John Davis ¹

  General Notes:

Those who remember meeting John say he was a real gentleman with snow-white hair, and who had a great affection for children. When he died the local Government centre he worked for declared the day a holiday as a mark of respect. His main occupation in Thames was given as a miner. ²

  Birth Notes:

Father Benjamin Davis, an ironmonger
John came to NZ at the age of seventeen as a cook or cabin-boy
He was dark-skinned
Became a miner

  Death Notes:

Age:67

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farmhand, 1878, Thames, Coromandel, NZ. ²

• Occupation: Miner, 1879, Thames, Coromandel, NZ. ²

John married Elizabeth Vincent, daughter of Robert Vincent and Fanny Millis, on 21 Feb 1878 in Thames, Coromandel, NZ. (Elizabeth Vincent was born on 18 May 1859 in Auckland, New Zealand,³ died on 12 Mar 1941 in Mt Eden, Auckland ³ and was buried about 14 Mar 1941 in Auckland, New Zealand ⁴.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Living: Raliegh Street: Auckland, New Zealand. ²

  Marriage Notes:

Elizabeth fell in love with John Davis, a black American farmhand and became pregnant to him. They married but Elizabeth's parents thought the scandal too much as John was a dark-skinned man, and moved to Auckland, leaving Elizabeth behind.
They were married in Thames with the witnesses being J E Coney (Chief Postmaster) and A R Dunn (hotel-keeper). ²