Betsy

Betsy Helen Archibald

(29 August 1877 - 28 July 1944)

Betsy Helen (or Ellen) Archibald was born in Port Pirie, Claire (near Adelaide), Australia on 29 August 1877. She was the eldest of the six children born to James Archibald (1851 - 21 July 1910) and his wife Catherine Reid (17 Feb 1851 - 13 Jun 1935):

• Betsy Helen Archibald (29 Aug 1877 - 28 July 1944).
• Margaret (Maggie) Reid Archibald (3 June 1879 - 26 Aug 1970) 
• James (Jim) Archibald (31 Aug 1882 - 3 Sep 1958)
• Adelaide (Adie) Archibald (27 June 1886 - 18 Sep 1971)
• Alexander Archibald (14 Dec 1889 - 19 Feb 1899) 
• Chloris (Sissy) Mary Archibald (20 July 1891 - 23 Dec 1986)

Betsy was intellectually handicapped. While it is unclear whether her condition was caused by an incident at birth or from accidental causes, the family legend is that she was hit on the back of the head with a swing when a child.

When Betsy was almost two years old, her sister Margaret was born. '

The Archibald family immigrated to New Zealand in 1882. The family settled on a farm at 85 South Head Road, Parkhurst, near Helensville. They named their new farm Glencairn after the Archibald farm back in Scotland. Betsy's four youngest siblings were born at Parkhurst.

Around 1890-91, Betsy's mother became interested in the Bible teachings taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Sometime during 1891, she was baptised and became one of the earliest Seventh-day Adventist Church members in New Zealand. Around 1894-96, the Archibald family met regularly with a small group of Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Parkhurst where they studied the Bible together. It is possible that some of their meetings were conducted at the Archibald's home.

The following photograph of the Archibald family was taken outside their Glencairn homestead in Parkhurst, Helensville around 1896. The home was partially finished at this time.

The Archibald family at their home in Parkhurst, Helensville c1896
Back from left: Margaret (Maggie), James Snr, Catherine, Betsy
Front from left: Alexander, Sissy & James Jnr
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of K Toepfer)

The Archibald family at their home in Parkhurst, Helensville c1896
From left: Margaret (Maggie), Adelaide, James Snr with Alexander, Catherine, Betsy, Sissy & James Jnr
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Glencairn in later years
Date & photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of K Toepfer)

On 19 February 1899 Betsy's youngest brother, Alexander. died after suffering meningitis. He was buried at the Helensville Cemetery, Public Burial Area, Block 1, Row B2, Plot 8, Seq 1.

Betsy's cousin, David Mitchell (4 Mar 1882 - 8 Aug 1955), the only son of her father's youngest sister, Mary, immigrated to New Zealand in the early 1900s (date unknown at present). It is likely that he stayed with his Archibald family for a while until he found his own way. David married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carter (1878 - 1969). David and Lizzie farmed in Bombay, Franklin, South Auckland. David's widowed father later joined them in New Zealand.

A family wedding was held on 24 June 1907 when Adelaide married Robert Liggett (16 Sep 1877 - 6 Jan 1963). The wedding was probably held at the Parkhurst farm.

Betsy's father, James, suffered with cancer of the intestines for nine months before he passed away at Glencairn, his home, on 21 July 1910. He was buried at the Helensville Cemetery in the family plot where Alex was buried previously, Block 1, Row B2, Plot 8, Seq 2. The following acknowledgement from the Archibald family was published in The Auckland Star, Vol XLI, Issue 178, 29 July 1910:



After the death of James II, the farm was bequeathed to James III who had been running the farm while his father was sick.

Betsy's sister, Maggie, married Frank Albert Yates (29 May 1879/1881 - Nov 1963) at Parkhurst on 25 January 1911. Frank and his family were from Whangarei.

World War 1 broke out in mid 1914. While none of the Archibald family were directly impacted by it, we know that the family were in full support of the war effort and contributed to the Belgium Relief Fund. The Kaipara and Waitemata Echo of 15 January 1915 indicates that Catherine Archibald and her daughters (we assume this includes Betsy) donated generously to it.

On 19 April 1915 Betsy attended the wedding of her brother, James Archibald III, to Louie Keymer (31 Aug 1881 - 17 Dec 1981). The wedding was held at the bride's parent's home in Birkdale, Auckland. In the family portrait below, Betsy is standing directly behind the bride and groom, eighth from the right.

Family portrait taken at the wedding of James Archibald III and Louie Keymer, 19 April 1915.
Photographer unknown but possibly W Short of Wilton Street, Grey Lynn.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Following the wedding the newly weds settled into the Parkhurst homestead, and James III ran the farm. He also built a small cottage on the farm for his mother Catherine, and Betsy to live in.

Around 1921, James and Louie Archibald sold the Glencairn farm in Parkhurst, Helensville to William and Mabel Rimmer. They moved to a farm on Opaheke Road, Papakura. Catherine and Betsy moved there too. James built a new cottage there for them. Apparently it was a replica of the one that he built for them at the Parkhurst property.

Betsy's mother, Catherine, developed cancer in 1935, and was admitted to Huia Hospital where she had major surgery. Sadly, she never recovered from the operation, and died on Thursday, 13 June 1935. Catherine was buried at the Helensville Cemetery on 15 June 1935 beside her husband James and their son Alexander. Public Area, Block 1, Row B2, Plot 10, Seq 1. Following the death of her mother, Betsy was put into care.

Betsy (also known as Bessie) Archibald
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo from the collection of Jessie McLean, courtesy of L McLean)

Betsy died in Kingseat Mental Hospital on 28 July 1944. She was 65 years old. The cause of her death was given as chronic myocardial degeneration. Betsy was buried at the Papakura Cemetery.

The following obituary for Betsy was printed in the Australasian Record, Vol 48, No 38, 18 Nov 1944, page 7:

     ARCHIBALD - On July 28, 1944, at
Papakura, New Zealand, God called to rest
Sister Betsy Helen Archibald, at the age
of sixty-five years. Our sister had been
an invalid for very many years. We laid
her to rest in the presence of loved ones
and friends in the sure and certain hope
of the resurrection.     R. J. Burns.


Sources of Information

• Family held records and photographs, courtesy of G J Bland
• Photographs from K Toepfer
• Auckland Council - Cemetery Search
• Adventist Record Archives
• Papers Past
• Ancestry.com

Last updated 24 August 2022