![]() On the 11th January, 1838 Sarah Ann Strand and
William Bullock Cone, husbandman of Aldham, eldest son of James and
Harriet Cone were married in the Aldham Parish Church.
![]() Sarah was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Strand, a farmer at Yew Tree Farm, Aldham. William is thought to have taken over his father's farm a year later when his father moved to a farm at Whatfield a few miles away. It is known that William used to ride to hounds so it is thought that he was fairly well off for those days and for his age. In 1848, sorrow came to the
Cone family - in January came the death of William's infant son Charles
and in April, William's wife Sarah Ann succombed to TB after a 4 month
illness; her death only to be followed in May by the death of William's
father, James Cone. They are buried at Aldham Churchyard.
On the 9th of August 1850, William Cone married for a second time to Caroline Adams, spinster of Aldham. There were to be no children from this marriage.
In the 1851 census for Aldham
it was noted occupying the Farm -
New wife Caroline did not meet with the relation's approval and just under a year after their marriage, William decided to sell and immigrate to New Zealand. William Cone, Caroline, and the four children left from Gravesend, London on the sailing ship "Bangalore" on the 9th May. Caroline and Sarah Ann were both ill on the voyage.(Diary) There were just 159 passengers even though the Bangalore could carry 250. Some immigrants preferred to wait for the next two ships which sailed not long afterwards so the vessel was not overcrowded. The Bangalore arrived at Lyttelton on the afternoon of Thursday, 21st August 1851, after a voyage of 104 days.
![]() The family stayed for a short time at the Lyttelton Immigration Barracks which are in the centre of this William Fox painting, before starting their ascent of the Bridle Path to Christchurch plains below.
Search for images of Canterbury at The National Library of New Zealand The family settled down at the
Ferry Road close to the Heathcote River in one of the very first wooden
permanent houses erected in Christchurch. William bought if from the
ship's captain who had brought it from England, pre-cut in sections ready
for erecting. It is not known if this was from the Captain of the
Bangalore but it was packed over the Bridle Path and put together by the
side of the Heathcote river on Ferry Road, and close to the old Ferry, and
the family moved in. In those days scores of small ships used to bring
cargo from Lyttelton up the Heathcote. It is thought that William did
contracting work, carting goods from small ships berthed at the Ferry as
he kept horses.
An inquest was held at the
Heathcote Arms at the Ferry, the first held in Christchurch and it was
presided over by Dr Donald, the Coroner and 13 jurymen on the 5th of June
1852. The "Lyttelton Times" reported on 5th June 1852 - "An inquest was
held today at the Heathcote Arms at the Ferry before the Coroner Mr
McDonald and thirteen Jurymen on the body of William Cone who fell from
his horse on Wednesday night on the road between Mr Townsend and the Ferry
and was killed on the spot, his neck being broken. Mr Parker and Mr
Fairfield gave evidence with respect to the melancoly event. The coroner
recapitulated the Evidence and verdict of accidental death was returned.
It was added that it is desired that a more efficient means should be
taken to render the road safe and fit for travelling." William Cone was buried in the Barbadoes Street Cemetery on the 7th of June 1852 in what was termed the Plantation Plot. William was the 20th person buried there.A plaque has been placed on his grave to commemorate the 150 years since the family's arrival in Canterbury. William did not live long enough to see much of New Zealand and the family were left in the care of their stepmother, Caroline. At the Cone Reunion, 2001,
descendants gathered at Barbadoes Cemetery to participate in the planting
of a tree on the previously unmarked grave of William Cone and the
following year, g-g-grandsons Ron Cone and Ken Cree, again called the
family to witness the unveiling of a plaque in honour of their pioneer
ancestor. William Bullock Cone born 1815 Cratfield, Suffolk, England Died Result of an Accident 3 June 1852 Christchurch Arrived Lyttelton on "Bangalore" 21 August 1851 with his wife Caroline and Family William, Frederick, George and Sarah Ann Erected by his Descendants June 2002 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |