Links:

View Makaraka Cemetery (Gisborne) details. Search for:

• Charles Federick Lichtwark

View Makaraka Cemetery map (pdf)

View Hamilton Cemetery records. Search for:

• Charles Alphonsus Herbert Lichtwark

View Te Henui Cemetery records, New Plymouth. Search for:

• Blanche Evelyn Hanover

View Invercargill City Council Cemetery records. Search for:

• Theodore Francis Lichtwark

View PapersPast:

• Death notice of Charles Frederick Lichtwark

Family Tree

Maria Rush, 1849-1921

This page documents Maria Rush, the second eldest child of Cecilia's third marriage to John George Rush.

Maria was born in the Hutt Valley on the 5th of September 1849, and spent her childhood on her parents farm in Taita. Although there is no information on her early years, it must have closely resembled that of all the other Rush children. On the 11th of April 1869, at the tender age of nineteen, Maria married Professor Charles Frederick Lichtwark in the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul, Lower Hutt. The Marriage notice reads: "On the 11th inst, at the Catholic Church, Hutt, by the Rev. Father Patius, Charles, second son of Don Charles John Frederick Lichwork, Hamburg Senate, to Maria, second daughter of Mr John Rush, Taita." (Evening Post, Volume V, Issue 58, 20 April 1869, page 2)

Charles was born in Reitbrook, Hamburg, Germany on the 13th of April 1847, and emigrated to Melbourne, Australia aboard a German barque at the age of fifteen. His knowledge of the English language was poor, and so he turned his hand to all types of manual labour. In his notes he wrote: "This (lack of knowledge) was a drawback to me, however I threw off my coat and took anything that offered itself, pit sawing, circular sawing, bush felling, ploughing, surviving, coping and moving, and I was besides good on the water". During his childhood, Charles had spent many happy hours at his uncle's circus, and had developed a deep love of horses, later becoming internationally renowned for his work with them. When he was forty-six, he published a book entitled "Educating the Horse", in New Zealand and Australia, and also applied for patents for harness, reins and mouthing gear. The book is currently held in the Tauranga City Library.

After spending several years in Australia, Charles Lichtwark travelled on to New Zealand, where he met and married Maria Rush. Charles and Maria lived in the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa and Mangapehi before finally settling in the Stratford area. They raised eleven children, five girls and six boys, and these children in turn married and produced large families, providing a large number of grandchildren for Charles and Maria.

The children were:

• Charles Alphonsus Herbert, born 1869, Greytown
• John, born 1871, Greytown
• Theodore, born 1872, Palmerston North
• Helena Cecilia, born 1874, Palmerston North
• Maria, born 1876, Palmerston North
• Cecilia, born 1878, Palmerston North
• Albert, born 1881, Normanby
• Walter, born 1882, Normanby
• Frederick, born 1884, Normanby
• Isidore, born 1888, Normanby
• Blanche Evelyn, born 1891, Hawera

Life must have been difficult for Maria in those early days, as she struggled to bring up her large family. Charles was involved in farming, pit sawing and scrub cutting, and spent much time travelling throughout New Zealand and Australia demonstrating his techniques for working with horses. Maria was left alone with the children often, sometimes for long periods of time, and it must have seemed to her at times as though she had no husband.

In August, 1887, Charles became a naturalised New Zealander. By this time Charles jnr, his oldest son, was nearly eighteen and must already have been a great help to Maria, fulfilling the role of father during Charles's lengthy absences. Twenty-two years separated the first and last of the Lichtwark children, with Charles Jnr being born in 1869 and Blanche, the youngest in 1891.

Charles Lichtwark is listed in the South Taranaki Rates Book between 1894 and 1900 as being an owner and ratepayer of a property at Eltham.

Horse Training

As mentioned earlier, Charles Lichtwark was a renowned horse trainer. When looking through PapersPast, there were many articles about his abilities to tame a wild horse using his own techniques. In fact, it was even recommended that the government employ him because he was so well thought of. An example of some of the advertisements and reviews are given below. His son Charles also learnt the skills of his father, and was highly popular around the country and he continued well after his father's death.

