James was born in Manchester, England in 1868. His father
James was a model and tool maker. By the age of 13, James was working as a
jeweller’s errand boy. A year later he joined the cocoa department at Cadbury’s.
On 13th March 1890 he married Leah Alice Hopkins
and just a few weeks later they left London on the ship ‘Valetta’ for New
Zealand and settled in Christchurch. James initially continued his work as a
salesman for Cadbury’s but then started making his own chocolate and selling it
from his horse and cart. In 1911, the family moved to Wellington and his sons
James and Ronald joined the business.
To celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1940, James
and Leah held a party for their eight children and fifteen grandchildren at
their home in Todman Street, Brooklyn. Leah wore a very heavy French silk
embroidered ensemble in clover, with a posey of magnolias at her shoulder. The
following day they held a cocktail party for friends before staring on their
‘golden honeymoon’ tour in the South Island.
Aside from his chocolate business, James was also an
executive member of the Manufacturer’s Association, a member of the Chamber of
Commerce, president of the School Committees Associations and the Civic League.
He was also involved with the Wellington Free Ambulance.
James died in 1947 and Leah in 1954.
Also interred in this plot are their daughters Leah Annie
Whittaker (1895-1974), Edith Aotea Bunckenburg (1891-1978) and Jessie Adams
(1898-1984).
Plot: *Public 3/H/334
By Julia Kennedy
A deep, rectangular cardboard box with a lift off cover. The box is navy blue with white stripes on top. The sides and ends display “Whittaker’s Toffee Milk, 2d.” Held six dozen pieces. One end of the base has been cut across its length. Courtesy of Puke Ariki ref A71.093.
James Henry Whittaker. Courtesy of www.businesshalloffame.co.nz.
MR. AND MRS. J. H. WHITTAKER, of Brooklyn, Wellington, who celebrated their golden wedding yesterday. They arrived in New Zealand in June, 1890. —S. P. Andrew photo. Evening Post 19 March 1940
Whittaker plot, courtesy of FindaGrave.