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The following pages contain some
records of a family named GUILDFORD, compiled from old letters and other
papers in his possession, and from my memory from the years 1850 to
1911.
The family left England for Lyttleton, New Zealand, where they arrived safely on the 7th February, 1851. They came out as immigrants under the " Canterbury Association" - a Church of England enterprise, in the sailing ship "Castle Eden" ( she being the fifth ship) 53 days after the historic first four ships. This account is written by the last survivor and youngest of the family that was born in England. Signed - Henry John Guildford, July 1911, Invercargill ABOUT THE WAY THE SURNAME IS
SPELLED:
I was only four years of age when we left England, therefore have very vague recollections of our surroundings and relatives then living and no knowledge of how they spelt their name there but for some years after living in New Zealand, I wrote many letters to relations living in England and Wales, including my paternal Grandfather from whom I received many letters in reply and he wrote his name oftener GUILDFORD than GUILFORD. My brother James for many years signed himself GILFORD. My father and eldest brother wrote it GUILFORD - and I have always written it GUILDFORD. THE GUILDFORD FAMILY for considerably
more than one hundred years back had lived in and around the village of
Easton, Wiltshire, England, but a few years before my time a few of our
name immigrated into neighbouring Shires and into Wales. My father
and mother lived in Abergavenny, Mommouthshire, South Wales, but had
returned to his native place before leaving for New Zealand. Below: 1841
Wales Census.
LIST OF FAMILY, DATES OF BIRTHS,
MARRIAGES AND SOME DEATHS JOHN GUILDFORD, Father, was born at
Easton, Wiltshire, England 14th October 1804.
ANN PLANK, Mother, born at Easton, Wilts. England in 1808 MARRIAGE - The above couple was married at Easton on the 5th April 1834 and to them was born ELIZA, June 13th, 1835 at Easton. Died there Dec. 20th 1835 WILLIAM, October 22nd 1838 JAMES, May 1st 1841 GEORGE, July 3rd 1844. Died Easton 6th August 1847. HENRY JOHN, November 21st 1846 I am not sure that the above named
James, George and Henry John were born in Monmouthshire, South Wales.
Some of them were, my memory is not clear about
it.
The following are the names and the relationship of those who left England and came out to New Zealand in 1850 PARENTS - John
Guildford - Father; Ann Guildford -
Mother MY FATHER'S UNMARRIED SISTER
ELIZABETH came to
Christchurch, New Zealand, from England late fifties coming out in the
sailing ship " Regina". For some years she lived in Christchurch, then
went to Nelson, thence to the "West Coast" where for a number of
years she carried on a Storekeeping business at Charleston. She was
eventually reported to have died in the Greymouth Hospital, but had not
communicated with my father for many years. The writer of these lines
never heard but that she had remained single to the
end.
DEATHS OF PARENTS WHO CAME OUT TO NEW
ZEALAND IN 1851 AND ALSO MY STEPMOTHER
JOHN GUILDFORD - Father, died at Wanganui, N.Z. on the 1st June 1895 and was buried there, Aged 84 yrs, 7 mths ANN GUILDFORD - nee Plank, Mother. At Papanui Road, 14th July 1862 and was buried on the Bank of the River Avon, towards the East Belt, Christchurch, aged 54 years. EMMA GUlLDFORD - nee Newnham, Stepmother, at Papanui Road, on the 11 October, 1890 and was buried Addington Cemetery, Christchurch. DEATH OF ONE DAUGHTER AND SONS OF ABOVE
AND ONE SON'S WIFE - BORN TO MY BROTHER WILLIAM
GUILDFORD AND HIS WIFE ANNIE nee BENBOW at Pleasant
Valley
In his younger days my brother
William was first employed at Pigeon Bay by the late John Hay. Afterwards
at Double Corner Station ( afterwards Motonu ) the property of Robert
Caverhill (This would have been John Scott Caverhill). He then, with Tom Lewis and one Hill of St Albans, bought a
piece of bush from the Maoris between Kaiapoi and Woodend and started
pit-sawing and getting fencing and firewood for sale. After their bush was
worked out, he went down to Arowhenua and Pleasant Valley Bushes and
followed the like employment until some time in 1859, when he went to
Victoria and engaged himself in bushwork and mining. He returned to New
Zealand in the end of 1862 and worked again in the Geraldine district for
a while. In 1865 he went to Hokitika, West Coast, but did not stay there a
year and returned to the Geraldine district and married there in
1866.
BORN TO JAMES GUILDFORD AND HIS WIFE Catherine nee LYNCH
BORN TO JAMES GUILDFORD AND
HIS WIFE ELIZABETH JOHANNAH nee SCHWASS
In his boyhood, my brother James
started to work for a Mr Laine who had taken a farm on the banks of the
Avon towards its mouth. Next, on Messrs. Kennaways Brother's farm on the
Bank of the Heathcote River; following that he worked on Mr John Fisher's
farm about the southern end of Windmill Road. Then in the Maori Bush at
Kaiapoi; following that he was employed for some years on sheep stations
in the Marlborough Province, pit-sawing, fencing and shearing. In 1867 he
went down to the Geraldine district following the like occupations for
a number of years. There his first marriage took place. He then
returned to Wanganui.
