More from Graham Whitt's research.
Just to remind us about who Filistea is in relation to our family.
She married Antonio Wett (See previous Italian Connection posts).
Antonio and Filistea raised my grandmother Agnes Leohnora Reed (nee Wet).
We think Agnes Leohnora was actually Filistea's grand daughter (born to Lydia Durham, Filistea daughter to her first marrage)
FILISTEA DURHAM / WETT - CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
Including Extracts from Newspapers (NZ National Library 'Paper's Past' Website)
NB: All newspaper extracts are from Nelson, NZ, newspapers, unless otherwise stated. There is also a similar chronology for Antonio WETT, which also contains material that relates to both Antonio and Filistea.
| Date | Newspaper | Event - Comments |
| Abt. 1837 | Filistea FROST born at Crediton, Devon, England. Her parents were William FROST and Sarah SARGENT | |
| 10 March 1861 | Filistea FROST marries Thomas DURHAM, in the Parish Church, Parish of Alverstoke, Southhampton, England. Residence at time of marriage given as Gosport, near Portsmouth | |
| 27 march 1868 | Thomas DURHAM dies in Collingwood, at the residence of his nephew, Mr Joseph Durham BRACE, at Collingwood. It was reported he died after a 'long and painful illness', and that he was formerly of the 'Her Majesty's Royal Navy', and that he was 'present at the relief and capture of Lucknow, for which he wore a medal, as also Crimean and Burmese medals.' | |
| 14 April & 5 May 1868 | Nelson Examiner & NZ Chronicle | BIRTHS On the 6th, at her residence, Haven Road, Mrs F. Durham (wife of the late Thomas Durham, deceased), of a son. |
| 15 September 1869 | Nelson Examiner & NZ Chronicle | News of the Day 'A woman named Ann Hilton has been committed for trial to the next sitting of eth Supreme Court, for assaulting, on Saturday last, Mrs Durham with an axe. The two women had quarrelled and the prisoner after throwing a piece of wood at Mrs Durham, took up an axe and aimed a blow to her head, which the other warded off with her hand, and received a serious cut in her arm'. |
| 23 September 1869 | Nelson Evening Mail | Resident Magistrate's Court (Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M.) Filistia Durham and Bridget Flynn, charged with provoking a breach of the peace in Collingwood street, were fined ₤1 each and costs or, in default of immediate payment, 14 days with hard labour. |
| 24 November 1869 | Nelson Examiner & NZ Chronicle | Supreme Court Criminal Sittings (Before hi Honour Mr. Justice Richmond Report on the Supreme Court trial of Ann Hilton, for assaulting Filistia Durham – Refer above of 15 September. It was reported that Filistia, a widow living at Foxhill (South of Nelson), was boarding with Ann Hilton. The assault arose out of an argument over stolen money and her mother's wedding ring, "taken off my finger when I was asleep'. |
| Judgement was 'guilty', although the jury recommneded 'mercy' – possibly because they may have thought there was blame on both sides – and Ann Hilton was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment with hard labour | ||
| 12 March 1870 | Antonio Wett married Filistea Durham (Nee. Frost) at the Nelson Wesleyan Church. Notice of Intention to Marry (11 March 1870) noted that Antonio had been living in Nelson for 4 yearsNB. Filistea has been variously recorded as Filishia, Philister (in the Inquest Report on her daughter's death) and Philistia | |
| 17 May 1871 | Elizabeth Ellen born in Nelson, to Antonio & Filistea Wett. | |
| 24 October 1872 | Andrew James born to Antonio & Filistea Wett, in Collingwood (Golden Bay) | |
| 5 April 1876 | Agnes Pauline born to Antonio & Felistea Wett, in Collingwood (Golden Bay) | |
| 23 January 1880 | Nelson Evening Mail | Resident Magistrate Court, before L. Broad, Esq., R.M. Reads: Antonio Wett, a fisherman, was charged with deserting his wife and three children on the 19th December. It appeared that he went away to Auckland on that day, and the police being telegraphed to, he was brought down on a warrant in the Taiaroa this morning. Defendant pleaded not guilty. |
| Filisted Wett, his wife, stated that he left his house on the 19th instant, and went away in the steamer to the North. She thought he had gone off in a fit of temper and would soon return, but as he did not do so she laid an information. He had left her entirely without means. | ||
| Defendant said he had written to the parish priest asking him to look after the children, and promising to pay for their support. The fact was that he could not live at home as his wife misconducted herself with other men, kept low company, neglected her duties, and altogether made his house so miserable that he could not live in it. He was quite willing to take his children and keep them, but could not live with his wife. | ||
| His Worship said that domestic difficulties were no reason why he should leave his wife to be supported by the public. He had full control over his children, and could remove them and place them wherever he pleased. | ||
| The order would not be, as it might, that he be locked up, but that he pay 10s a week to the support of his wife and 5s for each of his children, and the costs of the case. | ||
| 4 June 1880 | Nelson Evening Mail | Local News: On the 3 June 1880, Antonio was arrested for stabbing Filistea at their home. It apparently arose from a domestic argument. Prior to that time, Antonio had deserted his wife and family and left for Auckland, but was arrested and returned to Nelson under the terms of a 'protection order'. |
| The newspaper reported that: A serious case of stabbing occurred at the Port yesterday afternoon, regarding which, we have ascertained the following particulars: Police Constable O'Brien who was on duty at the time, was informed about half-past three that there had been another row at Antonio Wett's house – here we may state that rows between Wett and his wife are of frequent occurrence, the woman, by her intemperance and immoral conduct, frequently driving the unhappy man almost to distraction. | ||
| The Constable went to the house and knocked at the door, when in a weak voice, Mrs Wett told him to come in, and on entering he found her leaning against the sofa with nothing on but her chemise and flannel, the remainder of her clothes, which were saturated with blood, having been taken off and laid on the floor. | ||
| In the small of her back was a deep wound from which the blood was still flowing, and on closer examination of her clothing the Constable found that the knife by which it was inflicted had cut its way through the whalebone stays, and to this obstruction it is probably owing that the woman was not killed. | ||
| Having obtained assistance and sent for Dr Collins, the Constable proceeded to the wharf where he arrested Wett, who said that his wife was drunk and had annoyed him to such an extent that he had thrown a butcher's knife, which was on the table, at her. | ||
| Wett was brought before Mr H.E. Curtis, J.P. this morning, when the Superintendent of Police asked for a remand until Monday as the wounded woman was not yet able to appear. Mr Bunny, who appeared for the accused, asked for bail, but it was refused. | ||
| 7 June 1880 | Nelson Evening Mail | MAGISTRATE'S COURT: [Before H. E. CURTIS and R. REEVES, Esqs., J.J.P.] Antonio Wett was charged with unlawfully stabbing and wounding his wife, Filistia Wett. Mr Bunny appeared for the accused. The following evidence was adduced by the Superintendent of Police. |
| Filistia Wett: My husband came home to his dinner on Thursday afternoon. I told him the dinner was on the fire, and he took it. I could see he had had a drop of drink. He told me I was drunk, and I replied that he was a storyteller. Angry words took place, and after that I don't know what occurred until I got round a bit. | ||
| He struck me on the face, and I said, " What the d---l are you about ? " I went to the sideboard for something, and while there I felt a blow on the back which gave me great pain, blood flowed, and I became faint, and fell on the sofa. I had on my working dress and the stays and flannel produced. (These were much stained with blood.) The knife produced (a butcher's knife) was on the table, and was generally used for cutting up meat or fish. I have been attended by Dr. Collins. | ||
| Cross examined: I was perfectly sober at the time and have been ever since. I had a little drop of brandy once. I have not sent out for beer since. I don't know whether any one else did. I have paid for sixpenny-worth since. It was after I had had lunch my husband returned. I told him be was a liar when be said I was drunk. I did not accuse him of anything else. All I know is that I received a blow on the face. There was nobody alee in tbe room. There was a little boy standing at the door. | ||
| Dr Collins: I was sent for to attend Mrs Wett on Thursday afternoon. I found her lying on the bed quite intoxicated. With the constable's assistance I got her things off and he supported her while I examined her. I found a sharp cut wound about an inch from the spine between the ninth and tenth ribs. | ||
| There had been profuse bleeding from if but it had stopped before I got there, probably by a large clot of blood which had filled the wound, I removed the clot and sewed up the wound, which penetrated between the ribs but not beyond them. It was a little over an inch long and such a one as might have been inflicted by the knife produced. The wound is not dangerous, but I could not have said that three days ago. She is still under my care. | ||
| Cross-examined: I visited her twice on Thursday and once every day since. On the Friday morning when I called she was intoxicated, and, even had the wound permitted it, she could not have attended Court that day on that account. | ||
