He was joined in the household by two half siblings, Susan and John, through Miriama, and then in 1868 when Solomon married a widow by the name of Lucy Maria Drake (nee Holmes), the family expanded even more with the addition of Lucy’s daughter Lucy junior. She would have been six, and Joseph twelve. Miriama had left and married Richard Paltridge five years earlier.
As fate would have it, after getting married at fourteen to John Taylor and giving birth to three children, Lucy junior was to leave her husband to go and live with Joseph junior in Hamilton in 1881. They were never married, but had six children before his death at the young age of thirty-three from congestion of the lungs, or typhoid fever.
Most of what is known about Joseph is found in newspaper articles of the time, especially his obituary in the Waikato Times on 21st March 1889. We learn from that that he was a “half caste”, the son of Major Greenwood, he had a business (hairdressing), and was an unassuming character. He also played the violin at local dances and was a member of the Hamilton Light Infantry.
"It is with deep regret we chronicle tho death of Mr J. Greenwood, of Hamilton, who died yesterday afternoon of typhoid fever. He was a half-caste, son of the late Capt. Greenwood, of the Imperial service, and since he set up business in Hamilton made himself very generally liked for his quiet, unassuming manners and steady habits. In musical circles he will be much missed, as his services as a violinist were always in requisition at all the dances in the country aide. His funeral takes place this afternoon at four o'clock, and will be attended by the Hamilton Light Infantry, of which corps he was an active member. He leaves a widow and four young children, in whose bereavement great sympathy is felt."
Waikato Times 21st March 1889
"A Thames Divorce Case
TAYLOR V. TAYLOR. (Auckland, Last night)
An application was made at the Supreme Court this afternoon, before Mr Justice Conolly, under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867. The petitioner was John Henry Taylor and the respondent Lucy Taylor. Mr E. Cooper appeared for the petitioner, and stated that the co respondent was dead. The Respondent was not represented by counsel, and did not appear in person. John Henry Taylor deposed that he was a miner of Thames. On the 27th July 1876, she was married" to the respondent, John Taylor. Prior to the marriage the respondent's name was Lucy Clark. They lived together at Thames for three Months, then visited England and subsequently returned to the colony again.
On the 23rd March 1881, his wife left him. She took away a child ten weeks old and left witness two little boys. He had no knowledge that she was going to leave him, and knew no reason why she should have left him. There had not been any quarrel, nor had he ill-used her. As far as he knew she came to Auckland from the Thames and thence to her parents at Komokoriki. She did not go away in company with a man.
Witness wrote, to his wife to ask her to come back, but she refused. Respondent gave no reason to him for going away like that. There had not been any communication between them since, either personally or by letter. The two boys were still with witness and the girl had been left with his wife's mother. Witness was not acting in collusion with respondent in these proceedings. About 12 months after his wife left, he became aware that she was living in adultery. Solomon Clark deposed that he resided in the Waikato. The respondent, Lucy Taylor, was his daughter. Witness was present at the marriage, and signed as one of the witnesses.
He remembered his daughter leaving her husband and coming home again. She first stayed a little time in Auckland. Respondent only remained at home a few months. He knew a man named Joseph Greenwood, who had resided about three miles from Komokoriki. His daughter got acquainted with Greenwood while at home. Afterwards she came up to Auckland, where Greenwood then was staying. His daughter next went up to the Waikato. She only visited home once, that was three or four months afterwards, and stayed about a week. Witness next saw respondent in the Waikato. She was then living with Greenwood. They appeared like man and wife. Witness stayed two nights in the house, and he believed that Greenwood and respondent occupied the same bedroom. Respondent had another child. Nest time witness saw respondent she was still living with Greenwood. His daughter was now residing at Hamilton, She now had four children. Greenwood died last March. Respondent lived with him until the time of his death. She was still called Mrs Greenwood in Hamilton, where she was carrying on a small business. Witness knew of no reason why his daughter should have left her husband. As far as he knows Taylor did not ill-treat her.—By His Honor: When first she left her husband she did not tell witness that she had left him for good. About a week or two afterwards she told them, but did not say why she had left him. Witness asked her but she gave no answer. The case is proceeding."
The Thames Star 17th September 1889
And in The Observer 21st September 1889
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Lucy Clark with Tom Chappell and
Greenwood/Chappell children
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