Mary (May) Wood
Mary was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Samson. She married firstly to John Douglas McNeil in 1904 in Dunedin. They had two children: John Samson and Margaret.
John left on active service in May 1916 and when he returned in March of 1918, he found Mary with a child three months old. John petitioned for dissolution of the marriage and £500 damages. Andrew Crichton was named as co-respondent.
Andrew admitted that he was the father of the child. His wife had died in 1916 and he had sent two sons to the war. One had been killed and the other was gassed.
A decree nisi was granted and the McNeil children were handed over to John.
In 1919 Mary married Benjamin Wood. Their sons Bertram James and Arthur were born in 1921 and 1922 respectively.
Mary died on 12th November 1922 at her home, 42 Rolleston Street at the age of 37. ‘Deeply regretted’ said the death notice.
Benjamin Wood was a carpenter. Perhaps he made the grave marker himself? The marker had wandered from the plot recently, and the cemetery staff were kind enough to reinstate it at our request.
Plot: *Public 2/N/456