| By the Bench: The wound could not have healed better if she had been a sober woman, though, as a rule, such injuries are far more dangerous in people of intemperate habits. Andrew James Wett, eight years old: I was at home on Thursday when father came home. He said some bad words to mother and struck her with his hand. There was no one else in the house. He struck her twice. I saw him pick up the knife (produced) from the table, and then I went away to the wharf. When I went home again I found mother standing up, and her clothes were bloody. She told me to go for a constable. I did so. | ||
| Cross-examined: I have often seen rows between father and mother, and I did not think anything about it when I left. I saw father pick up the knife. He had been using it at dinner. Mother had her frock off when I got home from the wharf. She asked me to help her hang out the clothes to I dry. did this, and it was afterwards that she asked me to go for the constable. | ||
| Constable O'Brien: From information I received I went to Wett's house. Mrs Wett and her little boy were there. She was partly undressed, and I saw that her chemise was stained with blood, and a knife cut through it. Her jacket, stays, and flannel were also blood-stained. The clothes produced are in the same state as when I found them. I attended to the wound, and then went and arrested Wett on a charge of stabbing his wife. On our way to town he said, " I don't know whether I shall admit or deny this charge." There is a cut right through all the clothes and penetrating the whalebone of the stays. | ||
| Cross-examined: As we were coming up to town prisoner said he had no one to blame but himself. This closed the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner having been warned in the usual manner stated that he reserved his defence, and was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. | ||
| Mr Bunny asked for ball, and stated that the charge bad now been reduced from one of felony to a misdemeanor. Bail was allowed, the accused in £100, and two sureties of £50 each. | ||
| 18 June 1880 | Nelson Evening Mail | SUPREME COURT NELSON: CRIMINAL SITTINGS MALICIOUSLY WOUNDING. Antonio Wett was charged with stabbing his wife. Mr Fell appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Bunny, with him Mr George Richardson, for the defence. |
| The following were sworn on the jury :—Messrs. J. R. Hooper (foreman), R. Boddington, junior, J. O'Connor, J. Redworth, W.T.King, J. P. Thompson, C. Ford, H. Hyde, J. Astle, J. Savage, J. Rutherford, and H. Livick. T. H. Harley was challenged by Mr Bunny. | ||
| The evidence given in this case was very much the same as that recently published, except that the wife said she was perfectly sure that the prisoner never intended to stab her, and that if the wound was inflicted by him it was purely accidental. | ||
| Mr Bunny stated that he did not propose to call any witnesses except to speak to the prisoner's character, whereupon Mr Fell, at the close of the evidence for the prosecution, addressed the jury. Messrs Wymond and Haddow were called to give evidence as to the character of the prisoner, whom they described as a sober, industrious and inoffensive man. | ||
| Mr Bunny then addressed the jury, arguing that there was no evidence whatever to show that it was the prisoner who inflicted the wound, and urging upon them that even if they believed that he was guilty, they should take into consideration the circumstances of the case, and the general character borne by the man. | ||
| His Honor having summed up, the jury retired for a few minutes and returned with a verdict of guilty of common assault, and the prisoner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labor. The Court then adjourned) and on resuming at two o'clock. | ||
| June/August 1880 | NZ Police Gazette | NZ Police Gazette Records: Police Gazette 1879 (Archives Ref. P 12 4) Page 12 Antonio Wett, charged on warrant issued by the Nelson Bench, with deserting his wife at Nelson on the 19th instant. Description: An Italian fisherman, thirty-eight years of age, 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, stout build, dark swarthy complexion, dark hair, beard, whiskers and moustache. He left Nelson on the 19th instant, in the seamer 'Wellington' supposed for Auckland. |
| Police Gazette 1880 (Archives Ref. P 12 4) Page 12 Antonio Wett, charged on warrant with deserting his wife, has been arrested by Constable John Strathern, Auckland Police, and remanded to Nelson. | ||
| Return of Prisoners Tried at the Different Supreme & District Courts, 1880 Name: Antonio WETT Offence: Assaulting occasioning bodily harm Where & When Tried: Supreme Court, Nelson, 18 June 1880 Sentence: 2 months Hard Labour By Whom Arrested: Constable M. O'Brian. | ||
