The Tragedy of Rueben Drake
Edward Drake and his heavily pregnant wife Catherine boarded the ship "Merope" from Plymouth England on July 1st 1875, destination Timaru New Zealand
Catherine was Edward's second wife, and with them on the journey were 2 of Edwards children from his previous marriage Edward jnr aged 17 and Sarah aged 15, along with his and Catherine's young son Rueben aged 2.
Catherine gave birth on the voyage, but sadly the baby boy only survived 40 days and was buried at sea.
They reached Timaru on the 23rd September and were soon removed to the Immigration Barracks.
By 16th November Edward was concerned about his wife and said she was out of her mind, he took her before the Resident Magistrate who committed her to the Asylum in Chch, Edward was told to have her ready to go the next morning, so he and the Master of the Barracks took her back to the barracks.
Edward said she was quiet and began sewing, shorlty after he and his wife and young Rueben had tea in their room together. Just before 8pm Edward left the room to go to the closet, when he returned he found the door locked, when it was finally opened he saw his wife standing with blood on her neck before she fell back onto the bed.
Then the awful realisation, his young son Rueben had been killed
The wound to Catherine's neck was a serious one and there was uncertainty as to if she would survive. It was supposed that the knowledge by Catherine that she was about to be separated from Rueben prompted her to commit the horrible act.
Catherine did survive and was sent to the Sunnyside Asylum on the 14th December.
Rueben was buried in Row 0 in the Timaru Cemetery on the 17th November 1875
About 5 years after Rueben's death is half-brother Edward jnr became Sexton at the Timaru Cemetery, a position he held for 30 years
Compiled by Carmen Haymen
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=4&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GLOBE18751118.2.7?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18751122.2.9?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18751120.2.10?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18751122.2.13?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GLOBE18751214.2.5?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751122.2.8?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=2&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751119.2.10?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=2&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751210.2.6.4?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=2&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751119.2.11?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=2&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751213.2.7?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=3&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751203.2.7?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=3&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18751119.2.24?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=4&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18751118.2.21?end_date=31-12-1875&items_per_page=10&page=4&query=Drake&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1875&title=AMBPA%2CAG%2CASHH%2CEG%2CGLOBE%2CKAIST%2CLT%2CNCGAZ%2COO%2CCHP%2CSCANT%2CTS%2CSUNCH%2CTEML%2CTHD%2CWDA
