PIONEER’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 5

PIONEER’S DEATH

OLDEST RESIDENT OF FEATHERSTON. MRS JANE VILE. (“Times-Age” Special.) Mrs Jane Vile, whose death occurred on March 15, 1943, at Featherston, at the age of 93 years, was the widow of Mr Josiah Vile, and ranked as the oldest resident of the town. Born in Kiledowen, Hatop, Essex, England, she arrived in New Zealand with her parents, Mr and Mrs Richard Bright, at the age of five years. The family came over the Rimutaka Hill by bullock dray and settled at Moiki, where Mr Bright carried on his trade as a blacksmith, later removing to Greytown. In 1867 Miss Bright married Mr Vile at Wellington and came to reside on the Rimutaka Hill farm known as Meadow Bank. From there she went to live in Featherston, where she resided in the same home for 70 ydars. Mr and Mrs Vile left a family of twelve, seven of whom are still living, viz., William John (Apiti), Walter Franklyn (Colyton), Albert Victor (Greytown), Steadman . Stanley (Cheltenham), Isabel Maud Goodrick (Pukekohe), Ethelwyn M. (Nelson), and Evelyn Blanche (Featherston). The late Mrs Vile was predeceased by her husband, and the following sons and daughters: .Edith Ellen, Clara Franklyn, Leslie John, James Wilfred, and Arthur Edward. Mr Edward Bright, of Martinborough. who is 84 years of age, is the last of her brother’s alive. There are 26 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. Four grandsons ard serving overseas in the N.Z.E.F. and two granddaughters are nursing in New Zealand. The late Mrs Vile took an active interest in the St.' John’s Anglican Church. She had good sight and hearing. The funeral was largely attended, the pall-bearers being the four sons and two grandsons (A. E. Vile, Masterton, and Sergeant Major J. S. Vile, Featherston). There were many floral tributes, including wreaths from the St. John’s Guild, Red Cross Society, Women’s Division of the Farmers Union, Fire Brigade and the Featherston and Haunui Croquet clubs. The late Mr Josiah Vile, who died at Featherston on February 23, 1931, was born in South Petherton, Somerset, England, in 1840, and arrived in New Zealand with his mother in 1841 in the ship Arab, his father having died at sea on the voyage. The parents of Mr Vile were William and Sophia Vile (nee Sophia Follett), who were married irt England in 1830. The ship Arab left London on June 3 and arrived in New Zealand in October. There were three other children One, James, died in Feilding on July 22. The others , Charles and Ann, went to Australia where they spent their life. The late Mr Vile was a pioneer member of Loyal Unitv Lodge, Featherston, established in 1871, and one of his sons, James, became grandmaster in recent years.