Elizabeth Neales

On 22 February 1913 Elizabeth Neales gave a talk to the Natural History Society entitled “A Visit to Hawaii Island”. Most of her donation in 1921 came from Hawaii, probably collected by Mrs. Neales herself. Elizabeth Simonds Neales was the wife of Reverend William Stirling Neales, son of the Reverend James Neales, Rector of Gagetown. Their marriage took place in Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton, on 29 October 1868.

Elizabeth’s husband worked as rector of St. Paul’s Church, Chatham, until about 1873, when ill-health forced him to go south to San Francisco, California. If Elizabeth and William visited Hawaii together, the journey probably took place sometime between 1873 and 1890, when Reverend Neales died in San Francisco. By February 1910, Elizabeth was back in Saint John giving a talk at the Natural History Society on “The Natural Beauties of the Yosemite Valley”. What is known about Elizabeth and William Neales in San Francisco and their trip to Hawaii?