The couple had only been married a few months before they were accidentally drowned in Wellington Harbour in 1899.
Alan Parsons Loxton was born in NSW in 1866. He trained as a draughtsman in Sydney and in 1895 was working for William Chatfield in Wellington. At the time of his death he was working for Clere, Fitzgerald and Richmond. His sister Lucinda was married to Boulton Molineaux, manager of the Bank of NSW in Wellington.
In November 1899 he became engaged to Elizabeth Davy, daughter of Chief Judge George Boutflower Davy of the Native Courts. Her sister was married to a nephew of Sir James Prendergast.
Elizabeth Davy was born in 1877. We don’t know much about Elizabeth, except what she wore in society: 14.06.95 – pale blue veiling and cream lace; 15.10.96 – pale blue silk and pompadour ribbon; 10.06.97 – pretty grey silk and lace; 26.08.97 – pink silk with gauze frills. We also know she went to Dunedin in 1897 to consult Dr Fergusson about her eyes.
The couple were married in June 1899.
At about 6pm on Tuesday 19th September, they went to Jervois Quay to hire a boat from Richard Huffam. Richard noticed the woman had a bag of fruit in her hands and she caught sight of the name Little Nell on the stern of one of his boats, a skiff 3ft wide and 14 ft long. Elizabeth remembered being out in that boat with Alan about six months ago and expressed a wish that they might have the Little Nell again.
Alan folded his overcoat for Elizabeth to sit on, and took his place at the oars. They said they would be back by 9pm and by 11:30pm Richard became anxious and started checking the other wharves in case they had returned elsewhere. At about 12:15am, the steamer Te Kapu came into port and the captain told the duty constable that they had picked up a boat half full of water and some articles of clothing.
Elizabeth’s body was found near shore by Ngauranga train station the next morning. She was wearing a black coat with one buttoned fastened. Papers in the pocket with the name B.M. Molineaux assisted in alerting the family.
An inquest was held at the couple’s house in Palmer Street. Her brother in law stated the couple were happy and often went boating on moonlit evenings. Alan was a good swimmer but suffered from asthma.
Mr Huffam’s theory was that Elizabeth had stood up and lost her balance and her husband had tried to seize her, causing himself to fall in. This would cause the boat to ship water, but not capsize. The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned through falling from a boat. Alan’s body was never recovered.
Plot: Ch Eng/M/14
