 James Prosser & Jane Eva
Paterson
The Prosser family
- father Samuel, aged 40, a labourer from Surrey, his wife
Caroline aged 38, James (on ships list as Lewis) aged 16, Samuel 13,
William 9, Thomas 6, Joshua 4, and Caroline infant, left from Southampton
on the "Hornet on the 23rd May 1857 and arrived at Melbourne on the 2nd
September 1857. Oldest son John appears to have travelled prior to this.
His father was a cab
driver for a line of mail coaches to Malvern Hills,
Melbourne and in 1862 the four oldest brothers, John b. 1839; James
b. 1841, Samuel 1844; and William Robert aged 11 years left
Melbourne on 15 September for Otago giving their occupations as
miners for the goldfields (Source: LDS Film
284490)
1867 Daily Southern Cross:
12 Apr.1867: MARRIAGE: On March 9, at St. Pauls, Thorndon,
Wellington, by the Rev. P. Hay Maxwell, Mr. James Prosser, of the firm of
Hannah. Prosser, and Pierce, to Jane Eva Isabelle, third daughter of Mr.
George Paterson, Surveyor, Titirangi, Auckland. New York papers please
copy. ( James occ. livery-stable Keeper) (Their
Family)
 1867 Evening Post: 27
Jun.1867: TO LIVERY STABLE-KEEPERS AND OTHERS. Dissolution of Partnership:
MR. JOHN H. HORNER has received instructions from Messrs. Hannah, Prosser
and Pierce, to sell by public auction on the premises, Lambton Quay, at 2
o'clock sharp, ON TUESDAY, 2nd JULY, 1867, The whole of their valuable
Stud, Carriages, &c, It comprises: 30 first-class horses, broken to
saddle and harness. They have all been handled by Mr. James Prosser, one
of the members of the firm, acknowledged to be the best horse-breaker in
the colony, are very quiet, and fit for private service. The carriages and
harness have all been purchased regardless of expense, and with the great
care bestowed upon them may be considered equal to new. All are on view
from this day. The terms will be liberal. Full particulars in catalogues,
to be obtained at the stables, and from the
Auctioneer
1868 Evening Post: 28
May.1868: A trotting match will come off on Saturday next between
James Prosser's black horse Flatcatcher and Mr. Fawn's brown horse
Railroad, for the sum of £10 a side, from the Hutt Bridge to Wellington.
 1868 Evening Post:1
Sept.1868: SUPREME COURT. CRIMINAL SITTINGS. THIS DAY. [
(Before His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston. ) The Court was opened at 10
o'clock. LARCENY FROM A DWELLING. John Lewis, charged with having on the
10th July, last, stolen from the dwelling of James Prosser a gold watch
and appendages, and a gold coin, the property of William Prosser, pleaded
not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor having stated the case, called William
Prosser, who described the property he had missed from his bedroom at the
Crown and Anchor Hotel, on the date mentioned ; He deposed to having seen
them last on the following morning at 10.30; he identified the property
when shown to him. Mr. Edwards, landlord of the Cricketers' Arms, swore
that on the l6th of July the prisoner had given him the watch in question,
to take charge of; he had delivered it to a constable in the same state as
he had received it from the prisoner; he stated that he had refused
lending him money upon it ; prisoner had then asked him to cash an old
sovereign with a hole in it; he had declined. William Payne, a tailor,
swore to the prisoner offering the sovereign with the hole in it to the
last witness for 18s, the latter declined. In cross-examination he
admitted having been first taken up as the culprit, and of having been
convicted of felony before. A constable deposed to having received the
watch and appendages from Edwards, and the coin from a pawnbroker named
Jones. The prisoner, who was undefended, made an able defence, pointing
out to the jury the weakness of the evidence against him, and the
improbability of his having offered a sovereign for I8s, when anywhere it
would be worth £1; he affirmed it was a case of mistaken identity. His
Honor in summing up remarked that were the lngenius statements of this
prisoner correct, the witnesses Edwards and Payne had "wrongly stated
facts. A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury after a short
consultation. - The Judge, in passing sentence, remarked that the
prisoner, who, it was shown, had been previously convicted of felony, was
an old offender, and that no leniency should be shown in the case. It
would be well, his Honor remarked, if the police had his photograph taken
and sent to various parts of the colony, in order to see who he was.
Sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor.
1869 Evening Post:12
Oct.1869: CHALLENGE. MR. JAMES PROSSER will trot his pony Little Wonder
from one mile to twenty, against any other pony that can be produced in or
out of the Province, standing the same height, viz. 13 hands, from £20 to
£50 a side.  1870 Evening Post: 2
Apr.1870: We are sorry to learn that Mr. James Prosser, of the Crown and
Anchor Hotel, met with a rather severe accident this afternoon. He was
driving a lady in a buggy up Cuba-street, and, when opposite Barry's Ship
Hotel, by some means or other, one of the point wheels came off, and the
horse kicked up as was to be expected. The lady jumped out, and escaped
without much injury, but Mr. Prosser held on to the reins until he
unfortuately received a kick which disabled him, and the horse escaped
with the shafts. Mr. Prosser was carried into Cooper's store, when it was
discovered that his leg was broken.
1872 Evening Post:13
May.1872: WANTED, two steady respectable Women as Cook and Housemaid ;
good wages; sisters preferred. Apply to Mrs. James Prosser, Crown and
Anchor Hotel.
1872 Evening Post: 16
Jul.1872: WANTED, for the Country, a Young Man, to make himself generally
useful about an hotel and stables. Apply at once to James Prosser, Crown
and Anchor Hotel.
1873 Evening Post: 6
Jan.1873: HORSE STEALING. G. Smith, was charged with stealing a
horse, the property of A. Nichol, of Porirua. He borrowed a horse
from Nichol, of Porirua, sold it to Prosser, of Wellington. A. Nichol said
the prisoner asked him to lend him a horse to go to Wellington to fetch a
scythe. Eventually witness hired him a horse, because he had a "flash" one
that he wanted quieted before he rode it; the horse was returned to him by
Mr. Prosser; he gave no authority to sell the horse.
1874 Evening Post: 28
Jul.1874: FUNERAL NOTICE. The Friends of James Prosser are
respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his late mother, Catherine
Prosser, late of Melbourne, which will leave his residence, Crown and
Anchor Hotel, Lambton Quay, TO-MORROW (WEDNESDAY), at 2 o'clock. J.
H. HUTCHENS, Undertaker.
1875 30 Jan. Evening Post: Travellers on the West Coast road will be glad
to learn that the Telegraph Hotel at Otaki has at length fallen into
first-class hands. For a long time complaints have been rife regarding the
management, but we are sure that in future there will be no foundation for
any, as Mr. James Prosser, the well-known and genial host of the Crown and
Anchor in this city, has taken the house, and will assume the management
on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. James Prosser are so well known that it is
needless to say anything in their praise. They will be much missed from
the old hostelry on Lambton Quay, and their absence from town will be much
regretted. In their new house we are sure all will wish them success, and
travellers on the road may feel thankful that in future they will have
such a host and 1887 Grey River Argus: 19 Sept.1887; On Saturday, Mr
Ed. Ashton gave up possession of Ashton'a Family Hotel to Mr James
Prosser, of Wellington city and Wellington district, where he is
well-known as a hotelkeeper, owner of coaches, and keeper of livery
stables, having been in business in various parts of the district for the
last 20 years in one capacity or the other. Tlhere are several of his
brothers there, and all are connected In one way or another with horses or
hotels, and all are alike popular and successful as times go. There is no
doubt that the fine hostelrey of which Mr Prnsser has become the
proprietor on a long lease will lose none, of its popularity in his hands
and it is certain that he will have no occasion to rue his bargain, as the
house has always had a connection of its own and did a good trade. Mr
Ashton is one of the very oldest publicans in the place, if not the very
oldest - he pitched his tent here at Blaketown before the first rush and
has been in the business so long now that he thinks he is entitled to
retire and make way for a younger man or one who has not borne the heat
and burden of the day for so many years continually as he has done. Mrs
Ashton, too, a hostess who always made people feel at home in the old
house, must also feel like taking a rest, having taken an active part in
the business with her better half all the time. It is to be hoped that Mr
Prosser will succeed in a degree equal to his liveliest expectations, and
that Mr Ashton will have no occasion to go again behind the counter. 25 January 1888: BRANCH HOTEL, Corner Lambton-Quay and
Woodward St. Wellington. Mr. James Prosser, formerly of the old Crown and
Anchor Hotel, and late of the Club, Marton, Rangitikei, has taken the
above well-known house, where he will be pleased to see all his old
friends. The hotel has been thoroughly renovated throughout and has a
large and well-ventilated dining hall, capable of seating seventy persons.
