Thomas David Griffiths

Notes:

Notes by David J. Griffiths
Tommy Griffiths was one of the best known New Zealand boxers; he won national titles as both and amateur and professional. He first fought in 1921. He won the Mid-Canterbury Flyweight, he was the Otago flyweight champion and in 1922 took the New Zealand flyweight title as well as Otago and South Island, retaining them the next year. In 1924 he held bantamweight title, and at the end of the year turned professional winning a great number of bouts. As an amateur he had 49 fights, won 46, lost 3. As a pro - 31 fights, won 17, lost 10, drew 3. In the 1930's he was in partnership with his brothers, Griffiths Bros. Carriers. After marriage he lived in North Dunedin. He had a fish shop and general groceries, later worked for McPherson & Kemp as a traveller, calling on dairies; bought his own dairy on the corner of High & Hope Streets. Then in the Fitzroy Hotel, White Star in Queenstown and later mine host at Kensington Hotel at King Edward Street. From there to Te Ra Airi Guest House, high Street and retiring to St. Kilda.

Thomas married Lillian Phillips in 1925. Lillian was born in 1908 in Dunedin, New Zealand; died on 28 Nov 1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand; was buried in 1973 in Anderson's Bay, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Notes:

Notes by David J. Griffiths
...After the death of his parents the family split up and David Edward, who would have been aged 10, milked cows for a Mr. Anderson, farmer at Blackstone Hill. He walked to Hills Creek School. In 1899 David Edward Griffiths was shown in the General Roll as living at Wedderburn.
...David ran a carrying business for old Jim Botting in Naseby for 25/ a month, later moved to Omakau and Chatto Creek working on the Railway to Alexandra where he was an Inspector. Then on to Dunedin where he worked on the wharf and in 1919 Roll is show with Margaret living at 9 Thomas Burn St., Dunedin. He stayed there until retirement, then lived in Wedderburn until they got a Pensioner Flat in 275 Melbourne Street, Dunedin. On his death certificate it shows his mother as Louisa Ann Griffiths.

David married Margaret Beck on 28 Mar 1900 in Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand. Margaret (daughter of James Beck and Eliza Jane Nisbitt) was born on 9 Jun 1880 in Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand; was christened on 9 Jul 1882 in Naseby, New Zealand; died on 1 Jan 1962 in Dunedin, New Zealand; was buried on 3 Jan 1962 in Anderson's Bay, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 9 Jul 1882, Naseby, New Zealand; Address:
  St. George's Church of England

Notes:

Notes by David J. Griffith
...Unable to find birth register, but Certificate of Baptism shows Margaret was born 9 June 1880 and baptized 9 July 1882 at St. George's Church of England, Naseby. Margaret's mother died at age 38 when Margaret was aged 4 and was lookd after by her sister Anne, then Mrs. Bush. Anne had a daughter of her own, Hannah, known to me as Aunty Hannah. Margaret started school at the same time as Hannah in January 1890.
...It was the 28th of March 1900 that David Edward Griffiths, a Carrier and Bachelor of Cambrian, married Margaret Beck, a spinster of Naseby. He asked Margaret to marry him on the road into Naseby.

Notes:

...Both James and Eliza, before they were married, lived at Irish Street in Rich Hill. James was age 18 when he married and lived in Rich Hill, a post-town in that part of the Parish of Kilmore, which is in the Barony of O'Neiland West, County Armagh, 4 miles NE from Armagh and 64 miles NW from Dublin on the old road from Armagh to Belfast. Containing 937 inhabitants in 1837; the town is situated on the river Tallwater, in the heart of a rich agricultural and populous manufacturing district, and from its elevated situation has an interesting appearance.
...James and Eliza came out from Ireland to New Zealand, in the Jessie Osbourne, setting off on 6 November 1875, and arrived in Lyttleton on 30 January 1876. With them were: Annie, age 10; William, age 7; Margaret, age 4; and Thomas, age 3 months. (What happened to Margaret and Thomas? Were they the children that were reported sick and died on board the Jessie Osbourne?)
...James' cousins, Adam and Lucinda, and Aunty Ann (nee Falloon) were already in Christchurch having come out in 1873.

James married Eliza Jane Nisbitt on 2 Dec 1864 in Rich Hill, County Armagh, Ireland. Eliza was born in 1847 in Rich Hill, County Armagh, Ireland; died on 20 Feb 1885 in Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand; was buried on 21 Feb 1885 in Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Eliza Jane Beck died 20 February 1886 at the age of 38, in Naseby. The death registry shows under Cause of Death "Verdict of Jury - Died from Heart Disease (Had been drinking).' Family tradition is that she died as a result of falling into the gutter outside the hotel.

Charles married Margaret Proctor. Margaret was born in 1813 in Rich Hill, County Armagh, Ireland; died on 17 Mar 1878. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]