Embedded Files
There is no one still around who knew Charles or Taraipine personally. Therefore, we can only surmise as to what they may have been like, through the information that we have been lucky enough to find. Much of this information has been sourced through the marvel of the internet. Over the coming years, it is possible that more information will come to light, and more stories could yet be told.
(Click on any of the pictures in this chapter to enlarge)
Any corrections, additional information, pictures or stories relevant to this chapter can be submitted via the contacts in the footer section of this page. Accreditation is given, where applicable. Many thanks to all those who have contributed.
Robin Hodkinson email
Charles Priestley
The Early Years
The Early Years
Taraipine, gave us the gift of life, and a new home - Aotearoa.
It was Charles who brought the family name and our common English blood to New Zealand.
This chapter is dedicated to Charles Priestley and his wife Taraipine Tatua.
NAME
Charles Priestley
DIED
15th May 1889
Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand
St Marys Church, Buckden
13 June 1826 Charles was born at Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England to Augustine Priestley and Amelia Scarborough.
19 October 1826 He was baptised at Buckden.
1841 census shows Charles, age 15 at boarding school at Eaton Socon, St Neots registration district. John Elliot was the Master and there was a total of 62 pupils attending the school.
After his schooling Charles became a baker.
1851 Charles was presented with a Bible from his father. This is what we now call "The Priestley Family Bible"
A New Life Abroad
A New Life Abroad
The Clipper Route
1852 Charles (aged 26) and his older brother John embarked on board the “Marlborough”, which departed from London, England 15 August 1852. They paid their own way as unassisted passengers. Charles’ occupation was given as a Baker and John as a Clerk.
14 November 1852 shipping news, (ref. Sydney Morning Herald 11 Nov. 1852) reported the “Marlborough” arrived at Port Philip Bay, Victoria, Australia.
The voyage took 3 months due to the fact that the Suez Canal was not opened until 1869. The Wright brothers, who built the worlds first airplane, weren't born until the late 1860's.. Article - The Clipper Route.
It is unclear as to why Charles and his brother John decided to leave Buckden, but by the 1850's, the advent of the railway network had adversely affected the economy.
Buckden, which was once a main stop for coach travel, which brought work for the many trades like farriers, wheelwrights, corn merchants and, of course hostelries, had been turned into a virtual ghost town.
With 14 children in Augustine and Amelia's family, the town was possibly not big enough to employ them all.
Around that time, news of gold discovery in Victoria had sparked a massive immigration to Australia. Some made it lucky, others who were not so successful moved on.
New Zealand was to have a goldrush of its own. In 1852 gold was discovered at Coromandel.
Onward to New Zealand
Onward to New Zealand
Picture of the ship Imaum of the habour Salem in the USA
19 June 1853 Charles and John moved on. They left Melbourne bound for New Zealand on the American barque “Imaum” stopping off at Hobart and the Bay of Islands, on the way, before reaching the Port of Auckland on 6 February 1854.(papers past ,Daily Southern Cross
Opotiki, Bay of Plenty
Opotiki, Bay of Plenty
Article - Opotiki
1853-1864 New Zealand Electoral Rolls has Charles and John as traders at Opotiki.
1856 While at Opotiki, Charles was convicted and fined 6 pounds 16 shillings and eight pence including costs for aggravated assault and knocking out 5 teeth of one William Wilcox.
24 Sep 1856 Father Augustine dies in Buckden, England (Charles aged 30)
1861 Charles and John left the Opotiki area.
A Reference from Te Karere Maori 1861-1863 volume 1, no.18:17 reads...
'9 July 1861 an entertainment was given by the Pakehas of Hauraki, (Hone Pirihitere, and Hare Pirihitere) in consequence of their leaving the district.'
Opotiki 1865
Te Whau (Avondale), Auckland
Te Whau (Avondale), Auckland
Article - Avondale
28 July 1861 The brothers purchased the corner site, in the heart of the future Avondale Shopping Centre, for £200. By April 1862, John Priestley had secured the first hotel license in West Auckland for the Whau Hotel, described in 1863 as “the large and handsome two story house of 10 rooms, well finished, painted, and papered,” complete with outhouses, stables, and a “well of good water”. Article - The Whau Hotel
28 Jan 1863 Mother Amelia dies in Buckden, England (Charles aged 36)
December 1863 They sold the hotel and left the area.
1865 The Maori Land Wars were happening in parts of New Zealand. It is unsure what the brothers were doing during this period, but it would appear that they may have gone their separate ways. Article - The Māori Land Wars
The Whau River
The East Coast
The East Coast
Sheep droving at Waihau Bay
16 February 1867 It is believed Charles sailed with the schooner “Meteor” departed Napier sailing with 150 sheep via Potae [sic] to Auckland.
From 1867 until mid 1870 Charles leased the Puatae [sic] block south of Tologa Bay There is no background which would indicate how he came to be leasing land on the East Coast a very short time after the war of 1865. Article - Tolega Bay
Around this time, Charles had met his future wife, Taraipine Tatua.
Charles Priestley continued...
Charles Priestley continued...
28 June 1867 Their first child Stephen Priestley was born. He was named for Charles eldest brother Stephen who had died in 1850.
11 January 1869 saw the birth of their second son, named Charles after himself.
16 July 1869 Charles Priestley, Bachelor, Sheep farmer age 43 years of Poatai [sic], married Taraipine Tatua, widow, full age, of Poatai [sic] at the Registrar’s Office Turanga-Nui.
24 September 1871 A third son was born, he was named William Augustine. William after Charles second eldest brother who had died in 1847, and Augustine after Charles father who had died in 1856.
19 November 1872 A fourth son was born, he was named George Patterson after Taraipine’s father Hori Patihana.
1 March 1874 At midnight a baby girl was born, she was named Amelia Jane, after Charles mother.
1874-78 Electoral rolls for East Cape show Charles Priestley of Pautae [sic] as leaseholder of Pautae [sic] sheep run.
24 September 1875 The Puatai sheep run is sold
A Gisborne newspaper excerpt reads...
'To all appearances there is still a fair, outside demand for sheep country in this district, for two properties have lately changed hands. Mr. Priestley of the “Puatae Station” has disposed of his run of between 3000 and 4000 acres of land and about 3000 sheep to Mr. Loisel from Victoria for the sum of 3500 pound, while Messrs. Porter and Pitt have also disposed of their run at Matakawa, consisting of 4000 acres or thereabouts for 2500 pounds to a gentleman named Robertson. We have since learned that Captain Porter has repurchased his interest in the latter property.'
12 July 1876 A second daughter Lydia Maria, was born, but sadly she only lived for 6 months and died 5 January 1877.
5 Jan 1877 Sadly, daughter Lydia Maria dies before her first birthday
1878 A third daughter was born Sarah Harriet
6 December 1879 Article - Charles finds a gold chain.
13 January 1880 A fifth son was born, he was named Wi Kepa.
Gisborne
Gisborne
A treacherous section of
old Tolaga Bay- Gisborne Coaching Route
Article - Gisborne
1880 saw the family move to Gisborne
1880 The Electoral roll for East Coast 1880 describes Charles Priestley as a settler and having freehold property, sections 48, 49, 39 and 106 Aberdeen Road.
1881 Second eldest daughter Sarah Harriet dies
26 August 1881 Article - Charles has a day in court.
1882 The Electoral Roll has the same details except a change of name from Aberdeen Road to Palmerston Road.
1884 The Electoral details remain the same as last time.
1884 Eldest daughter Amelia Jane dies while boarding at Convent School in Napier.
We have since uncovered information that suggests Amelia was alive in 1886. According to this article, one Amelia Priestly [sic] won awards at St Joseph's Native School Standard IV for home lessons (guess that would be cooking/sewing), composition and grammar.