The best Beer to be had in the city on tap. Wines and Spirits of the beat
brands only kept. (later this became Swain's
Private Hotel and Luncheon Rooms, 125 Lambton Quay. Smoking and
sitting-rooms, and a hairdressing saloon and tobacconist's shop are also
on the ground floor. On the first floor are fourteen cheerful bedrooms,
all well appointed and carefully tended. May 1889 Took over the licence from brother John of the
Panama Hotel on the corner of Taranaki and Ingestre streets and in July
sold his Interest to Mr. Thomas Taylor, a well-known dairyman of South
Wellington 1893 - Rangitikei
Electorate: Voting qualification residential - James and Jane gave
their residential address as Eva Place, Martin and he was a member of the
Marton Borough Council and was Captain of the Marton Fire Brigade for
several years 29 March 1898, Mr James
Prosser, of Marton, has taken over the Caledonian Hotel at Napier.
CALEDONIAN HOTEL, Corner of Hastings and Dickens' Streets, NAPIER. JAMES
PROSSER Proprieter. Best of Accommodation for Travellers and Tourists.
Prices Moderate Dec 1898: For Sale or
To Let. FOR SALE— The Goodwill and Lease of Caledonian Hotel, Napier.
First class business. Long illness and continued bad health of proprietor
sole cause for letting. Apply Mrs James Prosser, Caledonian Hotel, Napier,
Jane died at Wanganui on 8
Feb 1889 "Mrs Jane Eva, the wife of Mr James Prosser, late of Marton, aged
51 years was amongst the colony's oldest residents, and had endeared
herself to many friends. To the husband and family is extended the
sincerest sympathy in their sad bereavement. Her remains will be
taken to Marton for interment in the cemetery there, the funeral having
been appointed to leave the Marton railway station on arrival of the mail
train from Wanganui on Monday next." 17 May 1900 at RANGITIKEI
LICENSING DISTRICT. Notice of Application for a Publican's License, JAMES
PROSSER, of Colyton, do hereby give notice that I desire to obtain, and
will at the next Licensing Meeting to be holden at Feilding, on the
seventh day of June, 1900, apply for a Certificate authorising the issue
of a Publican's License for a house situate at Colyton, and known as " The
Colyton Hotel," containing 15 rooms, exclusive of those required for the
use of the family. Their children All images and data used in this site
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1873:
Advert: Evening Post: 1 May.1873: PATENT SLIP EXCURSION. A
COACH-AND-FOUR will leave Prosser's Hotel at 9 o'clock To-morrow morning.
Return ticket four shillings, JAMES PROSSER, Proprietor.
1874 Evening Post: 21 Feb.1874: Amongst other
changes made by the Jockey Club may be noticed the appointment of Mr James
Prosser as Clerk of the Course. Mr Prosser is undoubtedly the right man in
the right place, and the Club may be congratulated on securing his
services.
hostess to minister to their comfort.