Horse Education. On Friday and Saturday next Professor Lichtwark will give an exhibition of his system of educating the horse. The Professor has been handling horses from ten years of age, and has never been hurt. There is no doubt that all those connected with horses will benefit by attending these exhibitions. (Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12011, 5 July 1902, Page 2)

Death of Charles

In 1904 Charles Frederick Lichtwark contracted typhoid fever in Gisborne, and died in Gisborne Hospital a short time later, on 1st November. Two days later he was buried at Houhoupiko Cemetery (now known as Makaraka Cemetery) in Gisborne. Charles was 57 when he died, and his children ranged in ages from 35 to 13.

His death was reported in the Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10196, 2 November 1904, Page 2:

There died at the Gisborne Hospital last evening a gentleman who has achieved considerable fame throughout the colonies as professor of Horsemanship and educator of the horse. Professor Charles Frederick Lichtwark was well known throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand and Australia for his humane and rational methods of horsetraining. He was a native of Hamburg, and came to New Zealand about 50 years ago. Twelve years ago he published a work entitled "Education of the Horse," which met with very favorable notice from press and public. Mr Lichtwark, who was 62 years of age, had been ailing for about a month. His family are now resident of this district, and much sympathy will be expressed with them on their bereavement.

Death notices of Charles Frederick Lichtwark:

LICHTWARK - at Gisborne Hospital, on November 1st, Charles Frederick Lichtwark, aged 62 years. The funeral will leave the Hospital at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. (Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10196, 2 November 1904, Page 2)

Death of a well-known Animal Trainer. Gisborne, November 2. Professor Lichtwark, well known throught the colony as an educator of horses, has died in the Gisborne Hospital. (Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11400, 3 November 1904, Page 5)

Maria's death

Maria Lichtwark, despite living a life of hardship and toil, lived on into her seventies, before she, too, passed away, in Stratford, on the 17th of February, 1921. She was laid to rest in Kopuatama cemetery located 4 kilometres east of Stratford located on State Highway 43. Following the tendency of the Rush and Rodgers clans to have large families, Charles and Maria Lichtwark started a trend that has resulted in hundreds of Lichtwark descendants throughout New Zealand and elsewhere.

Other information:

Albert

In 1906, a newspaper item in the "Povery Bay Herald" reports that Albert Lichtwark was accused of stealing apples from a local orchard. Albert testified that he thought he could take the apples without asking, especially the ones on the ground, as he had seen others doing the same thing. He had two sacks of apples when the police confronted him. "Albert Edward Lichtwark, horse trainer, stated that he had been invited by McKellar to go and get a couple of bags of apples. " The judge imposed a fine on McKellar, but dismissed the case against Lichtwark. (Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10635, 10 April 1906, page 3)

There is a lengthy report of a court case in May 1908 involving theft where Albert Lichtwark was accused, along with a Norman Marlow of stealing horse equipment. (Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11276, 18 May 1908, Page 5)

Theft: Gisborne, May 19. Two young men were charged with a series of thefts. They were committed for trial on four charges, and sentenced as follows: Albert Lichtwark to two months imprisonment on three charges, and Norman Marlow to three months imprisonment on one charge. The prisoners drove round the country at night, taking harness, rugs etc. (Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12467, 19 May 1908, Page 5. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11277, 19 May 1908, Page 5. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, 19 May 1908, Page 2)

Musical talents

Several members of the Lichtwark family had highly acclaimed musical talents, teaching and playing the violin and singing. They were regular features at local concerts and musicals, and received rave reviews. Newspaper reports in 1905 and 1907 describe Walter (violin) and Isidore (singing). A quote from a newspaper report on the Grand Concert tendered to Mr Lichtwark at His Majesty's Theatre, on Wednesday 24th July 1907 states: "The violin solo, Hejre Kati, played by Mr Lichtwark, earned a well-deserved encore, but the player did not respond."

