Embedded Files
NAME:
Taraipine
BORN:
28th June 1841
Tolaga Bay, New Zealand
MOEA:
Patoronui Rangaheke,
? Tatua and
Charles Priestley
DIED:
25 Jul 1894
This chapter is dedicated to our Priestley ancestral mother Taraipine. It is a name we are all so familiar with, yet, a person we know so little about. Why we have so little information may be due to the fact that over the last 100 years, we have had very little contact with Tolaga Bay and the Aitanga-o-Hauiti iwi from which she hails.
Very recent meetings with rangatira (leaders) of the iwi has resulted in an opportunity to learn more about this tipiuna of ours and to reconnect to our Hauitian roots. This chapter is therefore a journey of discovery and may take a few years for us to paint a fuller picture of the person she was.
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.
Taraipine
Taraipine
The Early Years
The Early Years
Taraipine was born well before there was any need to record a persons date of birth, however, it was estimated within the Priestley Family Bible (dated 28th June 1869) that she was about 28 years old. We will therefore celebrate 28th June 1841 as her birth date.
Taraipine Whakapapa (click on image to enlarge)
It is unclear what her maiden name was, or if she had had one at all. There is no proof that she was a Patihana or Patterson. Strangely enough, her siblings carried the surname of Kautuku. Where this name came from or if this was also Taraipine's maiden name, we are yet to discover. We have proof that she was Taraipine Tatua after her first marriage and Taraipine Priestley after her second. To avoid any inaccuracy, and until we receive proof stating otherwise, we will simply refer to her as Taraipine.
Her father was Hori Patterson which has possibly been transliterated from George Patterson. Where he may have originated from is yet to be discovered, but Patterson is more than likely a British surname.
Her mother was Ani Patene who is of the Aitanga-a-Hauiti iwi based in Tolaga Bay. If we were to gauge her standing within the tribe by the land holdings she had a that time, we could say that it was quite substantial.
She had 2 other siblings. An older brother Karepa Kautuku known as Jim and her sister Te Kuika Mere Whaki Rangi Kautuku known as Mere.
Taraipine's schooling was more than likely that of most tamariki of the day where they were home schooled by relatives into being productive members of the tribe. It was crucial to the survival and success of the iwi that they learnt a positive attitude to work, and practical activities such as gathering, harvesting and preparing food, and weaving, carving and warfare.
Te Rāwheoro
Tolaga Bay is also home to Te Rāwheoro, the oldest whare waananga (house of learning) in New Zealand which was built in the 16th century. Here she would have learnt waiata, karakia, whakapapa kōrero tawhito (old tribal stories) and other crafts that prepared her for adulthood.
A Wife and Mother
A Wife and Mother
There has never been a detrimental word spoken about Taraipine throughout our entire family history, so we can only surmise that she must have been a wonderful loving mother, wife and friend to her children, and and everyone she associated with, throughout her life.
We have recently discovered that her first child was a daughter named Te Ruia who she had with a man whose name was Patoronui Rangaheke. It appears he may have moved on after this as she next married another person...
She married a man with the surname Tatua. We are yet to learn the forename of this husband. This marriage also didn't last long, as he died before they produced any children. The circumstances surrounding his death is yet to be discovered.
Taraipine may have stayed a widow for a period of time as she became commonly known by many as Taraipine Tatua after that.
She eventually met our Papa Charles Priestley around 1866 when she was in her mid-20's. They built themselves a house and lived together on family land at Puatai. Their first two children were born there
Stephen Priestley b. 28 Jun 1867
Charles Priestley b. 11 Jan 1869
At the age of 28, Taraipine married Papa Charles on 16 July 1869 at the Registrar’s Office Turanga-Nui (Gisborne) and they had another 6 children
William Augustine Priestley b. 24 Sep 1871
George Patterson Priestley b. 19 Nov 1872
Amelia Jane Priestley b. 10 Mar 1874
Lydia Maria Priestley b. 12 Jul 1876
Sarah Harriett Priestley b. 1878, d. 1881
Wi Kepa Priestley b. 13 Jan 1880
Waihau Bay Beach, Puatai. The Priestley house was on the hill, bottom right of this picture.
Family stories tell that there was discussion about the children returning to England for their schooling. But fearing that they may never return, Taraipine insisted that they stay in New Zealand . Thankfully for us, she won the day but this may have come at the cost of selling the land.
The family eventually sold the family land at Puatai and moved to Gisborne where they owned various properties and schooled the children.
Unfortunately, some of the children didn't make it past childhood.
Amelia Jane Priestley d. 1884, (Age 9 years)
Lydia Maria Priestley d. 5 Jan 1877, (Age 0 years)
Sarah Harriett Priestley d. 1881 (Age 3 years)
Wi Kepa Priestley d. 24 Sep 1894 (Age 14 years)
Amelia
Lydia
Sarah
Wi Kepa
These children are buried in the old Makaraka Cemetery in Gisborne. A memorial was unveiled to honor their short lives.
Makaraka Cemetery Memorial to Taraipine and Charles children who died in infancy
Taraipine and Charles raised the remaining children to be fine upstanding people in their own right as the many stories filtering down through the generations would testify.
The Final Years
The Final Years
Charles would succumb to mental illness toward the end of his life but Taraipine managed to keep the family together through thick and thin.
After husband Charles died 15 May 1889 aged 62, she moved back her tribal roots of Tolaga Bay. It is noted that she identified herself as Taraipine Tatua on some documents.
By this time the children had left home but they still visited their mother when they could.
We may learn more about her time back in Tolaga Bay when we reconnect with our whanau there.
Taraipeni died on 25 Jul 1894 aged 53, and is buried in the Poututara Urupa at Tolaga Bay.
Moe mai ra e te whaea.
Tolaga Bay Poututara Urupa Memorial for Taraipine
Taraipine Whakapapa
Taraipine Whakapapa
For privacy purposes, our whakapapa is password protected. To gain access to the whakapapa pages, you will need to apply for a username and password. Access is free. For faster processing of your application, please indicate your line of decent to the Priestley family
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse