13/06/2026
Ernest Edward Mullins 1882 - 1968
Ernest Edward Mullins was born on 3rd November 1882 in Cambridge, Waikato the son of Elizabeth (nee Knox) and John Samuel Mullins.
John Samuel Mullins served with the Armed Constabulary during the Waikato Wars settling in Hamilton where he married the daughter of the John Knox who had served as a Colour Sergeant with the 4th Waikato Militia, and later served terms as the Mayor of Hamilton.
The couple then moved to settle in Cambridge where Elizabeth and John’s nine children were born.
Ernest grew up in Cambridge, he is recorded as enrolling, in 1893, at Cambridge Primary School with his two older brothers, ‘Rowland’ and ‘Bertie’ and younger sister Edith Mullins.
Ernest then trained to be a blacksmith based in Cambridge. Ernest married Maria Annie Bolster in 1911 with their son Albert John Knox Mullins born in Cambridge in 1912 and daughter Vera Thelma Knox Mullins in 1914.
Ernest’s father John died in 1916 when he was hit but a runaway horse and buggy while working in Cambridge and his mother died in 1918. Both are interred in Hautapu Cemetery, Waikato.
Ernest, Annie and their two children moved to Eltham prior to the end of World War One with Ernest Edward Mullins, Blacksmith of Hawera, being declared fit for active service in August 1918 . Ernest did not attend any military camp.
Ernest and Annie moved to Argyle Street, Hawera with Albert and “Thelma’ attending Convent school and then Hawera Technical College where both are noted with success in Pitman typing.
Maria Annie Mullins died in Hawera on 6th May 1936 and is interred in Hawera Cemetery.
Ernest remained in Hawera but his two children moved to Wellington for careers.
Thelma married John Noble Beasley in 1940 and Albert enlisted in 1941 serving in the 27th Machinegun Battalion in North Africa where he was captured in the 1st Battle of El Alamein. (Stories on both being prepared)
Ernest retired in Hawera and made a will in 1960 nominating his son Albert as his executor, but moved to Wellington in the mid 1960’s to be closer to his children.
Ernest Edward Mullins died, in Wellington, on 5th February 1968 and is interred in Porirua Cemetery, Non-conformist, NC H 056.
Ernest’s Son-in-Law, John Noble Beasley died in 2007 and his daughter Vera ‘Thelma’ Knox Beasley in 2012, their ashes are interred with Ernest.
Note
John Noble Beasley served in WW2 as 23259 Lt J N Beasley, 4th Field Regiment, NZ Artillery and was the initial research project by Porirua War Stories. Thelma and John’s stories are being prepared.
References
Ancestry.com
Archives NZ Probates
NZ Electoral Rolls
NZ BDM
Paperspast Online
Photos
Original Mullins plaque: Porirua Cemeteries Online
Mullins/Beasley plaque : Porirua Cemeteries Online