HENRY JOHN GUILDFORD left his father's
home the end of August 1862. I was a fool of the first water by not doing
as my father wished, but being the only child living at home, during my
school time, also a sickly one, I had been somewhat pampered and spoilt.
Anyhow I had my wish and left a good home and as I knew nothing of work it
can be understood that in my attempt to earn a living, I got many knocks,
and encountered some very hard times. BORN TO HENRY JOHN GUILDFORD AND HIS WIFE JANE nee COWAN
Our daughter ANNIE COWAN
married ARTHUR WESTBURY at Brunswick on the 21st August, by the Rev.
Bishell, Presbyterian Minister of Woodlands and to them was born
-
Our
son HARRY COWAN was married to WILLIAMINA LUCY MENZIES, spinster at
Bannockbum, Otago Central, in the Methodist Church on 30th December 1907
and to them is born -
WILLIAM GUILDFORD, of St. Andrews, South Canterbury, New Zealand -
where he and his wife reside. They came from Easton to New Zealand many
years ago, and until recent years none of my family has met these people.
His father's name was Soloman and his mother's maiden name being Lucy
Kimber. They lived and died at Easton. This Soloman had three brothers
viz. Stephen, who died at Eversley, seven miles from Easton, and left a
family of sons. William who lived at Milton, one mile from Easton. John,
the St. Andrews Guildford's recollect or knew nothing of this uncle's
where-abouts and it is just possible that this lost sight of John
Guildford, was my father, thus making Wm. Guildford of St. Andrews, mine
and my late brother's first cousin. William Guildford of St. Andrews
wife's maiden name was A. Stroud and she has a first cousin now living
near Wrey's Bush, Southland, New Zealand, a farmer whose name is Thomas
Stroud.
SOMETHING ABOUT MY COUSIN EDWARD PLANK - In December, 1879, I was
living near Dunedin, Otago, and paid my two brothers and father a visit.
Some eleven years had passed since we had seen one another. My father and
stepmother were then living in the old home near the North Town Belt,
Christchurch. In this house my mother had died and later my stepmother. My
brother William and family were living at Pleasant Valley, and
my brother James and his family were living at Geraldine, both in
South Canterbury. My brother William was on a visit to my father, and one
evening my brother took me to see a Mr and Mrs Edward Plank. They were
living near my father. This Edward was a nephew of my late mother, and not
so many years out from England. This cousin was then and for several years
after, working at the Exeter Nurseries, Papanui Road, he being a Gardener.
He died in Christchurch, but I have recently heard that his widow is still
living somewhere in Canterbury. It was on
this visit in 1879 I last saw my father, stepmother and brother James. RELATIONS NAMED EDWARDS - There are some people now or
lately in New Zealand, of this name. our relatives. They had been in
communication with my father before coming out., if ever they came,
writing him on the 20th February 1886 from Stockton-on-Tees, and from Toll
Bar Cargo, Fleet Lane, Old Orsmesby, Middlesbro', Yorkshire on 16th March
1887. These are English addresses. I have never seen or heard of any of
them, only from letters and dates in my possession. In my very young days
I remember hearing my father speaking of a widowed sister of his, named
Edwards and her family. They lived at that time at Gospart near
Southampton, England. I was too young to recollect any particulars about
them, but wrote and received letters from them in my schoolboy
days.
FAMILY NAMED KIMBER - Fellow passengers from England were a family of this name. There was father, mother, two daughters and several sons. The eldest son's name was James and he had lost the sight of one eye. For some years they lived about the "Lincoln Road" and afterwards were farming at Tai-Tapu, a few miles from Christchurch. Some of the family are yet thereabouts. They came from near our people in Wiltshire and I am under the impression that some of the Kimber and Guildford families in England had intermarried. To wit, the St Andrew's Guildford's mother was a Kimber. SHIPMATES - All through the Fifties and probably longer, Shipmates
were thought a lot of, and on visiting one another were treated more as
very dear relations than as casual visitors. Of course shipmates with whom
this friendly intercourse was kept up by my parents, I can well recall the
following: Mr and Mrs H. T. Leake and one daughter, who for several years
kept a shop in Lyttelton and afterwards in Columbo Street, Christchurch;
Mr and Mrs Samuel Treleran and family sometime of Papanui and later
Flourmillers at Rire Styx. Mr and Mrs Samuel Jackson and family who lived
between Riccarton and Lincoln Roads, abour half a mile back from Hagley
Park's western boundary; Mr and Mrs Robert Hamlett and their son and
daughter who lived at Kaiapoi and the Kimber family mentioned
above.
SOME OF OUR EARLY HOMES NEAR CHRISTCHURCH - As said before, our
family consisted of Father, Mother and three sons, landed at Littelton on
7th February, 1851. Our first abode -like many others in those days was a
sod hut, thatched with rushes. It was on the site of a small creek that
ran into the river Avon between the present Hospital and the Old Plough
Inn site on the western side of Hagley Park. I think the first baker's
oven for Christchurch was built out of a high clay bank of this creek near
its entrance to the River. The oven was used by the elder Mr Inwood whose
bakery afterwards was in Cashell Street next to Mr McAnderson's Foundary.