| Return of Prisoners Reported as Discharged from Goals during the Fortnight Ended 28th August 1880: Goal: Nelson Name: Antonio WETT Where Tried/When: Nelson; une 18th 1880 Offence: Cutting & Wounding Sentence: 2 months Hard Labour Native of: Italy; Trade: Fisherman Born: 1840; Height: 5'2"; Complexion: Fresh; Hair: Black Eyes: Brown; Nose: Medium; Mouth: Medium; Chin: Medium Remarks & Previous Convictions: Crucifix on right arm; woman on left arm. | ||
| Return of Prisoners Reported as Discharged from Goals during the Fortnight Ended 28th August 1880: Goal: Nelson Name: Filistea WETT Where Tried/When: Nelson; August 17th 1880 Offence: Threatening Language Sentence: 6 months imprisonment in default of bail Native of: England Born: 1841; Height: 4'1"; Complexion: Fair; Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown; Nose: Medium; Mouth: Medium; Chin: Medium Remarks & Previous Convictions: Scar on right arm. | ||
| 17 August 1880 | Children: Andrew, Elizabeth & Agnes were placed (by court order?) in St Mary's Orphanage (St Mary's Industrial School) – Returned to their father by court order 9 October 1883 – see below. | |
| 6 December 1881 | Nelson Evening Mail | Before L Broad Esq., R.M. Lydia Durham v. John Haldane.- In this case plaintiff sued for the maintenance of her child, alleging that the defendant was the father. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Fell for the defendant. The Bench not being satisfied as to the paternity dismissed the case, saying that while is was a serious matter for the girl to have to support the child, it was also a serious matter to make a man pay for other people's children. Mrs Wett, the mother of the girl, on hearing the result of the case, entered the Court in a very excited state, and deposing the child and a feeding bottle on the floor, addressed the Clerk of the Court as follows:— "There now, Mr Bradley, I leave the child to the care of all of ye." The little waif was hasti'y picked up by the mother, who left the Court hugging it fondly to her breast. |
| 9 February 1883 | Nelson Evening Mail | In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Philistia Wett was charged with using obscene language and was fined 5s. and costs 21s. |
| 3 October 1883 | Nelson Evening Mail | Court Notice: Minister of Education v. Wet Sergt. Smith of Dunedin, appeared on behalf of the Minister of Education to make application for maintenance money for the three children of Antonio Wet who were committed to St Mary's Orphanage on the 17th August 1880. |
| Mr Bunny, for the defendant, asked the Magistrate to confirm his decision given last week and not make an order for payment and that the Governor should be recommended to allow the children to return to their home. | ||
| Sergt. Smith said he was not aware such a decision had been given, but he would ask that an order might be made with regard to the future. His Worship said that as no order had been made by the committing Justices, he had declined to make one. | ||
| In reply to Mr Bunny, Sergt. Smith said that he had visited the Wet's house and was satisfied that it was a fit place for children to be removed to. His Worship said that he would adjourn the case f or a week in order to see what arrangements could be made in the meantime. | ||
| 9 October 1883 | Nelson Evening Mail | Resident Magistrate Court (Before O. Curtis, Esq., R.M.) Reads: An order was made for the return to Antonio Wet of his children from St Mary's Orphanage. No order was made for back payment. |
| 20 February 1889 | Nelson Evening Mail | Local News: Reporting on the upcoming Nelson (horse) races, and noting that rights to the "oyster saloon was sold to Mr Antonio Wett for 15s". |
| 1890 to 1895 | WISES DIRECTORY | Antonio WETT recorded as living at Russell Street, Nelson, and employed as a fisherman |
| 7 August 1897 | Antonio & Filistea's daughter, Elizabeth Sarah (Ellen?) Wett dies. See newspaper reports, particularly on inquest, below. | |
| 9 August 1897 | The Colonist | Local News: A Sudden Death: On Saturday last a daughter of Mr Antonio Wett, a fisherman at present residing at the Maori Pah, Wakapuaka, was brought into town, as she was clearly in bad health, and shortly after she had been taken to the residence of Mr Mallamo she expired. The girl, who was about 18 years of age, was blind, and as no medical man was attending, an inquest will be held this afternoon. |
| 9 August 1897 10 August 1897 | Nelson Evening Mail The Colonist Report in similar vein to Nelson Evening mail report. | SUDDEN DEATH OF A GIRL: THE INQUEST. A young blind girl named Elizabeth Sarah Wett, daughter of Mr Antonio Wett, a fisherman residing at the Maori Pah, Wakapuaka, died suddenly on Saturday at the residence of Mr Mallamo, the Port. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr W. T. Bond (acting Coroner), and the following jury: J. T. Hinchcliffe (foreman). A. McNabb, F. Ricketts, C Nash, L. Godden, and Richard Wright. |
