Maker: Maria Melino

Panel number: 385

Petition sheet number: 467

Person honouring: Edith Taylor

Relationship to maker: Selected for me; a relative of close friends

Edith wrote a diary of her voyage to New Zealand that was published as a small booklet by Susan Taylor in 2005.

Edith Palmer Tylee was born in 1839 in Bathwick, Bath, England to Mary Tylee and John Palmer. Her older brother John Tylee went to Wanganui and became a friend of Rev. Richard Taylor.

Edith later became engaged to Richard’s son, Basil Kirke Taylor, before she left England on the Queen of the Mersey. Basil met the ship when she arrived in Auckland on 26 November 1863. He took his betrothed to stay with Sir William and Lady Martin at Judge’s Bay, Parnell and they were married on 3 December 1863 by the Bishop of Waiapu at St Stephen’s Chapel.

Edith and Basil had six children. With very limited help, Edith also cared for the mission folk at Putiki, Wanganui. After Basil died in 1876 (aged 45), Edith bought her home, Cossington, and lived there until she died.

For many years church and missionary folk stayed with Mrs Taylor at Cossington, and she was much loved by all who knew her. For a long time she was Scripture Union Secretary for the Wanganui district; her younger son, Basil Maples Taylor, took over the position.

Edith was called ‘Grannie’, always dressed in black, and wore a circle of white lace on her white hair. She died on 25 October 1914, aged 75 and was buried in Heads Road Cemetery.

Panel materials: Woollen twill fabric – own collection, hand-dyed threads, vintage lace – natural dye, printing-ink water-based colours.