In another article, it said: Students of the violin, and all those who enjoy good music should attend the complimentary concert on Wednesday, and hear Master Albert Rhinesmith. This lad is a great credit to his techer, Mr Lichtwark, and it is hoped that a bumber house will greet the appearance of so young and promising an artist. (Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11122, 23 July 1907, Page 2)

Theodore - Suicide

Newspaper reports in 1907 state that Theodore Lichtwark committed suicide near Invercargill. The exact report states: "Invercargill, July 15. Professor Lichtwark, horse tamer, was found lying in a pool of blood on the north road at 7 o'clock this morning with his throat cut in two places. He was removed to the hospital, where he died three hours later from loss of blood. No weapon was found, but it is supposed to be a case of suicide." (Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 5080, 17 July 1907, page 2)

"Lichtwark - In loving memory of my dear husband, Theodore Francis,who died at Invercargill Hospital, July 15th, 1907, aged 34 years. Do not grieve or weep, Dry those bitter, falling tears; He is gently gone to sleep. Inserted by his sorrowing wife and children." (Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, 15 July 1908, page 4)

Another item states: "Professor Lichtwark, jun., a horse trainer (son of the well-known Professor Lichtwark who some years ago published a book on the training of the horse, and well known throught the colony for his remarkable ability as a trainer), was found about 6.30 on Monday morning lying on the footpath at Avenal, Invercargill, in a pool of blood, and was removed to the hospital, where it was found that he had two wounds in his throat, which he admitted had been self-inflicted. Lichtwark died two hours after admission to the hospital."(Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5456, 17 July 1907, Page 2)

Lichtwark - on the 15th July, at Invercargill, Theodore Lichtwark, the beloved husband of Catherine Lichtwark, aged 34 years. Deeply mourned. (Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 51)

A man named Lichtwark, well-known as a horse trainer, was found lying on the footpath at Avenal about 6.30 this morning, apparently dying, in a pool of blood. He was removed to the hospital, where it was found that there were two wounds in his throat which he admitted he had made himself. Lichtwark died in the hospital shortly after admission. It is understood that he had been drinking heavily lately. (Otago Witness, Issue 2783, 17 July 1907, Page 52)

Professor Lichtwark, well-known to many Otautau residents, was found lying on the North road Invercargill, on Monday morning with this throat cut. He was conveyed to the Invercargill hospital, but expired almost immediately, without throwing any light on how he came by his wounds. (Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 115, 16 July 1907, Page 4)

One local paper added: [The late Mr Lichtwark was well known in this district, where he resided for many years. He was, as many settlers will remember, very successful in his methods of dealing with refractory horses.] (Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9389, 15 July 1907, Page 7)

An Obituary published in the Hawera and Normanby Star stated: Professor Lichtwark, who it was wired had been found dead with his throat cut, was a very remarkable horse trainer. For many years it has been Lichtwark's custom to travel the country demonstrating his great ability to tame the worst equine outlaw in a very short time. His system was based on kindness, and before he had handled any horse for very long he could dodge backwards and forwards between his legs, sit on him from head to tail, and make him follow him about the stockyard. But it was the fact that he could teach his own methods successfully that was the most remarkable. He had none of the yelling, roping, choking down style of work adopted by most horsey people and the horses he tamed were tame for always. He has written much on the horse.(Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9395, 22 July 1907, Page 4)

Memorial notices inserted in local papers for the next two years reveal that Theodore's death was a great loss to the family, but no further items were found describing exactly what happened.

Theodore was buried in the Eastern Cemetery in Invercargill, Block 20, plot 85 on 19 July 1907. You can view his burial record in the Invercargill Cemetery records from the link at right. Search for Lichtwark.

A November Hawera & Normanby Star item states: Kaponga Band plays out on Saturday night, collecting in aid of Mrs Lichtwark. (Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 23 November 1907, Page 4)

However, his wife, Catherine Elizabeth Jackson, did die on 26th June 1950, and was buried (as Lichtwark) on 29th June in Te Henui, New Plymouth, Roman Catholic Block, Row 24 Lot 15 Plot 2. Her last address (as a widow) was 10 Cutfield Road, New Plymouth. She was born after 26th June 1869 (1869/4803), because she was still 80 at death. [Cemetery records]. We have been unable to find her death in NZBDM – but the name may be misspelt in their records.

Their second child, Theodore Francis Lichtwark, was born 2 November 1907, died (as Francis Theodore) 18th July 1960 [NZBDM births 1960/37487].

Clarice Teresa was born 9 April 1905, five months before her parents were married. However, Theodore was tried in 1903 for false pretences [Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12374, 1 October 1903, Page 7] and it refers to "his wife", so presumably they were in a common law union prior to marriage.

Details of the fraud attempt are noted in the Supreme Court hearing report in the Taranaki Herald.

Contact details

If you have any information or photos to add to this page, or any corrections, please contact Dale Hartle in Levin, New Zealand, by phone +64 021 45 34 24.