| Dr Roberts deposed that he first saw the deceased on Friday last about 3 p.m., when she was in a comatose state, and evidently dying. Witness was unable to form any opinion then us to the cause, but as far as he could judge she was pregnant. The girl died next day on the Saturday morning. Instructed by the Coroner, witness made a post-mortem examination of the body. There were no marks of violence externally. | ||
| The internal organs were healthy, excepting the brain and kidneys. On the brain there were evidences of chronic brain disease. The kidneys were congested, and in such a condition, as together with the condition of the brain, was sufficient to account for death. Further examination confirmed his opinion as to the pregnancy of the deceased. | ||
| By Sergt. McArdle: The examination did not reveal any evidence of an illegal operation. Philister Wett, mother of the deceased, said her daughter was 25 yean of age. Deceased had been blind about nine years, the blindness coming on gradually. From childhood deceased had been childish and simple. Witness did not notice or suspect her daughter's condition. | ||
| Three weeks ago witness took deceased to the Nelson Hospital, but the doctor explained that the Asylum was the proper place for her. Witness then took her home. Dr Talbot supplied her with two bottles of medicine. Witness could not believe her daughter's condition, and did not know it until after the post mortem examination. Deceased was brought in to Nelson from the Maori Pah, Wakapuaka, on Friday, because she seemed very ill and sinking lower. | ||
| Questioned as to whether she had any idea as to who was the cause of her daughter's trouble, the witness said she had not the slightest, adding, " But it will leak jut sooner or later. It is nothing less than murder whoever it was." | ||
| Examination continued: A married daughter of witness's was always in the house with deceased during the absence of witness. Deceased could get round and about the house a little, "but never away from the house. To the Coroner: Witness had not sufficient sense to understand if anyone was trying to take advantage of her. | ||
| Agnes Reid, wife of William Reid, gave evidence as to having charge of the deceased, her sister, during her mother's absence. A younger sister was also in the house. Witness never observed anyone visiting the house. Witness did not think deceased knew right from wrong. | ||
| This was all the evidence. The coroner said it would be the duty of the police to try and ascertain who had taken advantage of the girl as it was a criminal. Obviously a dastardly crime had been committed on a blind and imbecile girl, but all the jury had to say was what was the cause of death. The jury immediately returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, that deceased was suffering with chronic brain dedesase (sic) and was also pregnant at the time. | ||
| 23 February 1898 | Andrew James WETT married Ada BOOKER at Blenheim, NZ | |
| 1901 | WISES DIRECTORY | Antonio WETT recorded as living at Haven Road, Nelson, and employed as a fisherman |
| 24 June 1902 | Filishia WETT (Frost/Durham) dies at age 69 Buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson. Block #07 – Plot #052 | |
| 7 November 1894 | Agnes Pauline (Polly) WETT married William REED in St Mary's Catholic Church, Nelson. | |
| 1904 to 1910 | WISES DIRECTORY | Antonio WETT recorded as living at Haven Road, Nelson, and employed as a fisherman. Between 1908-1909, William REED, his son-in-law and his daughter, Agnes Pauline, were living next door. |
| 5 October 1910 | Antonio Wett dies, at age 77 years. Buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson, NZ. Block #07/Plot #052 Catholic Section. Filistea and daughters Elizabeth Sarah and Agnes Pauline (REED) are also buried in the same area. | |
| 5 October 1910 | The Colonists | Death Notice for Antonio Wett: Reads: Death: WETT – on October 5 1910, at the Nelson Hospital, aged 77 years. R.I.P. |
| 8 October 1910 | The Colonists | Funeral Notice for Antonio Wett: Reads: The Friends of the late Mr ANTONIO WETT are respectfully informed that his funeral will leave the residence of his son-in-law, Mr W. Reed, The Port, THIS (Saturday) AFTERNOON, at Two o'clock, for Nelson Cemetery. Signed: Alfred Shone, Undertaker and Embalmer. |
| 1913-1914 | Andrew James WETT changes his name to Andrew James WHITT. There is no known explanation for this change of name nor where the name Whitt came from. | |
| 11 August 1920 | Andrew James WETT died at Porirua Hospital, Wellington (His death certificate records his name as Andrew James WHITT) He is buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington. | |
| 1 July 1922 | Agnes Pauline REED (Nee WETT) dies. She is buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery (Block 11/Plot 23), Nelson, alongside her husband, William REED, who died on 29 December 1942. |
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