Christensen Family of New Zealand

Martha Anna Christina 'Annie' Christensen

Annie was born at Vaenevold lille, near Nes, Romerike, Norway on 12 September 1868, two months after her parents married on 12 July 1868. She was baptised as "Marthea Christiania Christensen" at Nes Church on 11 October 1868, her Godparents being (Miss) Indiana Christendatter Aulie, Marie Engebregtsdatter (Engebretsdatter?), the child's father, Erik Sørensen the same, and Christian Eriksen. 

It is possible that Marie Engebretsdatter is the sister (born 1832) of Elisabet Engebretsdatter, who with her husband Bernt Johansen, also emigrated on the Celaeno. This couple raised Snowie after Marie died. This family came from the same district (Odal) where Aulie is located, and the place of origin of the above mentioned Indiana Christendatter Aulie. Marie herself had been living in the Odalen area at the time of the 1865 Census.

Tom Halvorsen of Arnes, Norway, advises that it was normal for a baby to have five Godparents, two females and three males. It was also not unusual for the child's mother or father to be included amongst this number as in Annie's case.

The document also recorded that Annie was not baptised at home, indicating that she had not been expected to die at birth. Evidently, babies whose lives were thought to be at risk, would be baptised at home at birth, and if they survived they would have a church baptism later. (Document source: Nes church records: MINI 8 1859-1874 6/8, p. 167)

Annie emigrated, aged two, with her parents in 1870. Her next reappearance in her own right was on 2 November 1878, when at the age of ten she became Pupil No. 26 at Stoney Creek (Now Whakarongo) School. She may not have stayed long and no departure date is recorded. However, she was re-enrolled on 15 August 1881, aged twelve, as Pupil No. 120. This was the day her little brother Calvert started, and perhaps that is why she went back. However, this was a short stay once again. She attended for the last time on 22 September 1881 and her name was withdrawn from the roll on 10 October 1881. Her destination was given as "Home."

Annie's major contribution to her family occurred following her mother's death in March 1885. At that time, at the age of sixteen, she became the substitute mother to her younger siblings, a role she continued thereafter.

On 21 December 1891, and as "Martha Anna Christina Christensen," Annie married William Bennett at Te Arakura. The witness was  J. Granolel, a watchmaker. William had been born at Sunderland, England, on 9 May 1872. Annie's birth date was erroneously given as 12 September 1869 - although possibly this had something to do with her parents' date of marriage, in reality two months after her birth. 

Annie took her ten-year-old sister Hilda with her when she married, and she remained with the couple until grown up. The family in due course moved to Hastings.

Annie and William had seven children. Olive (Moir/Jones), Mary Pearl (Flett), William Harold Bennett (Private in the NZ Infantry WWI, and died of disease in the UK on 24 August 1917), Cecil Archibald Bennett, Rachel Ella (Dignam), Lillian Ruby (Crooks), Alexandra ['Lexie'] Violet Sophie (Douglas), and Charles David Bennett.

Last Updated: 30/12/2000