18 August 1885 Another day in court
At the RM court today. Charles Priestly was charged by the police with using obscene language in the Gladstone Road. Mr Turton defended. The charge was proved by Messrs J Mackay, A Wyllie, W. Parnell, and J.W Mathews, and the defendant was sentenced to one week's imprisonment with hard labor. Article
1887 Electoral Roll same as above except no.106 has become 136.
7 September 1887 Brother John in Auckland has become destitute and names his brother Charles in Gisborne as being able to contribute to his support. John has applied to The Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for relief.
Gladstone Road, Gisborne, 1875. (Looking from Custom House Street)
The Final Years
The Final Years
Charles started to go downhill and hit the drink toward the end of his life. It seems to have have started with the passing of his daughter Amelia Jane. Whether or not this attributed to his demise is only speculation, but an interesting observation all the same.
The grave of Charles Priestley at Waikumete Cemetery
(marked in this photo with a white cross)
Carrington Hospital 1890
14 February 1889 Article - Charles is in hospital
25 March 1889 Charles is admitted into Carrington Hospital, Auckland, diagnosed with senile dementia, supposed cause being drink.
15 May 1889 Charles died aged 62
For reasons that only his immediate family know, Charles was abandoned after his death and forgotten except by name only. For over 100 years the whereabouts of his final resting place was unknown. Speculation among whanau was that he was probably buried somewhere along the East Coast. It took a large stroke of luck in 2011 for the office in Waikumete Cemetery to enter his surname incorrectly in their database search as PRIESTLY for the whanau to finally find him. This record is now online.
17 May 1889 Charles was buried at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland. Public Burial A, Row 1, Plot 67. No headstone. R.I.P.
Article - Waikumete Cemetery
While back in Gisborne a few years later...
25 Jul 1894 Wife Taraipeni dies aged 53
24 Sep 1894 Youngest son Wi Kepa Priestley dies aged 14
September 3 2016
127 years after his death, Charles headstone was unveiled
Footnote
In 1893 brother John Priestley went back to England on the 'Chusan'. He passed away in 1902 and was buried in Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden.
John Priestley Headstone in
Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
Charles Timeline
Charles Timeline
> 1826 - Born: 13 Jun 1826
1833: James Busby arrives at the Bay of Islands, in his capacity as Official British Resident.
1840: The Treaty of Waitangi is signed at the Bay of Islands
> 1854 - Charles arrives in New Zealand (Charles aged 28)
1862: First electric telegraph line opens from Christchurch to Lyttelton
1865: Auckland streets lit by gas for the first time
> 1856 - Father Augustine dies 24 Sep 1856 (Charles aged 30)
> 1863 - Mother Amelia dies 28 Jan 1863 (Charles aged 37)
> 1867 - Child Stephen Priestley b. 28 Jun 1867 (Charles aged 41)
> 1869 - Child Charles Priestley b. 11 Jan 1869 (Charles aged 43)
> 1869 - Married Taraipine Tatua: 16 Jun 1869 (Charles aged 43)
1870: The first Rugby match is played in New Zealand
> 1871 - Child William Augustine Priestley b. 24 Sep 1871 (Charles aged 45)
> 1872 - Child George Patterson Priestley b. 19 Nov 1872 (Charles aged 46)
1872: Telegraph communication links Auckland, Wellington and southern province
> 1874 - Child Amelia Jane Priestley b. 10 Mar 1874 (Charles aged 48)
> 1876 - Child Lydia Maria Priestley b. 12 Jul 1876 (Charles aged 50)
> 1876 - Daughter Lydia Maria Priestley dies aged 6 mnths (Charles aged 50)
1876: New Zealand-Australia telegraph cable established
> 1880 - Child Wi Kepa Priestley b. 13 Jan 1880 (Charles aged 54)
1881: Parihaka community forcibly broken up by troops
1886: Mount Tarawera eruption
> 1881 - Daughter Sarah Harriet dies aged 3 years (Charles aged 55)
> 1884 - Daughter Amelia Jane dies aged 9 years (Charles aged 58)
> 1889 - Died:15 May 1889 aged 62
Charles Whakapapa
Charles Whakapapa
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