Early settlers’ descendants gather in New Plymouth
One hundred and seventy five years after the second boatload of settlers arrived in Taranaki, 175 of their descendants gathered to celebrate.
On September 3, 1841, the Amelia Thompson arrived in New Plymouth with 200 passengers following an arduous, five-and-a-half month crossing from the English port that gave Taranaki’s biggest settlement its name.
‘‘Seven people died on the journey, but seven babies were born, so the number when they arrived was still 200,’’ Ann Francis, whose ancestors, the Hamblyn family, were among those new arrivals, said.
Francis organised the weekend’s celebrations with Bronwyn Jenkins, a descendant of fellow passengers the Allen family, and Carol Fisher, whose ancestors, Samuel and Susannah Matthews, were also aboard.
‘‘They thought they were coming to houses and gardens and roads, and when they got here it was just bush and they found they had to sleep in tents.’’
The first boat to reach New Plymouth, William Bryan, had arrived on January 31, 1841, and within twenty years the settlement’s population had grown to 2000 people, Francis said.
Those taking part in the weekend’s commemorations, held at Holy Trinity Church, came from 55 families now scattered all over the country and beyond, with eight coming from Australia.
The activities began with a mix and mingle event at the church hall on Friday night.
Saturday featured talks by geneologist Bruce Bellini and local historian Graeme Kenyon, the taking of official photos and the cutting of a cake made for the occasion by Rebecca Johns.
Then an evening meal was held at the Auto Lodge Motor Inn.
Sunday began with a morning church service hosted by Archdeacon Jacqui Paterson before a tour of New Plymouth’s museum.
‘‘I only knew about 12 people there,’’ Francis, whose ancestors gave their name to Hamblyn St in Fitzroy, said.
Members of other families remembered in New Plymouth’s streets, such as the Paynters and the Veales, also attended.
‘‘It was very good,’’ Francis, who has lived in Clemow Rd for 75 years, said.
‘‘Everyone was talking to each other. It was lovely to meet all the people I emailed and talked to but never knew.’’