William Free was just 10 years old when he arrived in Lyttelton on the “Cressy”. 10 or so days earlier, William Guise Brittan had arrived on the “Randolph” and took his post at the Land Office. These two settlers would make history again 10 years later in 1860. Very likely, John Free, William’s father dealt …
Thomas Smith Duncan was a bit of a rascal who fled his homeland with a young charge of the family. Together they fled Perth, Scotland and headed south to the village of Gretna Green and got married. In what could be regarded as Scotland’s “Las Vegas”, the township is still known for its runaway/quickie weddings! …
I wonder if it was easier to go aboard one of the Canterbury Association ships alone to face the odds or did having your family with you lessen or increase the stress of immigration? I guess it is right to say that many people put everything on the line for a chance of something better…Canterbury …
“On board the Charlotte Jane…I try to recollect the events of the past five days, which from confusion, sickness and disagreeables of every kind could not be recorded at the time…”Edward Ward – 12th September 1850.The Charlotte Jane had sailed out of Plymouth on the 7th September 1850. Edward starts his journal off on the …
Henry is one of those English nobles that has a few names:- his titles being Vicount Lascelles, Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire and most importantly, the 3rd Earl of Harewood! Henry was a member of the Canterbury Association and his name is amongst the others on the memorial plaque on the east …
I can never look at a view of our beautiful Lyttelton Harbour without looking for the ‘Charlotte Jane’ to come sailing around the corner of the heads – just like she would have done on the 16th December 1850, carrying the first of our Anglican settlers. So would have loved to have seen that historic …
William Barbour Wilson was born in Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland. He started off his adulthood as a nurseryman’s apprentice. He then moved to Ireland where he worked as an overseer for a few estates there. No one knows why he set his sights on New Zealand next. Maybe it was because New Zealand seemed a certain …
Cyrus Davie will always hold the most interesting record regarding our first four ships. He was the only passenger who made the journey on two of them!!! From what I understand though, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Cyrus – as most of the settlers would have done too – took life by …
A sketch of the Randolph done by James Edward Fitzgerald from the deck of the Charlotte Jane as they left England for Canterbury on the 6th September 1850. Boy, James could draw!!! During its journey, it had the company of 2 ships, one being the Sir George Seymour where Cyrus Davie was transferred over as …
The Sir George Seymour was the third ship to dock at Lyttelton, arriving 24 hours (to the hour) after the Charlotte Jane dropped her anchor. She was though, the last of the four to leave England, carrying 227 souls to a new life. Before her journey to Lyttelton in 1850, she had a history as …