas Bird, b. 03 June 1886, Waikouaiti, NZ, d. date unknown.
- +Clara Reynolds Bird, b. 03 March 1888, Waikouaiti, NZ, d. 11 June 1973, Auckland, NZ.
- +Reginald James Bird, b. 09 December 1889, Waikouaiti, NZ, d. 04 January 1971, Sydney, Australia.
- +Francis Joan Cuthbertson Bird, b. 13 January 1892, Waikouaiti, NZ, d. 15 March 1979, Christchurch, NZ.
- +Frank Crompton Bird, b. 13 October 1896, Coalgate,NZ, d. 19 March 1973, Auckland, NZ.
- +Roland Stewart Bird, b. 01 December 1898, Akaroa, NZ, d. date unknown, Christchurch, NZ.