This same Mr Inwood built a flour mill afterwards on the Avon, about where
Hereford Street crosses it.
SECONDLY - A four roomed wooden house ( built by a Mr George
Woodman, a carpenter) of timber cut in the Papanui Bush. It was built on a
piece of land my father bought, situated on the west side of Papanui Road,
about ten chains north of the end of St Albans Lane. Here we lived eight
or nine years. It was then sold to a Mr Purdie, a nursery gardener. Our
nearest neighbours being a Mr and Mrs John Ashby, Mr and Mrs Henry
Wyatt and Mr and Mrs John Horrell and their
families.
THE
THIRD HOME - My father had then bought one acre of a subdivision of land
sold by the late Edward Jerningham Wakefield three chains or so north of
the Town Belt, on the west side of Papanui Road. ( These belts I
understand are now called Avenues.) On this land was a two-storey wooden
house built by Mr Rastrick & Sons, whose home was adjoining. This was
the home of many years. In it my mother and stepmother
died.
In
his old age my father ( who was well to do ) lost nearly all he had by
advancing many thousands of pounds to one Christian, and a large, though a
less sum, to one Sarginson. I may not have got the last name right,
anyhow, between them. It was in two transactions, no connection between
them. They left the old man nearly a pauper, he being 80 years old. This
happened before my stepmother's death. My father struggled through a
somewhat miserable time after his wife's death, then went to live with my
brother James in Wanganui, and there continued until his
death.
ABOUT THE THREE SONS - The two elder ones went to work as soon as
they were able, not a great time after our arrival in the Colony. Myself,
the youngest, got what schooling came my way in Christchurch but left my
Father's house to start out for myself, about a month after my mother's
death in 1862. None of the three sons was much about his father's home
after leaving it in their boyhood - they were wanderers, each went his own
way, seldom hearing of each other. In the course of time they all married,
and so had home interests of their own.
MY
FATHER'S SECOND WIFE was the maiden sister of Mrs Jane Kitchenman ( Emma
Newnham ) The man Kitchenman was a Gardener, and his address used to be
East Belt, near Ferry Road. There was a family of one son and several
daughters of these Kitchenmans, nephews and nieces of my stepmother's. One
of these nieces had the misfortune to marry a man called Christian, one
time a schoolmaster. He then became a wholesale Confectioner in
Christchurch - was I heard, too big for his boots, and eventually cleared
out leaving his wife and family with no provisions - and his many
creditors sorrowing. I am not sure that his family heard from him since.
This was the man who had the greater share in swindling my
father.
MY
FATHER'S SECOND MARRIAGE - He married 8th January 1863 to Emma Newnham,
Spinster, who was born on the 25th July 1815, in London, England, I think.
This marriage took place at the residence of her Brother-in-law,
Kitchenman, then living at St Asaph Street,
Christchurch.
MY
BROTHER WILLIAM - married on the 23rd August 1866 to Annie Benbow,
Spinster, born on 5th February 1849 at Weston, Burford, Shropshire,
England at her father's home. She was the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs
Wm Benbow, who with their family had a farm near Temuka, South
Canterbury. The marriage was solemnised by the Rev. Mr Brown, Anglican
Minister of Geraldine.
MY
BROTHER JAMES FIRST MARRIAGE - was on the 17th August 1874 to Catherine
Lynch, Spinster, whose age was then 18 years. The wedding took place at St
Anne's Church of England, Pleasant Valley near Geraldine, South
Canterbury, the Rev. James Preston being the officiating
minister.
MY
BROTHER JAMES SECOND MARRIAGE - was on 6th April 1892 at his residence at
Eastown, near Wanganui to Elizabeth Johannah Schwass, Spinster, the Rev.
Reginald Herman being the Minister. She is the daughter of Ernest Schwass
and his wife, Sophia Rose, they being farmers at Halcombe, Province of
Wellington. She was born at Motueka, Nelson.
MYSELF - HENRY JOHN GUILDFORD - married on 8th October 1875 to Jane
Cowan, Spinster, at the house of Mr John Reay, Owaka, Catlins River,
Otago, by the Rev. Wm. Bannerman, Presbyterian Minister ofWarepa. She was
born at Mearns, Renfrewshire, Scotland on the 1st May 1854 and is the
second daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Cowan, Dairy Farmer of Sandymount,
Otago Peninsula near Dunedin.
ABOUT THE COWAN F AMILY - They came from The Mearns, Renfrewshire
to Dunedin, Otago by the ship "Lady Eggidia" and landed at Port Chalmers
on the 27th January 1861. Relations of theirs, names Inglis and Brown had
preceded the Cowans to New Zealand and lived on the Peninsula. The
following is the names of the Cowans that came out together
The
above couple were married on 31 st December, 1844 and to them were born
the following
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