Williams, Edward Garfield (Jerry), 1888-1963 (Person)

Born in Sydney, Edward Garfield became known as Jerry. He joined the Navy, worked on ships, marrying Mabel Florence Lynn in Auckland in 1913.

Working on schooners, travelling regularly to the Bay of Plenty, he took a job on the 'Dawn' with the Whakatane Harbour Board. Around 1926 he swopped his house in Auckland for the 'Omokoroa', using the Wairoa River and other waterways to transport manure, take cement to Katikati, sand to Tauranga, and pigs from Welcome Bay.

The development of the railway to Tauranga meant Jerry needed to diversify, he started taking fishing charters in 1927, and running a ferry service to Matakana Island. He commissioned the O'Rourke Brothers in Auckland to build the 'Ratahi'. It's first fishing charter in September 1938 carried 100 passengers, fully subscribed from advertising in the Bay of Plenty Times. 

During World War II he purchased a launch, that he renamed 'Lady Bess', to tow sawn timber. Following the War, his son Trevor Williams returned from naval service, and Jerry bought a Fairmile, named the 'Tiare' for fishing charters, with space to host moonlight habour trips and a band playing on deck.

In 1950 he purchased the 'Ranui', which capsized on it's maiden journey in heavy seas off Mauao, with the loss of 22 lives, including the skipper Geoffery Harnett, Jerry's son-in-law.

Jerry died December 1963 aged 74, and is buried in the Methodist section of Pyes Pā Cemetery.