Laura was born on 1 February 1869 at Tokatoka, Kaipara, Northland (birth certificate number unknown). She was born the third daughter of Captain John James Stanaway and his fourth wife Sarah Ann Clark.
Laura Stanaway – Tides of Time.
Not much is known about her childhood other than we could expect that it would have been much the same as other children growing up at that time in the Kaipara area.
Her father passes away when she is only about 5 years old, then by the time she is 7 her mother has remarried.
More than likely, along with her other siblings, she would have been educated through the travelling teacher that her father had help set up before he died. (Refer to the Kaipara page).
The first record we have on Laura is her marriage in 1886, aged just 17 (Marriage Certificate number 1886/214) to William John Brown. The marriage took place in Laura’s mother’s house in Tokatoka, Northern Wairoa. William Brown (1862 – 1928) – parents unknown – was from Dargaville.
Marriage Notice – New Zealand Herald 6 March 1886.
Authors Note – When reading the marriage notice you will see that Laura is listed as John James’ fourth daughter – when in fact she is his third with Sarah – could they be including Elizabeth Heath Clarke as one of his daughters.
We currently do not have much information on William other than that his occupation was listed as a contractor. (We suspect in the timber industry).
The 1900 and 1905-6 Electoral Roll has the couple living in Dargaville, with Laura listed as domestic duties and William a contractor.
By 1911 they have moved to Tangowahine (further up the Northern Wairoa River – North East of Dargaville), where they remain until the 1920’s.
The Electoral Roll of 1928, has Laura and William now down in Auckland at 3 Liverpool Street, Epsom, William is listed as no occupation. It is at this time William passes away aged 66 on 20 October 1928, Cemetery unknown.
Laura continues to live in Liverpool Street until 1946, where according to the Electoral Roll she is now registered in Greenlane Hospital. Then, there again in the 1949 Electoral Roll.
Costley Home – Auckland War Memorial Museum.
It is only speculation but it is unlikely that she was unwell for that period of time – medical science at that time was limited. But more likely it could possibly be that Laura is now a resident in Costly Home – this was one of the largest homes for the aged poor. It was on the grounds of Greenlane Hospital – it still exists today but as an administration building for the wider Greenlane hospital.
Laura passed away on 2 January 1951 aged 81 (Death Certificate number 1951/35498). The cemetery and grave site are also unknown.
Laura and William had no children.
Captain John James Stanaway 1813 - 1874 
William John Brown was the oldest child of William Thomas Brown and Emma Belcher.
William Thomas Brown and Emma Belcher arrived with there Fencible parents on the Berhampore in 1849. William and Emma married in 1860 at Papakura. The family came north to live on the banks of the Manganui River at Okahu in April of 1871. William John would have been 10 years old.
William John Brown worked in the Timber industry in the Northern Wairoa. He and his brother Henry James Brown, had a company Brown Brothers and Co. When his brother died in 1892, William and Laura took up farming – 400 acres on the Northern Wairoa. He later joined Finlayson Brothers (also relations) carrying out bush contracts.
William was a keen rower winning a number of whaleboat races. He also had an interest in horse racing.
William and Laura are buried at Purewa Cemetery.
Belcher Lewis Brown brother to William John married Catherine Susan Sanders (b.1876) daughter of Susan Ann and George Edward Sanders in 1895.
Joseph Thomas Brown brother to William John married Alice Elizabeth Clark daughter of William Clark and Wilhemina Paton in 1891.
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William John Brown’s Will is available at NZ Archives. It states Madge Myra Brown is a adopted daughter, Thomas John Stanaway is also living with William and Laura at the time of writing his will in Feburary 1922.
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