Some Recollections of Anna Maria (nee Goldsworthy) Meiklejohn.
When Anna Maria was a very young girl, her family lived in a setlement at Mine Bay, near the coppermine on the north-west coast of Great Barrier Island. Her father, a manager or supervisor in the mine, was from Cornwall in England, as was her mother and some older siblings. This period was a time of tension because of the dissatisfaction of Hone Hika at the capital having been shifted south to Auckland, away from Korororeka, with the subsequent fall in economic activity in his Bay of Islands stronghold. Early one morning the miners and their families were surprised by several war canoes…read on
The following two pages was kindly sent to me by Charmaine Clow of Hot Water Beach, Whitianga a few short years ago, who has agreed that it be published here.. I have copied out the two type-written pages. Thank you very much Charmaine. Don Armitage. 2008. ( I am distantly related to Goldsworthy's in NZ)
6
I shall refer to her as Anna Maria so we shall not get mixed up with grandmothers.
She was born on 11th April, 1841, a few months after her parents arrived from Wellington by schooner. Auckland was, of course in its infancy, as Hobson had only chosen it as the capital in 1840. Accommodation was short, and on arrival the first Goldsworthy home was a raupo hut on Parnell slope. It was here Anna Maria was born. They acquired a cottage soon after. Great Grandfather’s first job was helping build the first Government House (later destroyed by fire).
During her childhood she lived at Great Barrier and Kawau where her father was interested in copper mines. Anna Maria always said her father was a mine manager, but in her obituary notice it states that “he was concerned in the management of the Kawau copper mines”. (These were first mined in 1841 and by 1846 four hundred people, mainly Cornish miners and their families were there). 1846 was a bumper year when 112 tons were exported. Later there was trouble with shaft flooding and after 1858 not much copper was worked. 1862 machinery etc. sold and it closed up). 1845 second copper mine at Kawau – syndicate headed by Sir Frederick Whitaker.
The family were at Great Barrier in 1844 – son William was born there.
The mining camp at Great Barrier was raided by rebel Maoris and miners and families were forced to seek shelter in the mine workings. This was the time that the thatched roof of the house would have been burnt (see enclosed). I have not heard of them living in a raupo hut in any place but Parnell).
During this period Anna Maria played with Maori children and learned to speak Maori, and later was a fluent speaker. At various times she acted as interpreter for settlers at Mullet Point and Big Omaha. This was particularly useful when later (after her marriage) Maori war prisoners escaped from Kawau 1864 and were encamped on Mt.Tamahunga near Meiklejohn land.
After Kawau and Great Barrier the family returned to Auckland and the younger ones had some time at school. Anna Maria said she had a “few months” at a Dame school. Being an isolated place education was a family affair and though John was a strict Victorian father (as children we thought him cruel when we heard about him) I will give him his credit that, for the times, his family was given a good education. However tired he was he checked on their work nightly. Also at various times they had a tutor for short periods. Anna Maria, as you know, was an avid reader and an excellent correspondent.
It was during this period that Elizabeth married William Dunne (1854) – their mother died May 27th, 1855 – and Mary Ann became engaged to James Gribble.
Soon after their mother’s death, the family moved to the farm at Mullet Point. Mary Ann returned to Auckland and married James Gribble on Sept. 29th 1855. Mary Ann and James had 17 children and 11 survived to adulthood.
Anna Marie, aged 14 years, looked after her Father and 6 brothers. The youngest, Henry, would be about 4. I was told that Henry was born in Auckland.
8
On December 25th, 1862, James, (Meiklejohn) the eldest son, was married to Anna Maria Goldsworthy by the Reverend Robert McKinney. She was the third daughter of John and Elizabeth Goldsworthy of Mullet Point, Auckland.
There were no children for thirteen years, then after they had both been in bed with measles for a fortnight they had four children in five and a half years. (Incidentally, they caught the measles from Mary Ann Gribble – later Mrs.Hirst – who had been staying with them).
Issue of this marriage –
Robert John Strange Meiklejohn 1876 Ernest Wilfred Meiklejohn 1877 Mabel Richards? Meiklejohn 1879 Married William Buckley Percy Vivian Garfield Meiklejohn
Anna Goldsworthy was born at Parnell, Auckland in 1841. Her parents had arrived in the ship ‘Bolton’ 540 tons which arrived in Wellington on April 18th, 1839. They came to Auckland in a small schooner four months before the birth of Anna, and her father helped build the first Government House. Her earlier recollections were of the wonderful beaches of the Great Barrier where her father was working in a copper mine.
Early one morning the settlers there were surprised by several war canoes whose warriors made themselves a comfortable camp, taking whatever they fancied from the settlers. One of them held a tomahawk to the head of Elizabeth Goldsworthy while his companion took the thatched roof from off her house. Another came to the clothesline and proceeded to take the clothes off, but this was too much for Anna’s mother who rushed out and pulled a man’s shirt from the native’s hand. They all thought she would be killed , but he only made off with what he had and did her no harm.
There were friendly Maoris at the other end of the island[1], and Anna became very friendly with them, learning their language, and one day getting into great trouble for taking her small brother and going to spend the day with them.
Later when she was living in Auckland again, she and a cousin woke up one morning hearing the most terrifying sounds. They heard afterwards that it was the first steamship to visit New Zealand[2].
During this period, her eldest sister was married, and Anna had the thrill of being the bridesmaid. It was a very elegant wedding. The bride wore orange and blue shot silk, white satin bonnet with a feather in the side, and a beautiful white silk shawl with coloured flowers and a deep fringe. The two bridesmaids were dressed in tucked book muslin, capes to match trimmed with white watered ribbon, white stockings and low patent leather shoes laced across the ankles with black ribbons. The men wore white waistcoats, morning coats and bell toppers (presumably trousers as well!!). They walked in couples from Parnell to Hobson Street to the old St.Mathews church where they were married.
Soon after this Anna’s mother died, and the family moved to a farm at Mullet Point. Her second sister , Mary Ann, who was engaged to be married to James Gribble, left home soon after this and Anna was left to keep house for her father and six brothers, the youngest only four years old. Hardships were many. Corn had to be ground by hand, and all the sewing had to be done by hand, including the men’s suits – a formidable task for a fifteen year old.
Notes by Don Armitage Timeline Anna Marie Goldsworthy Parents: John and Elizabeth Goldsworthy Arrived in NZ: by the ship ‘Bolton’ 540 tons arrived Wellington on ..April 18th, 1839 Parents: arrive Auckland by small schooner from Wellington….around end of 1840. Born: Raupo Hut, Parnell Slope, Auckland. ……………… …… 11-4-1841 Acquired cottage soon after birth in …………………………………… ….April, 1841 Father’s first job helping build first Govt House later burnt down. Family were at Great Barrier in ………………………………………… ………..1844 William Goldsworthy was born there…………………………………… ……1844? Mining camp at Great Barrier was raided by rebel Maoris ………………… 1844 or 5 Miners and families were forced to seek shelter in the mine workings. …………..” This was the time that the thatched roof of the house would have been burnt. During this period Anna Maria played with Maori children and learned to speak Maori, and later was a fluent speaker…………………………..…………..1844? Their mother died ………………………………………………………May 27th, 1855 Married: James Meiklejohn …………………………………….……...25-12-1862 Married by: Reverend Robert McKinney
The Goldsworthy family came north to Auckland from Wellington on the Chelydra in 1840 after arrival in Wellington on the Bolton Source perscom Don Young of Whangarei 5/9/2007 And from another source-
John R. Goldsworthy Born: 1810 St. Blazey, Cornwall, England. Died: March 9, 1865 New Zealand. Married Elizabeth (Richards) Born: 1815 Died: May 27, 1855 New Zealand John and Elizabeth Goldsworthy arrived in NZ on the ship Bolton, the seventh ship to arrive in Wellington Harbour under the auspices of the New Zealand Company set up by Edward Gibbon Wakefield to encourage organised settlement of New Zealand. The Bolton of 540 tons berden, Captained by J. P. Robinson, sailed from London November 19th, 1839 and arrived Port Nicholson, Wellington April 20th 1840. The passenger list shows John Goldsworthy as 28 years old, wife Elizabeth 24, daughter Elizabeth 4, son John 2 years and another daughter Mary Ann 5 months. The family spent a year in Wellington, but being disillusioned with Wakefield’s settlement and after losing their possessions in a fire that destroyed the raupo huts on Bolton Row, moved north to Auckland where Governor Hobson had decided to make the Capital. ……Arriving in Auckland John was employed on the erection of the first Government House, the component parts of which had been shipped from England in the New Zealand Company ship ‘Platina’. …….A few months after arriving in Auckland Anna Maria was born in a raupo hut on Parnell slope. Shortly after her birth the family acquired a cottage. Richard was the next child born, either at Auckland or at Kawau Island. The next child born, William, was the first of the next four boys to be born at Great Barrier Island - William, James, Thomas and Henry. Coppermining was soon to be underway on Kawau Island where the Goldsworthys went for a short time before moving in 1844 to mine copper at Great Barrier Island. In 1851, the Goldsworthys returned to Auckland where the younger children had some education…..Their mother died 27 May 1855 and soon after this they moved to Mullet Point. …..Both John and Elizabeth are buried in the Symonds Street Cemetery.
Further information relating to the Goldsworthy family- From “South of West Hamilton” by Nancy Raynes page 131, “…..At the Barrier they experienced encounters with a Maori war party which, befeathered and painted, performed a haka on the beach, took away the miners’ clothing and their geese, plucking them alive. Nevertheless, the family came to respect the justice and kindness of the chief who saw to it that articles valued by Mrs Goldsworthy, such as a bolt of calico, were returned to her. These troubles had begun early one morning when the men were away in the mine. The settlement was ‘surprised by several war canoes whose warriors made themselves a comfortable camp, taking whatever they fancied from the settlers. One of them held a tomahawk to the head of Elizabeth Goldsworthy while his companion took the thatched roof from her house to make a whare. Another came to the clotherline and proceeded to take the clothes off, but this was too much for (Mary Ann’s) mother, who rushed out and pulled a man’s shirt from the native’s hand. They all thought she would be killed, but he made off with what he had and did her no harm.” [1] Anna probably is referring to a Maori habitations within a few miles south of Mine Bay rather than the southern part of Great Barrier Island. [2] HM Steamer Driver: arrived Auckland 20th January, 1846 from Hong Kong. See the books ‘Jade River’ and/or ‘A Lively Capital- Auckland 1840-1865’ for mention of this event.
|
 The authoritative site about the human and natural history of Aotea Great Barrier Island. |
The Goldsworthy family of Mine Bay 1844 |