Richard Alfred Mudford, Myrtle Myra (Mahon) Mudford & Family

Richard Alfred Mudford (b. 1893, d. 1958)

Richard 'Dick' Alfred Mudford was born in Parnell on 24'th March 1893. He was the fifth of eight children born to William and Sarah. The informant for his birth was his mother Sarah.

Dick married Myrtle Myra Mahon on the 16'th September 1914. They were married in St. Jame's Presbyterian Manse in Parnell. In the Notice of Intention to Marry Dick's age is given as 21 and Myrtle's as 18. As Myrtle was under 21 her mother Eva Ellen Jessie Mahon gave consent for her to marry. The witnesses were Dick's brother William John Harold Mudford and Myrtle's mother, Eva Ellen Jessie Mahon.

Dick and Myrtle had three children, all of whom survived to adulthood. These children were, in birth order: Leonard 'Jim' Alfred Mudford (b. 25 Dec. 1914), Alan Richard Mudford (b. 25 Mar. 1923) and Kenneth Owen Mudford (b. 17 Jul. 1933).

Dick's occupation was a carter or Storeman. He was called up for WWI service in April 1918, but never actually enlisted. At the time of the call up he was living at 1 Strand Lane in Parnell. The Electoral Rolls of 1925 give Dick's address as Port Lane in Parnell.

In later life Dick and Myrtle lived in Erson Avenue, Onehunga.

Mudford's at a driver's picnic on Herald Island (then called Pine Island) ~1917, l. to r. Sarah (Holliday) Mudford, Jim Mudford, Sarah (Mudford) O'Neill, Dick Mudford, Esther (O'Neill) Hamilton, Jessie (Mudford) Patch, and Myrtle (Mahon) Mudford.

Photo of Myrtle and Dick taken in late life

Dick died on the 24'th of July 1958 at Greenlane Public Hospital in Auckland. He is buried in Mangere Lawn Cemetery in South Auckland, in a plot which also contains the grave of his wife Myrtle Myra (Mahon) Mudford (b. 1896). Dick also has a profile on Find a Grave.

Myrtle Myra (Mahon) Mudford (b. 1896, d. 1964)

Myrtle was probably born in 1896, which is the date implied by the entry on her marriage registration. A birth registration for Myrtle has not been found in the NZ BDM system which has lead to some speculation that she was informally adopted. However, her parents Charles John Henry Mahon, and Eva Ellen Jessie Mahon were married in 1894 and she has four younger siblings so it seems more likely that her birth registration has simply been lost. It is likely that she was born in the Waikato, probably Cambridge or Ohaupo, although her marriage registration lists her birthplace as Auckland.

Myrtle's home life was likely a struggle. Her parents had separated in 1912, if not earlier, and her mother, Eva, and the five children were living in Takapuna with Eva's mother, while her father, Charles, lived in Ōtāhuhu and worked on the railways. This all came to a head in February 1913 when Charles attacked Eva with a hammer or tomahawk, then attempted to commit suicide. Charles was initially imprisoned, primarily for the attempted suicide which was illegal at that time in Aotearoa, rather than the assault. He was ultimately released under a bond to live with his Brother and Mother in Hamilton. A divorce was granted to Eva in 1919 on the grounds of desertion.

Photo of Myrtle and daughter-in-law Noeleen (Smith) Mudford

Photo of Myrtle and her sons Alan, and Jim standing left and right of Myrtle, and Owen squatting, probably taken around 1946

Myrtle died at home at 9 Erson Avenue, Onehunga on the 10'th of August 1964. She is buried in Mangere Lawn Cemetery in South Auckland, in a plot which also contains the grave of her husband Richard Alfred Mudford (b. 1893). Myrtle also has a profile on Find a Grave.