| Brief Description |
Small carte de visite photograph of George Stephen Bridge, unmounted. Head and shoulders portrait of a man wearing a dark suit buttoned high, with thin bow tie and white handkerchief in his pocket, with slicked down hair and a short bushy beard.
George Stephen Bridge was born on Regent Street in London, England, on 21st December 1840. He arrived in New Zealand aboard the 'Hastings' in 1859 and settled in Waverley where he worked as a farmer and Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Education Board for 26 years, Chairman of the First Patea County Council in 1878, Chairman of the First Waitotara Highway Board in 1879, member of the School Committee in 1882, and Church Office Bearer in Waverley from 1887-1905. In 1897 he settled in Whanganui in Plymouth Street, and served as an Elder in St Pauls Church, Treasurer of the Wanganui Prohibition League, member of the Orphanage Committee, Director of the Library Committee, and member of the Borough Council in 1901.
In February 1865 George married Catherine McWilliam, daughter of Thomas McWilliam of Netherdale Farm in the Matarawa Valley. They had the following children:
Thomas Andrew born 1866
George James born 1867
William Wilkinson born 1869, died 1869 aged one month
William Wilkinson born 1872
Charles Harry born 1873
Francis David born 1888, died 1893 aged five years
Catherin died in 1901 aged 54 years, and George died in 1906 aged 65 years.
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