The Tree - Person Sheet
The Tree - Person Sheet
NameThomas John Billing
Birthca 1846
Death6 Jul 1923, Ōngarue, King Country, New Zealand
OccupationFarmer
Misc. Notes
First two initials and surname (T. J. Billing) from Muriel Leo’s (nee Oliver, 1917-1998) Family Tree.

First two given names, year and country of marriage from search on New Zealand BDM website in October 2018:
1880/253. Bride: Emma Jane McKay. Groom: Thomas John Billing

Full date of marriage of 25 December 1880 from further searching in October 2018 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the marriage.

No record of birth could be found on the New Zealand BDM website as at October 2018. This is most likely because, (although births have been recorded in New Zealand since 1848), it was not compulsory to register a birth before 1858.

Year and country of death, from death search on New Zealand BDM website in October 2018:
1923/8142. Billing, Thomas John. died age 75Y

Full date of death of 6 July 1923 from further searching in October 2018 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the death.

Confirmation of date of death, calculation of year of birth (circa 1846), died in railway accident, from Rahoutu Cemetery, West Taranaki, Records:
Same plot. 32.
In loving memory of EMMA JANE beloved wife of Thomas John BILLING, died 21st March 1914 aged 52 years; also THOMAS JOHN beloved husband of the above, who was killed in the Ongarue railway accident 6th July 1923 aged 77 years. EMMA LILLIAN, daughter of Thomas and Jane, died 21st September 1967; also JOHN COOK, husband of the above, died 20th May 1968. FREDERICK R. BILLING, youngest son, who was killed in action in France 16th November 1916 aged 21 years; ERNEST ALFRED (M.M.), 4th son, who died of wounds in France 12th April 1918 aged 27 years.

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Main Trunk Line Express Train Disaster
6 July 1923
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/auckland-wellington-express-train-disaster
The Auckland−Wellington express ploughed into a huge slip that had slumped across the tracks at Ōngarue, north of Taumarunui in the King Country. Seventeen people were killed and 28 injured. This was the first accident to claim more than four lives since the beginning of New Zealand’s railway history 60 years earlier.
The disaster occurred just before 6 a.m. There was no chance to stop as the train was rounding a sharp bend. Locomotive Ab 748, its tender and the following postal van were thrown off the track. Further back in the train, the force of the impact telescoped three wooden carriages. At least 12 passengers were killed instantly. The engine driver and fireman were both badly injured, but survived. Most of those in the sleeping cars at the rear of the train only learned of the accident when they were woken so that their bedsheets could be used as bandages.
Ōngarue remains the country’s third-deadliest rail disaster, behind the Tangiwai (see 24 December) and Hyde (see 4 June) tragedies, which killed 151 and 21 people respectively.

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Occupation from:
Extract from Inquest on the Bodies July 7 1923
Otago Daily Times, 9 July 1923
Francis Henry Billings (of Feilding, bank officer) identified the body of his father, Thomas John Billings, aged 75 years, a retired farmer, residing in Hino street. New Plymouth. He last saw him alive at Christmas. Deceased left one daughter.
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New Zealand Electoral Roll - Taranaki Roll 1919, found in February 2019:
Billing, Emma Lillian, Hine Street, spinster [Daughter]
Billing, Thomas John, Hine Street, retired farmer [Father]
Billing, Francis Henry, Hind Street, bank clerk, soldier [Son]
Spouses
Birth10 Apr 1862, New Zealand
Death21 Mar 1914
FatherPatrick McKoy (1824-1895)
MotherMary Ann Oliver (1826-1908)
Marriage25 Dec 1880, New Zealand
ChildrenThomas Leonard (Len) (1881-1960)
 Charles Lewis (1884-1926)
 Emma Lillian (Lily) (1886-1967)
 Ernest Alfred (Alf) (1890-1918)
 Francis Henry (Frank) (1893-1977)
 Frederick Rolland (1895-1916)
Last Modified 9 Feb 2019Created 6 Aug 2025 using Reunion for Macintosh